After their parents' death, Jin Serugu, the new captain, took pity on Izumi and Ren, and adopted both of them and became their legal guardian. Since Izumi and Ren were both from very influential families, the most powerful man in the city taking in two kids from rival clans as his own kids worried the city officials. So, they decreed that the kids would stay in different residential areas of the town, for good measure and away from the captain. At first, Izumi thought Jin Serugu had saved them. But as the years passed, he realized the truth—he had only been given a guardian in name, not a father. The officials had made sure of that.
"Are you both excited for your squad assignments?"
Jin eagerly asked both the boys.
"Yes, Jin! I hope I get to be with Izumi!"
Ren's shine in his eyes returned as he quickly forgot about what he was thinking.
Jin looked awfully more cheerful than he usually is, which is hard to notice unless you spend quite some time with him. He then winked at both the boys and said,
"I have a gift for both of you."
He then pulled out two katanas— one black, with red spotted lines encrusted in the blade. The second was silver, with a navy-blue handle, it looked like a katana which would be used by a king.
Jin excitedly said after that:
"These katanas were made by your family boys! You are bound to these katanas by fate— by blood'.
Jin somehow made that last sentence feel fatal, as if these katanas would be the things that we would see last, before the warmth of our body slipped into the cold icy underground.
"I'm guessing the black one is mine." Said Izumi
Jin smiled brightly and gave him his katana.
The instant Izumi gripped his katana, he felt a sudden surge of cold. Holding the katana made his veins feel that they were flowing with ice. Suddenly, a picture of a black wolf with red eyes staring hungrily at him flashed in his mind. He felt staggered, but he acted as if nothing happened and smiled shallowly at Jin.
"Thanks" Izumi managed.
Jin winked at him and then gave the katana to Ren who then opened it from its sheath and started spinning it and admiring it.
"Woah! This katana is awesome! I didn't know that my family had a treasure like this, thank you so much Jin!'
Jin was about to open his mouth to say something, but someone behind him cleared his throat.
"Ahem, Captain Jin, all the new soldiers are present and awaiting squad assignments, please give your speech of encouragement so we can then display the squads to everyone."
That voice could be recognised by Izumi a mile away. Izumi's blood roared in his ears; he suddenly had the urge to kick something. It was the leader of City Council General Isahi. He was the one who declared that Izumi and Ren would be living away from Jin. Isahi was scared that if Jin directly trained both the boys, they would destroy the city in their fights, because of their rival lineage. Isahi didn't view them as humans, he saw them as weapons. He stared at the boys coldly and then looked away, changing his cold eyes off to a more calculating look when he looked at Jin.
"Happy 35th birthday to you, Isahi."
Jin said, his arms crossed, voice flat, those words almost had no emotion in them, as if even Jin was annoyed of Isahi.
"Thank you, now please give the speech to the newcomers otherwise the parents will start complaining. We don't want to repeat what happened last year right?"
Jin sighed defeatedly and left with Isahi, but before completely disappearing into the crowd, he glanced back and winked at Isahi and Ren, who were both staring angrily at Isahi. Izumi and Ren then both walked up to the crowd, until they heard a familiar voice.
"Uhm- is that you Izumi?"
Izumi turned around and saw a girl, his age. She had curly hair- like him, but her hair was way longer. She had a very feminine body and looked very beautiful too. It was Akane. Akane was also from a prestigious clan called "Horas", like Ren and Izumi but her clan was gentler and more peace-loving. They never got into fights and were beautiful and regal, just like Akane. Not to mention, Izumi's heart starts beating a bit faster when she is around, but he manages not to show it. Izumi and Ren met Akane when she visited them, when her family came to pay respects at Izumi's and Ren's parents' funeral. The three of them have been friends ever since.
"Hey Akane." Izumi said with his heart pounding, he managed to not show it.
Akane blushed and then asked
"Are you excited for the squad selections?"
"Yeah, I am."
Akane then tries to say something, but Ren cuts in and says:
"Guys, look, the ceremony has started, Jin is on stage.
On the stage, Jin and Isahi stood together, smiling enthusiastically.
Jin then steps forward and says:
"Welcome young soldiers! To the squad assignments! We hope young friendship with your dear comrades who you will be heading to battle with, make the name of Cloud City, proud!"
A lot of cheering erupted from the crowd, especially from Ren, at a point where some people narrowed their eyes and glared at him. Izumi shot them back with an icy look and made them look away. Everyone then got quiet when wooden boards from above fell down on the stage to reveal the squads.