To see if someone is an Elite or not, one need to undergo a test. A test that has been put into place by the government for a long time now, and that also require every kid that reached the age of four to take. It is to note that, this test doesn't awaken the power of an Elite but simply confirm if they could become one in the first place or not.

Generally, if the test is positive, the concerned subject should be able to use their own singularity and Aura roughly one or two years after. Although, in certain case, some may need to wait a whole five years. It has been confirmed that an Elite that has awakened after reaching the age of ten years old, is a rarity among rarity.

That bring us to Celia Kail's case. When she was four, her test result has clearly been negative, therefore, she normally shouldn't have become an Elite. That was not all. Certainly, the result of the test being wrong might be surprising, but it wasn't in any way a novelty. As a matter of fact, this wasn't the first time a similar case happened. After all, it shouldn't be news to anyone to know that sometimes, human and even machine can make error.

As such, the fact that she became an elite at the late age of sixteen was of a more importance. How did she awaken her power? What was the trigger? And more importantly, how was it even possible? After all, no one beside her, in the whole world, has ever awoken their singularity past the age of twelve.

These bunch of unanswered question was what earned the curiosity of some researcher. And in this case, it was the main reason as for why Celia was invited to the famous dream island, Ark city, more known as the Elite's island.

“You should really let me go now, Celia.” Rin said with a blased tone. “Your ship is gonna go away, you know?”

Celia was currently hugging Rin tightly. It seemed as though her world was gonna end if she released her hand. Today was finally the day where Rin was discharged from the hospital, and coincidentally, also the day of Celia's departure for the island.

“I-it's just that,” Celia began, tearful. “I-I'll miss you so much.”

Celia was acting like a spoiled little girl who didn't want to leave their mom's side.

“You've been saying that for the last ten minute,” Rin rolled her eyes. “You're just going away for two months at best, no? There's no need to be so emotional.”

“I know, but!” Celia shouted.

Rin heaved a sigh.

‘It doesn't seem like she'll let me go on her own.' She thought and decided to act.

She pushed Celia away from her and looked at her in the eyes “You need to go.”

At that point, Celia pouted. “You're always so mean!” She exclaimed.

“Please, go.” Rin repeated, ignoring her.

“Fine! If that's the case, then I'm really going to go.” Celia exclaimed, turning around.

Then, with hesitant step she began to walk. Her feeling was a little hurt, so she refused to look back toward Rin. She really wanted to, though. Some part of her even wanted Rin to stop her.

Knowing the girl's thought, Rin chuckled a little. “I'll call you from time to time, so don't worry,” She said, quietly, as a smile sprouted on her face. “Have a safe trip.”

Like some of magic words, those sentence made Celia a little happy. However, with her stubbornness, she only responded with a ‘hmph!’ and ran at full speed to her ship. Nevertheless, the blooming smile on her face couldn't be hided from anyone.

◇

A week has passed since Rin's encounter with Aiden, and around three since she first stayed in the hospital. As such, her house was, unfortunately left unattended for in that period of time.

“So much dust.” She said as she made her way toward her room. “The inconveniences of living alone I guess.”

She changed into casual clothes, put all her affair down and glanced at a nearby watch. It was 10 o'clock. She took a deep breath and tied her hair up into a ponytail. She prepared herself to clean the whole, immense house she was living in, alone.

Of course, she was reluctant to do it. Menial task was never her forte, and the stupidly huge size of her place just wasn't helping. She really wished to laze around in her bed, alas, if she wasn't going to do it, then no one would. She preferred not to sleep among dust and trash if possible.

Steeling her resolve, she grabbed her phone and launched a playlist of music from it. Her hour long battle against the dirt, began!

... ... ...

15 o'clock.

Rin finally conquered after 5 hours of work. She was currently eating something she had prepared in her dining room.

“...” Everything was quiet. She looked around a little, to see nothing except the usual thing that was already in the room. Finishing her meal, she pushed away her plate, and placed her face on the cold surface of the table. “Why is this house so huge!” She said, feeling lonely.

She didn't like it. She would have much preferred to live in a smaller house. She hated staying in this gloomy-thought inducing house. However, she couldn't leave. This house was provided by her family, and not only would it be a waste, it would also be problematic if she decided to do so. After all, this house, although, very sloppily, is still monitored.

Sometime, her family would send an agent to check on her unannounced. If she were discovered to live in another building, then... Well, no one knows what will happen, but surely, it wouldn't be something good.

Rin stood up from her chair, washed out her dish and sprawled herself on a canopy. She put her hand on her pocket and took out the phone Aiden gave her.

“Aiden Bailey...” She muttered his full name.

In the past week, she had done her homework. She had searched more info on the man on question. It turned out that he was far more dangerous than she thought. Him being an Elite wasn't the worst thing. He was the leader of a group called ‘unchained’. A criminal group composed solely of Elite. Associating with him would be a really bad move.

And yet...

Rin opened the phone and called the number.

◇

17 o'clock.

After taking a quick nap, Rin changed clothes and headed toward her favorite dojo. It wasn't that far off from her mansion, so she arrived quickly. Upon entering the front door, she was greeted by the usual sight of the messy members.

“Oh!” Shi Ling expressed as he caught sight of Rin. “Didn't see you coming here for a while, what happened?”

Rin took a second to look at the man that approached her. “...It's been a while, old man.”

“Don't call me old man.” Shi Ling refuted. “I'm just 36 this year, you know!?”

“Yeah, well, I mean...” Rin looked away a little. “Isn't that already old?”

“It's not!”

Rin and Shi Ling talked like usual after that. The former recounting the reason why she couldn't come for the past few weeks. (Mostly about her encounter with a monster and about how she was stuck in the hospital.)

.... ..... .......

“So such a thing happened, huh?” Shi Ling said after hearing Rin's story. “That's surprising. Are you alright now?”

“I am, don't worry.” Rin responded lightly, somehow out of breath. “That aside, though, I came here to tell you something else.” She took a towel from the corner of the room and wiped out the sweat from her forehead.

All around her lay the corpse of the previously noisy and disordered bunch of student, unconscious. Rin had beat them up, of course. She said it was for the pretence of training, but anyone that saw her would probably think she was just a sadist.

‘She do it so naturally too,’ Shi Ling, thought. ‘Like it was normal.’ He didn't dare to voice these word, however, as he saw the entire massacre unfolding in front of him.

“I think I'll be coming here less and less from now on.” Rin stated, sitting on the ground.

“Finally!” The man shone brightly hearing the girl.

“Why are you so happy?” Rin genuinely asked. “I know you don't like me, but, me not coming also mean less customer for you, you know?”

“Ugh...”

Shi Ling couldn't refute Rin's word. It's the truth that hurt the most. In fact, for the past three week there has been less and less people that came to his dojo. That alone confirmed that the majority of his member only came to see Rin.

“I-it's alright.” Shi Ling stuttered, his pride took a huge blow and he seemed to have received some kind of invisible attack. “T-that also mean that the people that stay will be the most assertive one!”

“If there are any.” Rin muttered, amused. In her eyes, she just saw an old man trying to escape reality.

“Did you say something?!” Shi Ling cried.

“I should probably go now.” Rin stood up. It was already 6 o'clock so the night was gradually coming.

She marched slowly, ignoring the man's shout. With a light smile on her face, she waved goodbye to Shi Ling and headed out.

◇

The time was 20 o'clock. It was dark, quiet and devoid of people. The sound of Rin's footstep could be heard all throughout the place. She advanced slowly, step by step and stopped in front of a man, Aiden.

“Well, well” Aiden was the first to talk. “Do you have your answer now?”

Rin stayed silent, lifting her head to face the moon. She could see the countless star in the sky, each shining brightly upon them.

“I...” She said, with a soft voice. “Need power.”

She returned her gaze to Aiden.

“I worked so hard my whole life for that reason.” Her face frowned a little, filled with sadness.

“But...” She looked downcast, clenching her fist. “I can't do it.”

“I tried,” her voice began to shake a little. “But I couldn't.”

She recalled the moment when the monster broke her. When the monster destroyed her. She couldn't do anything.

“I hate it! I hate it so much!” Her voice was louder. Two specific emotion swirled inside her. Anger and sadness. “It's so unfair!”

Because she was powerless, she was shunned by her family.

Because she was powerless, all her efforts were in vain.

Because she was the only one that was powerless, she ended up alone.

Her brother, her sister and now, even her sole unique friend. They all left her behind.

“I don't want it to end like this.” A single streak of tear ran down her cheek. “That's why,” She looked at Aiden. “I need you.”

Aiden's lips curved into a smile. “Just say the word, Princess.”

Rin wiped her tears. She knew that the choice she will make now, will be the wrong one. However, she couldn't back down —no, she didn't want to back down.

“Do it.” She took a deep breath, and exclaimed her wish. “Give me the power I need.”

With a resolute face, and a determination to face the terrible future, Rin Kagane finally stepped on the start line.