PHASE 13 - THE FIRST ONE TO DIE

In preparation for the incoming tournament, the Aether Crusade held a meeting at the conference room of the Kozukata Shrine. Everyone is present and now we are being grinded by the uninterested faces of our members.

Heushac is yawning, Key is playing on her tablet, Kristoff is texting (flirting with somebody), Benedict is scratching his wrist, Drex is listening to heavy metal with his airpods, and others… are really minding their own business.

Rikkun and I are on the podium, and we both don’t know how to start this awkward meeting.

The blonde prince is just scratching his head vigorously. This is the first time Rikkun was assigned to be a real leader, so everything must be hard for him. He’s not nervous, he just doesn't have any idea how to act like a real leader.

“U-Um Rikkun…” I whispered to him. “You can do it! Just do what you always do!” I cheered him up by pumping my fists.

“Right.” He sighed. He inhaled so hard as if his lungs are about to burst out. Then, he unleashed it all.

“ATTENTION YOU DIPSHITS!!!”

Aaaah! It’s so loud! Rikkun must’ve forgotten that he’s on the mic and we’re in an enclosed space, so the loud noise only bounced around the room! Our eardrums just cracked!

But on the bright side, we have finally won their attention.

Even Rikkun didn’t have the power to endure his own voice, so he realized that he should tone down a little.

“I called you all here to discuss the Gate Guardians Tournament and our mission on the said event.”

I immediately gave out the coupon bond that contains Rikkun’s plan in the upcoming tournament. I’m doing great as a secretary, yay!

“We will divide the Aether Crusade into two distinct teams. The Tournament Team and the Investigation Team. We have the Tournament Team to be our first topic. Who would like to join?” Rikkun said.

Several people raised their hands up. Heushac, Kristoff, Drex, Emily, and Benedict all gave their resolve to fight in the tournament.

I also raised my hand a little. I’m quite shy, and I don’t want to be exposed as a wild battle-hungry person...

Rikkun counted the persons as he announces the name of those who wanted to join. “Heushac Efilion, Kristoff Anderson, Drex Brynheim, Emily Teronette, Benedict Hamerov, and Tiara Hikari will join the tournament. Honestly, I would like to join the fight too but it seems that Gate Guardians with God Cores are prohibited from taking part in the event.”

That really makes sense for the Black Cross Legion to ban persons with God Core from taking part in the tournament. The main reason for that battle fiesta is to find who is the worthy successor of the God Core of Mars. A Gate Guardian can only use one God Core after all.

According to the papers, artificial Gate Guardians like Key are also banned in taking part in the tournament. It’s kind of a cheat if a Gate Guardian with five special abilities will join in the said fight.

Rikkun continued to talk. “You six will be the members of the Tournament Team. Your main goal is to win the tournament and secure the God Core. You better prepare for the first round, which is a battle royale. You should cooperate with each other and make sure that every one of you will get to the second half.”

Kristoff raised his hand, which Rikkun immediately entertained.

“Question… We do know that we have to collect twelve God Cores, but is it really necessary that we have to win the fight? I mean, we can just borrow the God Core from the winner.”

“Good point.” Rikkun smiled but frowned thereafter. “I wouldn’t form the Tournament Team if that’s the case… I have received a new set of ... And one of them involves a Cursed Guardian winning the God Core of Mars.”

Everybody went talking to their seatmates with a troubled look.

Rikkun continued to speak in order for them to keep focused.

“That is the reason we have the Investigation Team. Key, Eliseo, Ayano, and I will conduct surveillance and researches so that we can determine who is the traitor among Gate Guardians.”

There was a hint of assurance from the Aether Crusade’s smiles when they heard those words.

“Leave that Cursed Guardian to us.” Rikkun continued. “You, the members of the Tournament Team only has one goal; which is to win. Make sure that one of you will climb to the top and be the champion.”

Everybody went silent for a whole second. The members looked and nodded at each other, affirming Rikkun’s words of inspiration. The Tournament Team slowly stood up and made their pledges to our king.

Heushac smashed his chest. “Leave the God Core to us!”

“Time to get famous and get girls!” Kristoff pumped himself up.

“It’s time for me to suffer pain and get killed.” The emo Benedict had this creepy smirk on his face.

“Yeaaaah baby! Let’s rock!” Drex made a death metal hand sign.

“I’ll do everything for Master Alaric~” The maid Emily clasped her hands as she gazes upon the arrogant king.

I looked at Rikkun and stared at his emerald eyes with determination. I clenched my fist as I give him an alluring smile. “We will win for sure!”

“Right! I’m counting on you!” Rikkun made a smile at me. “Goodluck!”

“Goodluck to you too!” I returned his joyful expression.

We slowly drifted to each other, wanting to shake each other's hand as a form of encouragement, but then...

Wham!

Rikkun was tackled to the floor! It was Eliseo who did it! And now he’s rubbing his cheeks to Rikkun’s handsome face!

“I’m so happy, Ric-ric! We will be investigating together! We’re like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft! We will be partners from now on, right? Right?” Eliseo cried.

“Get...away...from...me!” Rikkun pushed the beautiful blonde guy away. Then he drew his Weapon Gem and materialized double revolvers! “I swear to God I’ll drill holes on your skull!”

“You can drill my mouth and my back all you want, Ric-ric! I prefer if you use your 'sword' though~”

“Oh yeah?” Rikkun made a pissed smile as he switched his weapon from guns to a katana. “Eat this! !!!”

“Eeeek! I’m just joking! I’m just joking!”

Swoooom!!!

“Ahahaha…” I forced a laugh as I watch the two wreak havoc while running around the conference room. The Aether Crusade is now livelier than normal.

<>

It’s already evening when things finally settled down. The Tournament Team is currently on the training grounds of the shrine and practicing their battle techniques, while the Investigation Team is busy with their paper works.

I’m currently stuck with Rikkun in a room dedicated to Aether Crusade’s office job, helping him with application forms to be submitted to the Black Cross. I’m his secretary after all, so I ought to stick and help him. I'll just attend to the training grounds tomorrow.

I prepared him a cappuccino coffee and he very much liked it. There’s even a creamy mustache near his lips.

I’m getting better in secretary-ing!

Wait, we’re alone in this room. Setting up an atmosphere will be easy if we’re the only ones here. This might be the best chance to confess my feelings to him.

No.

We’re both preoccupied with our work. If I will confess, I need to set up the mood when we’re not busy. I’ll just do it tomorrow… or the next day...or next week…or next month...or next year… Or never…

I’m such a wuss! If only I’m not an idiot back when he confessed, I should be calling him "darling" by now!

“Hey, Tiara.”

“Yes, darli-..... I-I-I-I m-mean… Y-Yes, R-Rikkun?” My face is red due to embarrassment. That was close!

“Please call Kristoff right now. I have things to discuss with him.”

“R-Right away!” I made a military salute.

Then I blasted forward with full throttle! I caught the tall dark and handsome guy from the training grounds and dragged him all the way here in the office without reducing speed! I didn’t waste any split second! I’m sure Rikkun will praise me again~

But when I entered back in the office, Rikkun just made a guilty smile at me.

I looked at the person I dragged and then…

I saw Kristoff, ready to pass out. His body is full of scratches and bruises mainly because of my careless bolting. I accidentally slammed him to the wall, ceiling, and ground five or eight times because of my hyperactiveness.

“Y-You don’t have to k-k-kidnap me like that…” Kristoff weakly muttered.

“I-I’m sorry Mister Kristoff!” I shrieked. Then I proceeded to heal him with my .

Kristoff sat in front of the desk with a curious gaze. “So, why did you summon me?”

“How's Naomi? And your daughter?” Rikkun seemed to miss the question, but I think he purposely did it as if he's teasing the poor womanizer.

“I don’t know.” Kristoff shrugged. “That woman hates me, remember?”

Rikkun once told (gossiped) me about Kristoff accidentally making a child with someone back in junior high, thus making him a young father. The mother of the child is Naomi Steigel. She hated Kristoff for his flirty attitude toward other girls. So they broke up and she took their child away from Kristoff and hid the child under her custody.

“I think you should talk to her soon.” Rikkun said.

“Why are you poking on somebody's business?” Kristoff answered with an annoyed tone.

But nobody expected Rikkun’s next answer. Our jaws hanged in this very revelation.

“It’s because I had a . I don’t know when it will happen, but I would like to tell you that…you will be the first one to die. So it will be best if you see your own daughter before you go to heaven.”

Rikkun delivered it in a form of a dry joke, but it’s still too dark for me.