Chapter 13

The Black Cat and the Golden Lion

The new morning had just arrived, yet the hallways were unusually crowded. With a cup of coffee in hand, Felix yawned as he headed to the training ground. He rolled his aching shoulders as he mumbled out, “Stupid Matrix Key…”

On his path, he saw a heavily dressed young woman with dark brown hair holding a paper bag.

She looked to Felix, but he paid her no mind and continued to cross the halls.

“E-excuse me.” The young woman called out to him.

“Mhm… what is it?” There was a slight hint of drowsiness in Felix’s voice as she looked at her.

“Do you remember me?” She asked as she walked up and looked at him.

She was a quiet, and somewhat gloomy looking woman. Her distinguishing features were the braids on the sides of her brown hair. Her eyes were visibly tired with dark circles under them, and spoke with a slight, raspy restlessness in her tone.

“You’re… ah, from Cygnus, right?”

She smiled and introduced herself, extending her left hand, “Carol Thomas, codename CT-2. I came to formally thank you on behalf of Cygnus Enterprise... for saving my life.”

Felix let out a soft smile and shook her hand, “You’re welcome. I’m Felix Aster, but I guess you already knew that. So how are you feeling?”

“Better now, but I don’t think I can go out in the field yet. I’d offer to go get some coffee, but I see you already have some, so please, take this instead.” She handed him the paper bag.

“What is it?”

“High grade coffee. I didn’t know what to get you, but from what I’ve heard, I was told you would like it.”

“You heard right, but I wouldn’t reject an offer for coffee, so maybe another time then?”

As soon as Felix took the paper bag from her, she blew breathily on her palms. She turned her head side to side and muttered, “Then, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Wait, I’d feel bad if you had to leave so quickly. I was headed to the training hall.” Felix scratched his cheek.

“Ah, then I’ll help you train.”

“Probably not a good idea, you’re still healing.”

“It’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Carol smiled softly.

The two headed to the training ground, the path grew increasingly crowded with agents.

“To be honest, I was tasked on that mission alone, so I wasn’t aware that we had back up.” Carol commented.

Felix sipped from the coffee and replied, “We were also on a mission, so it was actually just by coincidence that I was in the area.”

“Was it now?” She lowered her head with a gentle smile.

As they talked, a number of people rushed between them.

“For the most part, the Chief was just glad that we finished our mission without any prob— hey!” The coffee in his hand spilled to the floor as a passerby bumped into him.

“Recruit, what’s the hurry?” Felix asked in an annoyed tone.

“S-sorry sir, there’s a match in the training hall, we’re going to watch. Wait, up, guys!” The young recruit quickly ran off.

“A match?” Carol turned to Felix, “Well then, would you like to watch?”

Felix nodded, and the two headed to the training grounds with a change of plans.

As the two made it to the crowded area filled with cheers, a vein pulsed as the two entered the training ground.

Despite the wide area, it still felt cramped. The crowds filled the air with cheers that reached up to the bright golden brown pillars that held up the ceiling.

He glanced all over the dirty marble floors with a clearly irritated look as he thought to himself;

So many shoes in the training ground.

But he immediately turned his head to the side as he smelled a familiar sharp scent, and his mismatched eyes were drawn to the trail of a gray mist.

Felix wore an annoyed scowl, “Chief?”

“Good morning, Felix.” The chief replied with a cigar in her mouth, her back leaned against the metallic walls.

“Y-You must be… Chief Vivian Nguyen?” Carol spoke with a hint of anxiety in her tone.

The chief tapped the ashes off her cigarette, much to Felix’s chagrin, “And you are?”

“My name is Carol Thomas of Cygnus Enterprise, sir.”

“You’re the one Felix assisted, I take it?”

“That’s putting it lightly. He saved my life, sir.”

“Not the first time an Elite Agent saves another,” The chief bit her glove as pulled it off, revealing a mechanical hand as she continued, “So, did you come here to express gratitude?”

“Y-yes. I actually did, sir.”

“Then what favors has Cygnus Enterprise come to offer?”

“Chief, stop making her feel unwelcome.” Felix interjected.

The chief shrugged, “I jest.”

“So, care to tell us what’s going on here?” He asked.

“See for yourself.” The chief pointed towards the center of the room, where three individuals fought fiercely.

Felix looked with an expression of disbelief, “Is that…?”

“…the Golden Lion?” Carol finished.

“Oh, so you know of her?” Chief curiously asked.

“Ah, only from the rumors and um…” Carol elaborated the little information she knew.

Chief smirked and remarked, “Yes, the pride of this agency.”

“Was that a pun?” Felix scoffed

“Unintentional, but I stand by it.” She shrugged once again.

“Allison Aurum… She used to be the first ranked, right? Before David Soldier, but… who are the two sparring with her?” Carol’s thoughts trailed as she watched the three combatants.

Upon hearing the name Carol uttered, however, Felix reflexively clenched his fist. His eyes fixated on the golden-haired woman who dominated the two red-eyed individuals.

“Those two are Frontier Industries’ new pets, Nero and Isabelle.” Chief answered Carol.

It was the two from back then, the one who broke Marie’s door.

“So how long will she be here this time?” Felix asked

“She’s only here for a visit, she’s still suspended.”

“Suspended?” Carol tilted her head

“A lot of complications and issues spawned because of her… And after an incident that involved Russian and American security… well, let’s just say we still have to fix things.”

“How could that even…?” She meekly spoke, breathing on her palms once more.

“The twelve organizations and the government aren’t exactly on the best terms as of late, and she pushed her luck… Like I said, it’s complicated. CIA, FBI, MI-6, all organizations we’d rather not have to deal with.”

I find it oddly therapeutic watching “Nero’s” face thoroughly wiped across the ground.

The Chief groaned as she turned her head towards Felix, “Sigh, two of my largest headaches stand before me in a single room.”

“Speaking of headaches, where’s Marie?” Felix replied.

“I don’t know, but I sure hope she’s working on her personal data.” The chief groaned as tried to take another puff from her cigar, but before she could put the cigar on her lips, it was already in Felix’s hand.

“No shoes, smoking, or alcohol in the training ground, Chief.” Felix said scoldingly as he crushed the chief’s cigar in his hand.

The chief frowned slightly and replied; “Well that’s just rude.”

Felix walked ahead closer to the arena, and Carol mumbled out, “Felix?”

“I’m gonna watch up close, I wanna see how far I still need to go. Don’t you?” Felix smiled.

“Then, I’ll watch— wait. Actually, um… I just remembered”, She raised her finger upward, “I had to go pick up my little brother.”

“Little brother? I-I see, well, take care then.” Felix waved awkwardly as he heard those two words.

With a finger on her lower lip, Carol tilted her head down and asked, “Before I go, is she named after the agency, or is the agency named after her?”

“The answer should be obvious.” The chief smirked.

As Felix squeezed through the crowds to watch from the front row, where he saw a familiar face sitting at the front, enjoying the show.

“Marie, so this is where you were.” He muttered out as he found his partner.

“Hm, what’s in the bag?” Maria asked, taking notice of the brown paper bag in his hand.

“Coffee.”

“That’s— why do you have coffee in the training room?”

“It’s a gift from Carol.”

“Ah… the woman from Cygnus, right? I’m surprised she wanted to pay you back, I expected her agency to do that.”

“It’s not uncommon. People tend to repay you in different ways.” Felix answered as he scratched his cheek, his face slightly red. He then asked, “So, how are things looking?”

“Well, the one who broke my door is currently having his ass handed to him on a silver, err, golden platter.”

“I see that. It’s oddly enjoyable.” He remarked with a satisfied smirk.

“Right?!” She beamed excitedly, the two of them reveled in the blond young man’s suffering.

Felix gazed up at the three individuals in combat, watching their battle reminded him of the battle against Harbinger. A two-against-one fight that was somehow on the one’s favor.

“I’ve read up about her. She’s apparently Project CHIMERA’s number one result.” Maria stated.

“Yeah…” He responded in a disinterested voice, still watching.

She continued, “Apparently, despite being on Project ASTRAEA, you were also involved in Project CHIMERA.”

Felix turned his head to her and blurted out, “Huh?”

She returned a glance and asked, “So, looking to take her on?”

“Not really up for it…”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be number one?” She teased and poked his cheek.

“Rankings are determined on the number of missions finished efficiently, not fighting ab—”

“Isn’t it a way to gauge how strong you are, then? You’re the strongest, right?”

Felix pursed his lips, conceding without saying a word, “Maybe after their fight.”

As the three battled, their styles were clear and distinct from one another. Nero’s attacks were fast but direct, swiftly swinging his staff with immense force, while behind him, Isabelle kept her distance and assisted in-between their clashes by throwing the rubber knives at their opponent.

While their weapons danced and swayed, the Golden Lion’s preferred weapons were her own arms and legs, countering each of their blows.

She slid beneath Nero’s staff, and promptly grabbed Isabelle’s arm, knocking her out of balance and throwing her against one of the four golden brown pillars that formed their arena.

“Kyah!” Isabelle squealed out as her small frame smashed against the pillar.

“Isa!”

Nero yelled, but as he attacked, she grabbed the end of the staff, pulled it back, then struck his forehead on the other end. As he loosened his grip, she then took hold of the staff and swung it strong enough to throw him to the ground.

She was then about to land her knee against his throat. But before she could drop the finishing blow, her eyes were suddenly drawn to Felix, who had been pushed into the arena.

“Aye, it’s your turn~!” Maria happily shoved him with a wide smile.

Nero took advantage of the situation, and a faint red enveloped him, then a wind burst from his body and threw Allison back.

The two red-eyed guests then pulled him into the ring as they made their escape out of the arena.

“Your turn.” Nero grinned slyly.

“Good luck!” Isabelle added, excited to finally escape.

“H-hey!” Felix yelled as his feet landed on the floor mats.

“Just now… that power was…” He blurted out as he looked for the two, but they already hid among the audience.

Felix suddenly felt an intense stare from behind, and as he turned to look at it, he saw a vision of a pack of wild lions surrounding him.

That’s some intense bloodlust.

Distracted, Felix nearly got struck by a sharp haymaker, but it stopped short nearly two inches from his face.

“You’re not the one I was fighting…” She spoke.

He nervously gulped, “Ah, s-so, Allison…” Felix awkwardly spoke towards the blonde woman in front of him.

“Huh, and you are…?” Her expression went blank, yet her tone was curious. She stood there, emanating strength and experience. Her arms glistened in sweat, dripping through the lines of her tight muscles.

“I’m… Felix. Felix Aster.”

“Oooh… That’s a pretty name.”

“…We’ve met before.”

“Oh, we have? I see…” She muttered dismissively.

“Yeah…” He awkwardly responded, “You know, I’m actually ranked eleventh now.”

“Oh, um… should I congratulate you? Ranked eleventh on what?”

“Of the board? You know… the Elite Agent’s board?”

“Elite Agents? Oh, right. I’m a part of that.” She lowered her head in response.

“Yes… you’re ranked two.”

“I am? Oh, right…” She turned her head left to right, looking at the crowds, “So, do you want to fight too?”

“Actually, I was just dragged into this, but…” He stopped as he heard his partner’s voice call out his name.

“Felix, Felix, Felix!” Maria chanted his name and raised her arm in the air. The rest of the crowd followed suit.

From the other side of the crowd, a red-haired woman with red rabbit ears started to cheer, “Allison! Allison! Allison!”

The crowds began chanting the names of the two combatants in repetition, roaring their excitement.

Felix looked over to the golden lion staring down at him. A vision of Luna facing off against Allison flashed in his mind.

“You know what? Yes. I do.”

“Alright then.” Her soft demeanor sharpened. She took her stance, and her overwhelming presence took over.

I hate to admit, but the woman standing in front of me right now… makes me feel intimidated. No, scared. But I don’t wanna back down from this. I want to beat the top dog. I will be the top dog.

The cheering from the audience died down as Felix took his own stance.

I guess now is as good a time as ever to see how far I’ve come.

After all…

Not even Luna could beat her.

From the audience, the two new recruits rested on the floor, letting out a loud gasp as they caught their breath.

“Hard to believe she’s not an enhanced human.” Isabelle remarked as she gasped heavily as a red electricity crackled around her body.

“Either way she’s a monster.” Nero remarked as a red electricity crackled around the mark on his forehead.

Nero turned his head towards the arena and sneered, “How much you wanna bet one of them dies?”

“You’re joking, I just hope none of us get killed just by watching.” She replied as she caught her breath.

“Here we’ll see what the strongest esper is really made of.” Nero grinned widely with high expectations.

As the two red-eyed individuals watched intently, their hearts skipped a beat as a cold voice spoke from behind them, “Is it that hard to tell which one is gonna win?”

As a nervous sweat streamed down Nero’s face, he thought to himself, ‘This girl, how did I not notice her?’

Maria smiled confidently, “Felix isn’t the type of guy to back down from a challenge. That much I can tell you.”

“Really... wait, you’re—?” Isabelle spoke with an awestruck tone, yet as she turned around, Maria was already walking closer to the arena.

Felix's feet bounced around the floor, waiting for the first move. He knew that taking the first strike against the lion that stood in front of her would be a fatal mistake, even if it was just a spar.

If Marie's watching, then I'd better make this entertaining at least.

Felix let out a sharp exhale through his teeth, and the battle began as Allison initiated the first attack. A fast, sharp jab. Felix, confident in his own physical strength, had that confidence shattered as she destroyed his guard.

Pushed back by the blow, his hands trembled down to the fingertips.

She followed up with consecutive vicious jabs, which made Felix’s feet dig into the floor mats.

Felix adapted to her jabs little by little. He smirked and struck back, but Allison arched her back against the ground, escaping his fist and the gust of wind that followed.

She then grabbed his head with her legs and threw him across the room.

As Felix rolled over on the ground, he quickly got on all fours and sprinted away like an animal, escaping a fist that cracked the floor.

He then got back up, and threw his own barrage of fists.

But each of his punches were countered. And as he threw another kick, she grabbed his leg and slammed him down to the ground.

In an instant, everything had become pitch-black.

When he opened his eyes, there was a sharp ringing in his ear.

His head throbbed with an intense pain, and the fractures in his mind began to open, and through the cracks, his memories began to spill out, and as he looked up at his opponent’s dull, unchanged expression, a memory replayed in his mind. A voice that told him to stand up.

He staggered to stay upright, but he gritted his teeth and raised his fist, signaling that he was ready.

Allison once again raised her fists, not allowing her opponent any mercy. She followed and struck once again, but as she did, Felix made an opening for himself, avoiding her strike and followed with a counter.

Her golden locks dragged against the wind as her feet tore through the floor mat.

“That attack…” Allison muttered.

Felix followed with a flurry of attacks. His arms were like weapons, striking and whipping at every turn, and yet— Fast as they were, they were caught in her hands, as she speared toward him with a rock-hard headbutt.

He reeled a step back as his head wobbled. His forehead was marked red.

“Alright, serious time.” Allison muttered to herself.

She lowered her stance, not dissimilar to the one he had used against her earlier. She appeared as a carnivorous animal, tensing up moments before it springs to its prey.

The phantom, in turn, took back control of his body and planted his feet, taking one last stance.

“Come on… work.” He muttered, both of his eyes began to radiate a cold, azure blue. A crisp, thin blue line manifested, outlining his body.

Allison took a step forward, and though his senses were heightened, she had vanished in front of him.

His eyes widened as they slowly caught up to her, and saw that she was crouched against one of the pillars that made the ring. But before his body could even turn around to face her, she already landed on the other one, and was preparing to jump once more.

She moved from one pillar to another, weaving together a golden thread across the arena.

Nero and Isabelle’s heads kept turning as they followed, yet Maria’s expression remained unimpressed, her irises reflected every single one of Allison’s movements.

When she finally reappeared, his eyes quickly narrowed as the inescapable blow was less than a few inches from impact.

His memory flashed to earlier and remembered what Nero did to escape.

A hazy blue gust exploded throughout the hall. The crowds became deafeningly silent after a loud crackle reverberated across the room.

Felix and Allison took a step back. Allison nearly toppled over, gasping and covered in scratches. Felix, however, collapsed.

The sparring match was over, and the victor was clear.

*

Felix’s eyes slowly opened, and found himself lying on Maria’s lap.

“You know, you really have to stop doing that all-fours animal style fighting nonsense.” Maria pouted as she sat beside him. “It’s apparently leftovers from when you were involved in Project CHIMERA.”

As he got up, he looked around and the training hall had become empty, and only three people had remained, “M-Marie? What... happened?” He groaned.

“You blacked out twice, so you know, there goes my expectations.” She replied.

“It’s not my fault you overestimate me.” Felix muttered with a sharp groan.

“You want to be rank one, don’t you? You’re supposed to be better than this.” She muttered with a focused stare, much to Felix’s dismay.

“R-right.”

“Well, on the flip side, you left a Felix-shaped crater where you landed.” Her voice returned to the usual poppy and upbeat tone as she pointed to the floor, where his body had been buried deep into the floor mat.

Allison walked up to Felix with a blank expression, “I apologize, I took you seriously.”

Felix laughed awkwardly in disbelief, “That somehow both annoys me and makes me happy at the same time.”

“I remember now, you’re Luna’s brother, right?”

“…I’m surprised you remembered.”

“Your attack… It looked like you were throwing a spear. It was familiar.”

“I feel like I’ve finally caught up to you, even just by a bit. Good match.” Felix smiled and reached his hand out.

“Yeah… good match.” Allison muttered with a gentle smile as she shook his hand.

But as she let go, Felix suddenly lost balance and fell to the ground. The intense shock on his body quickly caught up as he got up, and Maria lifted him over her shoulder.

“Easy there, bud.”

“Thanks, Marie… Think you and I can have a rematch again sometime—?”

As Maria helped Felix up straight, her and Allison’s eyes met, and as they did, Allison quickly pounced far from the two of them.

“Huh, what’s wrong?” Felix asked, though Maria just smiled cheerfully toward her.

Allison’s eyes sharpened immensely, with a subtle agitation in her voice she spoke, “I’m… sorry, I have to go.”

“Oh, uh… okay.” Felix waved.

As if in a hurry, Allison left the training hall without turning back.

Both of them watched with a surprised expression before Maria broke the silence, “You land one hit and suddenly you’ve caught up with her?”

“When I was young, I wouldn’t have even dodged her first jab, now I landed a blow on her… so yeah, improvement.” He snickered.

“Good job. So, you never told me you had a sister before. Luna, huh?”

“She was my mentor… I’ll tell you about her another time.”

“Right… let’s go.”

“Okay… wait—”

“What?”

“Nobody removed their damn shoes, now the training room is dirty…” Felix expressed his annoyance.

“The janitor’ll clean it up. Now c’mon, the Chief is waiting for us.” She said as she carried him out of the room.