Chains Of Pride

"Holy shitskin, what happened to them!" One of the healers within the Medical Ward couldn't help but curse when she saw the state of the 7 odd digiums who were beaten to the point where there they were unrecognisable.

She quickly collected herself when she remembered the man who brought them here, and who was in the same room with her. "OH! My apologies sir Shepherd."

It was Shepherd Hide, who had brought them in for treatment. He might be unreasonably strict in many ways, but it didn't mean he was going to leave them as is. He did have specific responsibilities that he had to uphold as a 'Shepherd' after all.

When he heard the little girl address him, he shifted unfeeling eyes from the wounded young men to her and shook his head to her saying.

"My condolences for this, but I'll leave them to you, with the technology in the Medical Ward they should be good after a week after all."

With that, he started to leave the room along with a miffed Vizio who he somehow roped along in his chores once again.

"Eh?! You want me to take care of every single one of these people by myself Sir Shepherd?"

She didn't dare to shout, but she couldn't help but feel a little indignation on the extra labour. She didn't go to the Engage Sequence as it wasn't her kind of scene and she would much rather stay here to continue on her research as a healer.

Healers in Cendo Academy was another name for the digiums who trained and/or researched in the Medical Ward of the Academy. They were responsible for health and medicinal remedying, much like a hospital would on the mainland.

When he heard this, he stopped and turned around to look at her with his piercing gaze. When she saw this, her scalp went numb while thinking to herself, "Why did I even say anything? Everyone knows the kind of person this Shepherd is."

"What's your name?"

He asked the female digium donned in a white coat that extended past her knees, probably the staple Cendo uniform underneath. She wasn't particularly beautiful, but she was pleasant enough to look at, even giving off a refreshing feeling.

"U-Uhm this humble one is W-Wang Yin Sir," she timidly replied.

She started to think that she would probably get kicked out of the Academy, and would have to explain to her poor parents how she offended the one person she shouldn't have.

"Well Wang Yin, since this is too much for you at this point…I'll get you some help" replied the stoic Shepherd.

"Eh! Some help? You mean you're not gonna kick me out for undermining your authority?" Wang Yin was confused at this point wondering when she'd face the brunt of the rumour of wrath that is Hide Takeshi.

"Pfft hahaha hahaha, wa-wait a minu-..hahahahaha, priceless! I love this girl she's just too cute!" It was Vizio in the corner who burst out laughing when she heard this. Wang Yin was practically lost by now, wondering when she said something funny.

It wasn't her fault, it was known within their own circle of course that Taliums had an odd sense of humour compared to humans, and Vizio, even among Taliums was considered …different. So not even Shepherd Hide knew what was going through her head at the moment, though he had an idea.

Ignoring the tactless Vizio who was busting her gut in the corner, Shepherd Hide simply took out the transmitter from his coat pocket, and summoned Omni, "Contact Ayuki …"

When Wang Yin heard who Shepherd Hide was calling her heart nearly stopped. "THE Minayatsu Ayuki?! The Life Fairy Ayuki?!! It was long speculated that Minayatsu Ayuki was one of the 5 S-Class Digiums of Cendo Academy!

The S-Class Digiums were existences that held immeasurable prestige within the Academy and also wielded massive authority, not inferior to that of a Shepherd! So it was quite easy to see just how highly thought of the S-Class were. Not to mention the regular Digiums, even the Academy itself considered them to be something akin to a pillar of sorts.

The transmitter beeped to show that it had connected, "Ayuki, get down to the Medical Ward and help a Wang Yin take care of a mess that needs cleaning up. After that, you can leave the mansion and do what you wish for the rest of the day." When he finished speaking, he hung up and placed the transmitter into his pocket.

After he looked back at the shocked Wang Yin and told her that she'll be aptly rewarded for her help in regards to this, and stated that Ayuki should be here within the next few minutes.

When he was finished, he exited the Medical Ward with Vizio who proceeded to ask "So what now? I know you're not just done with this, knowing how meticulous you are of course."

A cool breeze flew by when they stood there, quietly ruffling their clothes while she stared at him, waiting for his response. She soon found herself in a trance that was hard to exit, or rather, one she didn't want to.

He stood there, sporting his usual style, a slim fit waistcoat over a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing toned and muscular forearms.

A testament to the robust perfection that was his body, something that the clothes he wore did a poor job of hiding.

He also kept a small properly trimmed beard, shaved as close to the skin as possible, but enough left to show that it was there. His hair was cut close the sides but grew a bit longer at the back and the top, with a few strands that landed just above his eyebrows, with a small few that went lower, in between his eyes which he didn't seem to mind.

On his nose hung a pair of prescription glasses that he re-adjusted when it accidentally slid down a bit. He was actually quite handsome for the most part, it was just his aggressive disposition that kept people away from him. However, with Vizio knowing him as long as she did, she didn't mind it at all and instead got drawn closer to him for it.

"We're gonna head to that Engage Sequence." His voice woke her from her stupor, suddenly finding him facing her. However, he ignored her blank expression from earlier, something she blushed when she realised. "I know I'm gonna have to train the two brats, but I have something of an expectation for green lantern over there, so I'll have to see how well he can handle himself, and just why he's referred to as the Ace of their team.

.........

After a heated argument and many veiled threats being flung all over, it was decided that the Armis would be worn by Lanzo and not the Captain, something that he was absolutely livid about.

It was because every time he thought he made a win in their argument, they would always shoot down his reasoning in a way that he couldn't refute.

In all honesty, they wouldn't be like this if he hadn't turned them the wrong way when he opened the door earlier, but he did, and Kia and Gero alike were petty in terrifying ways. In the end, he had to helplessly take back the directive of him wearing the Armis.

The Captain had quickly begun to don his original armour and was engaging with it, but froze in awe when he saw how the Armis engaged with Lanzo from start to finish.

Under Kia's instruction, Lanzo simply placed his palm on the right b.r.e.a.s.tplate of the Armour where there was a strange insignia, it began glowing to his touch, and soon after, it started to deconstruct while snaking along his arm before covering his entire body, head included in numerous tiny black cuboid looking particles.

They then started to converge once more, and when it was completed. It was perfectly streamlined to his body, with a helmet that covered his head in its entirety with half a visor installed for vision. The engaging process was simultaneously completed as Lanzo could 'feel' the suit.

Everybody was waiting for him to say something, anything. Even the Captain was waiting while Kia was examining the whole process with a smile on his face, and Gero retrieving a metallic suitcase with less than sufficient interest in the development before him.

After a while, the phrase that became singular with him was uttered from behind the helmet

"Damn, I feel light!"