Chains Of Pride

"Haru, are you heading to Cendo Academy? You may be an S-Class Digium, but you can't relax. Your research is gonna revolutionize what humans thought was possible." Hokori Nukihanatsu asked with that same placid expression.

His wife was sitting to one side sipping some tea that Silian had brewed for her. Just like her husband, her expression was...expressionless. It was as if these two were made for each other. Their own children sparked not the least bit of warmth within their countenance

"Wha- No! I hate going to the Academy! I have to stay cooped up all day doing research. Besides, how can I leave now that big brother is here?" The younger one stated with an innocent indifference.

His father's face darkened when he heard Haru mention Kia as a reason not to go to the Academy. "Listen here Haru! You will-"

"Bye, I'm heading off to Cendo. See you guys...whenever," just as Hokori Ssuiuda was about to interfere on her husband's behalf, Kia 's voice was like cold water stunning everyone.

Usually, when this brat returns home, he would stay for much longer. Learning those stupid and archaic sword martial arts from father. Now he's going back so quick, whatever this is good too, I won't say anything." As all these thoughts whirled in Nukihanatsu's mind, he made a gesture to his wife not to pay it any mind.

He then turned his attention back to Haru, planning to let loose another spiel about why he should find himself in Cendo Academy this instant. Only to find the chair the Haru was in, still trembling from the recoil of how fast he left.

"Bye mother, bye father, I have to get to Cendo and work on my research! I have to revolutionise the world and whatnot!" Haru didn't even give them a chance to say anything before he sped out of the room and after Kia.

"That little- 'sighs,' we need to do something about his dependability on Kia, it's concerning," Nukihanatsu said with a slightly annoyed mien.

"We'll continue to watch it for now. If it gets in the way of his research we'll take action, I won't have one barely passable son corrupted by the other one."

His cold wife who just finished her tea stated with nary a change in her demeanour as if the other she was referring to was not her son. Silenai simply stood to the side in horror in silence, what kind of parents were these?! Willing to create a rift between brothers simply so that one could advance ahead of the other.

The man who stood beside her simply nodded his head in agreement. (The greatest parents in the world ladies and gentlemen).

...

"Hey big brother, I caught up with you finally! So we're going back to Cendo? But how come you're going back so quick? Did you forget something? Wait, that can't be it..."

They had only just stepped outside to traverse the distance that was their family grounds heading to their gate when Haru began pelting Kia with questions.

Kia only smiled when he saw his little brother saddle right up to him before he began rustling his hair. "You can't come with me all the way to my novre room, come to think of it, we're probably gonna have to separate before that."

"Wha...! Why?" questioned the younger sibling, as he tried to fix his hair back to its former mess instead of its current one.

"Who was the person that caused a hassle last time, when they entered the Academy last time and followed a certain big brother of his to the A-Class district and kicked up a ruckus?" Kia asked with an accusing smile on his face.

Haru's countenance fell as he realised it, "Oh yeah…" It's not that Haru couldn't physically go with Kia to the A-Class District.

As a matter of fact, he had more right to be there than anyone else, being one of the only 5 S-Class Digium among nearly 100K Digiums saw to that. The last time he went there, there was a huge misunderstanding where the A-Classes there at the time wanted to cause trouble for Kia by troubling who they assumed to be his friend.

In any case, they sought trouble by slandering the young Haru, letting him know that only A-Class were allowed there. (S-Class don't wear identifying ranked uniform, neither do new lowly ranked digiums, so they thought he was new, and not important).

In all honesty, an A-Class could bring in another lower-ranked digium in personally, they normally didn't, seeing them as below them and not worth socialising with.

Of course, it didn't end well, a Shepherd who was passing by saw what was happening and practically felt lightning striking him twice. He quickly dispersed the troublemakers and profusely apologised to Haru, asking him not to pursue this.

Haru simply looked at him and walked away with a deadpan expression, not even saying much to Kia as he left. Haru knew they were being like that to hurt Kia, and anyone who wished to hurt his older had to pay. Long story short, the digiums who caused that issue back were exiled from the Academy.

Unfortunately, this just made Kia seem even more creepy and overbearing, solidifying his moniker as the Red Creep. This was one of the reasons, he kept Haru at a distance, so he wouldn't see these kinds of things and silently flip out like he did back then, utilising his authority to exile who he saw fit to.

"B-But I'll wear a mask, they'll never know it's me," Haru explained, trying to get more time to spend with his elder brother.

"First of all, a mask won't hide your prepubescent body and, second of all, no digium who was a part of the incident back then is still at the Academy. An S-Class is a pillar of the Academy, you can't just stroll arou-...well, you can, but if you get hurt, it won't end well. Which is why the remaining 4 are so low profile, well, except for that one jackass."

Kia spoke up to here, by now they were at the gate where a taxi was waiting on them. They both got in, on their way to Terra-metro station, heading to the mainland to go to the transportation hub.

"Apart from the funny looking one, 2 of them are always busy, only elder sister usually hangs out with me." Haru couldn't help but show a sad expression when he said this.

Kia almost asked who this elder sister was out of impulse, but he quickly controlled himself. Unless an S-Class digium wishes to expose themselves to you, one could not and should not look into who they are.

"Regardless little guy, I'll travel with you all the way to Anctum, but after that, we have to part. Besides, you really can't slack off on your research, I mean, even I'm looking forward to the day it sees light." Kia encouraged his sad-faced little brother.

Haru lifted his head with a beaming smile, "Really?"

"Of course, you're my kid genius little brother, and nothing will ever tear us apart, and I mean nothing," Kia said, ruffling Haru's hair again. This time, however, Haru didn't bother fixing it, he just continued to bask in the presence of his brother.

They finally arrived at the station and took the terra-metro all the way to the mainland. The two made their way to the transport hub, going through the necessary checks that came with it.

The bright flash of white light covered them in their own hub, breaking them down and transporting them to their destination. When they were finally reconstructed, they arrived in Cendo's receptance section of the hub.

"Ugh, I always hated travelling 'blegh-' oh jeez!" Haru tried to keep down his breakfast as he staggered out of the hub. He was just about to fall when someone caught him.

"What are you?" A cold and aloof voice sounded, looking up one could see a young man with a glacial demeanour.

"Gero, leave my little brother alone," The person that unceremoniously caught Haru was indeed Gero.

Kia emerged from the transportation hub only to find Gero holding up in one hand a somewhat woozy Haru.

Gero raised an eyebrow when he heard this, "I never knew you had a brother."

"Not many people do, and I'd like to keep it that way. I don't want my little runt of a brother kicking up a fuss." By this time Kia had already walked to Gero and retrieved Haru from his hands, checking up on him to see if he was alright.

Haru never did travel well, so this was normal. Before Gero could ask any more questions, an elegant aircraft descended from above, kicking up a lot of wind as it did so.

As it landed, a force field that blocked all from view covered the craft and all under it, which just happened to be the queasy Haru, the calm Kia and the slightly fl.u.s.tered Gero.

"I-Isn't that the S-Class Carrier? The one used for transporting and carrying an S-Class Digium?!"

"Yeah i-it is, it's my first time seeing it!!"

"Did anyone see who it came for?"

"No, and we can't see anything cuz of that force field."

"I-I think I saw Red Creep there." Said another Digium who spotted the distinctive striking crimson hair.

"Hmph, how could Red Creep have anything to do with the S-Class? They're not someone dregs like him could come in contact with."

'That's right, it's wishful for S-Class to have any relations with him."

Everyone was talking about the S-Class Carrier that just came out of nowhere. It gave them little chance to see who it came for. Everyone began speculating about whether they'll be able to see one of these legendary figures.

Meanwhile, under the cover of the aircraft, Kia stood unmoving with a now partially recovered Haru.

Two Shepherds disembarked the ship and headed in the direction of the three young men. When they arrived in front of Haru, the executed a slight bow and said, "Sir, the young miss has advised us of your passage, please forgive us not coming to receive you sooner."

"Hey big brother, do you wanna travel with me? Big sis probably had them come for me, since she's the only I told I was coming back." Haru asked, a bit excitedly.

Kia shook his head and rejected Haru's invitation saying, "Remember, I have something specific to deal with, it wouldn't be convenient to travel in something so...eye-catching."

"But-"

Kia interrupted him barring a little compromise as he said, "It's okay, I'll call you the next time I drop off the grid, and we'll hang out, just the two of us. That sound good?"

Haru pouted when he heard this, but he reluctantly accepted, before he hugged Kia once more eliciting a ruffle of his hair from the latter before he left for the ship followed by the two Shepherds.

The aircraft's engine roared to life once more as the force field receded. It took to the skies and shot off into the distance, leaving behind a bewildered Gero and a practically used-to-this Kia.

After a while, Gero retained his normal mental state and asked, "Should I ask?"

"Something tells me, you'll come to know eventually. Let's not talk about this, where's Lanzo?" Asked Kia, trying to shift the topic.

Seeing that Kia was not willing to discuss, he did not continue pursuing this, "He should already be at that shitty Shepherd's mansion, let's go."

They both went on their way, in front of a myriad of stunned gazes and faces.

"I-It really is Red Creep a-and Cloud-King Gero, the hell is going on here, are they gonna be S-Class or something?"

"If they come back to us for revenge, we won't get away!"

"I've gotta let young sir know what I saw."

Many people who shared less than amicable relationsh.i.p.s with Gero and Kia began to move. Unbeknownst to the two perpetrators a huge, a huge undercurrent began to surge because of this incident.