This vast world, plunged into mucky darkness by the developer and his twisted ambitions, created cracks in society’s hope. Their hopes deteriorated as civilians peered into the oppressive darkness looming over them, and all they could see was their livelihood being trampled upon by the developer’s dear characters.
The death and destruction looming in the atmosphere enshrouded everyone in despair, unable to perceive a future beyond the darkness. They couldn’t perceive that future until a certain woman stepped into power and rekindled their hopes. Her name was Ada Foster.
It all started with the great planning and deliberation Ada had done with England’s blessed soldiers, which led to the death of the madman, Jack Knight. He was a calamity with no restraint, so his death truly jumpstarted society’s faith.
Her ambition was at an all-time high, as it only took a few weeks after Jack’s demise for society to receive more good news. Ada had crippled the heinous criminals even further. Both the citizens of the United States and the United Kingdom could return to the peace they once held, and they could attribute this to Ada Foster.
As peace gradually returned, civilians attempted to move on and return to their daily lives. Even combatants were granted times of leisure due to the level of violence being controlled. While they continued training to prepare for any future threats, some made use of their leisure.
Namely, Trixie Leah, who partook in a chess match with the queen of England, Isabella Scarlet Anastasia Alice.
The silent and peaceful lounge room of Buckingham Palace matched the concentration the two women visibly displayed. Trixie and Isabella sat around a small table with the chess board using a chair and wheelchair respectively; Isabella couldn't use a regular chair after all.
Just the two occupied the room…well, them and a certain woman guarding the door. The crimson-shaded glasses and gloves, along with the long black-trenched clothing this woman donned were rather familiar. Well of course there’d be a familiarity, as she was the Queen’s escort when she paid respect to the fallen soldiers who aided in Jack’s elimination.
She acted as both bodyguard and spectator of the chess match. Her viewership may not persist for much longer judging by the very few pieces on the board. Both players radiated visible concentration on their faces, but the sweat that ran down her forehead and the furrowed eyebrows she expressed gave away Trixie’s slight worry about the game’s outcome.
Trixie’s slight worry exploded into a painful, jaw-dropping look of defeat upon witnessing Isabella’s move before she uttered a single word, “Checkmate.”
“Augh! No! I was so close!” Trixie yelled with a grunt from her gut, before sinking in her chair in defeat. “I thought I was going to win this time!”
“Fufu, you’re definitely on the level of chess grandmasters, but you’re just short of me, dear,” Queen Isabella responded with a sly smirk while Trixie pouted. “But I’ll admit this was the most I had to concentrate on my moves in a long while. This was the most exhilarating seven-hour match!”
“Yeah, yeah…you’re saying that because you won…” Trixie muttered. “I know you’re gloating on the inside…”
“Yup, I still have to act like a good sportsman, after all,” Isabella replied. “But you know me so well. Freya, what’s the tally on our scores now?”
“One thousand seven hundred to zero, Your Majesty,” The woman acting as spectator and bodyguard, whose name was revealed to be Freya, replied. “Your flawless streak just keeps climbing.”
“Urgh.”
“Well, how about that? Seventeen hundred wins!” Isabella exclaimed with delight, much to Trixie’s chagrin. “Do you wanna go again…and further increase my tally, dear? We can even play a different game.”
“Sigh, as much as I’d love nothing more than to beat you, I’ll have to put this on pause,” Trixie begrudgingly remarked as she stood from her chair. “I still have my duty as the Enlightenment Program’s instructor.”
Trixie’s rejection of a rematch was met with great surprise from Isabella, as her smug look morphed into a wide-eyed expression.
“Huh? Oh, I suppose you’re right,” Isabella agreed with a slight frown on her face. “I do also have matters I should attend to soon.”
“Matters? What are you going to do?”
“I am the monarch of this continent, so I have to ensure the wellbeing of everyone,” The Queen replied. “Although things have become a lot more peaceful, there’s still a bit of fear within the citizens. I’m planning to alleviate their fears with a speech in the near future.”
“But won’t that be too hard for you? You barely leave your home because you’re such a sickly woman,” Trixie worriedly remarked before gesturing towards Freya. “Why don’t you just let one of your advisors do it, like Freya!”
“I appreciate the concern, but I told you I won’t have a problem as long as I don’t push my body too hard for too long,” Isabella assured. “Although beating you in games is fun, I still have to do my duties.”
“Hmm, alright. Just don’t push yourself…I still have to beat you in a game after all, fufu,” Trixie joked as she made her way towards the exit. “I’ll return in my next free time! Bye-bye, and you too, Freya!”
“I wish you well on the soldiers’ training,” Freya replied as she courteously opened the door for Trixie. Isabella simply waved goodbye. “That they achieve even greater heights.”
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“Hehe, they will,” Trixie replied as she skipped through the doorway. “I’ll have more people to play harder tricks on if they do!”
What followed after Trixie’s departure was an onset of serene silence in the lobby room. Though the tranquility returned, it contrasted from the silence garnered by the women concentrating on the chess match. Trixie had departed, and the Queen was left with a look of boredom and displeasure.
“Is there something bothering you, your majesty?” Freya questioned as she took note of Isabella’s demeanor.
“Well, it’s nothing. I just never expected Trixie, who loves playing tricks and games, to leave after a single session,” Isabella answered. “I love spending time with her, I just– ugh!”
Amid Isabella’s remark, she suddenly found herself victim to a surge of agonizing pain coursing through her body. Her sudden suffering was so intense that Isabella was forced to voice her pain as she grunted while clenching her chest.
Freya acted with alacrity upon witnessing her queen in sudden distress and rushed to her side.
“My queen, are you okay!?” Freya questioned.
“Ugh…I’ll be…fine…” With bated breath, Isabella muttered. “The curse…is just acting up…again.”
Freya stood in concern with her queen for roughly a minute until her debilitating pain had subsided.
“...The pain…returned to its normal…intensity,” Isabella stated as she leaned back in her wheelchair. The pain had caused her to work up a sweat. “I feel…better.”
“...Everytime I see you in that state, I remember how necessary it is for Trixie to continue her duties as an instructor,” Freya said. “Trixie and the soldiers must become even stronger.”
“...Yes, Amber did achieve enlightenment,” Isabella said. “Things…are on…the right track.”
“But that’s not enough. They all have to break their limits…that’s why you created the enlightenment program after all,” Freya stated. “You find Trixie entertaining, but I know you also see the bigger picture, your majesty. ”
“Yeah…I know. The only way I'm able to vanquish the bastard who cursed me to lifelong suffering, I need those soldiers to break their limits...all of them,” Isabella replied as she shifted her gaze toward the ceiling. “But I wonder…if I only find Trixie ‘entertaining’ as you say.”
* * *
Trixie was a woman who took her military duties…almost as seriously as her hunger for committing pranks and playing games, as she returned to the temporary Enlightenment Program’s base not much longer than her departure from Buckingham Palace.
As she cartwheeled repeatedly into her grand entrance, there was something, or someone which caught Trixie’s eyes.
“Hello, my soldiers! I’m back–oh, what’s this now?” Trixie questioned as she stood upside down, garnering the soldiers’ attention as they conversed on a gazebo on the complex’s grounds. “Oh my! There’s a face we don’t normally see here!”
“Hello, Sergeant Leah, you arrived not too long after me,” As Trixie spotted this rarely seen individual, Chief of Defense Barry Alexander greeted her. “How are you? It’s been a while.”
“It has! The last time I heard of you was when you got kidnapped by Jack the Ripper!” Still doing her little handstand, Trixie responded. “Glad you’re all well and good!”
“Tsk, did you enter the base cartwheeling like an idiot?” Leo questioned.
“Hey! That’s not very nice” Amber chimed in with puffed cheeks. “It’s simply Ms. Trixie’s playful personality!”
“You should be used to her antics, anyways,” Sariel replied with folded arms. Leo simply rolled his eyes at their dismissal towards him.
“Um, I was busy so I couldn’t get the chance until now, but I wanted to thank the soldiers who risked their lives to fight against the S-Class criminals. I wished we never had to force you youngins’ into that mess though,” Barry explained. “Especially Amber…all things considered. We wouldn’t have gotten these recent successes without the help of you guys”
“Come on, we’re past the point of just being seen as ‘youngins!’” Ariel replied.”We’ll keep becoming more reliable in the future.”
“I’m just glad you were fine. It was a relief to hear that Mr. Ryzen saved you when you were kidnapped,” Amber expressed. “There was a lot…going through my mind…that day.”
“I…can only imagine how distraught you all were because of the suffering of that day,” Barry remarked in a mutter as he held his head down. “And it all happened because I was used by the enemies…and was helpless to combat it.”
“Come on! I thought we were over the pity party!” Finally flipping right side up, Trixie said.
“Oh, don’t worry…we are done with that. Why do you think I said I was busy,” Barry replied as confidence returned in his tone. “Like you guys, I delegated military personnel to aid in the numerous civilian casualties which took a hit on their stamina. That made me realize the need for more strong allies.”
“Oh? Like who?”
“The American super soldier, Rebecca White. Her path to becoming modified by Project Zero is going well, and the reported information only praises her strength” Barry explained. “Her strength isn’t what caught my eyes though, as I already have strong soldiers.”
“So what caught your eye?” Kreuger questioned.
“Scientists also reported that she’d become a super soldier that never tires,” Barry continued. “Considering we have close ties with America and Ms. Ada, I’m sure Rebecca would become another capable soldier in both our ranks.”
“I heard Rebecca…also suffered in America. That she also lost her friends,” Amber said. “Whenever she wakes up, I hope I can get along with her.”
“Aww, I can’t get enough of how nice you are, Amby!” Ariel responded as she suddenly wrapped her arms around Amber, giving her a pleasant surprise.
“Yes, she won’t be treated like a weapon, but as a human. Rebecca deserves thanks for her services, too,” Barry said. “Speaking of thanks…I wanted to thank the man who saved me too…but of course, Ryzen isn’t here.”
“Yeah…he’s been MIA rather frequently,” Ivory stated.
“Sigh…that’s to be expected of him,” Barry replied. “That’s a part of his unpredictable nature.”
“Anyways, I postponed my precious match against Queen Isabella!” Trixie remarked. “We’ve all said what we wanted so let’s go training now, guys! I’ll play some tricks on you while you’re at it!”
“Yay! Sure!” Amber excitedly yelled.
“I’ll spar with you buggers, but you better not pull any weird shit on me,” Kreuger responded his words stunning Amber and even forcing an audible gasp from her. “Ya hear me, Trixie?”
“H-Hey! That’s not very nice!” Amber uttered.
“Let’s get on with the training, guys,” Sariel said.
I’m glad to see everyone getting along. Slowly but surely, they’ll get past the trauma from Jack and his heinous allies. Trixie still has a good relationship with the Queen too. Barry pondered as he watched the soldiers interact with delight on his face. Despite my terrible mess up by getting myself caught, causing the deaths of so many…I’ll make sure this country will prosper in the end. Even President Ada is continuing to do her part…she’s planning to address America about the future.
