Defining moments (For Nebula)

Masako was in deep meditation as she walked through the main courtyard of Seven Stars Academy. She was deep in thought about what she had been through, and the many people she had met. It seems, ironically, that life had planned for her to make a lot of acquaintances around the time she would join the Cadets. To be fair, she expected to meet a lot of Cadets, but she never imagined that her acquaintances would include an author and a clown. It was more than a little surprising. Would she end up meeting with other interesting people of the like?

She needed to meditate on this.

So, she set her things down and pulled out her practice sword. She had already did practice with swordplay earlier that day, but that was for developing her skills. This was for clearing her mind and helping her think.

I've made a few acquaintances already, yes, but should I bother to pursue them? They would be considered distractions, I would imagine. Not to mention if I get too close, I may run the risk of endangering them. There's no telling if the Terrorist have a means of discovering sensitive information. I've lived alone a long time, and as I think on it, it may be safer this way. It'll allow me to focus more on keeping the order of our fair city, if nothing else. I should be careful of which friends I make. I shouldn't carelessly add more and more numbers to my contact lists. I may even have to consider cutting ties... I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm worrying because of my first failure... I need to keep a calm and collected head...

And so she continued her practice, trying keep weeding out her negative thoughts and return her mind to a state of balance and order.

Nebula walked through the main entrance of Seven Stars academy, looking for the Sibil Tower. The night's moonlight gave Nebula both a sense of dread and a certain sense of encouragment, as if telling her that she should definitely proceed, but she should brace herself for what's to come. The academy wasn't as empty at night as she would've expected it to be, but there were definitelly less people than she saw strolling around during the day. She'd already sent in her application, now all she needed to do was show up, and... pass the test...

Unfortunately for Nebula, she was horrible at finding her way around semi-open spaces. Abysmal, even. She stumbled from room to room and building to building until she found herself back in the main courtyard. Deciding she had had enough and it wouldn't do to be late to your own rite of passage, Nebula decided that she'd ask the next person she saw for directions. Coming across a rather peaceful looking girl, she'd hold her sketchbook close for strength, and muster the will to approach her.

"Um... e-excuse me..." Nebula tried to catch the girl's attention. "Would you happen to know where the entrance to the Sibil Tower is?"

A voice had brought her out of her trance, and of her stance. For the briefest of moments, she allowed herself to look a little awkward before composing herself.

Something isn't right here... wasn't it evening earlier? Why did it turn dark sudden-

She chose no to focus on the darkness. The very last thing she needed to focus on was how dark it got. Oh blessed was the moonlight that cut through the darkness to provide some manner of lighting.

"S-sibil tower! Yes, I believe I do. If you need me too, I can guide you there. I would be very glad to guide you there."

Anything to distract me from the darkness... Masako thought to herself at this very strange and unusual scenario.

Lesson learned hard, always have an alarm ready to warn you when night time was coming.

Jesus, this girl looked even more freaked out than Nebula did, was she really fine with guiding her to Sibil Tower? Even if she wasn't, to refuse a stranger's act of kindness would be tantamount to spitting upon the face of said stranger in Nebula's eyes. "Y-yes, of course. I would greatly appreciate that." She would say as she waited for the stranger to lead the way. "Umm... I'm Nebula. Pleased to meet you." she would introduce herself, as per custom.

As Nebula followed the girl, she would try to start small talk before things got awkward. "S-So, umm... do... do you know any cadets? T-they do work here, right? Or am I in the wrong building?"

Fortuitous! she thought. They could go to a place with light! Thank the heavens!

She gave a very low bow in response to Nebula's introduction.

"Masako Mitsurugi," She replied, "A pleasure to make your acquaintence. This way please!" It seemed she couldn't wait any longer to get out of the darkness.

She didn't seem to think small talk was a good idea. She was more focused on getting inside so that she could turn on a light.

At least she tried to keep it going.

"No, you're correct," She replied, "I myself am a Cadet, and I've made it a point to memorize where anything Cadet important would be. So, it should be no trouble for me to get you there. I take it you're interested in joining?"

Well... for such a yound girl she was incredibly polite, at the very least. She was definitely nicer than the men guarding the entrance to the academy, that was for sure at any rate. "O-Oh! You're a cadet? I'm s-sorry, I didn't realize..." Nebula duely apologized. It wouldn't do to make a cadet feel unappreciated, after all, they were heroes, weren't they? "W-well, yes. I already sent in my application, and... well, I'm trying to find my way to my initiation test." Though it was beyond embarassing to admit that she'd been stuck wandering the halls of the academy for quite a long time, so she'd conveniently leave that tidbit of information out."Umm... d-does being a cadet take up too much of your time? I can imagine it'd keep you busy, but you still have some free time, right?"

That was actually an easy answer to give, ironically.

"I've only just recently started, to be honest," She replied, "But I have found that it's possible to make free time easily." As proven by the many people I've met so far... "It's still suggested that you make the best of your time, but I can't imagine that being a Cadet would rob you of all of your time. But again, I've only recently started myself."

A hopeful! Suddenly the dark is just a little more bearable. It's good to see more people joining the ranks. Speaking of, I wonder how that one girl did? Perhaps I should contact her and see how it went?

That was good. Nebula wouldn't know what she would've done if she would have had to resign to her artistic hobbies. She was absolutely determined to become a cadet now, so if it took up more of her time, then she would have had no choice but to sacrifice her artistic prowess against her will. "That's a relief. I'm glad I'll still get to have time to do other things..." She looked down at her sketchbook as she said so.

"Um... you... cadets fight against psyche terrorists, right? I would imagine it's scary. How hard is it, really?" Not that she could really judge the psyche terrorists on her own terms. She herself was a criminal, and in all tecnicallity her sentence hadn't even been completed yet. Now that she'd noticed, she'd kind of rushed into the whole becoming a cadet thing. She could only hope it was safer than she thought, for there was no turning back now.

Interesting. It seems this one is looking for reassurance... or perhaps I'm reading too much into it. Evaluation: ... uncertain. Will need to see more before a final conclusion can be made.

"I would imagine so, in all honesty," she replied simply, "But in my understanding, it's rare to have to fight alone. You're put into a team, and you have to work together as one. If your team harmony is strong, then I can imagine it's... one of the easiest jobs around. Of course, if you have even one bad element..."

Why do I keep revisiting that Simulation in my memories? Just... learn from it. Learn from it and try not to repeat those mistakes.

"You'll be fine, however," she tried to assure. "There are many professionals in our ranks, and from the look of things, I can only imagine you are a quick study. You'll catch on quickly."

That notebook in your hands seems to suggest as much. Or perhaps it's for other purposes. I'll need to investigate.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is the purpose of that book?" We're making small talk, right? In short, that book should be perfect for a conversation starter.

It was nice to be reassured, despite the fact that being reassured by somebody ten years younger than you (Well, she estimated as such, from the looks of her) was slightly discouraging in itself. Irony made for a cruel companion. Nebula couldn't help but wonder if this was really the right way to go about things. Sure, she wanted to be a hero so she could redeem herself, but fighting terrorists? Was Nebula really cut out for it? Maybe she should just reconsider, go back home, and cancel her application. It still wasn't too late! The academy would completely understand, right?

...no, she had to do this! She wasn't doing this for herself, she was doing it for her father!

"O-Oh, this sketchbook?" Nebula stopped hugging it and held it in her hands. "I'm a comission artist. I take requests for drawing in various artstyles and sell them for profit. Though, I also like to draw for myself in my spare time." If Masako was perceptive enough, she would notice that, aux difference to the rest of what she'd said in her presence, Nebula did not stutter once when defining her proffession. This was pride, above all.

Actually, it seemed Masako did notice. The stutter seemed like such a prominent part of her being that not hearing it was jarring.

At least it was a delightful jarring.

"You must have a keen eye, then," she added, "Either that or a very creative mind. Both would be highly valuable. If you're able to sell them for a profit, then I have to say you're at least my better in that regard. I can't even make convincing stick figure."

Re-evaluation: Hopeful. This one may have a promising future. I'm surprise she's joining as a Cadet if she seems to value her art so much. She must have her reason. I shouldn't pry.

"O-Oh, not at all. My drawings are... descent, I guess, b-but they're nothing extraordinary." Though she definitely maintained pride in her work, she tried hard to never let her creative prowess get to her head. She'd done this for so many years that it eventually turned from "be sure not to get pompous about it" to "get off your own high horse you bitch". Perhaps, she thought, she should give herself more credit for her art? After all, she poured her heart and soul into it in more ways than one... No, that's greedy thinking. Stop being so avaricious, Nebula! "I-if you wanted, I could teach you a thing or two sometime. We're g-going to be co-workers soon, after all."

She would walk alongside Masako for a few minutes more before Nebula's curiosity peaked. "S-So, um... how come you were so eager to help me find my way?"

Hmmm... I wonder if I would have a use for learning how to do art? Perhaps with a later evaluation of myself.

"I'll at least give it a consideration," she answered honestly, "As for my eagerness in helping... well, in all honesty, I'm always eager to help. Ours is an order that needs to be constantly maintained, and that can't be accomplished without being willing to lend a helping hand. As a Cadet, I always strive to help others, no matter how big or how small the task."

I'm just going to conveniently leave out the fact that I absolutely abhor the dark. Yes, that is a very sound plan. In a way, she was glad that her back was turned to Nebula as she lead her onward. It made it much easier to maintain a professional image, especially since she was certain her face was one of anxiety considering where they were earlier.

Nebula remained quiet as she listened to Masako's explanation with all due politeness. She couldn't help but notice how archetypically heroic it was of the first cadet she'd ever met to have such an innate desire to help others out of the pure goodness of their own heart. She couldn't help but feel that... that she wasn't cut out to be a cadet after all. Nebula - in her own eyes, at the very least - was a horrible person, deserving of every bit of scorn she got wherever she went, yet she hoped that one day a chance would present itself for her to redeem herself and become something that could be respected. She hadn't considered, however, the possibility of not being worthy of redemption. Everyone desereved a chance at redeeming themselves, she though, but then again, what worth where the thoughts of a monster such as her?

Eventually, the two reached a set of imposing doors that Nebula could recognize as no other than... "Class zero..."

Nebula gave Masako a polite bow. "T-thank you for guiding me here. I would've gotten l-lost again if it weren't for you."

Again?

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow to that one word in particular.

"I'm glad to have been of help," she replied simply, "It is a pretty big place.  It's easy to get lost here."  Whether Nebula realized the hint she gave or not didn't really matter to Masako.  First day jitters.  Even she had them, especially since it was dark then as well.

I guess I'll just part ways here.  If I see her again, I can ask how it went.  I best get going for now and not hold her back.  I believe I have other arrangements to prepare for.

"I best be going before it gets too dark," she expressed, "I wish you the best of luck."  With that, she gave a small bow and did an about face.  It was time to head back.

Now...

Fast......

Before she became paralyzed by the dark.