[Star-Merch] Treasures and Trinkets [Beira x Rainier]

[Shanyume]

Hard to believe that it has been nearly two years since she encountered her first senshi, one that she only recently learned was a Dark Mirror which explained how he was able to escape her so easily. At first, Erica had thought she had been seeing things. But after learning that both Drew and Jeremy’s brother were both senshi, things fell into place.

She became more critical while reviewing reports such as missing persons and the explosion on the hill. It was a bit alarming to see just how many reports involved someone who had passed out from apparent exhaustion or heat stroke or suddenly died of a heart attack. Knowing what the Negaverse and Dark Mirror were capable of with their energy drain and quotas; it gave her a reason to look at these reports more critically.

Jeremy’s suspicion was more founded than she had originally given him credit for. It’s not that she didn’t trust him, but a part of her was reluctant to believe that there was that level of corruption among the other officers. Her own moral compass still pointed true and remained unchanged and she’d hoped that those she worked beside walked a similar path.

But when he almost died… that belief, that hope, it wavered considerably.

At the age of twenty-two, Erica donned the blue uniform of a police officer and swore the oath to never betray her own integrity, her character, or the public’s trust. That she would always have the courage to hold herself and others accountable for actions taken. To maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold the values of the community and agency she served.

Two years ago she learned that the streets were corrupted by something normal citizens turned a blind eye to because it was something they didn’t understand. Chaos brought war to the streets with magic and monsters; something her gun couldn't hold a flame to.

Five months ago she learned that they were not alone in this world and that there were worlds, wonders, and dimensions that existed beyond the local supermarket. With her awakening, she learned that the Rainier she visited was not the same one located in Washington State. They shared similar qualities, but her own wonder was a labyrinth of ice caves on Mercury that served as a prison.

Well… at least she seemed to have stayed true to her role in the past life.

Still, she wished that she had more than Acrucis to talk to these things about. The Senshi of Prayer was kind and helpful but often seemed exhausted by work or this search for her friend that Rainier had to wonder how much longer the young woman would last. It made her hesitant to reach out unless she had a lead on the missing person case. Which was one reason she was powered up this evening.

After the incident that happened inside the rift with the giant and gargoyles, Rainier found herself with renewed hope that she might be able to get a lead on this Sidouer girl after seeing how many agents and corrupts were powering up as of late. Approaching them one on one might not be the best option, especially since she was still a Page with absolutely no magic to speak of. But she believed that with the number of signatures that had been sucked into that weird dimension, someone has to know something.

Rainier had been wandering around for the better part of the last hour hoping to encounter an aura belonging to anyone that she could approach and finally speak with. Just as she was ready to call it a night she felt something on the edge of her senses; an aura with similar strength as Acrucis’. She knew better than to believe it was her friend since Hannah had to work late today to cover for a co-worker that had called out again. But that knowledge didn’t stop Rainier from approaching the person it belonged to.

“Hello,” she called out once she was close enough for them to hear. From where she stood all she could really make out was the silhouette of someone with long silvery or white-colored hair.  

[Shanyume]

“I’m alright.” Her head canted to the side as her silvery eyes looked up at him in genuine concern.

Rainier turned to look over her shoulder in the direction he had been staring off into. From where she stood, she couldn’t sense anything in that direction, but that was less of a surprise when considering that he was of a higher rank than she was. Just as how Acrucis often sensed things before she did.

The Page of Mercury brought a gloved hand up and cupped it around her ear to see if she could at least hear if something was happening where she couldn’t see it but only silence met her actions and so she tucked her hair behind her ear and turned her attention back to the young man and asked, “are you alright?” It’s one thing to be distracted, but wherever his mind had been wondering, it had left him seemingly unaware.

Fortunately, she was no enemy to him, but that did make her worry about what would have happened if an agent had found him standing out here alone before she had arrived.

Kyuseisha no Hikari

 

[Shanyume]

So, she’d been right. The Senshi could sense something beyond her own range.

How troublesome, she thought to herself. It didn’t sit well with her that as a Page, there could be dangers that lurked out beyond her own range of sensing or even stalking her from a distance and she would remain unaware. They would know exactly where she was meanwhile she’d remain oblivious to them.

Still, by his tone, she suspected that whatever, or whomever, had caught his attention was less of a threat than say a feral youma or corrupt.

“Rainier, Page of Mercury,” she accepted his extended hand in formal greeting. “I’m just out patrolling. Finished work and wasn’t quite ready to go home yet.” Being put in a position where she had to draw her gun instead of a taser was enough to set her adrenaline on overdrive. Fortunately, no shots were fired but it did leave her in a state of mind where fresh air was needed

“If you want to go check out what’s over there,” Rainier nodded in the direction he’d been looking when she happened upon him. “I wouldn’t mind accompanying you. I might not have any magic yet but I have enough training in self-defense that I could at least be a reliable pair of hands if things go south.” Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Her weapon, fortunately, wasn’t as useless as some other Page’s she’d met. Even a few lieutenants had trinkets that made her question if all base ranks, regardless of faction, were treated as some cosmic joke until they could prove their worth and be given something viable to use in a fight.

Kyuseisha no Hikari

 

[Shanyume]

She was about to tell him that she was actually a police officer and taught women's self-defense courses at least once a month when his curiosity got the better of him and he stepped through some strange barrier.

“Beira?” her voice sounded panicked as she reached out and touched the surface but quickly withdrew her hand. That’s not right… “Beira?” she shouted a bit louder this time as she unclasped her weapon from her wrist and extended the cord that connected it there. The fiber optic wire was held taught as she hesitantly followed after him.

For all the things she expected to see, this was not one of them. The Senshi, yes; alive and in one piece- thankfully. But another man sat a short distance away; golden eyes watching them with an almost amused glint as he laced his fingers together. Rainier leaned in towards the Senshi and held a hand up to keep the mysterious … honestly she wasn’t sure what he was because he didn’t look human, but didn’t look like the vanguard either. Either way, she didn’t want him to read her lips as she whispered questions only loud enough for Beira to hear.

“Any idea who this is?” The table before him displayed an array of different trinkets and dodads. Some were recognizable, like a skateboard which seemed a bit out of place, whereas others looked like antiques from civilization not on this planet. From where she stood it was difficult to make out any fine details but it appeared that they were some sort of tradesmen; like those people at flea markets.

A peculiar thing to see and truth be told, Rainier didn’t quite trust him. Not after what happened after the Vanguard arrived. Although she hadn't been involved in the ambush, she had been sucked into the aftermath of it which affected both her powered and civilian life as she chased around leads pertaining to people who had disappeared that night.

Kyuseisha no Hikari

 

[Shanyume]

Rainier felt wary about the whole situation. By all accounts, the man should either be a member of the Vanguard or have a chaos aura belonging to a humanoid youma. Unfortunately, she had yet to run into either to know the difference. Still there stories she'd heard second hand left her feeling suspicious of his motives.

"I hope that the barrier is meant to keep others out and not us in... If things start to get dangerous I suggest we run rather than fight." Even with there being two of them she was almost certain that the mysterious man could easily overpower them both.

Her stance relaxed only a little yet she still maintained a firm hold on her weapon as she approached the table full of strange items. Many appeard to be relics of lost civilizations or cultures but not from and she had learned of in school. A couple trinkets had knight symbols she recognized; Uranus and Polaris specifically. But then thre were some modern things there such as a skateboard which seemed strangely out of place.

"Where did you obtain all of these items?" she asked. A bit of her authoritative police officer tone slipping through as she suspected these may have been stolen or somehow illegally obtained. However, she was certain that Destiny City could not enforce any punishment if he was found guilty of a crime for pillaging or raiding dead or abandoned worlds and wonders.

Quote:

 

[Shanyume]

Rainier broke eye contact with the horned man for but a fraction of a moment to glance down at his wares with a more critical eye. Her gaze did not wander long before snapping back up to him then over to Beira curiously then back to him again. It was clear she felt uneasy as her hold on the weapon remained constant despite her attempts to relax her stance.

Again she hazarded a glance at the table then shook her head.

There were no items that drew her attention in the same way that the small decorative box seemed to call the Senshi beside her. “I’m sorry, I have nothing on me worth trading.” If she was powered down then maybe but it would be only modern things that could be purchased at most general goods stores. Unfortunately, as things stood, her subspace was rather empty aside from some snacks and a thermos full of iced coffee.

“Is that thing familiar to you?” Rainier directed the question at Beira after noticing his almost fixed stare.

Kyuseisha no Hikari