Two weeks after our introduction to the public, my life settled into a comfortable routine. The arrangements for my schooling were finalized. My request to skip a grade had been approved after I made my argument and passed the tests. Actually, I tried to see if I would be allowed to skip middle school altogether, but I was denied due to concerns that it would draw too much attention to me, as well as the usual worries about the psychological impact of attending high school at my age. It was somewhat discouraging, but I understood the logic behind the former and knew I could revisit the matter later.
Other than attending school with Missy and my brother, my time was mostly filled with lectures and briefings about my duties as a Ward. I had even been on a few peaceful patrols through the Boardwalk with Miss Militia. Nothing happened on those patrols, other than the occasional conversation with bystanders asking for autographs, but I still thought I handled myself well. I remained constantly vigilant, and it was a testament to Brockton Bay's dangers that every time even a seemingly harmless civilian approached, Miss Militia's weapon would shift into a grenade launcher.
Other than that, I filled my time with training to bring my physical conditioning up to my previous military standards.
Training sessions with Shirou in the mornings proved to be very fruitful. His power provided him with a frankly ridiculous amount of knowledge on various forms of melee combat. Even if Mage Blade didn't have a handle, my brother was able to competently instruct me on its usage. He even used his 'projection' to create a training blade that I could strap to my arm, mimicking the spell under Miss Militia's watchful eyes.
When I told him that I could also overlay Mage Blade over other objects—say, a knife or a bayonet—effectively using it as a more traditional melee weapon, he immediately offered to train me in orthodox sword-fighting techniques. In his words, simply projecting Mage Blade from my hand was too limiting, since I couldn't use my wrist to rotate the weapon and couldn't effectively block incoming strikes.
I accepted, since he was absolutely right, of course. Sword fighting with Mage Blades was never a focus in the Imperial military, since it almost never happened. Aerial mages were primarily ranged fighters, and when forced to utilize this particular spell, it was for rapid charges, where you either killed your opponent with the first strike or died yourself.
Fencing, taught only in officer schools such as War College, was a legacy skill that quickly fell off the curriculum as the war progressed and training time became more and more condensed. Even then, no one ever actually fenced with Mage Blades, because the spell was only possible with a computation orb and was developed only after flight and penetration formulas had already been created.
But it was relevant to me, since, given the variety of parahuman powers, I couldn't say with absolute certainty that I would never find myself in a situation where my opponent's weapons and bodies would turn out to be resistant—if not outright immune—to this particular spell. Brandish of New Wave was one such example, with her energy weapons.
The other reason was that I wasn't allowed to use guns. Turns out, a convention existed between capes where the use of firearms was heavily discouraged unless they were a product of your power. Thus, Tinkers and capes like Miss Militia enjoyed the advantage of modern and futuristic weaponry, while everyone else had to do without.
It didn't make much sense to me, since parahuman powers were generally more lethal than guns. Add the fact that gang members were exempt from this convention, and it became even more ridiculous.
It all came back to the so-called Unwritten Rules—a practical continuation of the Endbringer Truce, not something openly shared with the general population. They served as an incentive for villains to show up to fights against the walking catastrophes. The draconian laws protecting the secret identities of capes, even criminals, were one example.
The no-killing rule was another.
And cape culture just so happened to develop in such a way that bringing a gun to a cape fight was tantamount to declaring lethal intent. Killing someone with laser eyes was one thing, but if you did it with a gun, you couldn't claim it was an accident.
That isn't to say that no one died in cape fights. They did, and often enough that the PRT had a nice little statistic prepared for people who thought they could strike out on their own. Fact-checking it later revealed that the data wasn't entirely accurate regarding deaths among independent capes. It was most likely presented that way for recruitment drives, but the numbers for parahuman life expectancy in general painted a picture just as dire. And that was taking into account that a lot of villains chose to hold back when fighting heroes, because they received similar treatment in turn.
That, in turn, led me to claim that guns were quite an integral part of my powers, since I could enchant bullets. Quite frankly, without guns, I was deprived of non-lethal takedown options altogether, since Mage Blade simply wasn't designed for that purpose.
When Miss Militia asked how guns would allow for non-lethal takedowns, I was momentarily stumped and came to the realization that any military spell formula designed for attack was ultimately meant to kill. Which made sense, since they were intended for war, not police actions. My best argument—that given the lethality of my arsenal, all I required was a one-time demonstration, and my foes would be forced to surrender peacefully—did not go over well with her.
So basically, I was largely limited to my 'Brute' and 'Thinker' powers when performing arrests.
I wasn't barred from using Mage Blade outright, but again, I couldn't exactly use it on people I didn't want dead. It was still useful, of course, but my options were significantly reduced.
My request to carry a gun, with a promise to only use it in situations where my life was in danger, was similarly rebuffed. The Wards weren't supposed to carry weapons, outside of a few exceptions, because of image concerns. As I understood it, the PRT was very conscious about not creating an image of child soldiers for the general population, since otherwise, parents might refuse to sign up their children for the Wards.
Shirou commented that such considerations did not stop our own parents from signing us up. Miss Militia assured him that the Wards were still the best place for young parahumans to learn how to use their powers responsibly and in relative safety, a safety guaranteed by the threat of heavy retaliation from the Triumvirate. When he asked if that was any comfort to dead children, she was quick to depart.
I asked Shirou if he could create firearms for me in case of an emergency, and it turned out he could.
I would have to choose a particular firearm, and he would have to spend time practicing its projection. Otherwise, it would only be a flawed imitation of a form. It would also be much more taxing for him compared to bladed weaponry, since it was far removed from the concept of a sword. Additionally, the speed of projecting a gun would be much slower. But with enough practice, he might learn to do it fast enough for it to be practical in a fight.
What he couldn't do was create ammunition. Bullets were a distinct object from a gun and would need to be projected separately, further increasing the strain on his power. Even then, he could not create gunpowder. In fact, he could not create powders and liquids in general, because he could only create objects in their entirety, and there was a threshold where an object ceased to be an object.
When I asked about the difference, he gave me a whole lecture about concepts, symbolism, and the common sense of humanity. It didn't make much sense to me, since if he could already generate matter and wasn't limited to metals (he had made a shinai for our training sessions), then the difference was only in atomic and molecular composition. His explanation honestly sounded like mysticism to me, but I had already been repeatedly told that powers didn't make sense and that Tinkers couldn't adequately explain their own creations—even if there was still debate about whether Shirou really counted as one. I didn't understand Chris any better when the sullen boy complained about his own tinkering.
In the end, I had to comfort myself with the fact that if push came to shove, I could just grab Shirou and fly away.
And it wasn't like I was completely without ranged options. The standard optical formula didn't strictly require a gun to be useful. There were also fire and electricity formulas, although those were far inferior in terms of range. At least the dehydration formula could finally see some use. I wouldn't be at my best, but it would only serve as a justification for... a tactical retreat. No one could accuse me of rank cowardice if I could argue that I wasn't even given adequate equipment, right?
At the moment, however, I was sitting in one of the briefing rooms at the PRT HQ with the rest of the Wards.
Aegis entered with a frustrated look in his eyes.
"Stalker, you ditched Gallant on patrol. Again."
"Not my fault he can't keep up with me," she shrugged, not caring one bit about being reprimanded.
The girl was something of a troublemaker. It wasn't the first time Aegis had brought this up, and every time Shadow Stalker just brushed him off. Not only that, but the girl was very abrasive when interacting with the other Wards. I hadn't been on patrol with her yet, and she generally spent very little time at the Wards' quarters to mingle with the team, but from what I observed, her rude behavior was the rule rather than the exception.
When I asked Vista about the lack of disciplinary actions, she told me that their complaints regarding Sophia never went anywhere.
It was concerning, considering the impact such behavior could have on morale and discipline. My attempts to figure out the reason for special treatment went nowhere, but considering Shadow Stalker could freely run away during patrols without suffering the consequences, it made me think that either the girl had a backer in the upper ranks, or that perhaps she had orders that were not conveyed to the rest of the Wards.
And at least so far, she wasn't as bad with me or Shirou, preferring to observe us from a distance.
Aegis glared at Shadow Stalker for a few moments, but the girl brazenly held his gaze. He sighed and turned to Gallant.
"You, in turn, decided to spend the rest of the patrol with Vicky."
Dean winced. "I thought she could fill in for Sophia," he tried to defend himself.
"Let me guess, the photo on PHO of her carrying you to the roof is because you needed a vantage point, right?" Aegis asked sarcastically.
Now Gallant looked guilty. Seriously, for a man in full armor, he was ridiculously expressive.
"We are going through something, and Vicky... you know how she is. She just grabbed me for a quick conversation."
"Dean, I don't care! You two are always going through 'something'! I don't care about rumors of her cheating on you with yourself, but don't turn patrols into one of your love-spat sessions!" Aegis threw up his hands.
"My bad, Carlos. Won't happen again," Dean made a placating gesture.
"It better not," Aegis grumbled.
Maybe after this chastisement, Dean will find something better than constantly hovering over Missy. The girl was constantly fidgeting under his watchful gaze. Usually, I wouldn't care, but Missy and I spend a lot of time together, and her fussiness was bothering me.
Aegis turned to Kid Win with a distinctly uncomfortable expression.
"Chris..." he started, "Look, man, it wasn't my decision, but your budget has been slashed."
"What?! Again?!" Aegis nodded. Chris jumped to his feet. "Why?!"
"Because you are useless. Obviously!" Shadow Stalker said with a derisive laugh.
"Shut up, Stalker!" Vista spat at Sophia. "It's not true!"
"Riiight. It's a coincidence that a useless Tinker gets less and less money for his toys," Shadow Stalker leaned back on her chair and put her feet on the table, "Grow up, pipsqueak."
Vista clearly wanted to shout at the girl but stopped when Clockblocker put his hand on her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She crossed her arms and leaned back into her chair.
Meanwhile, Chris looked more and more distraught.
"Enough, Stalker," Aegis glared at the girl and turned to Kid Win. "Sophia is wrong, Chris. It's because of the dumpster diving."
What?
"The rumors surfaced on PHO that there may be another Tinker in town. With images. Those were taken down fast, but err... the investigation quickly linked you to those images."
"I was just looking for some electronics!"
"Chris, you know that's how they catch new Tinkers."
"Alternator Cannon is going really well. I know it will turn out great!"
"Chris..."
"If I show that it's useful, they will give my budget back!"
"No chance of that," Shadow Stalker quipped.
"Shut up!" Vista shouted.
"You shut up!"
"Now they slashed it some more," Aegis shook his head, forcibly keeping his focus on Chris.
"How much?" Kid Win asked with apprehension.
"Another fifteen percent."
"Fifteen percent of what it is now or what it was before?"
"... The latter."
Kid Win slumped on the table in defeat. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to console him. If he were an employee at a company, this situation would indicate that he was approaching his termination. I doubted they would fire him from the Wards, but less useful people are usually the first to face the firing line. Considering he needs money to improve his gear and make himself useful, and that it wasn't the first time his budget was decreased due to insufficient results...
Quite the unenviable position. I would have to make sure that neither Shirou nor I find ourselves in Chris' place.
Aegis gave Chris a compassionate pat on the shoulder and moved to Missy.
"Vista, there are complaints from your parents about you spending too much time at the HQ again."
Missy crossed her arms petulantly and refused to acknowledge Aegis' words.
"Vista, you know the score."
"They are just arguing about who is the worst parent again! I bet it's dad sending those complaints, since it's mom's turn to have me at her house!"
Aegis winced. "Missy, if you don't spend at least some time at home, they will have the YG rep involved again."
"What does he even have to complain about? It's even better here now. We have great food! It's way better here than at home!"
Yes, Missy was quite happy about that. Everyone was. For all that Shirou stubbornly refused to curb his tongue, he diligently cooked for everyone. Although, if anyone made a request for a specific dish, only Missy was spared snide remarks in response. He still granted them anyway. Dennis made a comment about that. Once.
That kind of irritable behavior was typically attributed to puberty, which was an unfortunate timing, given the situation. At least now that he had a father, I was spared from having to contemplate if I was supposed to explain certain topics to him. I could only hope he wouldn't do anything foolish in the meantime.
"Tanya and Shirou live here full-time, and no one complains!"
"That means their parent gave permission," Aegis pointed out. "Though shouldn't you live with Armsmaster?" He looked at me.
"Yeah, don't you want to be closer to daddy?" Sophia asked, carefully observing my reaction for some reason.
Honestly, I had no problem living at the PRT HQ. The more I learned about Brockton Bay, the more I appreciated living at a heavily defended location. There were at least two known instances of capes being attacked at their homes, one of which had a fatal result. If we were living in a house, I would seriously consider setting up a night watch.
"I am pretty sure Armsmaster lives on the Rig. Rory mentioned something about it," Missy said.
"Oh? Quite the sensible decision on his part." The PRT HQ was well guarded, but it did not have the same defense installations as the Protectorate HQ. Tinker-tech security, force fields, missile defense systems, the works. Maybe she should inquire about moving in with Armsmaster. Something to keep in mind for when they meet the man.
Everyone gave me an odd look.
In the end, Aegis, with Gallant's help, seemed to have persuaded Vista to spend less time at HQ until her parents sorted themselves out.
"Armiger, why did I receive a notification about truancy from your school?"
What?
I turned my head to Shirou, giving him a glare that I typically reserved for men who were about to spend the next month on latrine duty.
"I needed some cash," he shrugged, completely ignoring me, even as Dean, who was seated next to him, leaned away.
"What for?" Kid Win moaned, not raising his head. "You don't even need materials to make items."
"Where do you think shoyu, mirin, and wasabi came from? The cafeteria doesn't stock them."
More like you have nothing to trade with them anymore. By now, the cafeteria was stocked with implements rivaling an elite five-star restaurant.
"Shirou, that is not a reason to skip school. Why am I only hearing about this now?" I inquired coldly. Not to mention, that payday is only a week away.
"The better question is how they caught me. I thought we were free to come and go as we please?" he asked no one in particular.
"Sure," Missy answered, "But the principal is still informed after the fact and can do a cross-reference. Where did you get money though?"
"Walked around the market, offering to fix things for a competitive price," he gave me a smile, "Your book on sales tactics was quite useful in that regard, sister."
Flattery won't save you from a tongue lashing after this meeting is over, brother.
"No," Aegis drew attention back to himself. "I am asking, why amI receiving complaints about truancy? Shouldn't those go to Armsmaster?"
"Maybe? Has anyone actually ever ditched lessons here?" Dennis asked, glancing at Sophia, who gave him a finger in response.
"I guess..." Aegis had an unsure look on his face.
"I have a proposition," I said while looking at the team leader, waiting for permission to speak. After receiving a nod, I continued, "My brother's actions require a disciplinary response."
Shirou gave me a flat look. Aegis looked interested.
"What do you propose?"
"Cleaning and keeping the Wards' quarters in pristine condition for a week would be a suitable punishment for a first-time offense," I said vindictively, "Naturally, should even a speck of dust be found, the punishment would be prolonged accordingly."
If he is so intent to continue his foolishness, he may as well suffer the consequences. Best of all, Aegis didn't actually have authority for such punitive measures without authorization from the PRT. Meaning, that it won't go into Shirou's record.
Aegis looked at Shirou, who had a disbelieving look on his face.
My brother crossed his hands and closed his eyes, "Do what you will," his lips twitched.
Gallant looked at my brother with a curious expression on his face.
"It's decided then," Aegis slapped his hands. "That's all I have for you today. Seriously, guys, keep up. It's like you specifically chose last week to cause trouble. Except you, Tanya," he turned to me, "You are doing great!"
My face was carefully neutral, but I still sent my brother a meaningful look.
That's how you advance your career, brother.
Clearly having nothing to say in response, Shirou just silently sat there, his expression just as neutral as my own.