⚔ The Gangs of Obrye #1 ⚔

THE GANGS OF OBRYE

Reedsy Cast Story #1

There was blood everywhere. Unsure how much of it was the enemy’s, Gwin-Zita stabbed another man for good measure.

“Lady Grimm,” There was a tap on her shoulder.

“What is it, General?” She watched Zaffriel sheath his sword into his scabbard.

“The Scouts will be here with reinforcements. I advise we head back to base,”

“Are you suggesting we retreat, General?”

“No, of course not, milady. Wish surveyed the city beforehand, and she said it would be better if we returned to base before the Scouts attack us. As a strategic precaution,”

“I see.” Gwin-Zita stared at the dead bodies lying in the alleyway as blood pooled around them. Twelve Scouts were dead, and there were five casualties from their side. It should’ve been none.

“Alright, since there’s only a small squadron out here we will return to base. Round up the remaining soldiers, General.” Zaffriel nodded, before slipping into the shadows.

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

“Obelus, you heard Anberlin. We have to investigate!” Katya shook her brother’s shoulders vigorously.

“Stop shaking me, Kat. I’m aware,” Obelus sighed.

“So? Let’s go now!” Katya sighed impatiently, drumming her fingers against her brother’s shoulders. “Annie said the incident was only half an hour ago, the case is still fresh!” The room’s door slid open.

“I heard my name?” Anberlin’s curly dyed blue hair came into view, as her head poked out.

“Hey,” Katya greeted their comrade. They were all One of the Promised; Scouts with enhancements that granted them special abilities. Celeste grinned,

“Ooh, are you guys having a secret meeting without us?” Two more of the Promised entered the room.

“Celeste, Alex,” Obelus nodded as a greeting.

“So… What’s happening here?” Alex asked, and Katya’s eyes sparkled.

“Anberlin heard the Heads talking, and they found twelve dead bodies in Quartz Lane,”

“When was this?” Celeste piped up, 

“Half an hour ago,. What are we doing, standing around?” Anberlin asked and Celeste clapped her hands together,

“All in favour to investigate, say aye,” There was a chorus of aye’s around the room.

“Obelus?” Katya nudged her brother, and with a reluctant sigh, he too agreed.

“Let’s go then, shall we?”

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

“Twelve Scouts? Wasn’t it meant to be five?!” Dailia exclaimed,

“You’re asking me?” Gwin-Zita rolled her eyes. Dailia flexed out her robotic arm.

“You should’ve asked me to come. I made some adjustments to this baby,”

“We didn’t need you,”

“Aw shucks, you’re such a sweetheart, Gwin,” Dailia teased,

“Gwin-Zita.” She scowled, walking out of the Nobles room, looking for their Head Elder, Wish. Instead, she walked right into Zaffriel.

“Oh, sorry Lady Grimm,” He apologised, flustered.

“No need to apologise, General. Carry on walking,”

“Actually, milady, there’s something I wanted to tell you,”

“And what that might be?”

‘Oh, uh, well, um, you see-”

“Spit it out, before I demote you, Zaffriel.”

“Um, so I was wondering…” 

“Wondering?” The general’s usual cockiness and daringness had been replaced with a quivering puppy.

“The fifth battalion!” He replied abruptly, it was evident he had not been meaning to say that.

“What about it?”

“There’s, uh, been some slackers. I thought you should know,” He said awkwardly, and Gwin-Zita couldn’t help but sigh at her best friend.

“Send me a list of their names, I’ll check it out. Is that all?” She continued the professional facade.

“Yes, milady. Unless you’d like to meet me at the star gazing tower tonight?” He prompted and Gwin-Zita smirked.

“You’re funny, Zaff. Use those flirtatious ways on Lady Nainika, and see what she says.”

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

Celeste was excited. Very, very excited. Too excited for someone about to see twelve dead bodies. However, that wasn’t the reason for her excitement. It was because this was her chance to prove her initiative and herself to the Academy. Plus, she was working with her friends. They had snuck out to the middle ground of the city, Obrye’s Land. It was the neutral zone of the city that neither gang had a claim to.

“Here it is, Quartz Lane,” Obelus said matter of factly, and Katya grinned.

“Time to investigate,” She said,

“Investigate what?” Anberlin asked, and Alex shrugged.

“Well, the Corrupts killed on neutral ground. The Heads have already arrived, covered the bodies, and marked their casualties,” Katya rattled on, and her brother sighed.

“The point, Kat?”

“It means, dear brother, that the Corrupts have chosen to attack in Obrye’s Land, and-”

“We need to find out what the Corrupts are doing in the neutral zone!” Celeste interrupted suddenly, unable to contain her excitement. Alex linked her arms with Celeste’s.

“Well, we have an objective. Let’s find some answers.”

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

Wish sighed, being the head Elder meant paperwork. Which was ever so boring. Being in a gang with the neutral ground in a city, meant legal work, and all its laws and rules. Not that the Corrupts listened to them. Wish rubbed her temples as Gwin-Zita burst into her office.

“Wish,”

“How can I help you, Lady Grimm?”

“You told me, there would be five Scouts on patrol today. Five! So, why were there twelve?!”

“I- The schedule today was meant to be a low patrol! I just assumed-”

“You just assumed?”

“Lady Grimm, I have planned out every single day’s schedule. There has never been an error until today,”

“So, you’re saying they’re changing their tactics?”

“It would appear so, yes,”

“I see.” And with that, the Noble stormed out of the room. Wish sighed, normally her leader was calm and collected; something was off.

“Wish!” Her door opened a second time.

“Dailia, what do you need?”

“Gwin-Zita, where is she?”

“You just missed her, she walked out the door a moment ago,”

“Okay, thanks!” The door slammed shut once more. Wish exhaled, if another person walked through that door, she was going to-

“Wish, have you seen Dailia or Gwin-Zita?” Nainika poked her head into the room.

“No! Why is everyone coming at me today?!”

“Woah, okay Ms Girl. Chill.”

“They just left,” Wish said flatly, and Nainika nodded.

“Gotcha, thanks Wish!” The door closed and Wish frowned, staring at the paperwork in front of her. She sighed exasperatedly and shoved them into the drawer.

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

Obelus remembered when he had lived in Obrye’s Land. When a child was born, they were selected to the gang their parents were in. However, if one of the child’s parents had left a gang, the child’s life was divided into two. Obelus had spent eight years in the Academy with the other Scouts. The next eight were spent in Obrye’s Land with his mother and sister. He remembered them. Gwin-Zita and Zaffriel. He could still recall the days it was the three of them and Katya. Gwin-Zita; he couldn't forget the face of his first and only love. 

“Obelus!” Anberlin called out to him, breaking him out of his thoughts. “We’re going to split up and explore, do you want to come with me?” He politely declined, and he pretended not to see Annie’s mask of disappointment. He turned on his heel and hurried to an alleyway that was parallel to Quartz Lane. 

“Where are you, Grimm?” He whispered into the darkness, knowing she was here, waiting. He held up his gun, ready to fire if needed. 

“Hello, Obelus,” He inhaled softly as Gwin-Zita stood on the top of a roof, her armour shining in the parts hit by sunlight. She was just as beautiful as she was three years ago, if not prettier. He cleared his throat,

“I saw your armour glinting against the sunlight,” 

“I had to get your attention somehow, didn't I?”

“Momentary truce? For old time’s sake?” He asked, and she nodded and gestured for him to come sit next to her. And a small part of his mind was telling him not to, but he trusted her anyway. He jumped on top of a rubbish bin and pulled himself up onto the roof. They sat there, legs dangling off the edge. 

“Why are you here, Gwin?” He felt her tense. Crap, he'd subconsciously called her the nickname he’d used when they were… A haunted look briefly crossed over her eyes, and if he hadn't been observant, he would've missed it. 

“I knew the Academy had changed their patrol numbers. I wanted to see who they’d send as reinforcements,” They didn't say anything for a moment, and he could no longer keep his curiosity in. 

“Do you miss me?” He blurted out, “Do you miss us?” He reached out to touch her cheek but she moved away. 

“I can't- we can't, Obelus. I- This was a mistake,” She murmured, and despite everything, his heart still bled for her. She stood up to leave, but he caught her wrist before she could go. 

“You didn't answer the question,”

“I can't. I can't go back there,” She whispered, “I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” Using her enhancement, she pulled out her sword, so quickly he could barely see it, and sliced his thigh. It took all of his willpower and training not to scream. He watched her wipe her eyes with her sleeves before running off with inhumane speed. 

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

‘I must be lucky if three Nobles have come to talk to me today. Maybe I'm getting promoted,’ Zaffriel thought to himself, ‘On second thoughts, maybe I'm being demoted instead.’ 

“General, have you seen Lady Grimm?” Dailia asked. 

“I spoke to her around an hour ago, why?”

“Well, frankly, I think she’s gone M.I.A,” Nainika announced and Dailia shrugged. 

“She was acting a little strange earlier, and then she disappeared,”

“Lady Grimm can-”

“Hear you from the end of the hallway, talking about her,” The three of them froze as their superior approached them. 

“Dailia, Nainika, my office. Zaffriel, a word,” The two Nobles saluted at Zaffriel, as Gwin-Zita took his arm and dragged him further down the corridor. He had concluded if he wasn’t being demoted before, he was now.

“Where did you go? We were worried about you,”

“A likely story. It’s none of your concern, Zaff,”

“Hey, without this hierarchy I’m still your best friend,” She brushed him aside, her mind elsewhere.

“I want you to be in top form tomorrow. We have a mission to complete,”

“Can I ask what it is?”

“No, but bring your sister,”

“Eliora?”

“You only have one sister, Zaff. Sharpen up.” She left him in the middle of the hallway. Which meant it was time he visited his sister.

“Eliora,” He knocked on her door rapidly, “Eliora, open up! Now.”

“Oh my God, Zaff, what do you want?” She whined as she opened her door.

“It’s important, can I come in?”

“Uh, no. I’ll come out here,” She slammed it shut,

“Who’s in there?” He asked, raising an eyebrow, knowing his sister.

“No one!” 

“Yeah, right. Who’s in there? Actually, I don’t want to know. Look, I have something to tell you,”

“I’m listening,”

“Lady Grimm needs us tomorrow,”

“It's not my turn for patrol!”

“It's not mine either, but that's an order,”

“You're also doing it because you like h-”

“Shut up!” He hissed and his younger sister giggled. 

“You do you, big bro. Can I go now?”

“Fine. Be outside her office at 6:15 am,”

“Ugh, so early,”

“Eliora.” Zaffriel said in a warning tone. 

“Chill, Zaff. I'll be there.” His sister grinned, then went back into her room. 

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

Anberlin knew something was off with Obelus. She didn't know what exactly, but she wanted to find out. 

“Did you find anything?” She asked him when they had all regrouped. 

“Unfortunately, no. Did you?” He replied, and she shook her head.

“Nope. I wasn't exactly sure what we were supposed to be looking for, but that's alright,”

“Yeah, it's okay. Don't worry about it,” Katya clapped a hand on her brother’s shoulder. 

“Sorry to break up this little chat, but we need to head back, now.” Anberlin glanced at Obelus one last time, before walking up the front with Alex and Celeste; her OTP. 

“When we get back, I'll beat you,”

“No, I will. One hundred percent,”

“I've always beaten you, Alex,”

“So? I might win this time,” Anberlin chuckled at the couple’s play fighting. 

“Is this a ‘Who’s Better at Mario Kart’ argument again?” They both nodded solemnly. 

“The answer’s me, obviously,” Celeste piped up, and the three of them burst into laughter. 

“Guys, guys, shush! We’re getting close to the Academy,” Katya called from behind them, and they all fell silent. They crept back into the lounge room on their floor, and they all sighed in relief when they returned.

“So, answers?” Katya asked, but was suddenly interrupted by the door sliding open.

“Well, what’s going on here?” 

⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒

Eliora was so tired, but that was fine. She was proud to be chosen by Lady Grimm herself, to be apart of an important mission. Five minutes early, she waited outside the Noble’s office and noticed other people were here too. Lady Nainika, Lady Dailia, Elder Wish, and of course, her brother. There were a couple more soldiers she did recognise, and they were the top of her class, after her, obviously. Suddenly, everyone straightened up, as Lady Grimm stepped out into the corridor.

“All of you, come in.” They followed the order, and Eliora counted ten of them in total, including Lady Grimm. “You’ve been invited here today because you have all proven your worth to the Corruption. Today, we’ll be running patrol as usual, but we are also doing something else,” Eliora could see her brother practically taking in Lady Grimm’s every word. The things people did for love, she supposed.

“What are we doing, ma’am?” A tall, muscled boy asked, who was in her rank.

“Good question, Marcus. Though, I don’t remember permitting you to speak,” Marcus blushed with embarrassment and went quiet. “To answer your question, I have heard the Scouts have changed their patrol schedules. Which means we have to be more prepared than usual. I’m leading this small team as close as we can into their territory, to see if we can get some information,”

“What if we’re attacked?” Lady Nainika asked, and Lady Grimm frowned.

“I’m getting there, Nainika. I want ALL of you to remain out of sight. Is that clear?” Everyone nods. “If you are spotted, destroy the evidence. I suspect they have cameras, and some form of security watching the Academy. If you have to kill a Scout, then so be it. Your training will not go to waste. We are going to defeat the Scouts, one by one if that’s what we have to do. As long as we win.”