Murmurs

Third High school. The ace class is undergoing their usual strenuous routine. Now they had to wear weights for the entire duration of training as well as combat practice. The weights had increased as well. Due to performance the class too had begun to stratify into groups. The ones who performed better interacted more with each other and the ones who struggled tended to group together as well. Though some kept to themselves.

The students were taking laps, but Erica, Hikaru and Yui were taking the time to chat while they ran.

"Have you heard the latest rumors? The Border Foundation has come to Japan. I'm assuming you two have the common sense to understand what that means?" Hikaru chuckled.

"Looks like a relic is going to open up here. The first relic opens in Japan, sigh, what are the odds?" Yui spoke calmly shaking her head.

"I wonder if we are already going to be thrown into the relic? It hasn't even been a month since the training period began. I don't think we are ready yet." Erica wondered.

"We will never be ready for what is inside a relic. The only way we can get experience is by entering one. From what I'm hearing, every relic is different and there is no way to really anticipate what one would encounter." Hikaru said with a tad bit of seriousness. "Though, I think we should be fine as long as we don't aim too high.

Yui hesitated for a bit, wondering if she should speak out, but eventually did. "Many underground organizations of metahumans have risen up, as well as representatives from other countries. I just hope that it doesn't end up in a bloodbath."

"We'll have to depend on The Border Foundation to ensure peace outside the relic. My brother told me to be careful inside, he suspects it would be a free fall within." Erica nodded.

---

Okinawa Prefecture. A large ship is anchored near a beach overlooking Ishigaki Island (Ishigakijima). On the ship's deck are a group of people gazing towards the Island in question. Above the island, in the sky a huge vortex seems to be forming and the atmosphere is filled with energy.

"This energy is too palpable. To think that the first relic to open up after so many centuries is a major relic." An ancient old man murmured. He had a long beard and looked like his body would break apart at any moment.

"So you feel it too. I wonder which God does this relic belong to? The vortex alone is causing instabilities in the world's natural flow of energy." A red haired old man pontificated.

The ancient old man turned towards another old Japanese man who was standing aside quietly. "Your government has already been aware that this relic is showing signs of awakening, I am assuming you've made preparations?" The Japanese man bowed in acknowledgement and left the scene.

"Good." The ancient man continued. "Spread the word through the Border Foundation that the relic will open first."

"I still do not think this is a good idea." The red haired man grumbled.

"There are no good ideas left to tackle this situation. If we try to monopolize the situation the world will only end up in chaos. We of the Border Foundation have held onto stability for far too long, we cannot afford to destabilize it now. We can only things take their natural course. Let the world think that they have an equality of opportunity. In the end, with our superior knowledge and power the relics are bound to be controlled by us alone." The ancient old man smiled.

---

A few days later, in class.

"Have you seen the Border Foundation website? The first relic to open up will be in Japan."

"Yes, I've heard that foreigners are making a bee line to Okinawa. Apparently, Ishigaki Island has turned into a relic."

"I saw some pictures in the newspaper. The island looks like it is part of an alien world. The sky looks like a mirror and there is a huge vortex emerging out of it. It looks extremely eerie."

"So will the island become a restricted site forever? How long will the relic remain there?"

"The Border Foundation website says that the Relic will remain open as long as the true inheritance or treasure has not been claimed. Once it has found its owner the relic will disappear. Till then one can enter and exit the relic freely."

"You are misquoting it. They said you can enter the relic freely, but you cannot leave until 7 days have passed unless you have a specific treasure which lets you exit the relic immediately. You also can't use any technology inside the relic. So no internet or GPS!"

Erica quietly heard the murmurs in the classroom. Then she turned to Rika. "Are you going to enter the relic? DAM has already notified the ace class to get ready to enter the relic."

"Yes, we all have to enter the relic. I heard there will be immense amount of treasures present there. But I'm told our group will enter after the ace class has."

"Who knows if there really are treasures. I just hope we can come out all safely." Erica replied.

---

In a manor somewhere in Tokyo. Meeting of the group Mosaic.

"Ishigaki Island. This will be a good opportunity for us. All things point to this first relic opening actually being a major relic. The likelihood of someone acquiring the true inheritance or treasure in the relic early on is infinitesimally small. Yet at the same time, because it is the first relic to open up, the world's attention will be at the relic. We can send our young recruits into the relic, while we can make the first move on Tokyo." The woman of authority explained carefully.

"The Border Foundation is an obstacle. They will try to ensure no mischief takes place." Another person objected.

"Their focus will be on the Island far off in Okinawa while ours will be to strike the heart of Tokyo itself. "