Chapter 1: Keepers East Office

Rollo's steps sound out against the concrete sidewalk while he weaves around random passersby. It's hard to move fast as usual with this much foot traffic until he sees an alleyway. An idea forms in his head and a moment later, he's already climbed on top of a nearby building. "I only have 15 minutes to spare, let's hope the old man's parkour lessons stuck."

He leaps across to each building with some grace, Jack was a hard ass to training from but they're coming in useful. No thought of 'Is this legal?' really came to his mind because they'd need to catch him first and he's moving fast. 'With no time to waste, I need to get there...'

His legs almost get used to jumping between these buildings which leaves a grin on him. 'That old dog really has some great skills at training, worth every annoyance that gave me in em!' He thinks while making good time to that east office building.

"Whew, halfway there- Hm?" Rollo stops hearing a scream nearby? He stops on that building the moment his ears picked it up to look down in a back alley. He spots a lady with jet black hair being confronted by a lanky man wielding some knife. 'Oh shoot'

"H-Hey, I thought you were helping me to the east office building, P-please!" She's clearly panicking at a knife directed at her. She weirdly starts to nervously chuckle holding her hands up. "There's nothing of value on me, I was just going to take a Keepers test."

"Can you just be silent, I want-" The lanky man couldn't speak another word since Rollo didn't want to hear his next words. A sudden flying kick with a fairly heavy duty boot strikes the mystery man's head and slams him into the back alley's concrete floor.

"Oh thank gods..." The lady says falling to her knees seeing her hero? Nobody would've helped her situation but thankfully that guy was on the rooftop did! Okay, she's glad but also concerned realizing that. 'Not what I expected but it's still welcomed' She thinks during apprising her savior.

"Hey, you mentioned entering the Keepers test, some petty criminal should be nothing." Rollo asks while keeping a foot on the guy's head. He tilts his head seeing this young lady's reaction to him. "Is there something on my face?" He mutters while instinctively wipes the edge of mouth with his thumb.

"Oh! Um, I want to fight monsters... not people..." She starts to rapidly fidget with her fingers and looks down. Rollo narrows his eyes at her which causes her to slightly freak out. "I-I know! Self defense but I'm scared of hurting actual people..."

"Huh... That's fair? You need actual running away techniques, freezing up when confronted by these kind of guys would be bad." Rollo lightens up seeing this lady panic and sets his foot off that random criminal. "We're going to be late for the test, I can give you a ride if you need it."

"Um..." She clearly thinks for a moment after something like that knife guy from before this offer gives her pause. She exhales and nods to Rollo. "Yes, I'd rather not be late..." Her trust is slightly hesitant.

"Alright! Hop on my back, piggy back style." Rollo turns his back to this lady to her confusion. There's a moment of daze and her slowly getting on his back. He stands up tall bearing another's weight on him. "Oh right, I'm Rollo Archer, please excuse my manners, I was raised by a bear of a man."

"Um, I'm Misao Shiraishi, Nice to meet you... Do you have some transport or- Whaaaa-" Misao gets jerked backwards holding on for dear life. Rollo made a grand jump which scales the whole wall of this building. He nearly falls off from the new balance from having Misao on his back.

"Whoa- Hold on tight, I can move fairly quickly doing this!" Rollo unaware of Misao's fear starts leaping between buildings once again. His body strains by the increased weight but he views this as a challenge! Misao has a death grip on Rollo to not fall off a building between jumping.

That man was forgotten in this lonely back alley. A few wet pops are heard as he picks himself up and cricks his neck back in place. It's inhuman growl leaves his bare teeth. "Weak human shape, I lost a needed vessel."

The lanky man's form slowly slips off like a rubber suit as Rollo and Misao cross the city area. A pair of clawed insect-like feet drags against the alleys concrete. It looks up to where those two went from the shadows. The sound of a sickening laugh mixed with citterings from bugs echoes around while it disappears.

Rollo pauses a few dozen buildings later, his face twists in concern looking around. Misao has just gone slightly limp on his back. She speaks up a moment after he stopped in his tracks. Her head slumps to the left. "R-Rollo?"

"Huh, I swear something was behind us...." Rollo shakes his head before jumping down to the alleyway below. He turns his head to Misao on his back. "We're at the train station, Misao"

"Rollo... A-Are you a monster??" Misao slowly detaches from his back and seems a bit dizzy. She wobbly makes her way to the station and laughs for a brief moment. "I'm going to be taking the test, hooo..."

"I'd rather not be compared to that, Misao but that's forgiven since I look forward to working as a co-worker with you!" Rollo gives her a powerful pat on the back, a little much for her balance. He easily keeps Misao up by grabbing her shoulder. " Oh sorry! Come on let's get into the train."

The pair relax into their seats in the train. Rollo feels a flood of weakness across his body and he lets out an exhausted exhale while Misao gets comfortable. She suddenly tenses up turning to a person who's sitting from down this train car.

"Hm? What's wrong?" Rollo who visually appears more slightly tired looks to Misao who just shifted from soft to intense in a moments notice. He follows her gaze and sees that person, a blonde man with grayish skin like a corpse. "You're feeling that bloodlust from him too?"

"Helloooo! I am Veit, I couldn't but notice two are staring at me." That man says in an off tone. there's a stiffness with his movements moving seats to be in front of them. His words feel off like a dead man speaking which naturally unnerves Rollo and Misao. "You two are... hm, fellow hopeful keeper recruits?"

"Yeah? Why are you asking?" Rollo narrows his eyes at this man, Veit. He can't get a good read on him but a feeling of deathly. It's a rancid feeling being around him but why? 'This Veit isn't good news, why do I feel gross looking at him?' He thinks before his eyes move to look at Misao.

"Ah, Good! I look forward to seeing you in the test area." Veit smiles at the pair with this twisted grin. It's almost like he's taking pleasure in Rollo and Misao's discomfort. He slicks back his waxy blonde hair. "Hehe, You two will be-"

"Hey, can you shut up, you gross zombie?" Rollo speaks up and cuts off Veit's next creepy comment. He gives this angry glare at Veit while Misao is too defensive to speak. That look follows Veit's every movement. "Kindly move back to your seat."

"Hmmm, fine~ I just wanted to greet my future allies." Veit stands up and starts walking off. Each step isn't smooth or graceful but uncanny to watch. Misao visibly exhales when he gets out of view deeper into the train. Everything feels cleaner without him around.