Abilities of zodiacs

Kaiser had been waiting for the bus for a while, chatting with his aunt.

Mathilde's warm voice came through the line. "How are you? Have you eaten yet?"

"Yeah, I ate," Kaiser replied, his voice lazy but tinged with affection. "Just a sandwich, nothing special."

"A sandwich? My poor dear, you're not eating enough. You know you need to eat well to stay healthy, especially with school taking up so much energy. What else did you do today? How was school?"

"It was just another day, Aunt Mathilde. Classes were... boring."

"Are you feeling okay there?"

"Yeah... it's fine. Nothing special."

Mathilde fell silent for a moment—she'd always known how to detect what he wasn't saying. "Kaiser, you know if you're not feeling well, you can talk to me. I'm here for you, okay?"

"I know, Aunt Mathilde," he replied, this time with palpable sincerity. "It's just that… well, I don't want to be a burden on you."

"I understand, sweetheart, but you'd never be a burden, alright?"

Kaiser let out a small laugh. "Thanks, Aunt."

...

Just as he ended the call, the bus arrived. He boarded, finding a seat by the window.

Glancing away from the window, he noticed the person sitting across from him. Though he'd only seen her a few times, he could easily tell Kathy apart from her sister.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still. The outside world, with its noises and movements, became distant, almost unreal. In that confined space on the bus, they were alone, as if transported to another dimension where only their presences mattered.

Lost in thought, the two teenagers continued listening to the music playing in their earbuds, unaware that, if they were close enough, they'd be surprised to find they were hearing the same melody.

Their eyes, locked on each other, didn't blink, as if they were trying to uncover the mysteries buried in each other's souls. There were no words exchanged, no smiles, no gestures. But the intensity in their gazes said everything words couldn't express.

Finally, she looked away, breaking the eye contact.

*'I feel like I've seen that look somewhere before.'*

***

The evening was well underway when Yuki dined with his sister, Yara. Sitting at the sturdy wooden kitchen table, he occasionally glanced at his sister, who ate quietly, lost in thought. Unlike him, Yara led a full life. Officially, she worked as a real estate agent, a job that allowed her to earn a comfortable living and provide for her little brother. Unofficially, a large portion of her income came from the wonders she'd gutted and stripped.

Yuki set his chopsticks on the edge of his plate and looked at her for a moment before speaking.

"Yara, I want to know more about these things."

She looked up and met his gaze, her expression impassive.

"We've already talked about this, Yuki."

"But the other day, a werewolf attacked Kaiser. I don't want him to die."

Yara sighed and slowly set her utensils down.

"Well… it's complicated for him. You shouldn't put yourself in danger."

Yuki frowned.

"What? You're telling me to let my friends die?"

"Ahh, you're a Zodiac. You're more likely to die than him."

"But he sees them. Maybe he's a Zodiac too."

Yara raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"How so?"

"Zodiacs can see those creatures, even if they're not Jagds, right?"

"It's supposed to be impossible…" she murmured, crossing her arms. "Zodiacs have a sixth sense, that's true. But even Sagittarians, who specialize in perception, can't see them that clearly."

She seemed to think for a moment, tapping her fingers on the table in front of her.

"After all, you can ask him if he doesn't have a zodiac birthmark on his body. That's the only way to be sure."

Yuki leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.

"Then how do you explain him seeing them?"

Yara hesitated before responding, her expression dark.

"If I didn't know you since childhood, I'd say it's either the result of a sorcerer's spell or the sacrifice of a Paladin from the Order of Salvation…"

Yuki's eyes widened.

"A sorcerer? A Paladin?"

Yara sketched a wry smile, amused by his ignorance.

"In this world, there aren't just Wonders and Zodiacs. Even though many Paladins come from Zodiacs, their role is different."

"And what exactly are the abilities of Zodiacs?"

Yara rested her elbows on the table and interlaced her fingers, thinking about the best way to explain.

"To be honest, we're not that different from humans. What really sets us apart is our genetic predisposition for combat and our sixth sense. But we also have abilities specific to each sign. For example, we Scorpios are naturally agile, and our blood is fatal poison to Wonders. That's why we're the natural enemies of vampires."

She paused before adding:

"I don't know all the specifics of the other signs, but I know Sagittarians have exceptional vision, and Aries possess superhuman endurance. I haven't met many Zodiacs in my life, though."

Yuki slowly nodded, absorbing this new information.

"Alright… I want you to train me. I want to protect myself."

Yara looked at him silently for a few seconds, then a fleeting smile appeared on her face.

"Very well. Finish eating. Before we start, I'll show you something in the basement."

Yuki's heart quickened slightly. He had no idea what his sister was about to reveal, but one thing was certain: he was about to enter a world he could never leave again.

After finishing their meal, he followed Yara down to the basement, a stone staircase descending beneath the house. The air was colder, denser.

Yara lit an old lamp hanging from the ceiling, casting a flickering light on the rough stone walls. Before them lay a circle of strange symbols carved into the floor.

Several weapons glinted under the lamp's light. Curved-blade daggers, a finely sculpted bow, ammunition with a metallic sheen reflecting a bluish glow, and even ancient-looking books.

Yuki approached, fascinated.

"All this… it's for fighting Wonders?"

Yara nodded, pulling out a dagger and handing it to him.

"Every Zodiac has their own way of fighting. But before you can use a weapon, you need to discover what you're capable of."

He took the dagger and immediately felt a shiver run down his spine. The weapon was heavier than he'd imagined, yet he felt like it was a part of him.

Yara crossed her arms and observed him with a serious expression.

"We'll start by seeing what you're capable of. Then, I'll teach you how to survive. Because believe me, Yuki… there was a time when we were the hunters, but now... we're the prey."