[center][b]Chapter 1

Prelude to Madness

(3 years ago)[/b][/center]


“How tedious….” Angel spoke while seated in aircraft that was transporting him along with quite a few ‘attendants’. His gaze casually bouncing from one Asylum to the other, almost all of them belonging to a specialized division known as Overseers. A rabble created by the Chrono Tabion to keep tabs on anything deemed to be a problem to A.M.R.O. 

“Is this really necessary?” Angel spoke again out of sheer boredom, his company was one that liked to keep silent. His hands nudging forward revealing the bulky restraints placed on his wrists, a magnetic handcuff that injected him with Anti-Alchemy poison at a timed interval. 

“It is necessary till the charges are dropped,” replied one of the Overseers in the usual uptight tone associated with their kind, something Angel found exhausting. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the Lost Number found it rather amusing to tease the lot.

“I could add you to the kill count?” He replied with a cruel grin before shrugging and leaning back, the smile only growing wider as soon as he got the reaction he wanted. 

“You’re a fucking monster!” One of the younger lads spoke up while glaring at the prisoner, his fists shaking with fury. “How can you joke about this? Good men died!” 

Angel merely yawned in reply, finding all this self-righteousness a bit dramatic. “If history has taught us one thing……it’s that good men are good at dying,” he chuckled as if remembering some old joke before leaning back and getting as comfortable as a prisoner could get.

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Asylum Class: Alchemic Philosophy


“No one really knows the origin of Alchemy but nigh endless research has helped us understand its fundamentals!” Professor Klein spoke to a large class of nearly fifty students, each one only moderately interested in his class, “The Philosophy of Alchemy”. Even so the professor continued on. 

“There is an alien source of energy that envelops the world and only alchemists have the ability to draw this energy and then release it. This process is known as an Alchemic drive and that defines your capabilities as an Alchemist. The stronger your alchemic drive the greater your potential. A trained alchemist must never underestimate the importance of an alchemic drive, every alchemist has one and it is as unique as your very own heartbeat. With training you can even sense another alchemist’s drive and with further training you may even decipher the outcome. Let us have a demonstration.” The professor suddenly slammed his gargantuan note book on the desk gaining the attention of the class. “You” the professor pointed to one of the slacking students. “Stand up and hit me with any type of alchemic attack, if you succeed you may consider this course cleared.” 

That seemed to draw a considerable amount of interest as everyone became a bit more animated, all eyes on the slacker who showed a wicked grin as he rose to the challenge. His outstretched fingers already working on a cast, each movement drawing in that tantalizing alchemic energy, a torrent of power that swirled inside him, begging to be released. A heartbeat later, lightning struck from the tip of his fingers only to fizz out before it could discharge, the result a pitiful spark akin to one of those mosquito zappers. 

“What….” The kid stood baffled while staring at his hand, galled at his own pathetic display. 

“This is what can happen when you understand your opponent’s alchemic drive. You can disrupt it through your own. Class dismissed!” With that the professor returned to collecting his note book and belongings, sighing as he could hear each student charging out of his class. “God help those new Asylums coming in to teach these hooligans!” 

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Tabion stood in front of a whole squadron of Asylums, each one of them having been called from the field in order to share their expertise with the new generation. 

“Welcome back to Innocence, I’m sure this place needs no introduction. It has been home to all of you once, you trained here, you lived here and you were created here!” The man spoke in a tone that commanded respect. “This place is our bastion from where we make Titans! Each of you has a duty to the next generation of Asylums, you must be the final hammer that molds them. Each of you will take the role of a mentor, you will share your tactics, your secrets, your successes, your failures, and your wisdom.” The Chrono intoned the age old words spoken to every Asylum that has come and will come to Innocence. His charisma alone was enough to have some Asylums standing straighter, for this was a man loyal to A.M.R.O body and soul and this was one of the 12, a Chrono, the strongest Alchemists in the entire world. With those words spoken the large man gave a brief nod to each Asylum and with that walked off to a landing bay where another aircraft had just begun to land. 

“That was rather intense,” Geko whispered once Tabion was out of ear shot, the Lost Number had stood behind the Chrono and was the one responsible for providing the Asylums with the keys to their rooms. He didn’t bother to introduce himself, just like everyone knew who Tabion was, almost everyone knew of Geko. One of the oldest surviving Lost Numbers and one of the most deadly assassins in A.M.R.O, also a grade A pervert. 


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“Welcome to Innocence,” Tabion greeted Angel as he stepped out of the aircraft, his hands bound with that magnetic handcuff, a sigil crafted chain wrapped around his torso, his feet shackled with another chain leaving just enough room to walk at a slow pace. 

“Good to be back, I do hope you could have one of those visiting Asylums bring me a meal to my cell, I am famished” the Silver Reaper replied with a patronizing smile. Both of them staring at each other for a few seconds before he was led away by the Overseers. 

“Reri won’t be too pleased Tabion….” at those words even the Chrono felt a slight chill, the leader of the Overseers hated chaos and nothing was more chaotic than a conflict among Chronos.