LINKERS

Linkers Volume 1 Takano Masamune Chapter 1: Strength (1) *** In this world… the dead attach themselves to a human of their choosing, creating a bond, an inseparable link between them, their strong feelings of resentment, pain, love, frustration, exhilaration, adoration, loss, anger, happiness, sadness… all of those emotions manifest their form into that of a weapon that can be used in battle against the unknown… The Unknown are a collective of souls that mush together to form large beasts that terrorize the residents of this world… Slowly but surely these monsters grow their strength each day. If not for the Masters and their weapons to protect the piece, the entire world might fall into ruin, we call them… Linkers. Linkers are the world’s chosen weapon users, those that have been not only granted a soul that has devoted their afterlife to them, but also they poses the strength to control and manifest them into a proper and maybe even stronger version of their initial form… “Hurry up already! If we’re any late there won’t be any good seats left!” Dante spoke in a loud and almost panicky stricken voice that make his own seem rather high pitched. He was a tall man clad in all black clothes and behind him lazily his friend. “And what does it matter where we sit? It’s going to be the same old boring lecture regardless of our position.” Sora remarked with a tired sounding tone. He on the other hand was dressed in all white. He was somehow floating, although he looked like he was alive, the truth was he was a ghost without a physical form. “You don’t get it, do you? Dr. Lerch is someone with amazing skills! He’s not just your run of the mill educator! In fact he’s so special that he was headhunted for the position of professor by the Headmaster himself! It took him a while to agree to it though!” Dante continued his over joyous explanation while running in one place, waiting for his friend to catch up to him all the same. “And so what? Doesn’t that mean he’s just some lazy bum that would rather do anything else than teach?” Sora questioned, he was floating a few centimeters above the ground, just enough for others to notice he wasn’t walking. “Sora! You can’t say that! It’s rude.” Dante remarked in an angry voice as he finally grabbed his friend by the half transparent hand and pulled him along with a quick pace. “Ugh… I just want to sleep in more… getting up in 5 in the morning is absurd, no matter what special lecture its supposed to be.” Sora complained all the more with his tiredness being all the more visible in his appearance that was becoming more solid, he stepped onto the ground and began walking. “Hurry, up!” Dante urged him more and more as he never let go of his hand. “Alright, alright… geez…” Sora finally given up on reasoning with his stupidly enthusiastic friend, he followed after him, not being left much of a choice. The hallways of the academy were spacious and filled with all kinds of people and things. “I want to take in all the knowledge this amazing professor will give us! I can’t wait a second longer I feel like I might explode if I do!” Dante spoke while they walked near each other. It was pretty early so the hallways were mostly empty. “Wow, you sure love studying… nerd…” Sora remarked with a catty tone that made the other stand on edge. “Like you’re one to talk!? You spend all your free time building those stupid puzzles and the like! How can you call me a nerd when you’re the one that’s doing pointless things?!” Dante asked while crossing his arms, glaring at the man. He seemed to have a particular distain for being called a ‘nerd’. “Don’t you dare speak badly about my puzzles! They’re rare one of a kind custom designed with over 30k puzzle pieces all with unique shapes! It’s not something the likes of you that knows nothing but books can solve.” Sora replied with nearly the same frustration as the other man had within him. Defending his hobby as if his life (or so to speak afterlife) had depended on it. Both of them huffed and puffed at each other a bit angrily… “Whatever… Let’s go inside… Ugh… I’m so nervous, what if we’re already late?” Dante asked while fixing up his hair and adjusting his uniform. All students with the rank of Master were to wear a particular all black uniform to be easily distinguishable form the Weapons, who were wearing all white uniforms, once more so they could stand out. Together each pair would have the name Linkers. Because of the link or so called bond they share with each other. One Master could have several Weapons, but each weapon would only have one Master… “There’s still 30 minutes before the lecture starts… who in their right mind would think that’s late?” Sora didn’t miss a single opportunity to rub it in the other’s face he was doing too much. “I’m just so excited to see what he will teach us-” As Dante’s overexcited voice faded in the distance, he opened the door only to be met with a sight he couldn’t comprehend at first. “Wow… he sure knows how to teach…” Sora remarked with the gleaming eyes of a mischievous adult, he looked at the desk where their teacher was currently being serviced by someone quite out in the open. “Ah, s**t students. Please get out now.” Licht panicked at the sight of them and spoke in a pleading voice. There was a woman in between his legs that was doing something particularly naughty. So called adult things… And although both Sora and Dante were young adult men, ages 21 and 21 and a half respectively… Dante overreacted as if this was the first time he’s ever seen such a vulgar display in his life. While Sora responded by taking out his phone and recording the scene quickly. “Yes, of course, sir, right!” Dante panicked as he headed out the door and tried to close it but as luck would have it, it got stuck halfway open and he was unable to do so. “No way am I stepping outside, this just got interesting!” Sora remarked with excitement, his phone hanging high, he wasn’t even pretending he wasn’t recording them. “Put your phone away!” Dante said as he tried to snatch it off his friend’s hands but Sora proceeded to float upwards and not allow him to do so. “Oh, come on, weren’t you just saying how impressed you were by this amazing teacher? Take a good look at him getting his balls emptied by someone.” Sora continued to tease his weapon user master and gleamed cheerfully at his professor’s awkward expression. What was this situation that felt like the start of a weird novel?