The laboratory was dimly lit and silent, except for the gentle clinking of glass test tubes. A few moths fluttered around the space in the lab.

  A dark-skinned woman stood by her workplace, carefully placing two vials and a strand of hair inside a large contraption connected to a larger container filled with a green liquid.

  Her name was Rei Saelune.

  She didn’t turn when the door opened.

  “Come in. You were right to check on that island,” she said.

  A figure stepped through the doorway. Their identity is unknown, except to Rei.

  Rei looked towards them and said: “There was this one girl on that island who held great power and could answer my question: What is the cost of a soul that never got to choose?”

  With that, she powered an elaborate contraption.

  She continued. “With my Yogen’s ability, I was able to see this large, golden, translucent moth trailing behind her. Not only that, but there was this small, violet, envious moth hidden behind the larger one. It was quite a marvel.”

  “Interesting,” the guest said. “I’m glad I was able to help you with your research.”

  The machine began to make a loud and terrible sound as something formed in the green liquid. It grew. And grew. From the size of a fetus to a young boy.

  Rei’s eyes lit up.

  “Y-Yes! It worked!” she exclaimed. “Its a life form. This is incredible!”

  The guest asked. “What will you name it?”

  Rei rubbed her chin for a moment. “Well, the girl’s name was Aisho. So I’ll name him… Ohsia.”

  ***

  The morning sun filtered through the classroom windows, casting light onto the wooden desks. The scent of brine filled the air because of the island’s devotion to fish and scholarship.?

  Aisho sat at her desk, her short, curly hair. She tapped a rhythm with her pencil. Her goggles rested on her head. She wore them more for style than anything useful. Her gaze was fixed beyond the history lesson, drawn to the horizon where the sky and the ocean united.

  Mr. Johnson’s monotonous voice spoke about the patterns of the silverfin species, but Aisho’s mind was already miles away.

  “Aisho,” he called. “Can you enlighten us on the significance of the Treaty of Coral Bay?”

  Aisho's mind raced. She thought, Treaty of Coral Bay... Coral Bay...

  She vaguely recalled a mention of it during a previous lesson, something about fishing rights and territorial waters.?

  "Uh, was that the agreement where the islanders decided to... share their fishing techniques with nearby islands?" she said, hopeful.?

  A few students let out a snicker.

  "Incorrect," he said. "It was the treaty that ended the decade-long conflict over the northern fishing territories, establishing boundaries and preserving marine life. Please pay attention next time, Aisho."

  Mr. Johnson sighed and moved on, but Aisho could feel the weight of every eye in the room. She forced herself to copy a few notes. Though she knew she’d never need them. Her dream wasn’t about being a fisherman. It was about something called Lancers, she’d only heard rumors about them in tales.

  At last, the final bell rang and the lesson was over. Aisho dramatically groaned and shut her book. The other seniors moved in unison and walked out of the classroom.

  That is not before Aisho made her way out of the classroom, when Mr. Johnson ordered that she stay for a moment.

  “Hey, Mr. Johnson, what do you need me for?”

  “Aisho, you need to pick up your grade in this class.” Mr. Johnson took off his glasses and grew serious. “It’s almost the end of the year and—”

  “I’m fine, Mr. Johnson. You won’t see me anymore.”

  “Aisho. What do you mean?”

  She didn’t answer his question and left the classroom. While leaving the school, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

  It was her childhood best friend, Ella. “Hey Aisho. You okay? It seemed like you were spacing out in class.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve just been thinking about something.”

  Ella tilted her head. “Oh yeah? About what?”

  “About my Lancer dream—”

  Ella cut Aisho off with a sigh. “Aisho, are you sure about this? You know, most people who try to be a Lancer…die. It’s the most dangerous job in the world.”

  Aisho grinned. “Yes, I know the risks, but these Lancers are protectors and explorers. They venture into uncharted territories and rid the world of evil. And best of all, they harness the power of the Dragon Vein!”

  Ella looked concerned. "But your parents, the island elders, they've forbidden any talk of Lancers. They believe it's a dangerous path."?

  Aisho shrugged, a playful grin on her face. "They can believe what they want. I'm not responsible for the fact that they’re a bunch of wimps."?

  Ella sighed, knowing she couldn't convince her friend. "Just promise me you'll be careful."?

  "I will," Aisho replied, adjusting her goggles. "Now, you’ll come with me to train, right? At the boathouse."?

  “Training again? Why do you have to train so much?”

  A glint of determination sparkled in Aisho’s eyes. ”The first step to becoming a Lancer is to awaken my Dragon Vein. I feel a connection to that boathouse place, like it's some conduit for awakening Dragon Veins.”

  ***

  As they walked towards the old boathouse, Aisho felt a surge of excitement. She was ready to embrace her destiny, to awaken her Dragon Vein, and to step into the world as a Lancer. The path ahead was foggy, but she was ready to uncover it.

  Light filtered through the slats of the old boathouse and onto the dusty floorboards. Ella illuminated the room with a lantern she held. Aisho and Ella could hear the waves splashing onto the shore.

  Aisho knelt in the center of the room, her eyes closed and completely focused on her energy.

  “Ella,” Aisho whispered, her voice serious. “Keep the lantern steady and don’t speak unless I call you.”

  Ella nodded, shifting the lantern so it illuminated Aisho’s face. “I won’t move,” she promised. “I believe that this time, you’ll get it.”

  This has been the usual routine between Ella and Aisho. Aisho begs Ella to go with her to the boathouse. Aisho does some meditation. Feel only a sample of energy. Do some physical training like sit-ups, push-ups, and her favorite, sprints. Then try again tomorrow. They’ve been doing this for a month now.

  Aisho inhaled deeply. She let the memory of her countless hours of meditation wash over her: the numbing cold of dawn at the boathouse, the ache in her legs from kneeling for hours, the constant frustration from not being able to awaken her Dragon Vein.

  Her fingertips tingled, and the air around her grew warmer. The floorboards beneath her knees seemed to hum. Minutes felt like an eternity. Sweat beaded down her forehead.

  “Ella,” she murmured, voice strained. “I think I feel it. The… Dragon Vein.”

  Ella swallowed hard and couldn’t think of an answer. She was too astonished; she never believed that just any normal person could awaken their Dragon Vein just with sheer willpower and training.

  Aisho’s chest rose and fell in gasps. The lantern’s flame flickered.

  Aisho opened her eyes to find the wooden walls trembling. Her hand shot to her chest, where she felt a deep drumming pulse—her own heart and something else, like a second heartbeat.

  “Dragon Vein…” she whispered, voice barely audible. She held out her arm and saw all the veins in her arm glow in pure gold light. She held out her other arm and saw the same.

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  “IT WORKED!” Aisho exclaimed.

  Aisho fell back onto her bottom, breath coming in uneven sobs of relief.

  Ella rushed forward, kneeling beside her friend. “Aisho… you did it! I—” Her voice cracked. She reached out and touched Aisho’s shoulder. “Aisho, you proved me wrong. You awakened your Dragon Vein.”

  Aisho leaned forward.

  “I feel it,” she gasped. “My Dragon Vein… It’s alive. My Seishinryu... I can sense it, like a heartbeat beneath my own.”

  Ella smiled through tears until she realized something. “So what does this mean? Like, what power do you have now since you awakened your Dragon Vein? I also heard you mention… Seishinryu? What’s that?”

  Aisho stood.

  “Well… as for the power I have right now—I’m not sure,” she wondered. “But about Seishinryu—I read about the concepts of Dragon Vein in some book I found in the town library.”

  Ella pondered. “Are you serious? I thought there wouldn’t be many books about Dragon Veins since we’re on this island.”

  “I’m fully serious,” Aisho cleared her throat. “A Seishinryu is the embodiment of one’s Dragon Vein. It takes the form of a spiritual dragon within the user.”

  She continued: “I think I’m supposed to figure out my Yogen—a specialized ability specific to each Dragon Vein user.”

  Aisho looked down at her hands. “But I’m not sure how to… awaken that.”

  Ella thought for a moment.

  “You know what, I have a plan,” she announced. “You like to run, don’t you?”

  She began pacing around the room, but she continued: “Can’t you use that Dragon Vein and its energy to power up your legs to run faster? Maybe that’s how you find your Yogen, doing something you like. I brought my stopwatch.”

  Aisho's eyes lit up. “Yeah, that seems like a good idea. Let’s try it!”

  A refreshing current of air blasted in from open water as Ella and Aisho stepped from the boathouse and into the moonlight on the shore. The tide had gone down.

  "Ready?" Ella said.

  Aisho nodded. "Let's see what this Dragon Vein can do."

  Ella led Aisho along the beach until they came to the shore. Ella walked a distance away from Aisho, a small stopwatch grasped in Ella’s hand. "Forty meters," she announced, her voice firm. "That's our distance. Ready?"

  Aisho bounced on the balls of her feet. "Let's do it," she said, falling into a sprinter’s position.

  Ok, ok, ok. Just focus on your Dragon Vein, she thought as she drew in a deep breath. Every vein in her body glowed golden, just for a moment.

  Then it hit her.

  A flicker deep inside her chest like something had caught on fire.

  Ella held the stopwatch above her head. "Go!" she cried as she pulled the stopwatch down.

  With a sudden surge of speed, Aisho took off. The world blurred around her as she covered the forty meters in what felt like an instantaneous blink of the eye. Sand flew out behind her. She came to a sloppy halt on the toe of her shoes past Ella, knees bent to absorb the impact.

  Ella stared at her stopwatch in disbelief.

  "2.6 seconds!" she said, stunned. "Aisho, that's. That’s incredible. It's like you’re superhuman now.”

  Aisho stood up straight. "That was amazing," she panted, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "I didn't even notice the fact I was running."

  Aisho collapsed onto the sand, feeling exhausted. Ella settled beside her, sharing a quiet moment of victory.

  “You’ve done more than I ever imagined in one night,” Ella said, her voice soft. “Was that your Yogen at work?”

  “It must’ve been,” Aisho turned her face to the sky. “My body felt hot for a moment, like every vein in my body was at work, but this is just the beginning. I’ve awakened my Dragon Vein. Now, I can become a Lancer.”

  Ella had a moment of realization. “But, how will you get off this island? The practice of the Dragon Vein and Lancers is forbidden, they’ll never let you leave.”

  Aisho sat up. “About that… There will be a supply ship that will come by tonight. I’ll sneak onto that ship and take it until they arrive at New Kaizo. There, I’ll finally get the chance to become a Lancer.”

  Ella sat up. “You can’t just stow away on a supply ship, Aisho! What if they catch you? What if you’re arrested, or worse?”

  Aisho leaned back on her palms. “I’ll figure it out. I’ve been planning this for weeks. The crew won’t even know I’m there until we reach New Kaizo.”

  Ella shook her head, rising to her feet. “You’re insane! You’ll be branded a fugitive. Your family, this island, and your parents will be ruined. They’ll hunt you down to pull you back.”

  Aisho closed her eyes and gave a slight smile. “Be serious, Ella, who wants me here?”

  A pause.

  “I want you here, Aisho. You're my best friend.” Ella’s eyes began to water. “And I’m sure there are many other people on this island who will be sad to see you run away.”

  Aisho gave a slight grin. “Let them try to catch me. The minute that ship pulls away from this island, I’m not responsible for what comes next.”

  Ella’s shoulders sagged. “But what about us? What about our friendship? You’re leaving me behind.”

  Aisho stood up. “This isn’t forever. Once I’m a Lancer, I’ll make sure you get trained, too. I won’t let you settle into this boring lifestyle.”

  Ella trembled.

  “Huh? It’s not about Dragon Vein, Lancers, or fish. I just—” She swallowed. “I don’t want to lose my best friend.”

  “You’ll always have me,” Aisho said quietly. “But I have to go.”

  Ella closed her eyes in savoring the genuineness of Aisho’s words. “Okay. But promise me one thing.”

  “Anything.”

  “Promise me you’ll come back.”

  Aisho laughed softly. She hugged Ella tightly. “I promise. But only when I’m ready. Until then, I’ll be boarding that supply ship later tonight.”

  Ella laughed through tears, letting Aisho pull away. They stood for a long moment until Aisho turned her back to walk away. Ella couldn’t handle it anymore and started bawling.

  She wiped her tears away and said. “Stay safe, Aisho!”

  Aisho waved her goodbye.

  ***

  Her heart pounded with anticipation and trepidation as she crept through the alleys of the village. She had just parted ways with Ella, leaving behind her best friend. She approached her modest home.

  Sliding the door open, she was greeted by the scent of grilled fish and the voice of her parents' conversation. Her mother looked up with a concerned expression.

  "Aisho, you're late. Where have you been?" her mother asked.

  Aisho forced a smile. "Sorry, Mom. I lost track of time."

  Her father’s skepticism was evident. "Aisho, I spoke with some of your teachers, and they all said you aren’t doing too well in class. What’s up, honey?"

  She shrugged, trying to think of an excuse. "Uh…well…that’s why I was late coming home. I was with Ella, who offered to tutor me. That’s why I was out so late."

  Dinner proceeded with a tension in the air. The clinking of forks against bowls was the only sound for a while. Finally, Aisho cleared her throat. "I've been thinking...about this Lancer thing. I-I still think I can be a Lancer."

  The room fell silent. Her mother's fork froze mid-air, and her father's expression seemed frustrated.

  "Absolutely not," her father said firmly. "The practice of the Dragon Vein and the path of the Lancer are forbidden. We've already—"

  "But it's my dream," Aisho protested. "I can do this."

  "Dreams don't put food on the table," her mother interjected. "And just because you have a dream doesn’t mean it can just happen."

  “Aisho—” her father said.

  Aisho stood up abruptly. "I'm not asking for permission.”

  “Aisho—” her father said once again.

  Aisho continued. “I'm telling you what I need to do and I need to—."

  “Aisho, that’s enough!” Her father stood up. “Being a Lancer is a dangerous job, and you can be killed any moment during the entrance trials! Hundreds try out, but half of them are killed!”

  Without waiting, she retreated to her room, the door slamming shut behind her.

  Aisho jumped into bed and screamed into her pillow. Eventually, she stopped.

  “Why won’t my parents just understand me?” Aisho was puzzled as she held her pillow.

  She sat at her desk, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote:

  "Dear Mom and Dad,"

  "I'm sorry for leaving like this. I know you don't understand, but I have to be a Lancer. Becoming a Lancer is not just some dumb dream; it's like a calling. I know the risks with death and all, but I promise to stay safe and return as a strong Lancer. Please don't worry about me."

  "With love, Aisho."

  She then slipped into a sleeveless, high-necked zip vest, its fabric a light gold. The vest hugged her torso closely. Under the vest, a close-fitting crop top in black. Her shorts, a light gold, sat comfortably on her hips. She wore a golden ribbon around her waist, letting it flow behind her. A pair of black elbow-length fingerless gloves with gold accents slid onto her hands. She slipped on her black athletic boots.

  She grabbed her small bag and packed photos, extra clothing, and snacks for the journey.

  Aisho stood at her bedroom window, heart thudding in her chest. Before her departure, she took one final glance at the dim room behind her, remembering the memories of her childhood in that room. None of it mattered anymore; she wouldn’t be back for a while.

  She stepped onto the windowsill. With a soft exhale, Aisho crouched and leapt from the windowsill. Her body landed in the bushes below with a muffled thud. She stood up straight and crept away from the house; she hoped she didn’t make much noise.

  She ran down a forest trail that was familiar to her. It led down to the western docks. She was ready.

  As the trees gave way to the shoreline, Aisho slowed her pace and crouched low. There it was. The massive and dark supply ship sat in the glittering sea. Ropes creaked. Crates clanked faintly as crewmen moved about. No one seemed to be watching its right-side cargo ramp.

  Aisho crept closer while sticking to the shadows, heart pounding. She hid behind a stack of crates near the ramp and waited for the right moment. Then, as one turned his back and the other lit a cigarette, she moved.

  Quickly and silently.

  She slipped onto the ship unnoticed, ducking behind a wall of tightly packed barrels. Her boots made no sound on the metal floor. She continued forward through the narrow corridors of the cargo hold until she found a section deep in the ship, stacked with sealed containers.

  She sat between two crates in the corner of the room. Her back pressed against the cool steel, and finally, she let her body relax.

  A soft smile curled on her lips as the distant groan of engines rumbled through the floor. The ship was preparing to leave.

  Then the ship began to move.

  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

  — Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)