The Imperial Palace

The bright shiny building rose and shined in the sun as its green rooftops displayed the wonders of one's dreams and motivated outsiders to come to the Capital for a better life and to make a living. It draws people from all around like moths to a flame, flies to a light bulb and the homeless to a fire for warmth. People walk the streets of this beloved area with care and friendliness in their eyes but behind those expressions, there are looks of pain and suffering as many dark things tread in the shadows of those who bear them.

Imperial Guards scout the streets and look for potential criminals to bring to justice as this was by the orders of The Emperor himself, to make sure that there were no substantial threats that can cause chaos in his city and make that they are disposed of permanently. The bright and sunny atmosphere that basks the city makes the area somehow gloomy and dark like the night was the day. Guards put their lives on the line each day and they needed to have each other's backs in case they run into the most notorious criminal group in the Empire, Night Raid.

Night Raid were a group of assassins that strike at the brink of night and assassinated highly ranked government officials as everyone saw them as a threat and they were to be killed on site if spotted. This group wields Teigus or otherwise known as Imperial Arms, powerful weapons forged from Danger Beasts by the first Emperor many years ago. Using these weapons, they slaughter those who dwell among the people and exploit them for disgusting actions and irredeemable sins. No one knows how many members are on the team but a few of them were identified like Akame, Sheele, Bulat and Najenda.

Everyone in the Capital needs to be on their toes and keep an ear out in case they hear something about an assassination because these criminals needed to be taken out of the picture as soon as possible. Highly ranked officials make sure to know who exactly they trust because whether they knew it or not, they were going to be killed one way or another but the question was when will it happen?

The ones who are responsible for guarding these people are the Imperial Guards who are appointed by the Prime Minister, Honest. They patrol the area and guard the buildings of government officials as they take their jobs very seriously. Each of them wear leather cream colored clothes and some wielded swords or spears as they all had serious looks on their faces, almost all of them.

Guarding a restaurant in the streets of the Capital, a guy in his early twenties was clutching a spear in his right hand but he was leaning on it like life support and soft snoring was heard from him as he slept away. His uniform was fluffy and comfortable even though it was hot and the sun made everyone feel sticky in their clothes. He had a smooth snow colored skin as his black hair was smooth as his guard cap along with the ear flaps snugged his head softly as he dozed off. Normally this was very unprofessional for an Imperial Guard but this one was known for his unusual condition and often gets berated for it but he continues to do it.

He continued to sleep away until someone snuck right up to his ear and her mouth was close to his ear and then she yelled, "Wake up, Tobey!"

The poor guard opened his eyes wildly as he screamed and fell forward but the girl caught him as she was laughing at his reaction as Tobey blinked wildly and looked up at the culprit with his chocolate colored eyes.

"S-Seryu!" Tobey yelled softly as he propped himself back up and fixed his hat as the girl looked at him with a smile.

Seryu is an imperial officer with amber eyes and auburn hair as she had a curvaceous and fit figure to signal that she was combat ready. Her eyes sparkled with humor as she watched Tobey get himself together as she shook her head playfully.

"You really need to be more aware of your surroundings." Seryu said as Tobey rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry." Tobey apologised as Seryu's eyes softened before she looked and saw that his eyes had dark circles around them as her expression turned into one of worry.

"Have you taken a pill?"

"Yes, I have been taking my pills." Tobey replied as he sniffled.

Tobey was diagnosed with an intense case of Schizophrenia and the pills he was taking were supposed to help nullify the condition and it helped and while sometimes he forgot to take them, the effects were practically the same. Nothing too extreme and nothing too spooky, just simple hallucinations like the ground bending and sogging or sometimes random voices but nothing too extreme.

"That's great! You'll be better in no time!" Seryu exclaimed as Tobey looked at her and squinted.

"Sometimes I wonder whether you're an actual person or I'm hallucinating... then again, the first option shouldn't even be on the table." Tobey spoke as he shook his head and sighed, not noticing Seryu's sad expression.

"I am real, Tobey." Seryu pleaded with him as he looked at her with sad eyes.

"Until I can actually find a prescription that can actually stop my condition, I can't really discern what is real and what is my imagination. When that day comes.... I hope that you don't fall into the imaginative category." Tobey said sadly as Seryu's face morphed into one of determination.

"I will find a prescription for you, Tobey! I promise!" Seryu spoke stoically.

"Hopefully.... Is there anything else to do besides standing around here?" Tobey asked pleadingly as he looked around and saw some people going around and buying fancy things and things to eat. The sight made him feel wistful and made his head swing a bit as he shook it off and looked at Seryu.

"Weeell, we can't really do anything now since we are on our imperial duties," Seryu spoke hesitantly before her expression brightened up, "But we can do something together once our shifts are over!"

"I guess we can." Tobey spoke reluctantly as Seryu smiled at him.

"Okay and be careful around here, word has it that those Night Raid scum are around causing havoc," Seryu said with a darkened look on her face, "We must bring them to Justice!"

Tobey blinked at Seryu's bloodlust expression and gulped nervously as she breathed in and out heavily before looking at him and saw his scared expression as she calmed down immediately.

"Sorry, I just don't want anything to happen to you Tobey, promise me you'll be careful." Seryu spoke in a disheartened and desperate tone as he nodded.

"I... I promise, Seryu." Tobey replied and gave her a smile.

"Great! See you in the afternoon and take your pills! Come along Koro!" Seryu cheerfully ran off and dragged her dog with her. Tobey nearly forgot about Koro and made a mental note to make it up to the little guy when they met again later on.

He dug his hand in his pocket and pulled out a little orange container that had some pills left in them as he reluctantly opened the cap, took out a pill, popped it in his mouth and swallowed it as he sighed before putting it back in his pocket. He looked in the direction where Seryu and Koro went as he watched her figure become more distant each passing second before turning a corner and disappeared from his sight.

"Hopefully there's a cure for my Schizophrenia... Seryu and Koro are the only friends I ever had, I would be devastated if I found out that they were just in my head. A product of a imaginative equation that won't stop functioning." Tobey thought to himself before the midday bell rang and it echoed throughout the city and it signaled the end of his first shift.

"Well, time for the second shift." Tobey said as he looked to his left and saw that his replacement was approaching as the guard scowled at him.

"I'm surprised that you're still on the job." He spoke in a grumpy tone.

"Umm... I am known to beat the odds?" Tobey said with a forced smile but the guard was having none of it as he walked right up to him and glared at him.

"Now listen here, if you end up causing the deaths of anyone important in that Palace, I will personally make sure that you are locked up and executed... do you understand?" He spoke darkly as Tobey nodded fearfully.

"Y-Yes, s-sir." Tobey replied nervously before running off to the Palace where his next shift awaited him. He continued to run through the town as he passed multiple people who looked at him with questionable expressions on their faces.

Soon enough, Tobey made it to the Imperial Palace as he entered the building and rushed to the second floor as he was panting heavily before he made it to his second post and trudged towards the door before taking guard their for the next four hours as he struggled to catch his breath.

Tobey was panting heavily as he caught his breath and leaned against the wall to steady himself from falling down. The uniform he was wearing was clinging to his body as the sweat made it sticky to his skin as he clenched his spear in his right hand. His other hand fumbled in his pocket before pulling out the pill container as he sighed in relief that he still had it and took a look at it before noticing something.

"Damn it, I got one more dose in this thing before I have to go and get a refill." Tobey grumbled as he did the numbers in his head. He had to take a pill every two hours according to the hospital and this shift ended in four hours. He will have to take the last pill in the middle of the shift and wait another two hours before he can head to the hospital and get another set.

Tobey took guard and waited as he looked around the hallway, it was relatively fancy with velvet carpets, fancy statues and tall columns to support the roof of the place. The door he was guarding was dual and relatively shiny as its golden handles glistened in the light but Tobey didn't like it one bit, especially who was on the other end of the doors.

The official who resided on the other side of those doors was a Lord who saw people as livestock and does what he sees fit with them and it was a secret that very few people knew about and Tobey was one of those people. The reason he didn't say anything however was because he couldn't trust anybody in this Palace and everyone here has a dark secret.

"Everything is so complicated." Tobey mumbled to himself.

"What was that?" A voice asked beside him.

Tobey jumped as he looked and saw a maid was there with a cart of refreshments as he calmed down, "Nothing."

"Okay, well here's some water for when you're thirsty." The maid said with a smile as she set a pitcher of water next to him along with a cup as she then left and exited the hallway as Tobey licked his lips before pouring himself a cup of water and drinking the contents.

"Now the wait begins." Tobey spoke sadly as he prepared himself for a painfully boring four hours.

Four Hours Later

The moon shined on the streets of the Capital as there were a couple of people out and about on the streets but most of them knew better. This was the time that Night Raid strikes out at unsuspected individuals and no one wanted to risk their lives just to go get some late night groceries.

One of the bold individuals who decide to risk the night was Tobey as he briskly walked towards the hospital. He took his last pill two hours ago and his shift ended an hour ago so now it had been three hours since he took the last pill and its effects were supposed to last for two hours.

"Okay, okay, okay," Tobey said to himself quickly, "The pill's effects have worn off but nothing happened, just get to the hospital and get another set... and make it quick."

He continued to walk before it turned to a jog as his footsteps echoed throughout the empty streets as he was not far from the hospital, just another couple of streets and he'll make it. Soon the building came into view and Tobey breathed out a heavy sigh and laughed gently but before he could do anything, he heard a familiar voice.

"Tobey!"

He turned around and saw Seryu and Koro running towards him as he stopped and waved at them to catch up.

"Hey guys! I'm just going to get some more pills!" Tobey said as Seryu and Koro got closer.

"That's... good~" Seryu said as she got closer and Tobey looked at her closer as she stepped into the light and his skin turned pale. Seryu's body was green and rotten while her eyes bulged out of their sockets as her mouth was cut abnormally wide as sharp teeth could be seen with thick gunks of saliva hung and swung from her gaping mouth.

Koro looked worse as chunks of skin was missing as the dog now held red eyes as his little body were full of cuts and stab wounds but none were regenerating as he growled angrily.

"W-what?" Tobey spoke fearfully as Seryu and Koro walked forward which forced him to back up steadily.

"Don't be afraid Tobey~ Come give me a sweet kiss~" Seryu sang psychotically as she held her arms out in a hug format as Tobey continued to back up before he began slapping his head.

"It's my Schizophrenia! Its my Schizophrenia! This isn't real!" Tobey yelled frantically as he slapped his head and looked again only to still see the zombified Seryu and Koro.

"Oh I'm plenty real Tobey, its what I was trying to tell you~" Seryu spoke seductively before pointing at him, "Come on Koro, let's show Tobey how real we are~"

Koro's body molded and grew bigger until he became a bloated anthromorphic version of himself but with big and long muscular arms as flailing skin and rotten flesh polluted the air and made Tobey gag before the dog roared and both of them began charging him as he turned around and started running to the hospital.

"HELP!!!" HELP!!!!" Tobey yelled frantically as he got closer to the hospital as he could hear Seryu's laughter behind him.

"There's no help for you! There never will be!" She yelled madly as Tobey heard a massive thump to his right and he looked to see Koro jumping on the rooftops and snarling at him as the massive teigu smashed through the chimneys that were in his way. He poured on more speed as he approached the doors to the hospital and opened it before slamming it shut and barricading the entrance as he backed up wildly before his back slammed against the front desk.

A commotion was going on outside the doors as the barriers flexed but held still as loud bangs were heard before Tobey heard Koro roar and suddenly the indent of a massive fist imprinted itself on the door as cracks were heard before more punches were ensued.

Tobey slid to the floor as he looked at the door with horror before silence took hold of the atmosphere as the doors remained intact but not unscathed as he took deep breaths and tried to stand back up.

Just as he stood back up, the doors bursted open and Tobey screamed in horror and covered his eyes before he heard a different voice and it wasn't Seryu's.

"Hands up, now!"

Tobey opened his eyes and saw that he was surrounded by Imperial Officers who all had their spears pointed to him. He looked around and saw that there were nurses and doctors in the main room and they were looking at him in fear. Tobey looked on the floor and saw that his pill container was on the ground but there was nothing in them as the officer who spoke to him held his spear at him threateningly.

"On your knees!" He commanded as Tobey fearfully complied before an officer tied his hands together with ropes.

Nearby

Seryu had finished her shift an hour ago and was now looking for Tobey along with Koro. She went to his barracks to see if he was there but it turns out he hasn't been there all afternoon as immediate signs of worry flooded her body as Seryu immediately took to the streets in desperate vain to hopefully not find Tobey's dead body.

Now she has a lead, she found Tobey's guard hat on the ground and had Koro sniff it and now the dog was taking the lead as Seryu followed closely behind him.

"Come on Koro, lead me to Tobey!" Seryu spoke seriously as Koro barked and continued to run as fast as his tiny legs allowed him to run. They both ran down a empty alleyway and turned a corner as Koro led her to the hospital and her eyes widened when she saw the officers were detaining Tobey.

"Make sure he rots in the dungeon." One officer ordered as the rest of them were escorting Tobey before Seryu stepped into view and he widened his eyes with relief.

"Wait!" Seryu yelled.

"Oh, you're that crazy justice girl that everyone talks about."

"Er, yes, that's me but you can't arrest Tobey, its not his fault and I can prove it!"

"How?"

Seryu turned to Tobey, "Where's your container?"

He nodded in the direction of the hospital and Seryu rushed inside and looked around before her eyes found what she was looking for as she picked it up and went back outside and showed her fellow officers the empty container.

"This is Tobey's prescription and he was coming here for a refill. He has Schizophrenia which causes him to see hallucinations and illusions unless he gets his prescription. You can't arrest a disabled individual for succumbing to something they have no control over!" Seryu explained as she looked at the officers and they looked at their lead officer.

"Be that as it may be... he is still dangerous to this city." The lead officer explained.

"Perhaps I should take it up to Captain Ogre." Seryu spoke darkly as Koro growled loudly as the officer's face paled drastically before signaling to his comrades to unbind Tobey. Free from the rope, Tobey rubbed his wrists and winced as Seryu rushed to him and glared at the head officer before gesturing for him to leave.

After the officers left, Seryu turned to Tobey who was currently trying to get Koro off of his face as the dog was whining cutely and hugging his face. The sight made Seryu giggle as she gently grabbed Koro and pried him off.

"You should've just told me you were coming here." Seryu said with a smile before it disappeared when she saw that Tobey was looking at both her and Koro with a fearful look in his eyes as the dog tilted his head and barked confusingly.

"Tobey..." Seryu said as she reached out to touch him but Tobey backed away cautiously before shaking his head.

"Let's get the refill before I do anything." Tobey said before heading back in the hospital as he left them outside and in less than a minute, he came out with a new batch of pills as he popped one in his mouth and shook his head at the tasteless flavor before focusing on Seryu and Koro as he smiled nervously.

"Sorry about all this." Tobey apologized as Seryu snaps out of it and gives him a forced smile.

"It's fine but... what did you see?"

"Just an hallucination."

"Okay." Seryu didn't buy it one bit but decided not to press him about the issue and looked towards the palace, "It's getting late, let's head back to the barracks... and tomorrow we can continue delivering justice!"

Seryu and Koro led the way back as Tobey walked behind them and he couldn't but shiver at the traumatizing hallucination of a zombified Seryu and Koro chasing throughout the empty streets.

If Night Raid wasn't going to be the death of him, it would be his Schizophrenia that will deal the final blow.

Hope you guys enjoyed!