Under the guise of a pitch-black blanket where droplets of pulsating orbs with varying colours shined ever-so dim on the world below brought by the farewell of dusk; there were the militias, either in or outside of their own tents in this gloomy, and chilly military encampment.
The senior militias maintained a quiet, aloof behaviour towards their colleagues; either sitting alone beside a campfire or grasping their blade, gazing mindlessly in the distance, whilst the younger ones were more social, talking to a confidant or sharing what appears to be leftover rations with one another.
Apart from the gentle breeze of the moonlit-night, the crackles of the fire and the distant howls from multiple sources originating far into the horizon had filled the atmosphere of the camp, each howl and random bursts of noise emanating from the distance were enough to stiffen the posture of the older, more experienced armoured individuals.
Inside the tents were no more peaceful than the outside, soldiers were either rolled up into their sleeping mats or if awake; gazing on a random object as if it was a thousand yards away. Amidst all of these tents with varying sizes, situated near the walls was an array of wooden shoeboxes built into compact rooms that had no windows and are guarded by a set of stationed militias.
*Clank* *Clank* *Clank* *Clank*
Outside of these wooden rooms, there marched two individuals escorted by a handful of militias towards one of the structures where more guards were placed as compared to its other counterparts. With a nod from one of the two, the standing guard saluted before stepping aside.
Inside of the structure however, was a downcasted Calestro. Gazing mindlessly on the barely-maintained wooden floor where cracks and fissures are more prevalent than the actual wood. Around him was the visibly-ancient wooden walls with little termites crawling from one place to another.
The young man's face was slowly becoming a breeding ground of sweat as he used a fragment of his sleeve to wipe it away, replaying the events that occured earlier in the day inside of his head.
——
"e..excuse me..ma'am.." - The armoured girl stammered, following Calestro and the Medic; Foryan.
"Speak."
"what will happen to sir hamilvan?" - She inquired.
"Hm.. well most likely, he will just be softly reprimanded." - Foryan shrugged.
"tha..thank goodness." - The armoured girl heaved a sigh.
"..Softly reprimanded, you say? Does he usually get subjected to much worse?"
"Much 'more' worse. I would say, once those.. breakdowns of his happen, they typically occur at random times, and he loses control over himself.. attacking whoever he sees."
"..Woah.." - Calestro's mouth went agape, while the girl diverted her gaze with a sorrowful countenance.
"..true. i've seen it beforehand.." - the girl whispered.
"..I see..but if that was the case.. why did those two militias from earlier.. apparently knowing about Hamilvan's condition.. approach him without a second thought?"
- Calestro muttered.
"Most likely because they were new recruits..reserves in a sense." - Foryan shrugged her shoulders once more.
"Reserves..? Then that must mean this town is in dire need of manpower.. But based on what I've seen..it is not lacking in terms of military might. The militias alone is probably One-third of the town, I guess."
"Two-Thirds.To be more precise."
- Foryan shook her head in an exasperated manner.
Calestro flinched.
"..What!? Why that much!?"
The girl tapped her index fingers together and stammered.
"we-well.. stamped—"
"Silence." - Foryan looked back with an expression depicting slightly furrowed eyebrows on the young lass.
"..Istam..pid..what? did you say something..? um.."
"..I'm..Yenna. And no..nevermind that." - She diverted her eyes after taking one last cautious glance on the furrowed eyebrows stare of Foryan.
"Enough questioning. Remember, you are the one that's supposed to be answering questions, not asking them."
Together, they eventually reached an array of box-shaped, small wooden rooms situated just beside the wall after treading a stone-bricked path. The structures were patrolled by similarly-armoured militias.
"..Miss Foryan correct?" - A guard, holding a spear standing before the first structure turned to his side and saluted.
"You wouldn't be saluting if you hadn't known." - With her remark, the guard's eyelid faintly twitched.
"Anyway.. get this guy inside. Cannot have his ass roaming around."
— The guard glared at Calestro, who blinked in response.
"At once."
*Slap!*
Yenna, the armoured girl flinched while Foryan just sighed in exasperation.
"The hell?" - Calestro thought.
"Get moving! I ain't got all day!"
With a gulp and a slight sigh, Calestro started to climb the stone-brick staircase to ascend to the structure.
"Powertripping much.." - Foryan muttered to herself.
"will..he be fine?" - Yenna whispered.
"Don't worry! I'll get you sometime later! Just behave while we're gone and you'll be fine!" - Foryan encircled both hands around her mouth and yelled. Only for Calestro to turn back and nod, a sweat dripping from his not-fully convinced countenance, mouthing out a "be sure." before he was..
"Yeowch!!"
..Kicked inside by the same guard who escorted him up.
The girl covered her eyes with both hands while Foryan just grasped her head heaving yet another sigh.
"Geez. Be more considerate will ya.." - Foryan sneered towards the guard who had now returned to his post.
The guard softly squinted his eyes in response.
" ..Yes Ma'am."
With that, Foryan descended the staircase while Yenna momentarily paused for a few moments, gazing at the structure before she accidentally looked towards the Guard's eyes, only for him to shoot her with a glare and cause her to lower her head before following Foryan down the staircase.
————
"It has been a few hours. And they still hasn't retrieved me." Calestro thought, exhaling deeply. "So much for promises."
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
After hearing three repeated thumps on the wooden door, Calestro instantly diverted his gaze towards it, eyes lighting up in a slow manner. "Finally!" - He thought.
The Door bursted open however, revealing the guard that escorted and slammed Calestro inside a few hours prior, the reveal of his nonchalant and almost bored expression sent the sparkles on Calestro's eyes to wither away, causing it to quickly drop into an annoyed version.
"Why this guy..?" - Calestro muttered. "This is the most annoyi—"
"GET UP!"
- Calestro quickly stood up, "Yes Sir!"
"GET OVER HERE!"
- Calestro, in a stiff posture and with deliberate steps that resembled a march, began walking towards the guard that beckoned him over, upon reaching the door he saluted.
"What's next Si—
HUMPHH!!! UMPHDJHFFF--!!!!!!!"
- A figure from the guard's left, enshrouded in darkness emerged with both hands holding a leathery pouch, forcibly shoving it down Calestro's head and muffling his screams.
"Target Secured."
"Begin Moving It Immediately."
"At Once Sir."
—————
Inside of a stone-bricked room, where four torches were strapped into the four corner beams there were five distinct individuals,
One was a man with a broad stature, slicked-back brown hair, clean sharp countenance and was relatively tall, leaning against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed. His forearms and shins were covered under a pair of silvery gauntlets and greaves that had small, iron protrusions embedded on them.
One was robed in a red cloak, keeping a low gaze while waiting by the door, staring outside into the hallway. A couple of rolled-up scrolls with varying sizes resting comfortably atop his back.
The third was of a chubby disposition, wearing a purple tightly-fitted suit with no dust, a flower over his left chest strapped to his garment, and a collar consisting of a thin, white fabric all while sitting atop a finely-polished wooden chair beside a tall, imposing, fully armoured individual that stood upright, almost frozen.
In the opposite side of the table, facing the man with the polished suit was a person sitting on a crusty chair, a leather pouch over his head, unmoving. Just stillness.
With a wave of the extravagant man's hand, the still, fully-armoured individual suddenly sprung to life and walked over to swiftly pull the leather pouch. Revealing a barely conscious Calestro, face bathing in sweat.
*Cough* *Cough* — As soon as the pouch was lifted from his head, he exploded into a series of held-back coughs, nose and mouth torn on who gets to supply the much needed oxygen for the young man.
"..the..heck..—
Seeing Calestro partially responsive, the chubby man's lips erupted into a wide smile.
"WELCOME!! My Friend!" - The Noble screamed as he spreaded out his hands in the air, a gleeful grin present on his coarse-lips.
—is this.." - Calestro stared with half-alive, almost intoxicated eyes towards the nobleman.
————
Under the darkness of the once again starless night, Foryan was seen treading through the familliar stone-bricked staircase with an unreadable expression on her face.
She ascended the flight of stairs eyes focused on the wooden structure specifically where Calestro was previously detained.
"Ah shit. I overslept.." — She cursed internally, caressing the back of her head.
Her presence was acknowledged when the guard turned his head with a slight squint on his eyes.
"Fuck.. The kid won't be happy with this. Guess I gott—!?"
*FWIP!*
The Guard from before raised an arm to his side, effectively blocking Foryan's ascent.
"Off Limits."
- The guard declared, eyes piercing through Foryan, to which, after a few seconds of silence, she reciprocated with an even greater magnitude.
"Somebody grew a pair." -She shrugged.
"Would you move aside? I have an important.. thing to do."
The Guard stiffened his arm -
"His Orders. I'm sorry, but you will not be passing through."
"tsk..and why not?" - Foryan asked.
"Go ask him instead, Miss Foryan. I too, have better things to do such as; stand here and watch, than to quarrel mindlessly with you."
Foryan's eyebrow twitched.
"Why..You!" - She raised an arm.
"Don't make a fool out of yourself, Miss Foryan. Spare yourself the avoidable trouble and walk away." — The guard solemnly stated, undeterred by the hand that was centimeters away from his cheek.
Foryan clicked her tongue.
"Having an official engage in delinquency in regards to militian articles would be the most unorthodox, surely the Sir would not find it.. rather pleasant." - The guard continued, causing Foryan to grit her teeth.
"Screw your Sir. He can go to hell for all I care..!" - Foryan muttered.
The Guard paused, blankly staring at her with an unbreakable stoicism.
"Finished? Return to your post."
With a curse, Foryan stomped away from the guard on the tracks at her descent, muttering out deregatory labels while a specific person came to mind.
"That fucking noble..! Wasn't I supposed to interrogate him..!?"
As her mind raced with various possibilities, Foryan recalled a distinct memory depicting that of a walled dungeon consisting of a few familliar faces, as soon as the scene flashed, she quickly shook her head in an attenpt to dismiss it.
"..damn it."
Upon finishing her descent, she turned and punched a wall in frustration.
After a momentarily downcasted gaze, a bulb flickered above her head.
"...wait..!" - causing her eyes to light up before she started running towards the center of the encampment.
"..Maybe..!!"
————
"How are you feeling? My friend!"
- The noble unleashed a chuckle that resonated throughout the windowless room.
Calestro remained silent, eyes carefully scanning his surroundings.
Two individuals were situated behind him, one that was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, and the other sitting beside the iron gate, now keeping a watchful eye on him.
"So..My friend, probably wondering why you were brought here?"
Calestro scoffed.
"..Duh."
The Noble chuckled.
"Quite a vulgar attitude my friend has."
He then clasped both hands together, a soft smile on his mouth.
"Let's talk business! I think we have a few things that can benefit with from one another."
Calestro paused to stare before coarsely-responding;
"Really huh."
"Indeed! Let's put aside our responsibilities for now and just bask in the mutual satisfaction brought by a successful deal!"
"..Just get to the point already.."
"My My, an impatient one! I can understand that! I used to be very impatient too.."
- The Noble cackled, causing Calestro's eye to twitch.
"But..! Let us cut to the chase, shall we? Ehem!"
- He quickly cleared off his throat before leaning in with a visible smile on his mouth.
"Tell me more about this..Tech of yours."
"Tech..? Is he referring to.." — Calestro recalled the moment when they arrived to this encampment, specifically the large mechanical bear with a pink flower on its head that accompanied them.
"Come to think of it..." — He gazed down at his waist, only to find his pouch, belt and other equipment missing.
"..What are you talking about?" - "Probably best to not reveal much..But where are my things..? Are they with the medical ma'am..?"
"Playing dumb I see.." - The corners of noble's still lips slowly erupted outwards, turning his smile into a wide smirk.
"..?"
*Thump.*
"..!!!"
The Noble reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, wind-up toy of a bear and dropped it onto the wooden table.
Calestro's eyes went from widened to a full-blown glare as it tilted towards the Noble.
"..Don't touch that."
"Or what." - The Noble snickered, leaning in towards the young man.
"Or what Hm? Or What.
Mister.. Calestro?"
Upon hearing the Noble's words, The young man's body was shook to the very core.
Seeing Calestro stunned, the Noble's lips transitioned into a subtle smirk.