Danger lurks the very corners, the harsh winter storm and the devil dress in black awaiting within. My companion, awaiting near my vicinity shakes with feat and despair as she tries to think of something.
As I reach for my steel of salvation...
"Say, July, but just to make sure. How many vehicles are inside? There can't only be one right?"
I pull my hand back and instead ask July who is peeking inside, she looks back at me replying:
"There are actually many transportations but the black demon is standing in the way..."
"Ah... I see..."
I walk near July asking:
"Just asking here, but what is that black demon doing?"
July peeks inside again and looks back at me saying:
"I think she's trying to assemble the prototype."
"Prototype?"
And idea clicked in my head as I feel a lightbulb shine on top of me.
(Ah...)
"Let's talk farther away and discuss some strategy."
I look inside to get a good look of the interior before leaving.
"So mind explaining more?"
"You remember about how I told you there are some techniques that can be used without magic right? Well, that prototype is actually the first test model for Hyu's personal transport."
"Oh! I think I get the picture. Let me guess, other than that prototype, is actually powered by magic right?"
July nod vigorously saying:
"Yea!"
"Great, I think I got an idea. It doesn't involve fighting."
"Eh!? You have that kind if idea!? Tell me!"
"Okay but first, since you know about that transportation, you need to tell me this..."
"Hmm?"
*************************************
"Dammit! How does this thing even work! Damn Zerian tech!"
*bang* *cling* *clang* *cling*
A women's voice comes out of the armour as she smashes a wrench into the vehicle. Small rivets and cogs tumble and bounce across the steel floor as she confesses her rage and frustration.
*sniff* *sniff* *clang*
Her wailing voice rings true across the serene room as I could hear another steel clash.
(Alright, since I can understand their language means that my blessing could definitely translate my words...)
I look back and see the magic cartridge filled with both Echo's and July's magic. This thing could power up the vehicle... You know what I'm just gonna call it a truck cause damn does it look like a snow adjusted truck. While Hyu's prototype looks like those sci-fi bikes.
(Okay, let's do this... I hope this works).
"Rather than working with that junk, why not just take the working ones?"
"Who's there!"
*click*
She stood up on her feet as I get close, cocking her gun and pointing it at my direction. I raise my arm and slowly go out of hiding. As soon as she saw me, she points at my head as I see the red dot moving on towards my forehead.
"You... You can speak our language?"
"Well, what do you think I'm doing?"
"Catch."
"Huh?"
She lowers her gun and throws a sealed black knife at me. I grab it and pull it out a little to see the black blade asking:
"So... Do you want help?"
She approaches me slowly, her steps echo loudly in these empty room. She opens her black steel futuristic knight helmet to reveal a girl whose in her twenties, she looks at me with her deep blue eyes, tinged with worry and sadness.
"You're one of us? It seems you manage to escape safely... Please forgive me for pointing my gun at you."
"Nah, girl, it's fine. I mean I'm the one who surprised you."
She looks down and walks back at the truck she's working. She carries the part she hit saying:
"Don't worry, as a captain from the Republic, I'll make sure we're going to get out of here alive! Or at least, I'll make sure you'll get out of here alive."
(Wow... How noble... It's really weird seeing someone this good...)
She leans her gun down at the truck and takes a sit. Slouching as she hangs her head low, her long hair drops down covering part of her face...
(One word, she's be-eau-ti-ful!)
Her deep blue eyes fall upon me, with dark bags under her eyes saying:
"I'll let you handle the knife. So... About what you said. Can you explain more?"
"Ah right! Hold on!"
I place the knife at my pocket and went back to grab the magic cartridge saying:
"Ta-dah!"
With a curious look she tilts her head asking:
"And is that suppose to help?"
"Well, you can think of this as a car battery."
"Car...? Battery?"
(Really!? You got a flying spaceship and laser cannons yet you don't know what a car is!? How does technology evolve here!?)
I point at the vehicle behind her saying:
"It's a tool that powers up the vehicle lined up over there "
"What!? Really!?"
She stood on her feet and rush towards me. Grabbing my shoulder and smiles with relief saying:
"Wonderful! And here I'm the one who're supposed to help enslaved people like you... Well, I won't ask anything, either way, thank you nonetheless. Now we can get out of here..."
She walks back and grabs her gun again as she looks like she's prepping her self up. She opens the gadget at her gauntlet and begins to tap it saying:
"Now we only need to find a place where we can found a signal and we're good to go. Dammit, if only they could spare me those infiltrators comms."
I walk past her into the array of trucks saying:
"This thing can last for a day or two so it'll definitely be useful."
"Heh, it seems luck does exist. Tell me, do you have a name? Surely if you speak our language, you must have a name."
"Huh? Oh, it's Anselm."
"Anselm is it? Weird name... Please, if you can. Install the power please."
"Right away!"
I begin to open the door which is not locked like what July told me and open the trunk. As I start to operate I ask her:
"So, what about you? What's your name?"
"Huh? Oh right, It's Megis, Megis Iustra."
"So... Megis, you don't me calling you Megis right?"
"That's fine."
"So why are you alone? What happened?"
*creak*
"Well, we were supposed to rendezvous with one of our agents here. But when we arrived, we found him dead in the hand of a boy the same age as you. He's a monster with a harpoon in his hand. When we thought we had nullified his magic, he seems to still move with speed unseen, skewering us with his harpoon one by one until I was left.
To be honest I was scared and the next thing I knew I was hiding away somewhere. Founding myself crying alone and my squad dead... Pathetic aren't I?"
"That's unfortunate, but I guess that's just human nature for you I guess."
"Yeah, unfortunate indeed. Now..."
*click*
"Why don't you tell me who you really are? Where did you learn how to talk our language."
Even with my back turned, I can guess what's happening...
(Fuck... Right... Slaves can't read... But what about back at the prison? They are speaking properly. But that's probably my blessing so could it be that those people think they just sound like gibberish? Are they speaking a different language? Don't they come from the same place? Wait... Could it be that these invaders come from like different continents? And the slaves they're trying to rescue is overseas, so they don't know each other's culture? This is seriously getting out of hand... Let's play along then. All the info I got, let's play it all!)
I left the cartridge just a little loose answering:
"Well, an enigma to you Republicans at least."
*bang* *bang*
"Don't play games with me!"
Two bullets pierced the ground near my feet. I turn around and see her red light now aiming between my eyes as she leans on the half-assembled truck.
"I may be tired and desperate right now, but that doesn't mean I lost my mind yet! Now, tell me what you know, you sub-human shit! Do you know how much we suffered under your discrimination!"
(Now that's harsh).
I take a seat on the trunk and open my arms wide saying:
"Well then, what do you wish to know Megis? As you know, I'm someone like you. I can't use magic. So my knowledge is the same or lower than yours."
"Yes, this is the first case an Owl actually works for them. What are you doing here?"
"Same as you, trying to escape. Do you know how hurt I am when your people didn't found me? Left alone in the rubble as monster roams the streets unchecked. I thought I would finally be freed from working under them. I guess... My life will never be different."
Megis grits her teeth as I see her displeased.
"That's... Explain!"
"Owl I think is what you call our kind yea? Well, as Owl as I can be. I'm just a tool in the end. So tell me, are you really saviours? Cause it looks to me you're doing nothing but genocide and picking us up as a bonus."
Tightening the grip on the trigger she gets closer shouting:
"That's because they deserved it!"
I wave my hand as to discard her excuse replying:
"Yes, yes I understand. But what about now? You're pointing your gun at the people you're trying save you know? So what if I'm different? Do you know what differentiates me and them? It's that I can think and learn... Fast."
I tap at my temple as I reply back. But Megis, with uncertainty in her eyes, can only mumble:
"That's..."
"So are you trying to save the ones with broken minds so that you can brainwash them instead to your doctrine? Cause if you study just a bit about human resources, sending a fully capable worker to die for a slave is just bullshit."
(Oh, what am I saying...)
"No! You're wrong!"
(Well it seems like it's working).
I jump back on my feet, and she didn't shoot. As I walk closer, she can merely aim at me backing away as I got closer to her.
"Let me tell you something, in truth, I was pretty stoked about being saved by you. Then when I saw your actions, I became hesitant and realize, living alone seem much more comfortable than you brainwash lots."
"Stop talking nonsense! None of that is true!"
I grab her gun and aim it at the floor when she didn't even resist saying:
"Really? Listen to yourself! Saving? Yeah, right, you're just trying to get more warm bodies for your ambition!"
I hold her in position as she struggles and shouts:
"No... You... You're wrong!"
*Bang*
As I felt a pain jolting my stomach, I fell on my knees holding where the pain originates. She pulled the trigger in panic as I felt blood soaking my coat.
(It actually doesn't hurt...)
"Hahaha..."
I can't help but laugh that this only gets me this far.
(My bluff didn't work... Well it's not like I bluff a lot or good at one).
"Oh no..."
She throws her weapon away and hastily helps me up.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please... Please don't die!"
(Damn, so this isn't over yet... Let's just see where this is going, I have to continue).
With a smile I slowly answer:
"Well, at least, I can finally rest now."
"No! I'm sorry! Please, just don't die! I'll get you out of these lands, I'll bring you to our homeland where they can't enter and show you true safety. So please, just live! I... I was not in my right mind!"
"Oh... That would be nice..."
"Yeah, so just keep your eyes open!"
She lays me down and pulls her bag out. Taking out bandages, a towel and some sort of medicine. She quickly unzips my coat and lifts my shirt, exposing my belly open.
(This is kinda embarrassing).
"Hey, I'm starting to feel numb..."
"No, please just a little while longer..."
She doses the towel in with the medicine and tries to stop the bleeding. She grabs my arms and presses it onto the towel saying:
"Hold this, I'll be back!"
While she searches for something around the storage we're in. I try to extract some more info by telling:
"You know when I was traversing the ruined city. I found something interesting, piles upon piles of corpses in front of a hotel. And what's funnier is what's inside. Corpses being forced to stand and pose like they're acting their everyday lives by being sewn with steel wires and stab through metal poles.
If you can't tell, I was being sarcastic. That place makes me sick. You... You're different right?"
"Of course!"
I pretend not to hear her and continue saying:
"Answer me... Hey... You're still there right? It's all dark... And everything's so quiet... It's actually quite nice. Yes... It's just like my cell."
(Which is a lie except for this feeling nice. Who knew sleeping on a cold ice floor is pretty comforting... And I do feel bad tricking her but... Now my confirmation about the invaders is pretty solid. The higher-ups whoever they are controlling these soldiers with emotions to fill their ambition while quelling the soldiers' stress by letting them commit all kind of war crimes imaginable. Or that's my theory anyway, why they do this is still unknown).
She appears with a worried face and pulls out the knife in my pocket, cutting a small hole, she tries to pull the bullet out of me with some thin pincers, with a quick swipe and succeeded...
(Damn, that's some precision).
"Hey, can you hear me? It'll be fine, It'll be fine. So please just... Just... Hang on a little longer."
As she operates, I realize she's definitely a field medic.
(Wait, can a captain even be a field medic? Or is she promoted? Either way, this situation is now totally out of my control... Ah, screw it!)
I close half my eyes and loosen my hand. Limping as I pretend to sleep.
"Free... Dom..."
She doesn't stop her hands and continue to sew my wound. And as she wipes and finishes off, she rests her head on my chest. Probably searching for a heartbeat.
Silence... Solemn as I lay lifeless in this empty deserted warehouse.
"You're just trying to help but I... I..."
*sniff*
With my eyes half open, I peek and saw her putting all the items back in her bag. She wears her helmet and begins to look back at me. Dragging my body somewhere as I close my eyes pretending to be dead. But she the fact I have no heartbeat means I'm dead no?
*************************************
I open my eyes a little and peek, and soon found myself in a brightly lit room with corpses lined up and their face covered by some black cloth. She places the same cloth on me and my vision disappears.
(Okay... What now? I did tell July to wait at the temple with Echo and I'm bringing the truck there when I succeeded).
"Thank you, Anselm. Even though we just met, you manage to clear the clouds in my eyes. And you're also right lieutenant, you're all right, this is nothing more than genocide... The old Megis is no more, I shall now start a new path."
*stab*
As I heard a knife plunge a little too close to be comfortable, I almost panicked but keep still. She then places something on my hand as she curls it as if she's gifting me something.
"Under my founding fathers and my own family name, I Megis Iustra will bring all the people we sent and slaves we rescued back home no matter what it takes! And I'll show them what it means to be safe and free... To have a place to call home."
As I hear her leave with the close of a door. Her steps becoming fainter as time passes by.
*vroom* *cling* *clang* *clang* *clang*
(And there she goes with the truck... Welp, mission complete. She's not blocking the road any more. If I remember correctly, during one of July's and Echo's explanation, they called them by different names from the language alone. Like July calls them Corrucks while Echo calls them Skotadi... Wait, a minute, isn't that just darkness in greek? Why the hell are my blessing translating her language to greek!? Ah, screw it! Let's just go back and ask Echo and July to fill up the cartridge again).
I open my eyes and look at what she gave me...
"Dog tag?"
Inscribe on it seems to be her name, date of birth, state of origin and lastly blood type. I kept it in whispering:
"Well, I don't really understand fully what's going in her mind but..."
I look around and I realize the corpses beside me. I decided to scavenge while I can...
(Still, the fact she falls for my acting means she's just... Gullible... Or am I actually that good? Maybe I should've have become an actor!
But then I would spend my days practising and move about which I am not fond off so maybe no... I felt bad... Like real bad as I just probably scarred someone for life... Nah, can't be, we just met after all. I mean I don't think my acting is that good either).
Finding nothing of value since Megis has taken all their weapons, items and dog tags. I decided to grab the knife Megis plunge earlier and the sheath just beside it. Still...
"What is this thing? July said it's a cursed stone that can absorb and drain magic. Then this thing is like a cheat in the world of magic... Should I try it?"
I look at the small light at the end of the room and try to touch the light with the knife.
*bzzz* *bzzz* *clip* *clip*
The entire light that shines this room flicker and soon wanes before fading away. Darkness has swallowed the light...
"Holy sheet."
Just by bringing this thing what could happen when someone touches it. July did say she almost got knock our when they got close. Then what about back at the bunker? Didn't she touch one though? I'll leave this thought alone for now.
I sheathe the knife inside and get the hell out of the room, leaving the corpses behind me. The entire hallway seems to dim too...
(Didn't think it'll be that bad. Wait, isn't she wearing a whole armour of it? I wonder how far she would get?)
*thump* *thump* *thump*
My footsteps echo through the empty halls as the sound of cold winds passes my ears. Wondering where is the warehouse, I stumble upon a particular room. A storage room per se.
What seems to pique my interest soon grabs my full attention... It's... It's... A flappable triple table!
(By Visca's Turtular Molars! The simplicity and proficiency in its design... It's amazing!)
I raise my hand and force my self to look away saying:
"Ah, wait! I still have something else to do. I'll buy one like that, or I'll have someone make one for me... And it seems this is a perfect time to plan..."
(This is a world of unknown possibility and unknown dangers. It's better if I can learn about this world who understand the origin so that I don't get into trouble and hurt. And no one suits that better than her. Now, the real question is how?)
I ponder as I return to report the successful? Result.
*************************************
*crunch* *crunch*
My boots crunch on some of the fallen leaves. The weather clouded by the gathering storm leaves a bad taste in particular.
*creak*
"I'm back~!"
"Agxtv!"
"Anselm, you have returned."
The two approaches me with anticipation, so I declare with a rise of a single thumb and a smile... Yet they give me no response...
(Maybe this world doesn't get the idea of a thumbs up... Then again the most ancient use of this gesture is back during the ancient Roman times. But then again, I heard researcher from the animal field said that apes do that gestures too... Eh whatever).
And so I proclaim on top of that,
"I succeeded!"
"Yay, I knew you could do it!"
"I'm impressed. And you didn't even bring any weapon."
Both of them nod cheered and praise me as I completed my mission but...
"I guess I should tell you this while I'm at it. Um... I gave the magic item while doing it- or more as she took it away."
"Huh? Well, I guess if that's the case we could always make a new one. It's okay, as long as we got the transportation cleared!"
"That is true if we could chase away the darkness with but a single item of insignificance. This is but a cheap price to pay."
"Oh, I see... Then I guess I'll be relying on you two to make another one then, thanks in advance!"
July nods replying:
"Mhm! No problem big bro-Agxtv!"
While Echo calmly nods saying:
"That's fine. But do you mind telling me what you did? Or at least what is your plan? What makes you so confident it will work?"
Echo can't help but asks and since I knew she would ask me when I told them just trust me on this. I answer back replying:
"It all started when I thought, "Hey, maybe could use my blessing." Right?"
" "Blessing?" "
Both of them tilt their head at my answer. So I decided to explain a bit further answering:
"You see, I have the power to understand the language of all who speaks it and in return, I could speak their language properly as well."
"Ah! So that's why your speaking sucks big bro! You never studied!"
(Way to drop the bomb July!)
"I see, no wonder you could understand me when I'm speaking my motherland' tongue. And I presume you even understand the darkness as well? To think you would try to communicate with those beasts, such a novel idea."
(Beasts huh? And when did you speak you home land's tongue?)
"Yes, to be honest, I don't know how these blessings work specifically. But I guess sometimes, it just doesn't work. Like some of the words I see back at the base didn't get translated, so it still sounds so foreign to me. Do you know something, Echo? Being a Saint and all. For me, I think it's just outdated."
Echo walks to the altar where the offerings are placed and kneel down praying before light basks her body and disperse. She looks back at me saying:
"It seems you are true. Your blessings seem to be used back during the Liberation era. Around 1000 years ago or so. So it can't read any of the new languages that have been established recently."
"Ah! I see... Thanks for letting me know."
(And it seems Saints can just talk to their Gods that easily huh? That's neat. And for once Gods actually responded, unlike... Hmm, unlike what again?)
"You're very welcome. In fact, if you want advancement as well, you could always pray to her at this very altar."
"Oh, really? Thanks."
Echo shakes her head replying:
"Don't thank me, dear believer. Thank the Goddess instead."
"Yes, yes, of course."
For once Echo looked at me with suspicion and worry in her eyes. And I can't help but wonder why?
"Well then, Agxtv! We're going to make the magic item now then. Let's go, Echo!"
"Yes, lets..."
(Oh, it seems July's not afraid of her anymore. That's good).
As they went upstairs, I wave back at them shouting:
"Good luck! I'll be waiting down here like before."
When I walked to the altar and kneel down as Echo did before. I could see that some of the fruits Echo place there before has disappeared while my rations are still there...
(It seems Gods can be picky about offerings too huh? Wither way).
I try clasping my hand and close my eyes. Thinking,
(Wait a moment, if my language can understand those black knights, then doesn't that mean they existed even around a thousand years ago? Bah, anyway...)
"Dear God and Goddesses or just Goddess. Please! Upgrade my blessings!"
********
OH! IT'S HAPPENING!
*****************************
"WAIT, is this even supposed to happen?
No, seriously wait!!!"
*************************************
When my feet reach a white canvas beneath the starless sky and moonless night. Snowflakes falling down my face as cold winds blew my ways. It was only moments when reality distorts and change, my whole world twist and shift into what seems to be a ghost town and what lies before me...
"I thought I would never see it again. Wait, again? I see..."
Broken, ancient and tainted. Corrupted and filled with many abhorrent. It is not but my old clinic, sacked and destroyed. As for why? I truly don't remember.
"Ah, whatever, I have two arms again!"
"So, do you like my gift, dear visitor?"
A soothing female voice enters my ears. Like a calming flower stream and the gentle breeze, it calms all my nerves down.
"Huh?"
I look around yet I can't find where the voice comes from...
"Are you in my mind?"
"It is a dream is it not? May I enter your humble abode?"
"Huh? That rundown place? To be honest I don't know if that place is still mine anymore."
"It is in your dreams is it not?"
"Heh, true! I'm a doctor who tries his best so that he wouldn't need to invite people inside his clinic. But... Sure, let's enter, though I don't think I can provide you with any good hospitality."
(Oh, I remembered something again).
"That's okay."
The female voice replied back and I prompt myself to enter. I place my hand on the wreckage that seems to be a broken hospital bed and soon the broken door... The sense of mould and rust, the feel of crumbling steel and smell rotting wood brings nostalgia.
"Sheesh, did a bomb blow up here or something?"
I entered the main hall where many chairs for people to sit and wait are placed from one row to another. Broken yet still there, ransacked and blown away. The reception table where we received the guest is destroyed and devastated...
I walk around and let my legs lead me while my eyes see what's ahead. And before I knew it, I was in a rundown clinic room with but a bed surrounded by a curtain, an emergency medicine box in the table, a fallen down shelf with the glass broke along with some comfy chair... I rub the dust and felt the rust, the sensation leaving a sense of dull in my mind as I look at the shards beneath my feet, I could see my own reflection, my eyes that has lost all its colour, the white hair that seems to tell my old age and yet the contrasting youthful face I maintain. This looks so different than the human body I have.
"So why are you showing me this, oh voices in my head?"
"Like I said it is a gift."
When I look at the around I could see a silhouette of a girl wearing the same robe similar to Echo behind the thin curtain. I could see a glowing red light in the place where her eyes suppose to be.
"A gift?"
I look at her when she moves behind the curtain with her hands covered by her robe saying:
"The one who invites you, she locked your memories from you, chained and restricted behind and beyond your cognition. And so here I am to shower you with the gift of freedom. For you are different the rest who came here. I dare say, it is a pretty smart move from her as the ruler of nature."
"Different? How so?"
(So there are many people who got transported here? And Achiwawa- I mean little Omena is the ruler of nature?)
"Simply put, you are not a living being and at the same time, you kinda are. So you are exempt from it. There is a rule in this world you see, no foreign or otherworldly life may trespass, and those that do shall be dealt with accordingly."
(Something that's alive yet not? I feel like a certain organism fit that description).
"I see, but how about those that came here without knowing, like me for example? I may be exempt from your rule, but what about the others?"
"Those who stray here unwilling and unknowing shall be dealt with accordingly. Kindly and not severely as appose to those who do."
"Heh, you sound so intimidating. So tell me why are giving this gift to me?"
"A Saint who once serve me greatly wishes to retire her life from the horrid reality before her. Yet unforeseen circumstances befell her and cause the ruin of life she was promised to receive. As if a miracle occurred, a travelling pair stumbled upon the altar where her blood is spilt and lent a hand to my ever so faithful."
"Oh, you mean, Echo? Heh, that was quite an accident really."
She turns away as the red light where her eyes are supposed to be disappeared.
"Accident or not, I am ever so grateful. And us with power must not turn a blind eye to those who did a good deed."
She replied softly yet so heavy.
"So... Does that mean my language blessing has been upgraded now?"
Her eyes return behind the curtain, she raises her arms high as I could finally see the silhouette of her fingers behind the curtains.
"Yes, it is done-"
"Then may I ask you a favour to remove it then?"
"Huh? May I know the reason?"
"Well, this may sound stupid but, to be honest, the only reason I prayed is simply to know if I can really communicate with a higher being. Secondly, I just wish to learn this world's language with a cute girl. Or should just say, from what I get from what my memories have... I'm not that social, even then I got lonely sometimes. Having someone to talk to feels nice."
"You are human indeed. Very well."
I could see the silhouette behind the curtain covering what seems to be her mouth as her eyes become a crescent.
(Wait, human? What does she mean by that?)
I tilt my head to wonder what she means but she simmered down and continue saying:
"This meeting may be short but you may view this place every time you pray upon a similar altar and I shall be there alongside you to uncover your hidden past if you so wish. The memories you acquire here shall aid you in your journey. For you too came from the same place as him."
(That kind of dialogue really remind me of something... I can't put my tongue on it... And whose him?)
"Wait, leaving already?"
"Yes, I too have other humanly desires I need to satiate."
Caught in surprise by her sudden comeback, I can't help but ask:
"Oh, even a Goddess like you? Libera was it?"
"You've mistaken. I'm am not her. Before I leave, a fair warning to you. You yourself have not received Libera's blessing or recognition. And the only reason a certain Saint and a daughter of a champion trusted you is because of another champion's soul with her blessing resides within the body you control giving them a false sense of security."
(Wait, so I don't have he blessing but... Is she talking about Tyo? And he's the reason the people I now know trust me? Hmm, this false sense of camaraderie is dangerous in more ways than one. Maybe I should talk to him again, the problem is how...? Anyways, come on, I think you still got your words within you!)
"You talk like you understand my situation and powers. It would be so magnanimous of you to speak, or at least inform me about-"
"Farewell, the others are waiting. I shall watch your every step. You who may not receive Libera's blessing."
"Wait!"
(Not again!)