"I see you've already found the library!"
A jostling hand on his shoulder and Ceric's voice shook Kellen out of this dazed thoughts.
"Yeah... Sorry about that; I had a lot on my mind..." Responded Kellen with a conflicted tone and brooding look on his young face.
"Don't worry about it! Seems like not only the captain has been having troubled thoughts lately... Hey! Why don't I show you around the capital since tomorrow you'll be busy starting up your life here in the academy?" Urged Ceric as he patted Kellen's back.
"Sure, why not." Replied Kellen while still lost in thought.
"Great! Let's not waste anymore time here in this dusty old place then." Coughed Ceric irritably as the dusty shelves made him shiver slightly.
Kellen rolled his eyes as he followed the clean freak out of the library and academy.
The streets of the capital reminded Kellen of the plaza back in the Glacial Kingdom. They were full of life with people busily rushing to and fro. Although not as many stalls lined the streets, due to permit restrictions seen posted on nearby ads, the stores and restaurants that were present were packed with people.
As Kellen inspected the many interesting people and businesses throughout the many winding cobblestone streets of the capital, Ceric continued to lead onwards with an almost indistinguishable worrisome expression.
Even though the capital was an interesting and exciting place, Kellen did not dwell too much in the current claustrophobic atmosphere like the many people and citizens surrounding them. He was too busy and preoccupied with contemplating Nergal's rarely spoken advice, that he did not even notice Ceric's look of concern.
'How am I supposed to find these blood cores? I'll just feel them? How the hell am I gonna do that?' He wondered while watching the many different people dressed in a mix of medieval/modern style clothes brush passed him.
There was no specified time limit for when he needed to obtain them, but his eagerness to gain more power could not be resisted. He felt that the faster he obtained these blood cores, the sooner he would be able to search for the missing Legionnaire Gods, and maybe even find clues to their disappearance or current locations on the way.
'The Imperial Records say they went missing to search for more power... Ironically, I think I may have fallen into a similar circumstance. But where would they have went to find this?'
There were too many discrepancies in the records from the library for Kellen to begin his hunt. Even a general idea or location for where he could begin looking would be better than the information he currently held, which was practically nothing.
'Maybe people at the academy or in Strom's group would know something...'
Amidst his thoughts, Kellen accidentally bumped straight into Ceric's back as his guide came to an abrupt stop.
"This can't be good..." Murmured Ceric as he gazed towards the scene beginning to form ahead.
Stepping to the side and rubbing his head, Kellen looked passed Ceric to see a massive clocktower standing in the center of the widened street that eventually formed a clearing.
The buildings and businesses they previously walked by were shadowed by the grand clocktower that reminded Kellen of a structure that had been destroyed years ago in his last world.
'It looks just like Big Ben from the UK! It's like it was practically ripped straight out of a textbook from Earth!'
The towering clock had surprised him that he almost didn't notice the fight beginning to occur at the foot of the tower.
"What are you doing back here you slum trash? Fail another mission? Or did the filth of the slum squadron finally get cleaned up?"
An arrogant and snobbish looking man in expensive looking military clothes pressed his shrewd face closer to Strom's as his spit began coating Strom's face with every uttered insult.
Kellen was disgusted by the noble looking man's attitude and a familiar anger began to swell in his chest.
Strom stood still with an unwavering and emotionless expression as he stared straight into the rude nobleman's eyes, refusing to offer him any satisfaction.
"Is that how you salute your superiors? Looks like kids from the slums will always just be disobedient little shits!" Yelled the narrow faced noble with a mocking voice.
A raised hand and swift movement, leaving the echoing sound of a clap as it connected, sounded out in the surrounding.
"You're the stain of the Legions!" Spat the long nosed man.
Strom's face remained raised as it was strewn to the side with a flush red mark of a handprint residing on his right cheek.
Kellen's feet began moving on their own as he grunted under his breath. However, Ceric's raised arm stopped him in his tracks before he could progress any closer to the men.
"Do nothing."
Kellen looked up at Ceric in dismay.
"But they are blatantly insulting our captain!" He stressed.
The solemn shaking of Ceric's head was the only other answer he received.
Kellen looked onwards in frustration as he remained by Ceric's silent side.
"I am needed somewhere else. If you would excuse me, sir." Finally replied Strom before raising his hand to his chest in a salute and departing from the haughty man and his posse.
The snobbish man sneered at Strom's departing steps before turning to laugh with the people behind him.
"Captain." Said Ceric as he bowed his head slightly.
"Ceric." Responded Strom as he placed his hand on Ceric's shoulder and turned his gaze towards Kellen.
"Sorry I kept you both waiting. The officials ended up finding me after all..." He said while scratching his head and avoiding Kellen's questioning glare.
"I told you they would hold some resentment if you kept pushing them off." Complained Ceric as he lightly punched Strom's shoulder.
"They would've been like that even if I had seen them immediately anyways." Shrugged Strom with a teasing smile.
Ceric leaned in closer to Strom to avoid anyone from hearing his next words.
"Did you find the backers of your brother's assassination?" He whispered.
Strom shook his head but turned slightly to watch the snobby goon-like officials saunter off from their previous location.
"Not yet..."
Kellen overheard the hushed conversation due to his senses being slightly elevated when compared to a normal human.
'Assassination?'
Kellen could not believe what he had just heard. According to their last encounter with the strange organization, or "cult" as Ceric had accidentally slipped earlier, Amira had been the killer of Strom's late brother.
'What does this cult have to do with the officials?' He wondered.
"Well anyways, we have a celebration to get to!" Said Strom with a cheerful and complete 180 change of his expression.
Ceric nodded his head eagerly in excitement before dragging Kellen along with them.
"Wait! What?" Kellen yelled in surprise.
He was forcefully dragged by the two men to a small pub, hidden within the massive amount of businesses and commerce throughout the capital.
"What the fuck are these idiots up to?" He mouthed under his breath as he was thrown into the pub alongside his comrades.
A few familiar faces stood from behind a table and raised their pints in welcome.
"Congrats on your admission runt!"
Kellen widened his eyes as he recognized the men at the table. Besides himself, Strom, and Ceric, the slightly intoxicated faces of Marcus, Sillus, and Reith were also present.
"Ay, what are you doing here? Trying to steal some free drinks ya bastard!" Commented Strom as he rustled Sillus's hair and slapped the young lad on the back.
"Hehehe, you know me too well captain... But who cares! It's time for a celebration!" Slurred Sillus.
"Right! We got some fresh meat for the slum squad, a new academy runt, and a ton of beer to drink!" Heartily added Marcus after chugging another glass.
Strom and Ceric shook their heads before downing their respected glasses.
"Here! Don't be all stiff kid! It's your party!" Drunkenly shouted Marcus as he pounded a pint down on the table in front of Kellen.
'These careless idiots...' He thought with a small smile on his face.
Although the friendly and welcoming atmosphere was nice, Kellen still felt a bit uncomfortable. He could not remember the last time he could afford to be carefree like this and the problems and worries he currently held remained fresh in his mind.
Downing the glass to appease his comrades, Kellen offered a small smile with his lowered face. Even if it was fake, after what he went through with these men, he figured they at least deserved some cooperation.
"To a new beginning and a victorious future!" The men shouted with raised glasses.
Kellen did not drink much after the first glass but that could not be said for his companions. After a few more rounds, the only men that barely remained standing were Strom and Marcus. Although, Marcus was still just like a drunken bear.
Kellen cautiously looked up from his glass towards Strom.
'Maybe I can get some actual information now...' He thought as he looked at his drunk captain.
"Strom... You mentioned I reminded you of your younger brother when we first met... What was he like?" Carefully approached Kellen.
Strom swished the beer around in his glass while slowly pushing the unconscious Ceric's head off of his shoulder.
"Hm... Yes, you were very much alike... He also held a firm goal that he believed in and was determined to see that through." He slowly spoke.
"A goal?"
"Yeah... The Slum Squadron. That was his dream. To offer a place in the Roman military for kids from the slum like us..."
"Wait, this was his squadron?"
"Well, kinda. He was unable to complete it before... the accident. So, I finished it for him." He said while solemnly taking another drink.
"Ah... Right, the accident." Kellen continued.
"Yeah, if it wasn't for that bloody cult and Amira then he might've been able to see it through on his own." Drunkenly complained Marcus before passing out and banging his head on the table.
Strom nodded his head in agreement.
"But... I realized that it wasn't me who failed him, or even completely those assholes' fault..." Slurred Strom.
"What do you mean?" Eagerly asked Kellen as he leaned in closer.
"I met up with Axus, here in the capital, to have a little discussion about the whole thing." Strom said while limply rolling his head back on his shoulders.
"Apparently, this cult or whatever has been something of interest to the legionnaires for awhile now. At least, ever since their involvement with the eradication of my brother's regiment..."
"Do they know who they are?"
"No... But they've found a connection between them and a bunch of neighboring kingdoms. They've been pulling on some big strings behind the scenes for at least a decade now, which caused the legionnaires' concerns."
"And the most recent connection they found was here in the Empire." Strom burped.
"So those officials..." Kellen mumbled.
"They are one of the parties currently under investigation." Sighed Strom after finishing his glass.
"What does this mean?" Questioned Kellen with wide eyes.
However, he did not receive another answer besides some light snoring from across the table.
'Some new beginning we're stepping into...' He thought while reclining back in his seat and contemplating the information he just received.