The sound of dripping water can be heard as silence seeps through the bathroom. The smell of cement and plywood covers the whole place as the lights flicker.
"I'm sorry for showing that side," the soldier said as he moved his fist forward.
Kash stepped backward to create space between them. The soldier's body is not bulky, but slim and tall. If Kash were at his previous distance, he would have been knocked out immediately.
"Smart move." The soldier smirked.
"It's getting hot in here. I'll take off my helmet and plate armor." the soldier said as he took off his helmet, revealing short grey hair and a horizontal sliced scar below his right eye.
His eyes are black and his pupils are white as if he's blind.
Kash was surprised by his appearance. Realizing that he was wide open, he stepped back further.
Realizing this, the soldier slowly walked up to Kash before striking a right hook.
Kash dodged the hook and kicked Roundhouse.
The soldier blocked the kick and countered with a right kick to the abdomen.
Kash parried the right kick and immediately tried to retract his leg, but the soldier locked it.
Knowing this, Kash jumped. And used his left leg to hit the soldier's head.
But the soldier's arm quickly blocked it and he banged Kash against the wall.
Kash managed to cushion the damage to his arms, but the soldier threw Kash to the sink.
Kash managed to find his foothold and is now standing on the sink.
The soldier then sprinted toward Kash, but Kash jumped and drop-kicked the soldier, propelling him a few inches.
"Not bad," the soldier said as he stretched his neck.
"What's your name?" the soldier asked.
"Kash" Kash said as he stands again.
"Let's have a chat. I have a lot of questions and I know you're doing this because you just want to fight." the soldier said as he sat down on the floor.
It seems like he already knows my intentions. There's no point in continuing this further.
After the soldier sat down, Kash walked toward the soldier and sat down.
"So, do you have anything to ask?" Kash asked the soldier.
The soldier replied, "Nothing much, just why did you make a commotion on the second floor?"
Kash said, "I wanted to explore the outside of the place.".
Confused by this, the soldier said, "But there's no reason to stir up trouble."
"At least ask properly if you're going out. I'll take you back to the room. And bring her along with you." he continues as he points to Nift, who watches the entire scene.
That was quick. Looks like soldiers are not to be meddled with, despite being weak on a grand scale. They're escorting me back to my room.
As we passed by the second floor, I saw some people talking about Nift, who helped me divert their attention from me. Let's say they weren't talking about anything positive. I can see Nift covering her ears.
I pat her head, leaned into her ear, and started to hum to the melody of "Row, row, row your boat" as we climbed up the stairs to the third floor.
As we reached my room on the third floor, I could see Eta still sleeping in the same position. The soldier woke up Eta by banging on the door with a clean hit, producing a loud boom that made Eta jump.
"Hyah?" Eta shouted.
"What's going on?" Eta asked, still half asleep. The soldier explained the whole situation that happened while she slept.
As I sat on the bed, I removed my shoes and placed them next to the IV stand. As the soldier and Eta continued their discussion, I could feel guilty as time passed. Eventually, they stopped, and Nift looked at me beside the soldier.
Eta looked at me with a calm demeanor that was out of character for her. Taking the soldier's words in stride, she nodded and said, "I see."
She walked toward me with an expression I cannot read. Every step she takes resonates with my guilt-filled heart.
She knows my mistake, and I know that. I couldn't look at her. I could feel her gaze piercing through me, but I kept my eyes on the ground, too ashamed to face her.
As she stood before Kash, Eta seemed puzzled. Questioning why Kash would fight a soldier, forged on the frontlines and considered an elite among many.
If we compare Alpha to the soldier, Alpha lacks experience.
Kash was looking for a challenge. Or perhaps Kash wanted to prove something to himself.
Whatever the reason, Kash seemed determined to take on the soldier, despite the odds. But from the looks of it, he doesn't know anything about the soldier.
Before I could say anything to Kash, he said, "Sorry." while bowing toward me.
I gently lifted his chin and smiled at him. I could see his expression changing from guilt to relief in seconds. Kash's facial features resemble what I usually imagine for a dream husband. A cute yet mature face with different eye colors that seems to convey a different story.
His golden eye feels like it gazes upon the secrets of the world and his eyebrows are perfectly drawn in a single sharp stroke. I would've introduced him to my family. But, I can't let his fate be hindered by intimacy.
"I'll let you off the hook since I feel nice today," I told Kash as I walk towards the window to feel the morning breeze.
"You can explore the Citadel. But make sure to return before midnight. I'll give you some spare clothes and some money." Eta said to Kash as she pulled out a gray t-shirt and a small pouch filled with silver coins from her inventory as blue boxes overlapped her right hand.
"Now with that out of the way, I'll go to Alpha, who is wandering again," Eta said as she prepared to jump out of the window. With her right foot on the frame, she was about to take a leap of faith.
"Instead of jumping off the window, why not take the stairs," the soldier replied as he pointed to the hallway.
With a grin, Eta replied, "No." and jumped through the window and onto another roof. I ran toward the window to look at Eta, but she had departed by the time I peeked through the window.
I took a moment and appreciated the scenery of what I saw. Countless buildings varied in length and width. At the end of the horizon, I can see a massive gray wall that almost covers the entire view.
I sighed in relief, knowing that the pressure of no privacy within me had been alleviated. I wore the cloth that Eta gave me and stored the small pouch with silver coins in my inventory.
I then wore the shoes again and walked up to Nift.
"Let's go," I said to Nift.
Nift nodded and then climbed to my shoulder. I looked at the soldier and bid my thanks with a sincere bow. The soldier smiled and closed the door.
...
"So this is the Citadel of Aegis," I said in shock as I stepped out of the hospital, and stood on the sidewalk. What greeted me was something that was overwhelming.
The scale of the buildings was a lot taller than I thought. It's gigantic, at least approximately 100 people can fit inside an individual building.
The streets are made of concrete and bricks, with lamppost that is powered by an unknown matter.
I used my left eye and saw a cluster of white lines covering the bulb of the lamppost. It's enveloping the bulb in the shape of a sphere.
The people are wearing a variety of clothes. Most of the men are wearing an all-black tuxedo paired with black pants and black boots, with a top hat covering their hair.
While women are wearing flamboyant dresses ranging from any color while wearing a Victorian hat.
Fashion here is at least of the Victorian Era. But the technology had been merged with the fundamentals of the world.
My left eye can see various white auras and white lines from various people. Most of the people that had white lines are either thin or slightly thick which covers their whole body like the nervous system, while the people that had white auras is emanating on different wavelengths and severity.
I looked at Nift and saw that she was breathing heavily. It seems like the heat of the climate is getting through her, but it looks like she's not used to this temperature.
"Here, take this," The soldier said and threw an umbrella at Kash.
Kash grabbed and opened the umbrella, which made Nift feel cool again. I used my Left eye at Nift and realized, "She has neither Aura nor Lines?"
"Hm, what's wrong?" Nift asked.
I replied, "It's nothing. Let's find an inn before it gets dark."
"Okay..." Nift replied as she falls asleep while dangling on my shoulder.