The duo kept walking on as Lukas thought over the words said by Oak. Lukas wasn't as shocked or dumbfounded as Oak had thought he would be. Instead, he was more contemplative.
The fact that Bene was the highest-ranked member wasn't too surprising to Lukas. But if Bene was that powerful, then how did everyone else below him fair? Also, who was this 'master of the special division' that Oak mentioned?
Not only did Lukas want to know how powerful the people below Bene were. He also wanted to know more about the people other than Bene in the Fortissimo.
"Who is Skyla and Vesa?"
Oak looked at Lukas with confusion.
"How much about the Fortissimo do you even know?"
"Uh... not much."
"Okay, well... Vesa is the second highest ranked, and her subdivision is mostly medics and other people well-versed in recovering people. Most of the people who have subdivisions try to stick to one area and spread out from there. But Vesa's subdivision is kind of spread out everywhere."
'Okay... So why does she want to see Oak? And is she the person I'm supposed to meet?'
Lukas shook his head.
"Is she a doctor? Is she weaker than Bene?"
"I don't know if she's a doctor. I know she made an antidote to her Frequency, so that's something. But I don't know if she's weaker than Bene."
"But isn't she a lower rank? Wait, she made an antidote for her Frequency? What does that even mean? What is her Frequency?"
Oak laughed.
"Strength doesn't decide what rank someone is, it's what they do, their accomplishments... I think. So you or I could become higher ranked than them if we did enough, fast enough. As for her Frequency, it has something to do with poison or something. I haven't seen it so I wouldn't know."
"What about Skyla?"
"Well, she's only the fourth highest, but also she's the second youngest person to have their own subdivision. So she's really talented. Uh... her subdivision is really small and is made of primarily people who work well from a distance. Or who are really quiet."
"Wait, who's the youngest?"
"Kai. Apparently, he's Skyla's younger brother, but she didn't really like talking about him. I was trained by her, so I did see Kai a handful of times."
'Okay... so Oak was trained by Skyla? Wonder what that was like.'
Most of that day was barren. Lukas preferred to keep to himself and contemplate everything he had learned. And while Oak would occasionally ask a question or two. If the conversation ran dry he would simply whistle to himself.
Later, however, when the two were preparing to rest, sitting around a small campfire in silence. Oak, lying on a branch slowly dozing off. And Lukas, tucked in a hidden spot, between some bushes, that was fairly hidden from view. Oak continued trying to spark conversations with Lukas.
"Hey Lukas why did you decide to join the Fortissimo?"
When Lukas heard the question, a few flashes of unsightly memories bubbled up to the surface of his mind. He didn't want to think about them, so he tried to think of anything else. Of course, this didn't make them go away.
"I had nowhere to go..."
Unbeknownst to Lukas, Oak watched Lukas. He saw the momentary jolt and shaking, the clenched jaw and twitch of his eyes.
"Yeah... I understand. I don't want to go back either."
***
A few days later. Lukas had just woken up, with Oak standing around nearby, watching over Lukas and the area around them. At least, it looked like that, but Oak was humming a soft tune and didn't yet notice that Lukas had woken. That was until he heard the slight clinking of metal from Lukas' weapons as he got up.
"Oh, you're awake. When do you want to head out?"
"After I eat, and drink."
They had, at most, another day left of travelling, so he didn't take too long. All he had was rations and a few canteens of water anyway. Although, he was running short by now. Hopefully, the journey won't take too much longer.
Bene did warn him that there weren't very many rivers, streams, or ponds on the way to Mystic Camp. So he had him pack a few extra containers, just in case.
As the pair headed out, Oak was still humming, even whistling occasionally.
"What are you humming?"
Oak shrugged.
"I don't know, I just made it up."
A few hours passed like that; With Oak seeming very nonchalant and Lukas being wary of his surroundings. Not much went on between them, Lukas was quiet and Oak couldn't think of any more questions. They decided to rest for a few moments a short bit after noon, perhaps take a moment to eat, and drink.
As they rested, Lukas asked Oak something that was digging into curiosity as of late.
"What was it like, being trained by Skyla?"
Oak shrugged.
"It wasn't bad... I think. I mean, it was hard... but, not awful I guess? Skyla said that my Frequency is kinda like hers so that probably made it easier. What was it like for you?"
"Rough."
Lukas turned his head down, towards his weapons. He didn't really want to talk any further so he made himself busy by polishing his weapons. On the horizon, however, it was a little darker, and the air smelled a little... different.
"We should get going, it looks like it'll rain soon."
"You think so? Seems fine to me."
"Come on."
Turns out Lukas was right, it did indeed rain. Their uniforms did come with hoods and masks, so they weren't completely soaked, but they certainly weren't dry. It was around evening when the rain finally stopped. The pair were trying to find a suitable place to rest for the night, but nothing looked that... great.
"The branches here are thick and relatively dry."
"Do you only sleep on tree branches?"
"Do you only sleep under roots or in bushes?"
After his question, Oak put on a smug and confident smile. As if to say, "Ha! Got you". At least that's how Lukas saw it.
"Well, I guess we could sleep in the trees. But every other branch around here doesn't look like it would support my weight."
"How would you know if you haven't done it?"
Lukas sighed.
"What if it supports my weight at first, but then like snaps or-"
Before Lukas could finish his question, he heard a faint noise in the distance. He wasn't sure, but it sounded like someone whispering something. He turned around slightly to move in the direction it came from, or at least look.
But before he even saw anything, someone or something suddenly grabbed him.