"Sure," Asa replied, her response swift and decisive. As long as she held the reins, she was confident things would stay on track.
Her determination to find Dan outweighed her concerns about working with the authorities.
The scouting process proved to be quick. With just a word, Asa found herself on her way to her new home, the Black Pillar barrack, escorted by Theodore.
Walking alongside Theodore Dillon, Asa's demeanor remained unyielding. While others held Dillon in deep reverence, she did not share the sentiment. Yet, it wasn't disrespect that fueled her stance.
One of Theodore's subordinates, observing the unconventional sight of what he thought, a stray woman, striding casually beside their highly esteemed Main Pillar, felt a sense of unease settle in the atmosphere.
"Let her be," Dillon commanded, halting his subordinate who was on the verge of pulling Asa away to walk behind Theodore rather than beside him.
In that moment, the unspoken defiance in Asa's steps was met with a silent understanding from the Main Pillar she chose to stand beside.
Asa clearly noticed the unusual atmosphere. She couldn't help but asked, "Has no one ever walked beside you before?"
Theodore nodded thoughtfully. "Unless it's my family or the other Main Pillars."
"Family?" The word piqued Asa's interest. "You still have one?"
Asa was never taught to sugarcoat her questions and thoughts. She spoke bluntly, although she knew how to be polite with her words.
The Dillons were a respected family even before the Main Pillar system was established. They were one of the wealthiest families in the land of Antara, having served the government for as long as Asa could remember.
Back then, the old government system fell apart due to a massive attack of the Crys, resulting in the deaths of all government workers and their families, including the Dillons.
The announcement of the new Main Pillar system came as a shock to everyone. No one had ever imagined that there was still a living Dillon in their land.
Asa's straightforward question might have come off as offensive, but Dillon simply chuckled at the raw honesty the young woman displayed. "Yes. My sister."
This revelation was even more surprising for Asa.
Having lived the life of a peasant, she wasn't well-informed about the prominent families and government affairs. The information of a female descendant of the Dillon family was entirely new to her.
Surprise was evident on Asa's face, and Theodore smiled in response.
"Not many people know about my sister. She used to keep to herself, rarely venturing outside. Lately, though, she has been following me around, eager to make a difference in Antara too," Theodore explained, his tone carrying a mix of pride and affection for his sister's newfound determination.
Asa nodded, curiosity sparking in her mind. *Rich girls must be pretty*, she mused. *And that girl has the Dillon genes. How beautiful must she be?*
"She will be the leader of the Blue Pillar. You will meet her soon," said Theodore again. "The two of you are the only female leaders in the Pillar system. I hope you two can take care of each other well."
Asa hummed in agreement. The prospect of gaining a new, younger friend excited her.
Ever since Dan, Asa had discovered that she enjoyed being relied upon by a younger person. It felt comforting to be needed by someone.
The walk to the barrack took quite a long time, and perhaps, secretly, Asa was glad that she had finally met another human being with whom she could have a proper conversation with after a long period of being alone.
Asa kept on throwing curious questions to the endlessly patient Theodore, who never complained and always took the time to explain all her inquiries.
"How are the other Main Pillars?" Asa asked, admitting her curiosity about these elusive figures she had heard so little about, beyond the common knowledge.
"They are nice," Theodore replied.
"Just nice? No other comments?" Asa persisted, wanting to know more.
Theodore chuckled at her questions. "You will meet them soon enough, after we are done scouting people. You can form your own opinion about them; I don't want to interfere too much."
Asa fell silent for a moment before tilting her head to steal a glance at Theodore, who met her gaze with a small smile.
"Do you have a difficult relationship with them?" Asa inquired.
The smile on Theodore's face grew wider as his hand found its way to pat Asa gently on the head, as if she were a curious child.
His action stunned everyone who witnessed the scene, including Asa. She staggered in her step, her mind going blank for a few seconds.
"You think too much," Theodore said, breaking the stunned silence that had settled over the onlookers who pretends to cough to ease up the awkwardness.
After the small incident that messed up Asa's mind a bit, Asa dared not ask more questions and grew silent.
Unaccustomed to Asa's sudden silence, the oblivious Theodore began to explain the responsibilities that she would have as a Black Pillar Leader.
Unfortunately, Asa's mind remained in disarray due to Theodore's unexpected affection.
For that reason, she didn't pay much attention to the explanation and only managed to retain the key points of her responsibilities: leading the team, training her subordinates, ensuring their well-being, and creating a formidable combat unit.
Thankfully, not long after, they reached their destination: the Black Pillar Barrack.
The barrack stood proudly against the backdrop of Antara's landscape—a colossal structure that exuded an air of magnificence and power.
Constructed from sturdy obsidian stones, it presented an imposing facade that commanded respect.
Towering black pillars framed the entrance, accompanied by massive wooden doors that enclosed the inside of the huge barrack from the outside world.
The sight before her left Asa in awe; her mouth gaped open. "Wah…" she whispered, marveling at the imposing presence of the Black Pillar Barrack.