Chapter 8 - Ch 8: Journey Back

A plane soared swiftly above the ruins of a city, its engines roaring against the backdrop of destruction below.It had been an hour since we boarded the aircraft. Among us were six other individuals, all dressed alike, looks like they belonged to the same unit as Kyle and Brian.Silence enveloped the cabin, even Brian, typically talkative, remained quiet.Kyle handed a file to a man who appeared to be the leader, and for the entire hour, he read it without uttering a word."From what I understand, these guys were attempting to create humans with the bloodline abilities of beasts without contracting them," the leader finally spoke."Yes, exactly! The moment I saw that facility, I knew they were up to something illegal," Brian exclaimed, his excitement evident."It's forbidden to conduct human experiments, yet they still proceeded. Who knows how many lives they sacrificed," Brian remarked." You were just lucky, Don't think you can weasel your way out of this, just because you found out about them" he added pointedly."I'm not weaseling out of anything," Brian retorted."Alright, enough. The captain will decide his punishment. There's no need to argue about it," Kyle intervened."But he always endangers the team with his recklessness," the man persisted."His punishment will be determined after I report this to headquarters," the leader declared, shifting the conversation."Let's talk about him," the leader continued, pointing at me. All eyes turned to me as I cleared my throat."Hello," I greeted softly."His name is Yohan, and he's twelve years old. He was used as a dummy for the real convict who was supposed to be in the transport bus," Kyle informed the group."Yes, I found him with the leader of that base when I was escaping. It was then I noticed that this guy had already developed a core even before reaching the gold stage, so..." Brian trailed off."So, you picked him and decided to bring him with us," the leader concluded."Yes, if we can train him, he can be a valuable asset," Brian affirmed."Hmm, let me think about it," he mused, his brow furrowing as he contemplated the situation."Anyway, let me introduce them to you, Yohan," Brian said, gesturing toward the group."This is our captain, Cruz," Brian continued, indicating the stern-faced man at the helm.A nod of acknowledgment passed between Captain Cruz and me."This guy is Lev," Brian pointed to a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek. Lev offered a curt nod in greeting."And the guy beside him, always nagging about me, is Evan," Brian said with a smirk, directing his gaze to a slightly shorter man who rolled his eyes at Brian's remark.Evan shot Brian a playful glare before extending a hand toward me."Good to meet you," he said with a grin."These three are Gael, Ren, and Luis," Brian said, motioning toward the trio sitting beside us, each with their own distinctive air. Gael nodded stoically, Ren offered a warm smile, and Luis gave a friendly wave."And you already know Kyle and me," Brian concluded, drawing attention back to us.As the group introduced themselves, Yohan took note of each name and face. Captain Cruz had a commanding presence, exuding confidence and authority. Ren seemed stoic and focused, while Evan appeared more outspoken and perhaps a bit skeptical. Gael, Lev, and Luis each had their own distinct demeanor, but Yohan couldn't quite place it yet."So, you are some kind of special forces?" I asked, my curiosity piqued."Yes, you could say that," Brian replied with a cryptic smile."Look, we've already reached the outer walls," Brian said, gesturing ahead.As Yohan gazed out the window, he was met with a sight that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie. Stretching for miles in every direction were towering walls that appeared to be made of some futuristic material, gleaming in the sunlight. These walls weren't like anything he'd ever seen before—smooth and sleek, with a metallic sheen that caught the light.At regular intervals along the walls, Yohan spotted imposing guard towers that rose high into the sky. They were bristling with high-tech equipment and surveillance gear.Outside the walls, the landscape unfolded in a patchwork of wilderness and urban sprawl, with clusters of buildings and green spaces stretching out into the distance. It was a world of contrasts, where the cutting-edge technology of the walls met the untamed beauty of the surrounding countryside."Beautiful, isn't it?" Captain Cruz remarked, breaking the silence."Yeah," I replied, nodding in agreement.Evan chimed in, adding,"This is just the outer ring. The really magnificent places are yet to come."I peered out of the window as our plane soared above the gleaming walls, marveling at the sight."So, where are we going?" I asked, turning to Brian for an answer."We're headed to Clearwater City in District 4," Brian explained."That's where the defense headquarters is located, and the place at which you will be staying."As the plane headed towards their destination, Yohan began contemplating his next steps."First of all, I should collect basic information about beast masters and other common knowledge," he mused."Brian mentioned I will be staying in an orphanage, so maybe I can get some books from there.""Then, I have to find a way to contract my first beast and become a beast master," Yohan continued, his thoughts drifting to the task ahead."I think Brian is going to help me with that, from his conversation with Captain Cruz.""There is a lot to do," Yohan thought, a hint of apprehension creeping into his mind."Let's just hope that there is no more misfortune ahead of me.""You will really enjoy your stay in the orphanage. There is Sister Amelia and Sister Ana," Brian continued."It's a cozy place, nestled at edge of clearwater city. The building is a little old-fashioned, with sturdy stone walls and ivy creeping up its sides. Inside, it's warm and welcoming, with Sister Amelia and Sister Ana taking care of everyone with love and kindness."Then there is broth..." Brian continued."When can I contract my first beast?" I interjected."Don't worry about that. You should first try to settle in," Brian reassured me."You're just a little boy who went through quite a shock. Shouldn't you be more scared? Shouldn't you be asking for your parents or something," he added."I don't think I have parents," I replied softly."Yes, yes, but don't you feel sad or something about it? If I were in your position, I would have started crying a long time ago," Brian remarked."Not everyone is like you. Yohan is a brave kid," Lev said from the side, offering words of support."And contracting a beast will take a lot of money, which you don't have," Kyle interjected."But aren't you guys going to train me?" I asked."You mentioned I have already formed a core and am quite talented, so shouldn't you be paying for it?""Talent alone isn't sufficient, kid," Captain Cruz responded."Becoming a strong beast master requires more than that, and I haven't decided to train you yet."