We leave at night, so before we leave, I have to attend to a very important matter. Bella. Right now, as the others wait for me, I am stuck in front of Bella's cave, cuddling with her but wondering how I'm going to tell her I have to go far away without her, and she has to wait for me, and she cannot leave under any circumstances…unless I'm dying, of course, but would she even make it? I doubt that.
I can't spend any more time.
"Bella, listen."
She bellows in response.
"See, Bella, I have to go, like right now. I will be back, okay? Just here and wait for me, this is our new home now, so you have to guard it."
I released my embrace and stepped back.
"You got that?"
Her eyes, I can tell, she's not happy. "No! Bella, it's not like that, I swear. This is just my job from now on, so please get used to it."
She drew closer to me, ever so slightly, with her wide eyes fixed on me. I can't take this.
"I have to save Maya too, with my own hands this time."
Bella stopped.
"So wait for me, okay?" I said with a smile, my best smile, then I kissed her head. "I will be back."
Her tail wagged ferociously; that thing can kill a man or two or five. Either way, Bella rubbed herself against me before heading back into her cave. That's her way of sending me off. With no scars, too, I promise I will be back, Bella.
*****
"Are you done talking to your animal?"
"Shut up, she's my daughter, don't speak of her that way."
Remen finds it too easy to disrespect the love Bella and I share. I hate it. But I can't expect him to understand, not everyone has that kind of person in their life. All he has are women…ah, I'm jealous.
I joined the group, downhill, waiting in a carriage, ready to go. Everyone except me, of course, all had masks on; I don't remember them wearing masks the first time we met.
As I got into the carriage, Yuna asked me, "Are you confident she won't fly?"
"Yes, but no. She can stay still as long as she sees no reason to come for me. Or go elsewhere."
"I suppose, although I did place a few seals around the base of the hill, just in case she decides to fly."
You bitc——as much as I'd love to complain, this time she made a good call with that one. Bella could be hungry and decide to ravage the whole town, of course, my girl would never, but you know with her.
"By the way, I don't have a mask."
"Here," Yuna reached into her shirt and pulled a mask, then gave it to me. I held it up to inspect it, and then I thought.
"What a terrible design. Who made this? I hope you don't expect me to wear this."
"Depending on the scenario, yes, it is a requirement. If you don't like it, you can get another when we get back. Till then, just stick to it."
I sighed. I guess I have too. Soon after we left the city of Uno, my first time leaving since I arrived. It's nice seeing around the place. It's funny, I have only been here for about a week, but it feels like forever. From meeting the leader, my time with Maya, fixing the window and surviving a royal knight, a lot has happened. Pretty exciting.
The ride was peaceful; no one really talked. Everyone kinda just attended to their gear and did some self-prepping. That is nice and all, but I prefer we talked more. It will help with my nerves better than sitting in silence. That might just be me, though, but the silence is making my heart beat even louder.
I don't like this. I don't know how long our ride will take, but at this rate, I will panic.
So I fell asleep, and I awoke to the sudden halt of the carriage. Scratching my eyes, my view was illuminated by the bright night sky. I lifted my head and squinted to see a building resembling a guild. It resembles the guild in our city.
We stopped a fair distance away from the building, but with how tall it is, you could see it from farther. Not only that, it is the only building in the vicinity. According to the map Yuna gave us, we are at the start of the 1st kings forest, a hunting ground for adventurers. Ohh, so that's why there is a guild parked here. The closest town is not too far away.
The building is yellow with a red outline and brown bricks here and there
Scanning the building, I looked at its centre and faintly made out a name, "Ikemefuna Mercenary Corp…hmm." So it's not a guild but a mercenary company. So those are allowed here, huh?
But why are we here?
"Thank you," Yuna said to the driver as she handed some coins. She stepped out of the carriage with remen and Siri following, I guess that's my sign. I waved the driver goodbye and told him to be careful on his way back, specifically told him to flee. I want no deaths on my conscience. I caused the death of the driver the first time I met Maya. All the way at buwtl, I do not want that to happen again.
"Okay, everyone, listen up. According to the intel we got from the other squad that tracked Maya, she is being kept inside. So our job is simple: go in and rescue her alive by all means necessary."
"Easy as bedroom gymnastics," remen said as he stretched.
"Don't get in the way of my blade, remen."
"Haa," remen cackled, "you wish you could cut me."
So Maya is being held here? In a mercenary company? Do the ehktars have more help than I thought?
"Where is the squad that tracked Maya?" I asked.
"The reconnaissance squad left to track down the main lead on how the ehktars got this far into cestaf," Siri answered with his usual nonchalant tone.
"Yeah, I did find that strange. I heard they were exclusive to the neon republic, so how did they make it over here? To kidnap a noble no less, well, Maya does come from both sides."
Wait, he said a lead, what does he mean by that
"What do you mean by 'main lead'? Didn't they find a way to cross over?"
"If only it were that simple with these lots." Siri closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "Considering they lost most of their people kidnapping Maya, they are probably here for one reason…"
"This is what they always do," remen sighed deeply, "that's why they never die out."
What are they talking about? Also siri is talking a lot now. Is this how he is on missions? Our tsundere.
"You will see for yourself," he said, then turned away.
Yuna looked at both of us, twirling her hair. When she saw we were done talking, she said, "Okay, let's move as planned before it's too late, and things get difficult."
With her words, we set out for the mercenary guild.
Before it's too late? Is everyone speaking in riddles right now?
This whole thing has holes, but we can't stop to investigate, I can't. Any more time wasted is time Maya could be taken from me.
That means I have to be on my game, for her sake and to prove my worth. I have to perform.
Slowly, we walked towards the building in the wet forest. The night light shone through the tree branches, making it easy to traverse the darkness. Tonight was fairly bright. Yuna said there were no enemies nearby, but I couldn't relax. The air here reeked for some reason, but it wasn't only that. For some reason, the closer we got to the building, the quieter it got. I swallowed hard, trying to mask my growing anxiety.
Before we got into the clearing that led to the building, Yuna took a while doing something. With her blood, she drew sigils and glyphs at certain trees, around the building. Like a trap, maybe?
I followed her curiously, then asked, "What for? And why blood?"
"This is to keep everyone inside, in case they try to escape. It is an enclosed barrier." Yuna brings out her hand and cuts her thumb, then draws another glyph. "I'm using my blood, so the barrier is tied to my tether; that way, I know if someone is trying to escape."
Is that how it works? I wonder if this is a technique or control? She is drawing a glyph with a single sigil, then a strange symbol enclosing it. Like a zig-zag but with a circle…Hmm, I will ask her more about this later.
"Now we are set," Yuna slapped her hands together and pumped herself up. She seems rather happy, not a common sight for her.
"I have pinpointed Maya's position, so I will lead the way. We will be going with cuncti for this operation. Siri, I want you in front of me while remen and Nero, I want you to flank shortly behind me."
Okay, that was fast. Who is this woman? She found Maya's exact location already, and she has already decided how we are going to approach. I need to keep up.
But Maya is alive, thank the forsaken creator. It begins now. So let's do this, we can do this. I can do this. I nodded and, with a quick breath out, I braced myself.
As I took my first step forward, a fist slammed into my chest. The impact left me stunned, and I struggled to catch my breath for a second. Who was that? I raised my head, ready to yell when remen fist pumped me on my chest.
He looked me dead in the face with a little smile and said, "Calm down, I am by your side."
Was he looking after me? I didn't think anyone paid attention to me, even though it was my first mission.
"That goes for everyone, Nero," Yuna said with her back turned. She glanced back and said, "Don't do too much, we are here."
Wow, so they were watching me. Was I that much of a nervous wreck, jeez.
I could feel my heart burn up. Maybe they do see me as a teammate; I cannot fail them. This kindness, I don't want to disappoint them.
I must perform.
"Thanks," I said with a beaming smile.