Kaius soon found himself with Ariel on a small rising wooden platform somewhere inside the Central Sanctuary. The space was suffocating, the makeshift elevator situated inside a pillar-like structure. Kaius wasn't too sure how it worked. Shocked at the absence of a pulley system or visible support to the platform, he found himself sort of in awe at the engineering of it every time he went up. Ariel, however, had long lost that awe, having to come up here every time Captain Frey sent her on a mission.
Finally, upon reaching the top of the tree, Kaius and Ariel were welcomed by a large hall. At its centre, a laid out green carpet — but unlike the rest of the sanctuary, this carpet had highlights of gold on its edges — covering only a narrow expanse from start to end of the hall. A massive, clear, orderly barrier starting just above where the carpet ended — meant to serve as a window. The rest of the hall's floor was exposed, only showing its cold oak wood.
A piercing gaze cut straight through Kaius, his prior confidence shattering in a moment. Captain Frey's face was a tapestry of unsettling scars, each a memento to his experience. Although his beard was a wave of grey, there was nothing frail about him. The top of his head was barren; it could have been natural hair loss, though something told Kaius it was another mark of his timeless discipline.
Alongside him were two Sigil Knights in training, Kaius and Ariel, who needed no introduction to the pair. After their long years in the Central Sanctuary, they were bound to have known every trainee in their age group.
Valerie stood on the left of Captain Frey. She was an Ashiin — a race known for their natural olive skin complexion and blaze of red hair — and Valerie lacked none of these traits. Beside the old man, she embodied vitality and youth in its purest form. Her wavy flame of hair flowed down to her shoulders.
On the right of Captain Frey, Icarus held his place. He was an unusual sight, for he was a Fischeran. Fischerans were rarely seen away from the Castle in the Sky, and even more peculiar was his name. Icarus was by no means a strange name; however, for the customs of Fischeran, it was unheard of. Fischeran, along with Vinds, often named their kin according to a rigid pattern; Fischeran names normally end in ri, ie, ti or o. Apart from that, Icarus perfectly blended in. His skin was cyan, his hair was electric blue, and his eyes were teal. In fact, his skin looked as if it could turn into a puddle at any time.
A dynamic pair for sure, not too unlike Kaius and Ariel. The former being Dzin and the latter being a Haselden. Dzins were as elusive as Fischerans and Vinds, though far less eye-catching, and the Haseldens populating most of Gaia, much like the Ashiins. However, Kaius and Icarus knew better than to underestimate other races just because they were more apparent.
Races in Gaia are more than just how somebody looks. After the leak in the Source, different people adapted the influx of mana in their own ways — some subtly and others drastically. Over thousands of years, evolution took hold and shaped the races into what they are today. Sure, a race can influence a fight, even decide life or death — but in the end, the largest weight on the scales is one's skill and experience.
Valerie's eyes gleamed as the two walked in and hurriedly turned to the man in the centre.
"See? Look captain — they're here now, can you FINALLY tell us about the mission you called us up for?"
Captain Frey sighed with indifference.
"Kaius, Ariel. Welcome. I'd love to greet you properly, but alas, I haven't the time for pleasantries."
A singular beam of sunlight slipped through the makeshift window behind Captain Frey and stretched through the hall.
"I have to admit I've avoided sending any of you four out of the forest for some time now. As you should know, most of Solan's jurisdiction lies in the forest and... the Tundra."
As he said those words, Kaius swore he could have seen the Captain space out for a moment. But he continued speaking anyway.
"That being said, Solan doesn't really control much of the desert, so crime is definitely more prominent in the southern parts. I'll cut to the chase to save all of us some time. Our friends, the Monks, have had their supplies from the Isles stolen. Stolen en route, might I add. Additionally, you might have heard of the crisis in Sentinel that's going on at the moment. It's near impossible to sustain a whole sanctuary with the prices at their markets."
As Captain Frey paused, Valerie began nudging him to continue. Icarus, however, seemed aloof to the entire conversation.
"I need you four to supervise a supply chain from the Royal Woods and make sure it gets there safe and sound. The monks only have about a week of rations left; you must move with haste. Especially through Sentinel. Their people are desperate and willing to do anything to get their hands on food. The chain will be leaving in a few hours, so be prepared."
All four of the trainees were prepared. Although they were still called 'trainees,' each of them had several skills under their belts and a few escort missions in the past to make sure they were ready for an operation like this. Last of all, they had each other, even if they were incapable of doing something like this alone, they had comrades to depend on.
However, Captain Frey kept speaking.
"Oh, and one last thing. If you happen to encounter an … Abysswalker … or any of Ardor's forces. Abandon all the supplies and seek out the nearest ultra-class fighter. I doubt a Sigil Knight Commander would be anywhere near the desert, but with a bit of luck, you might encounter somebody strong to help. I've heard some Dragon Slayers have been taking their pupils to the Burial Grounds recently; you might encounter one at Sentinel if things really do go south.
For any criminals you think you'd be able to best, I'll let the decision-making go to you. If you were to take my advice, don't try to fight more than the odd Assassin or two.
You are dismissed. Except Ariel."
The other three walked towards the wooden platform from which they had come.
Kaius could only think one thing, though.
'What could he be talking about to Ariel that he can't tell us? Don't tell me this mission isn't really as simple as it sounds.'
***
The three had been long gone, yet Captain Frey hadn't said a word. Instead, he just turned around with his hands behind his back and gazed upon the wide expanse that was the Royal Woods. Eventually, he spoke with his back towards Ariel.
"That boy... Kaius. Keep your eyes on him. Do not let him interact with anybody that may be influenced by Ardor."
"Understood, but may I ask why?"
Captain Frey had a conflicted expression on his face, keeping his face turned to avoid exposing it.
"I've long known his beliefs are not in line with what he should believe. If influenced by the wrong person, those harmless beliefs may very well cross the line to a place where none of us can pull him back to the path of order."
Ariel began walking to the elevator, intending to leave.
"I'm not done yet."
Ariel looked back, a ray of warm sunshine enveloping her body.
***