Deeper into the Fortress

Her face brightened as my eyes laid upon her very feminine features. The sunshine showered her single-braid caramel-colored hair that shone slightly against it.

Her eyes sparkled with the remaining light that seeped in between her hair strands which slightly covered her eyes. Its rosy hue glinted at me, calming my frustrated demeanor.

I could notice it had slightly moistened as she stared right back at me. Finally, what struck me the most is the mole under her right eye that complimented her face; it reminded me of who she was.

"S-Sera?" I stuttered.

Her brightened smile turned into a frown as she sat in front of me. Clearly fighting the tears flowing through her eyes with her hands. Then she immediately threw herself at me which gave me quite a surprise.

"W-What's wrong?"

I threw both of my hands in the air in a daze and surprised by her sudden embrace. It was warm, the seeping heat from her body touched mine. For the first time, in a long time, I finally felt a bit warmer.

I've always felt so stuck in the freezing cold of winter. It was as though she was melting away this freezing feeling, like the first dawn of light in a cold morning that always felt so heartwarming.

I stared at her while she remained snugged on my chest, I didn't dare lay my hands upon her. I felt like an innocent girl like her would get tainted by my hands that have killed many.

She raised her head with dazzling eyes, wet with tears and messy hair that fell on her face. Despite how she looks, she remained beautiful, just like how I first saw her in that darkened cell.

"I thought I would never see you again," She said slightly shaken.

I didn't know how to respond to that, most people would not want to see me. I just stared at her blankly without uttering a single word.

Her frilled shirt had loosened a bit and I could faintly see the pinkish glow of her white skin. It was flawless that had a trickle of sweat flowing in between her ample bosom.

*Gulp*

I swallowed with a bit of nervousness as I slowly backed away, feeling a bit embarrassed that doused my cheeks red. It felt as though I was violating her so I closed my eyes as a result.

"Are you ok?" She asked worriedly.

"Geez, calm down Knoxx! She is genuinely worried about you," I thought to myself.

I took my eyes towards her and yet again, she never ceases to amaze me. In rugged and soiled clothing she was magnificent, but now that I saw her in proper clothes, well-groomed, pampered; I couldn't stop basking in her beauty.

She donned a frilled white shirt that had long sleeves folded to her elbows, a brown corset that defined her body in a graceful but seductive way, black pants that fitted her long legs, and finally, knee-high leather-strapped boots that matched her corset.

I was dumbfounded, stricken by her amazing look. I had no words.

"Knoxx?" She said in a sweet tone.

Her voice was music to my ears, I couldn't say anything. I tried to say anything, just anything in general so that I didn't look like a fool staring at her.

She raised a brow then slightly blushed as she knew that I just kept staring at her with an awe-stricken expression. Her embarrassed look was adorable.

"Cute..." I said lowly.

"Why did you say that you buffoon!" I thought to myself panicking.

"Eh?" She remarked quite surprised.

"Ah! Yes! I'm sorry!" while trying to cover up my embarrassed look.

I threw my hands around and was fumbling around like a mad man because of embarrassment. I saw her look down to the ground in embarrassment as a response to my sudden remark.

Right then, I felt my spine tingle. I looked around and saw the crowd that oppressed me earlier. They all stared at me with hostility, like I was vulnerable prey.

"Princess! Stay away from him! He's a cold-blooded murderer!" Someone shouted from the crowd.

"Yeah! He killed plenty of people!"

"Tis' the truth! You'll get tainted by 'im!" Followed by the others.

"Princess?" I thought.

I turned towards Sera and then concluded that the Princess must be around somewhere. She couldn't possibly be the Princess, after all I found her in the dark recesses of the Black Market.

"Murderer? No, he's a Hero! He saved my life!" She shouted back at the crowd.

The jeering voices from the disagreeing crowd rose after her words.

"Y-You're the Princess?" I exclaimed.

Then that's where it hit me, I completely forgot about my conversation with Madame Cordelia. At the time I couldn't see who wielded that peculiar weapon, especially because of the distance.

It was hard to believe but now that I was seeing her with my own eyes, it was evident, from the way that she moved to the slight motion of her hand; it hinted grace beyond compare.

A Countenance that was incomparable to others, flawless pale skin that lacked the light of day. Well-groomed manners and ethics; Why didn't I realize this before?

She looked at me a bit offended.

"Just because I looked like a mess then doesn't mean I'm not Royalty!" She leered.

"I-I'm sorry..."

Her flustered look had vanished but was replaced with a pouty expression that was irresistible. I couldn't help but squirm slightly as I painfully remained seated.

"I really am glad," She continued.

She lowered her head as he played with her fingers, wearing a relieved expression on her face. She smirked slightly as she took a turn towards me.

"After I heard that you were in prison, they didn't allow any visitors but I desperately tried to see you."

She looked so earnest in her words that I felt a bit happy. She neared the distance between us then took to both my arms, holding my hands, intertwining our fingers slowly.

"I can finally thank you properly!" She mused.

She brightened that it softened my guarded walls, making me feel like I wanted to open up. But then the contempt from people around us reminded me of how I was underserving of these feelings.

I continued to stare at her countenance as she rambled on and on, of things that I couldn't discern; I was too occupied in my own thoughts.

My fixated eyes slowly inched away from her, for reasons unknown, there was something tugging at me, which is why I took to look into the crowd behind her.

In the sea of angry faces, I found someone familiar. I couldn't mistake her distinct blue hair from afar that was paired with hazel brown eyes. She had an emotionless expression that seemed so terrifying to me.

"I'm sorry..." I muttered.

"What?" Said Sera.

I stared right back to Sera because her voice reminded me that she was there.

"Don't talk to me anymore," I said abruptly.

"What?!"

I hurried away from the scene then forced myself in between the crowd of men and women. I didn't want to involve myself with other people as much as possible, I didn't want her to hurt or anyone as I did with Higime.

I only brought trouble to people around me, Higime almost lost Madame Cordelia because of me; I don't want the same thing to happen with Sera. Besides, it's better this way, if we kept on hanging out then people would gradually hate her too.

I just want to protect that smile of hers...

In that brief moment, I ran through the crowd, constantly brushing aside the packed people. With mind lost in thought, I bumped into one of the men standing idly--I tried pushing the man aside but he didn't budge.

"Get out of my way!" I pleaded.

"What are you doing? I expected to meet you for ten minutes and sixty seconds ago! you're late!" Said the man in response.

I lifted my head and saw a well-groomed man, which I speculated was in his late twenties because of his facial features. Atop his head was a deep-green slicked-back shiny hair while a silver monocle was resting on his left eye.

"Do I know you?" I responded.

It was the first time I was seeing the man. He donned sophisticated clothing that was smooth as paper, there was no unnecessary crease left to be found, but what set his apparel apart was the white laboratory coat.

"You don't know who I am? Surely Bardel must've oriented you? or is it because of your incompetence?" He scoffed.

"Incompetence? who does this guy think he is?" I thought.

"But then again, Bardel isn't someone with appropriate sense," He doubted.

He just belittled one of the most respected and high ranking officers without any hesitation. It didn't even sound like a joke.

"Anyways! for your lack of ethics and sensibility, I forgive you. I am a Medical specialist, Pip Thalwar."

He brightened with a sense of overconfidence as he said his name, while doing so, he stared down at me like I was some sort of lowlife. It was a little bit annoying because his face had no hesitation and maintained seriousness.

So this was the esteemed Medical practitioner that saved Madame Cordelia, I suspect that he even saved others. He wasn't at all was how I imagined him to be. I thought he was a bit more approachable, kind, and most importantly humble.

"Now that the formalities have ended, let us make our way towards the Laboratorium," He continued.

He nodded his head towards the direction of the Great Hall, insinuating that I follow him there. He loudly cleared his throat so that the crowd would disperse in his presence as we waded through.

"I guess this is where I become an experiment," I worried.

Soon, we found ourselves within the Great Hall, he immediately turned to the right, whereas the opposite path was the Chow Hall.

"I have never been in this part of the Fortress," I thought.

There we were met by a large receiving area, which was filled with bystanders. They all formed a line in front of multiple counters while the rest remained seated in the nearby chairs.

"What is this place?" I muttered.

"To quell the thirst of your ignorant mind, this place is where we get commissions as mercenaries,"

"Those people over there are from the nearby areas asking for help, of which the Empire turned a blind eye to."

"They pay us a reasonable amount of sum, in return, we resolve their issues for them," He continued.

"I can't believe that you didn't know about this, I'm sure that you also don't know that this is our deceiving front against the Empire," He scoffed eagerly.

Yet again, I can't comprehend this man's inflated ego. Since I knew that already, it became twice as annoying to me, but I hurriedly brushed it off. I didn't think he could get more conceited.

"We are known throughout the region, they seek help, and we offer it," He said proudly.

"Although at times we act independently," He muttered lowly.

"Alright, enough chit-chat, and follow me."

I followed him through the lobby that extended all the way to the back, while the people tended to their businesses and concerns to the counters on the right. At the end of the long stroll, we were met by two knights guarding a double door.

As soon as they saw Pip, they opened it for us, inside was a large storeroom. On our left were shelves full of documents, on the right were people working on papers, they were all busy, hurrying from one side to another.

We went further inside and saw a large circular table, it held flags of black and white that scattered around what seems to be a geographical map of the region. The whole storeroom didn't have a hint of natural light since I couldn't find any window.

The whole place was lit by Corr lamps that dangled above us, showering us with a dim glow of green. It was enough lighting to cover only the important parts of the room.

"Welcome to the Liberators reconnaissance center, this is where all of the sensitive information lay secured."

"From the number of the members to the overtly slightest detail of happenings in certain areas," He continued.

The place was divided into four equal parts: the countless shelves that were filled to the brim with documents, the members that were in charge of the documentation and information, the central planning that contained the circular table, and finally, the largest space that consumed the huge storeroom was a laboratory.

Afar, it was a closed room that separated it from the outside. The only thing that was separating us from it was the metal walls that had a single metal door.

Pip held the doorknob, he paused for just a second.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He didn't answer. Soon the door began to glow, it's fitted steel door slowly opened that poured light outside. I had to cover my eyes from the sudden brightness.

*Creak*

"Welcome to the Laboratorium, get yourself comfortable," He said.

We sauntered inside the Laboratorium, it had alchemical apparatuses laying about, pipes lined the ceiling that connected to the large tanks in the farthest corner. There were a significant amount of Corrs strewn inside, on tabletops, shelves, etc...

There were a lot of unknown items that seemed peculiar to me. But there was one thing that really stood out in my eyes, it was an elongated barrel that had some sort of trigger mechanism underneath. I couldn't help but reach out--

"Don't even think about it," Pip said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's one of the stolen technology from the Empire, it only arrived a few days ago."

I remember seeing these things back at the Black Market, the Empirian soldiers had them.

I seated on the nearby chairs, as I watched Pip getting impatient as he was waiting for something. Then, I remembered that I still haven't thanked Pip for saving Madame Cordelia from her injuries in the Black Market incident.

"Hey," I called him.

But he didn't seem fazed as he remained unsettled. He was looking into his wrist, that had a watch on it, It was the first time I had seen a wristwatch since none in my hometown owned one.

In this country, technology and cultures varied in different areas, since the Bardel Fortress situated near the "Everglow" and gained monetary financing from all the commissions, they were more technologically advanced.

"Everglow" was known as a fast-growing city, since it focused on industrial development. I rarely saw machinery but when I did, it was always so fascinating. I was always curious about how they worked.

"Pip?" I called onto him once more.

But to my expectations, he just ignored me. Then came a loud whirring sound beside the large tanks. It was a large vacant space that had a steel cage, above it was thick chains that got pulled upwards.

Soon, inside the cage was an ascending figure covered in drapes. In front was a messy-haired man. Pip hurried in front of the cage, waiting for its passenger to alight from the lift.

The cage loudly opened with a clang, then came out a familiar figure.

"HELLO! AH! THALWAR MY LOVELY JUNIOR!"

"Colleague! Col! League! You're late!" He exclaimed.