Finally, Back at Boho!

After almost a month of being away from their post, Captain Ravil and his troop have come back. Wouldn't it be nice to be welcomed with a nice bath and good food after the long travels?

Thud.

Clank.

But perhaps, it's too much for wishful thinking if one knew he failed to abide by the rules.

The jail's cell door closing reverberated and almost disturbed whatever small animals or insects sleeping in the corner.

Upon arrival at Boho's gate, Captain Ravil and his troop were led to the commander's office. The captain understood what will happen next after reporting.

"Sorry, Captain. Your meals will be brought in a while."

"Thank you, Cadet Farel."

"Captain…"

Cadet Farel pressed his lips together and looked at his surroundings before speaking again. His face is disturbed with fear and wrath.

"What is it, Farel?"

"I know you just arrived and you're being held here in prison. The commander prioritized your punishment and has no intention of keeping the recent attack from you but the thing is..."

Farel drooped his head and sniffled.

"The monsters that attacked a week ago were despicable and devilish."

"What happened? Did anyone die? How many of the denizens, the soldiers?"

"No… no one alive died and was attacked. But… those who left us, those in the graveyards… they were the ones who were ransacked. The monsters hunted for dead bodies and feed on their flesh and entrails."

Farel clenched his fists while gnashing his teeth. Dead people in Irca are treated with high respect. While soldiers' bodies are cremated and let their ashes afloat in the water or swept by air to be scattered all over the place signifying their freedom and being a blessing to Irca, others rested in graveyards. Their bodies are blessed by the spirits or guardians so their hearts could find a new life in another time or world. Dead people are believed to be reincarnated in another time and place if their bodies will vanish as a whole and untouched by the devils. Even criminals' bodies receive respect as they are still denizens of Irca and will be judged by the gods.

There were four monsters that attacked in the night. Until now, they haven't returned. The dug-up graves totaled eight. Captain Ravil clutched the jail bars tight showing his veins visible.

Crickets could be heard in the sole presence of silence in the prison. Captain Ravil and Cadet Farel suddenly turned their heads in the direction of the entrance hall sensing late a familiar breeze. The man was already five to six steps near them.

"Co… Commander?"

Cadet Farel staggered backward a little and straightened his body right after and saluted.

"At ease."

Looking at Captain Ravil, the commander vented a long sigh.

"As Cadet Farel mentioned, I have no intention of keeping the things that happened when you were away. But rules are rules."

The commander placed his hands behind overlapping each other.

"Those monsters… were they the soulless—"

"Yes."

"I thought they were banished in the underworld 100 years ago?"

"I'm not sure how safe it is to talk about them here. The walls have ears and the winds have mouths."

"…"

"Cadet Farel's squad has been dispersed to patrol the yard after the incident. So far, there are no malicious reports."

The commander gazed at Farel and asked him to leave them for another talk. Farel saluted the commander and the captain and strode outside the jail. The commander turned his back from Captain Ravil and stared at the wall.

"I was afraid you'll act recklessly if you'll know right away what happened. This punishment wasn't ideal but I chose this instead."

"…"

The captain was perplexed by his superior's mood, feeling there's something else the captain isn't telling him.

"Elaine's graveyard was dug-up."

Facing the captain, the commander witnessed his face turned pale white. His eyes are twitching and his mouth is left open.

"Qadir…"

He slowly fell to his knees. Qadir's whole body slowly stiffened.

"No… no… Elaine…"

Qadir convulsed as his voice trailed off. He felt like he will explode any second as his body feels burning. His eyes welled up and swam with tears. His veins are bulging all over his body. He shut his eyes and punched the floor. No pain can ever be more painful than what he's feeling now.

Like a rejected alpha by its luna, Qadir wailed and bawled Elaine's name, full of sorrow. His heart broke a million more times.

"I personally investigated what happened after knowing that Elaine's grave was also dug up."

Commander's voice was taut with anger. Qadir drooped his head and his mana is leaking. Even his aura can't hold it and exudes fury… wrath, abomination, desolation.

The commander held his emotions and tried to clench his hands but slipped. All his energy was used in keeping himself from outbursts. Commander Diaz was never a nobody to Qadir and Elaine. He was a commander, a confidant, a friend, and before everything else, a family. And it's painful and aggravating that an indecent thing happened before the monsters' attack.

Commander Diaz bit his lower lip and looked heavenward, preventing his tears to fall down. He ground his jaw and lamented.

"There was… another… body… found in the gra..ve."

The commander's guttural voice's becoming tremulous and broken sounding like stammering, breathing out heavily in between; he's forcing his voice and words to come out.

Qadir looked up and the commander met his startled and still trembling eyes.

"Whose—"

He exclaimed.

"It was a body of another worker girl. It was the targeted body but Elaine's bones were found scattered near the grave."

"Why…?"

"I've interrogated the husband—"

Qadir interrupted the commander.

"I want to see him."

His voice was thick, dead yet severe.

"There's no use."

Commander Diaz closed his eyes and stroked his dorsum.

"I want to see him."

He slowly stood up holding onto the bars of the jail cell.

"Qadir—"

"I'm not asking you to let me see him. I said I want to see him."

Looking sternly at the commander, Qadir forced himself to the iron bars.

"I've already talked to him and—"

"I'm not talking to you as my commander…"

Qadir stared at him, begging. His eyes are once again swimming in tears.

"Please… Brother Ansel."

The commander broke into tears and held Qadir's hands that are tightly clenching the iron bars.

After a moment, he opened the cell and let Qadir out. They tried to soothe each other's feelings and Ansel knows how shattered Qadir was. He treasures Elaine the most. He thought he won't make it in life after their parents died but Elaine became his life force. Thinking Elaine won't be able to meet the gods and have another life; it shattered him, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.