62

Regan was cautious all the way through the cave, her eyes and ears open for any trap or danger. She had gotten more into what she had realized was actually a journey, a daring one.

Their pace stopped when they found themselves in front of a metallic door, sealed. Regan's eyebrows furrowed, "Maybe that's the way out."

"I hope so," Iris said, her voice more like a snap, "I'm freezing."

"I'll try to burn them," Regan walked forward, trying to stir up some fire.

"Burn?" Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, she's trying to burn the woods out," Iris retorted.

Regan managed to grow a fire on her hands which she quickly transferred to the woods. They started to burn quickly, along with the ropes and chains and soon the structure was nothing but mere ashes.

"Wow, that was impressive," Jack and Iris said in unison, the cold forgotten momentarily as the fire provided a source of warmth. But the metallic door was still there, standing proud.

The door had no handle. It was black, with two serpentine structures carved symmetrically on its sides.

"I'll try open the door," Jack said as he grabbed a tool from his bag. It looked like a sharp metal hook with a long handle.

He inserted it into the gap between the door and the stone floor, then he slowly turned it until he heard a click. The door immediately swung open, unleashing the strong current of the freezing storm slam into their faces. 

It was so strong that it almost blew them away.

But in front now wasn't a plain horizon of snow. It was a cave, another cave, a glacier cave. It wasn't as narrowed as the first, it was wider. The light must have been coming from the ice itself, glowing in a soft blue. The icicles were everywhere, hanging from the ceiling and from the walls. The ground was icy as well, and Regan felt a shiver run down her spine.

The air was bitterly cold and freezing. It was colder than anything Regan had ever felt.

Iris, who was shivering the most, groaned, "Well Jack, I thought we were going to be at the border now, not at some other shitty cave. Are you sure that's the way? We're freezing here!"

Jack, however, seemed unfazed by the cold. "It's exactly the right way." He fought off the wind, shoving it through his clothes as he stepped further. "Follow me, guys. And be careful, the ground is slippery. We don't want you both to fall."

They followed, stepping inside the glacier cave. It was wider, but almost 7 feet wide.

Iris held Regan's hand, both walking slowly, not wanting to slip somewhere.

"You asshole, you're wearing ice boots!" Iris shouted at Jack, her voice echoing through the cave. "Why didn't you tell us you had them?"

Jack shrugged, his breath visible in front of him as he replied, "Well, it's not like you did have any. And it's not my fault you two didn't think to ask. Besides, the ice isn't very slippery. You'll be fine."

Iris cursed under her breath as she held herself by the icy wall on her left, dragging Regan there as well. Regan was shivering from the wind inside, using her own fire to heat herself up, but it didn't seem to help much. 

The cave seemed endless, the icecles hanging dangerously, glinting in a light blue color. For how many years had they been there, Regan thought. Some dripped cold, freezing water. But they didn't seem to melt. Regan tried to avoid walking down them, not wanting to risk her life.

The walked for what seemed like an eternity and then they saw a light farther them. The glacier had gotten narrower now and stalagmites were everywhere, sharp and pointy.

"I think... we're getting close." Jack said, panting slightly, "Soon we will be seeing the barrier."

Regan felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew the gravity of the situation they were in, they were about to infiltrate in one of Sirius's colonized lands and she couldn't help but think about the consequences. But at least she was far from Viggo now, and she was thankful for that.

They walked until they reached the end and what Regan saw next, was the weirdest thing she had seen until now. The end of the glacier opened into a horizon. It was different. Completely the opposite. 

The ground was separated into two distinct parts. To their left, the ground was icy, the walls emitting coldness and chills, the wind howling through the cave. To their right, the ground was orange, dark brown. Sand. Probably desert. The sky was blue and they could see much more. Because it was blurry.

"What's this?" Regan asked, not getting the sudden change in the scenery. Yes, she knew they had been talking about 'a border' all along but it was weird. The ground was obviously parted in color, but she couldn't see much past in front of her.

"That's it," Jack said, pointing to the parted ground. "The border. We're here."

He stepped forward first, leaving them behind. But as soon as he tried to step past the cave, he bumped into the air and nearly fell.

"What the hell?" he muttered. He was suspended in the air, unable to move forward.

Regan sighed, "It's a barrier. It's invisible."

"And how are we going to pass that now?" Iris asked, rushing to where Jack was. But she couldn't go past it. "This seems like glass. Or solid air."

"It's a spell," Regan said as she placed her hand on the invisible barrier. "I don't think it's made of any material. It's magic."

"And how do we break it now?" Iris asked. She knew there was a spell separating the North from the South, but she hadn't really paid attention to it before. Now, it seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.

Jack tried to see if there was any other entrance or exit from the cave. "Damnit. There's nothing here."

"Why don't you try your magic?" Iris asked Regan.

I'll try," Regan said. She summoned fire on her hands, and threw a fireball at the invisible barrier. It collided with a flash of light, but nothing happened. "We're going to attract a lot of attention if we keep trying to break through like this."

"But what should we do?" Iris asked, playing the ice under her feet.

"There must be a way," Regan retorted, "maybe a way to pass or to break the spell."

Iris paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Do you know any sort of spell to break it?" 

Regan's expression turned thoughtful. She didn't know any other spells. She knew some sort of telekinesis but it wasn't worth in that case. The fire didn't seem to break the barrier either.

"Maybe we could show our soldier attire and if someone sees us they'd think we are his army," Jack suggested, already removing his winter clothes that had been holding his breath all that time, "I mean, it's not that cold here, right?"

The girls hesitated but took off their covering layers, revealing their uniforms underneath. It was a risky move, but they had no other choice. Jack stepped forward, showing off a weapon from his bag that Regan hadn't seen before. "We're soldiers of Sirius's army! Let us enter through!" he shouted, his voice echoing around the glacier.

A moment passed, and then they heard footsteps approaching from the other side. A figure emerged from the greenery, his attire similar to that of the trio, with just some minor changes, "Identify yourselves," he demanded.

"This is Thea," he gestured to Iris, "and this is Skye," pointing at Regan, "and I'm Castor," Jack said, giving them fake names and hoping they would believe it. "We're new recruits for the border patrol."

The guard's eyes narrowed with suspicion, "There are no new recruits scheduled today. And your names are nowhere in my list."

"Well, we joined up last minute," Jack said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. "We just want to train with the others."

The guard's hand went to his weapon, which was not a sword, but a rifle that sent a chill down Regan's spine. "Why you didn't enter through the main gate?"

"It was expensive to get there," Iris replied, her voice steadier now, "We couldn't afford the main gate. But you can check our ID and the army's token."

They both showed their identification tags, a piece of metal that didn't have their actual names. It was like they had planned this much before Regan. Iris also took out a token, a small golden circle with a 'S' in the middle. The guard took the token, his hand passing through the invisible barrier and scanned it to a code device he had installed on his wrist.

The device beeped with a green light, but the guard still didn't let them pass so easily, "And what about her?" he nodded at Regan, "Where's her identification tag?"

Great, Regan thought. That's what happens when you go to a battle without weapons.

"Uh, I...." she began but Iris was already holding out another ID tag, one that had 'Skye' etched into it. "I had it," she said, her voice a little shaky. Regan realized they were too prepared for this, they had just waited for the opportunity and the opportunity was apparently her. But she couldn't blame them. Their approach was smart, but no less suspicious for the guard.

The guard took the tag and scanned it, the device beeping again, green light flashing. "I'll check your bags," he said sternly, bringing out another scanning device from his pockets. "Alright, you're all clear. But be aware, we're on high alert for infiltrators," he said, his gaze lingering on Regan, with a look that was certainly not one of trust. "Follow me."

"Thanks man," Jack said, giving the guard a nod before stepping forward. The environment of the other side had a drastic change. It was really hot compared to the beastly coldness that had been their close friend till now.

"Well, that was close," Jack muttered under his breath as they continued on their way. 

The guard from behind reached them and barked an order to a nearby soldier, who seemed to be enjoying himself, "Sergei, lead them to the military camp. They're new recruits."

Sergei cursed under his breath but they followed him, not very close by. As they walked, Regan could notice better the buildings in the distance. They were mainly ruins, with cracked walls crackled, tainted by spray paint. They seemed old, probably from bombarding. Or maybe they had been that way before. Regan wasn't sure. Why did he have to destroy that all? What did he get from conquering these places?

The air was burning at their clothes, it was a terrible scorching heat. The trees around the area were few, scattered apart. Even those few were palm-like or just dried plants. So, it was deserted, overall. The military personel was the only thing moving, the soldiers and officers marching around, their steps heavy, rifles on their hands. The statics of radars and radios, along with the distant engine of off road cars and trucks in the distance, got her attentions. She was surprised that there were vehicles.

"Iris, thank you," Regan whispered, her mind still racing with all what was happening, "For helping me out."

"It's fine," Iris replied, though her tone had taken a somber turn as she looked at the destroyed land before her.

"What are we going to do at the military camp?" Regan asked herself, not even knowing what was expected from her from now. Were just going to jump into a war without thinking about the consequences? What if she refused to help them?

But Regan knew she couldn't refuse, not after what they've done. They've helped her escape the city. She'd never get that far without a guide or a tool, if not with someone's help. The thought didn't make things better for her. It made her look even more powerless that she was starting to loathe herself for it.

Jack was talking to the soldier, each step throwing seeming like he was climbing a mountain. Iris meanwhile, was looking at the land and 

Regan noticed she was almost crying, but bitterly, not just from nostalgia.

She wanted to comfort her and the rebellion would be the only way. She knew the way they felt. They had lost and they wanted revenge, were brave enough for it. While she kept hiding around the bush because she was scared of the punishment.

Anyway, the surrounding ruins opened into a large square, the dusty air visibly flying in a swirling mass that made Regan recoil. They saw a good number of soldiers staying in a row, wearing the same uniform. They were listening at someone's speech, whose uniform was more decorated and polished than the rest, probably their general.

The general's voice was stern and cutting and Regan had never felt so out of place. The soldier 'Sergei' led them to the edge of the square, waiting for the speech to end. The general, a tall, dark haired man with a tight expression noticed the newcomers, but his face didn't change, not even a flicker of curiosity.

Regan's mind was racing, and she couldn't believe the guard at the border actually let them pass. The irony was not lost on her, she was Sirius's enemy.

The soldier's figures were unmoving, listening like statues to their commander's speech, which seemed to be about their duty and the importance of fighting for the rightful cause. Regan's heart began to race when she realized she was surrounded by men, and the only women here were her, Iris, and a stern-looking woman, with a military suit and a pistol on her side, standing next to the general.

The speech ended with a round of applause that seemed almost staged and the general immediately turned and started to walk towards them. His gaze was cold, his eyes narrowing at the sight.

"What's this?" The general barked at Sergei, looking at the trio up and down with narrowed eyes and disdain. But when he looked at Regan, his expression turned even more suspicious, as if she was the main problem here.

"New recruits, sir," Sergei answered, his voice firm but with a hint of unease, "They arrived from the glacier."

The general's eyes lingered on Regan for a moment too long, and she could see he was anything but convinced. But why was he looking at her like that? Was she the only one that didn't fit here?

"I didn't request any new recruits," he said, his eyes never leaving Regan's face. She felt a surge of frustration and decided to speak.

"We were sent by lord Sirius himself," she lied, trying to sound confident and convincing. But Regan's response made him even more dubious.

"And why would our lord send a maid as a new recruit?" the general demanded with a sneer, looking at Regan accusingly. Damnit, Regan thought. She was no maid. Where did he get that from? And why was he questioning only her, not Jack or Iris? The other soldiers attention had been caught by the exchange and they were looking at them now, with a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

"I'm not a maid, sir," she said sharply, "I've come here to serve as a soldier."

The general's eyes narrowed even more, "Don't play coy with me, woman," he warned, not buying it, "I've seen you in the lord's manor. You're no soldier."

Regan's heart skipped a beat. Where had he seen her? She had been held captive there anyway, she wasn't a maid.

"Well, I'm not a maid either," Regan shot back, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice, "Yes, I've been at the manor, but I assure you, I am here to fight."

The general raised an eyebrow at her tone but decided to leave it there for a moment. And you two?" he barked at Jack and Iris. "Were you sent by him as well?"

Jack stepped forward, his hand on his chest. "Yes, sir. We're here to serve," he said firmly.

"Have you worked before?" the general asked, his eyes assessing them.

"We've worked in smaller divisions before," Iris answered this time.

The general pursed his lips, Regan could see he was still unconvinced, but even more suspicious of her alone, "And why would the lord would send inexperienced amateurs here?" he snapped at them, making Regan swallow nervously. "I'll inform him and then we'll see how true your story is."

"You don't have to suspect us, sir," Iris quickly said, "We have proof," she showed him the golden token, but the general still was wary.

"Very well," he finally nodded, turning away to pace. "Your training starts now. You'll be tested your abilities. If you fail, you'll be sent back where you came from."

The stern-looking woman had approached, her tall authoritative figure speaking of her rank. Her eyes scrutinized them, and then turned to the general, "So no rest for them, sir?"

"No," the general retorted, not turning to look at her, "They say they're sent from the lord. And even if they're lying, they won't resist long," he turned to Regan, "Do you get it, girl? You're here to fight for your lord's empire, not play with dolls."

"The lord's empire my ass," Regan thought to herself. She hadn't come here to fight for Sirius, man. She had come here to escape from that creep Viggo, and maybe help Iris for the rebellion. But she knew that arguing with that man wouldn't help with anything.

"Line them up with the others, lieutenant," the general ordered the stern-looking woman, "the training starts now for all new recruits."

"Yes, sir," the lieutenant said and motioned for the trio to follow her. She led them to the training field where the soldiers were doing drills. The heat was palpable, burning through their clothes like an angry monster. She knew she wasn't ready for that.

"Line up," the lieutenant commanded, pointing towards the row of the soldiers. The training field was brutal, with several obstacles, barriers to jump over, walls to scale, and muddy trenches to navigate through. The soldiers were doing good enough compared to how Regan imagined herself there. 

"It's just the first day," she turned to the woman, not hiding the frustration from her voice.

"So what?" the woman snapped back, her tone razor-sharp, "this is called training, red. No one said it'd be easy."

Regan bit her tongue to not snap back. She felt like a fish caught in a tank without her own choice. Yes, she wanted revenge from Sirius, but not just because Iris and Jack said so. She had her own problems with him. But now, she was stuck in lies, pretending to be a recruit when she didn't even know what that all meant. And Iris and Jack, they looked like they were fighting against something they didn't even understand.

Iris and Jack stepped in front of her in the row, buying her some time to delay the extreme training exercises. But she could see the lieutenant and the general who just came, looking at them with the precision of a surgeon as if they were in a death-life situation and the smallest mistake would led to death.

Iris's turn came and she took a deep breath before setting off on the field. She was surprisingly fast and practical, passing the barriers with ease and climbing the walls like she had been doing it all her life. She must've trained before, Regan thought to herself.

Then it was Jack's, who struggled at the very start of the exercises and fell on the mood. The soldiers laughed, and Regan realized that they hadn't been looking with disdain at him, but at her too, all the time. She felt like a bug under the microscope.

"Get up!" the drills instructor barked, his voice sharp and unforgiving. The lieutenants lips curled into a mocking smile and Regan wondered how she'd pass her turn without totally embarrassing herself.