Chapter 24: Departure

"Sir, I received a strange call a little while ago," Sergeant Endrik handed a single sheet of paper to Lieutenant Micael. "It seems to be a distress signal by the code being used."

Micael took the paper and saw the number written. It repeated the same words, always with one letter present, the 'T' in the middle. 

"Yes, it's a request. But not an official one like we receive by Low Frequency," he returned the paper. "You don't need to worry. The camps have shielding against the creatures. Pretty sure they're fine."

Endrik took the paper back and glanced at it again. He watched Micael enter Captain Hermes' office. He never cared about the outside, never had any regard for the soldiers risking their lives out there. 

"An unofficial request," he muttered to himself as other corporals and soldiers passed by. "There must be someone who can read this." 

He descended the stairs of the third floor of the Host, heading toward the only Officer he was sure could help him. For some reason, when he asked around the courtyard, he found that Rutteo was at the stable.

It was a rather unusual place for an Officer to be. And as he got closer, he saw that not only was Rutteo there, but also Dante, the weapons shop owner, Dimitri, and Corporal Rubbem. 

He stopped running and paused to understand. 

"That's why I couldn't stay away from them, Sir Dante," Corporal Rubbem lowered his head respectfully. "I would never speak to Dimitri that way. And when I did, I was reprimanded in a way that taught me the meaning of those words. I feel like you carry the same sentiment he felt back then. I apologize for what Radius said to you and if it offended your story." 

"He didn't offend me," Dante replied while still touching Deco's neck. He had a brush in his hands, seemingly grooming the animal. "My mother was almost raped by one of the Sergeants who came to my village. He only didn't do it because my father ripped his arm off. The Sergeant's punishment? Nothing. The next month, he showed up with a medal on his chest and was promoted to Lieutenant." 

"And that man still walks around the Capital, I believe," Rubbem said. 

Dante shook his head. 

"Have you ever stopped to think that I'm a very sensitive person when it comes to this matter? The Sergeant said my mother wasn't worth the stick she sucked, and that I was a leftover abortion, that my sister would be the next one to be abused. And that my father would be decapitated when he returned." Dante stopped petting the horse and looked at him sideways. "My parents are alive, Corporal Rubbem. They're both healthy to this day." 

"I believe luck favored you all." 

Dante laughed. 

"Do you enjoy being naive or is it just me?" 

Rubbem didn't seem to understand, so Rutteo answered, sitting on a pile of tied hay. 

"The Sergeant who became a Lieutenant is dead. It's pretty obvious." 

Rubbem's face darkened. He lowered his face along with Dimitri, who also seemed shaken. 

"And who killed your father, the one who murdered a member of the Capital, Sir Dante?" Rubbem raised his head, looking at him with calm focus. "Or was it you who committed that crime?" 

Dante shrugged. 

"I know his last words were 'you damn Foreign piece of shit, do you know who I am?'" 

The words did not sit well with any of them. Not even Rutteo, who stared at Dante with a very serious look. The tension in the air was thick, and Endrik felt that at any moment they could pull their weapons. 

Should he intervene now? Should he raise his voice in the middle of all this chaos? Even though he was a Sergeant, Officer Rutteo was the one who should be leading this problem, not him. And these two, Dante had beaten Calton in a way that kept him in bed for two days, and Rubbem was a Corporal in the Command. 

Both were credible enough to avoid causing trouble. 

"Dante," Rutteo said, "I believe the right thing to do is say who finished off this Lieutenant and what his name was. Murdering a member of the Capital's service is a severe punishment, so severe that he would have been decapitated too. If I treated this story as true, I could go to the village you lived in and bring your father in to testify." 

The silence became too heavy for Endrik to watch from a distance. He stepped a little closer. 

"However," the Officer continued, slapping his own leg and pointing at the old man on the horse, "you have your reasons regarding the accusation. I've known despicable men who did the same in another place, and their end wasn't so honorable. The term 'Foreign' carries a weight that many outside know. Terrible things, and I can prove to you that anyone who did the same in my squad would be killed on the spot, without mercy or privileges. Without honor or prayer." 

"Officer Rutteo..." 

"At this moment, the term used hurt your pride as a human being," Rutteo agreed. "And Rubbem came to apologize and not take it personally. His choice is limited, just like many in his position. Soldiers who are carried by the Command are assigned to train with people from different backgrounds. I ask that you reconsider fighting him to cause extreme pain." 

Dante stared at Rutteo and then Dimitri. Then Rubbem and back to Rubbem. 

"Alright. I accept your apology, Corporal." 

They moved forward, and Dante shook his hand, but didn't let go. 

"The name of the man who died that day also took the child who was present," and he pulled him closer. "And let's be honest, being a Foreign doesn't make you worse than anyone else, but it gave me enough motivation to be here. Tell your colleague that if he does it again, another identification plate will be buried." 

Rubbem swallowed hard and quickly agreed. 

"I'll make it clear to him, Sir." 

Endrik saw his chance and approached quickly. When their eyes fell on him, he realized the situation was much worse than it seemed. Each of them looked ready to devour him alive, and yet, they were all beneath him. Only Rutteo was smiling. 

"Ah, Sergeant Endrik. What's going on?" 

"Sir, I received a very strange call this morning. I showed it to Lieutenant Micael, but he said it was informal and shouldn't be taken seriously," he handed it over. "I wanted a second opinion." 

As Rutteo read, his smile faded and he stood up. When he finished, his face had hardened. 

"Alright. Endrik, take this back and give it to Captain Zunni. Tell him I sent you. And inform him that I'm leaving with Dante immediately for the second camp." Rutteo pointed at the horse. "Dante, mount now. We're leaving now." 

Dante jumped up and Rutteo grabbed one of the horses. Without being asked, Rubbem did the same. Endrik stood still, not knowing what was going on. 

"And what do I tell him, Sir?" 

"Tell him the camp is infested with tainted creatures. And that Gorumet is using the ability to change the terrain." 

Endrik nodded and ran off. He heard the galloping behind him, and the farther he ran into the Capital, the less he could hear the horses.