Chapter 27: Coming and Going (I)

The Barge landed again. After eleven long full days, its hull touched the vast port, the sails folding as they closed. The planks descended, and the Officers disembarked, followed by the newest recruits. 

Talia stepped down, breathing deeply. She was finally in the place she had longed for years. The journey hadn't been so long, but leaving her parents had broken her heart. Her mother's red, tearful face, and Render raised his hand, waving while holding back his own tears. 

How had Dante managed to turn his back and leave without even looking back? How was his coldness stronger than the longing? Leaving her parents to live a new life, with the sole purpose of helping them, was what Talia wanted. 

She just needed to find Dante. That was all for now. 

She descended the bridge and met one of the Lieutenants who gave basic information about the Capital's operations. Talia didn't pay much attention, as her mother had forced her to memorize the city's internal layout, and she just kept looking around. 

She saw many Soldiers and Corporals rushing to another point. 

"Don't stand in the way," she heard one of the Soldiers push the Lieutenant. "We've had a major issue." 

Some people were entering the Capital through a bluish portal. Injured, dirty, and some even covered in blood. Talia had no idea what was going on, but she approached slowly. One of the Officers had the scroll, about to tear it, waiting for someone else to come out. 

And suddenly, when the portal turned purple, a sword pierced it, breaking its interior and making it disappear immediately. A Captain, by the medal on his chest, was the one who threw the sword. And he muttered something that Talia didn't hear. 

It was the answer from one of the Officers. Talia felt her pain with the excruciating screams, almost ordering the Captain above to sink into his own mess. It was clear what was happening. And the woman was thrown to the ground by two others, held by a third, and her arms restrained. 

The Captain had ordered her to be arrested, tied up, and gagged for going against him. He was descending when another Captain approached Hermes, grabbing him by the neck and throwing him against an iron post. 

"Who the hell gave you permission to block a direct transmission of my order, Hermes?" The man lifted Hermes by the neck, holding him until his face turned red, almost purple. "Who gave you permission for this, you useless piece of shit?" 

Hermes was sent to the ground. Hermes' Lieutenant tried to reach him, but a sword was raised in his direction. 

"Captain Zunni," Rutteo called quickly. "We need to take the wounded. But I need someone sent to the second Camp. One of ours is still there." 

"Go ahead. I'll take care of this piece of shit, Hermes." 

The injured soldiers passed by Talia. She waited for the woman who had been arrested to be lifted, and as soon as she passed, she noticed her eyes full of tears as she was embraced. Talia stood still. Her first day, and she had witnessed a mission fail. 

"He's still there…" Talia heard the woman muttering. "He stayed there, Tecno." 

Officer Rutteo didn't wait and ran to the stable. He alone shot outside, crossing the gate and disappearing while some soldiers shouted at him to stop. 

Talia had no idea what was happening, but from what Captain Zunni was shouting at Hermes, the whole situation must have been hell. The Intelligence Division never stayed in the field, precisely for this reason. 

Safe inside the Capital, they didn't need to risk so much. But… Dante was out there, facing the creatures from outside, protecting the people. 

He must still be learning about the city. 

I 

Dalia stopped. She looked at her own feet in front of the wooden door. It was the fifth time she had stopped in front of Dante's room. She wanted so much to enter, to knock and hear laughter coming from inside. She wanted to say a few words to him, but all that was left was silence. 

The whole floor was empty by Dalia's order. She didn't want anyone to interrupt her. But, every time she got close, like now, she stared at her hand. Shaking, beyond her control, her fingers didn't even want to close. 

She held back the tears, as if it were the first time, but it wasn't. 

So little time, Dalia had seen Dante for so little time. And the marks left by a man with such determination, strength, and will shouldn't be those of a coward. 

Her palm grabbed the doorknob, and she turned it forcefully, pushing it open. 

Dante's room was perfectly arranged. The blankets folded on the bed, the quilt stretched, the books and notebooks Tecno had given him to study the Capital on the desk in the corner. 

Dalia left the door open and entered. No light, no warmth. Just the emptiness left by a great warrior. 

But one who died because of the choices I made. 

She sat on the bed and took a deep breath. She didn't want to remember the faces of everyone lost because of her terrible choices. Tecno had said they would find Dante at any cost. They went to the second camp, and what did they find? Nothing. 

The only trace of Dante's presence in that hell were the marks he left after defeating the creatures so she could escape. His smile amidst the conflict, the aura of a human being able to defeat an entire group of Felroz. 

But those creatures were new. They were Curses, some kind of mutation that occurred, giving them the ability to track them. If he hadn't returned with Rutteo, maybe… 

Dalia pushed the thoughts from her mind and stood up. She could lament Dante's departure, but she wouldn't stay stuck in so much suffering. As she passed by the headboard, she saw a letter. The paper was sealed with the Capital's seal, just like Tecno did. 

"My father asked me to send him a letter every week." Dante had told them once while walking. "I'll send it once I return to the Capital." 

On the outside of the letter, the names 'Render, Linda, and Talia'. Her family. 

Two knocks on the door, Tecno leaned in and bowed slightly. 

"She's here, as you asked, ma'am." 

Dalia left, wiping her face. With Tecno, there was a girl, so young she smelled like flowers, with a big curious gaze and long black hair tied in a ponytail. She didn't wear the white of a Recruit or the blue of soldiers. She wore black, from the Command. 

"Recruit Talia presenting herself, Officer Dalia." Her hand went to her chest. And her chin was proud. "Officer Tecno informed me that you wanted to speak with me about something important. And I'd like to ask you something, if you allow me." 

Dalia stretched out her hand still holding the letter, letting her speak. 

"It's been a few weeks since I've been in the Capital, and I've been looking for someone. An old man, the size of a door, with a strange laugh." Talia stared at her and smiled. "He came a week before me." 

"Who is he to you, Talia?" 

"I'm looking for my brother, ma'am. His name is Dante." 

Tecno looked at Dalia. The Officer lowered her eyes slightly and stretched her arm toward the door.

"This was his room, Talia." 

The young girl lost her posture and entered, finding everything empty but well-arranged. 

"At least my mother really taught him to leave everything neat when he left." Talia laughed and found the old battle gear. "It still smells like him. Didn't he wash this properly?" 

Dalia let her take a few things, commenting on how her brother was messy when they were at home. Tecno and she stayed by the door, but Dalia didn't have the courage. She didn't want to talk about her brother's disappearance so easily. 

"Recruit Talia," Tecno entered the room. "You'd better sit down. I have to tell you something." 

The letter, Dalia wanted to know what was written. She handed it to Tecno, letting him take care of it. Dalia left the room but stopped by the door, leaning against the wall. 

Tecno's voice remained indifferent, with its formality intact while telling the story of how Dante won a direct duel against the Felroz, had saved an entire battalion at the second Camp, but they hadn't found him. 

Tecno also mentioned that they were doing rounds in case he returned, but they were still far from understanding what had happened. 

Nothing from the Recruit in response. Dalia wanted to enter to speak, but the girl's sobbing completely disarmed her. The strength in her legs gave way, and her back slid down the wall. 

"Did he… die?" The girl was holding back a lot of tears. "Are you telling me Dante… died in combat?" 

"I'm sorry, Talia. We have no idea what happened. The portal we opened…" 

Talia cried a bit more, cutting off Tecno. 

"The portal that Captain Hermes closed," she said in an angry tone. "That was the day I arrived, wasn't it? He… killed my brother." 

Dalia's hands clenched as she remembered the burning sensation in her chest, wanting to kill Hermes in the middle of the public square. The lack of awareness she had almost using her ability against a Captain. 

"Dante left this here before he left, Talia. I bet he wanted you to have it." 

The letter. Dalia closed her eyes. Almost a week, and the pain hadn't gone away.