A SOLDIER IN WAR

Clanks of shields and plate armor echoed out throughout the city as the squadrons of guards raced left and right. The gates were barred shut, people driven madly out of their homes while each house was searched up and down. City-wide bells rang while people, doused in terror, were reined off to the massive arena where the tournament was taking place just a few moments ago.

Just as Lynne and Selena were getting dressed back up, several guards stormed inside the home and dragged them out, ignoring the duo’s complaints. Through the chatter surrounding the two, Lynne learned that the reason were the corpses found near the stables. Or, rather, not the corpses themselves, but who they were.

Apparently, seven of the corpses belonged to the city’s upper brass, with one even being Major’s son, Charles, who had gone missing twelve days ago.

As all bodies were identified, the Major ordered the city to be shut down completely, and everyone – even the revered guests themselves – to be forbidden from leaving it. Upon learning the reason, Lynne simply silently obeyed as he realized it had nothing to do with him.

As he joined the massive crowd, he quickly spotted Thalia and Parsia standing a few ways off from him and Selena, upon which he squeezed through the crowd towards them. Both appeared as relaxed as Lynne himself, and it was clear they also knew the reason for the sudden events.

“Oh, Lynne,” Thalia said, wryly smiling. “You’re glowing.”

“Yeah, I just got enlightened.” Lynne said casually, sweeping past the crowds with his glance. “God of Death himself told me you’ll die a gory, terrifying and painful death. Made me quite happy.”

“You’re quite a joyous person, aren’t you?” she replied, still smiling.

“Did you two hear anything about when will they let us go?” Lynne asked.

“Nothing,” Parsia said, shaking his head. “They’ve shut us out completely.”

“Hai, and I’m not even carrying any wine with me,” Lynne said, his expression downcast. “I may as well jump off a building.”

“I can even carry you atop of one if you want to.” Thalia said.

“I wouldn’t be able to hold back all the loving,” Lynne said. “As touch of yours would set me on fire.”

“… hopefully literally.”

“That too.”

“You!” a man’s voice suddenly broke through the crowd as a giant came to a stop in front of Lynne. The man was over two meters tall and wore full set of plate armor, wielding gigantic spear in his hand. “Come with me!” he pointed at Lynne and grabbed his arm, without giving him a chance to say anything back.

Groaning inwardly, Lynne simply went with the flow as he waved backwards. Looking around, he realized he wasn’t the only person being dragged, which made him even more calm.

Bolting through the massive crowds, the guard dragged him over to the city’s Headquarters, a seven stories building built out of limestone. He then pushed him in, keeping him company until the sixth floor, where he sat him down next to five other people, in front of the wooden doors before leaving.

The five other people were all youths his age, three of which were women and two men, who all sat nervously, looking alarmingly at the doors themselves behind which no sound leaked.

“What’s up guys?” Lynne asked, startling the group of five. “Why so tense?”

“… do you even know where you are, idiot?” one of the men replied, wiping off the sweat from his forehead.

“In a building,” Lynne replied casually. “In front of a very normal doors, surrounded by very strange and terrified people. So I’m back at my grandma’s vacation house apparently.”

“What?” one of the women spoke out. “No, this is Major’s office! Do you know who Major is?”

“… leader of the city?”

“… try the most powerful man in the city,” the woman continued. “He can behead you and no one would dare say anything about it.”

“Uh, beheading fetish. That’s a new one.”

“…”

The doors suddenly opened and a pale-skinned youth walked out, his face that of abject terror. The youth shivered as he walked down the hall they came through and away. At the doors stood a middle-aged man wearing simple, leather clothing as he scrutinized the remaining six before his eyes rested on Lynne, as he found it odd that the youth was as calm as he appeared.

“You, come inside.” he then said, pointing at Lynne before walking back in.

Lynne followed casually, closing the doors behind him. He walked into a squared room, fitted with only a single, rectangular, wooden table which sprung horizontally at the opposite side of the room. Behind the table were six chairs, all which were taken, while in front was a single, simple one where Lynne sat without being asked. As he examined the six people sitting in the chairs, they did the same with him.

Of the six, four were men, all wearing casual, leather clothing save for one who wore adorned, silken robes. The women were dressed as if they were attending a ball rather than interrogation, with their gowns as flamboyant as one can get.

“What’s your name?” the man dressed in silken robes asked.

“Ly-orn.” Lynne stuttered out as he remembered that was the name he was registered under when he entered the city.

“Lynor,” the man said, pausing slightly. “Did you kill the eleven people we found next to the stables?”

“No.” Lynne replied bluntly, his expression calm.

“Do you know who did?” the man continued.

“No.” Lynne said.

“Do you know why would anyone wish to kill them?” the man said.

“I imagine they had their twisted reasons,” Lynne replied after a brief thought. “But I can’t say.”

“… you appear awfully calm.” one of the women said, somewhat smiling.

“Appear?” Lynne arched his brow as he smiled back.

“My bad.” the woman said, chuckling lowly.

“You’re one of the recent visitors to the city,” the man wearing silken robes continued. “Can you state your reasons?” his sharp eyes focused onto Lynne without missing a single detail of the latter’s expression.

“A friend of mine wished to participate in a tournament,” Lynne said casually. “Unfortunately, he’s as good as virgins in bed, so he was quickly eliminated. We planned on leaving the city tomorrow.”

“We are aware of your friends,” the man wearing silken robes said, creasing his brows. “However, their whereabouts were accounted for ever since they entered the city. Yours, on the other hand, are a bit muddled. Can you tell us where you went after leaving the arena today?”

“I went to screw a woman I left with.” Lynne said. “We just finished when your men took us away.”

“…”

“…”

“We’re all adults here,” Lynne said, smiling. “I figured I could be honest and straightforward.”

“Can she verify your statement?” one of the men asked, coughing lightly.

“I believe half the neighbors surrounding her house can.” Lynne replied, his lips curling up in a slight smile.

“Why just half?” the woman who spoke earlier probed, smiling.

“The sheer volume was too much for some to handle,” Lynne looked at her before replying. “So they fainted.”

“Humble.”

“Thank you.”

“Enough!!” the man wearing silken robes roared out, slapping his fist against the table, causing it to shake. “Do you take this as a joke?! Eleven people were found dead, and you wish to brag about your filthy exploits during an interrogation?!”

“… my apologies,” Lynne said, smiling lightly. “I got sidetracked. However, I do believe I can offer a bit of helpful information in return at least.”

“Hm?” the man’s brows furrowed as he looked at Lynne sternly.

“Do you know of the so-called Enceinte Murderer?” Lynne asked.

“I do,” the man said. “What of him?”

“My friends and I recently discovered his traces, just a few miles away from the city,” Lynne said. “We believe he’s currently residing here.”

“… so that’s the reason you came here.” the man said.

“Half of it, at least.”

“Who are the three of you?” the man continued. “It is rumored that he’s at least a Celestial Magus. Only complete fools, or people confident in dealing with him, would be chasing his trail.”

“We’re simple wanderers,” Lynne chuckled slightly as he replied. “From place to place, journey is our mother and destination the father we never had.”

“… how certain are you in being able to deal with a Celestial Magus?” the woman who didn’t speak so far suddenly asked. “Or… Celestial Mages?” Lynne looked at her, furrowing his brows as his relaxed stature tensed slightly.

“… why?” he asked following a short silence.

“Just wondering.” the woman replied.

“… I wasn’t lying when I said we were planning on leaving soon,” Lynne said, his brows furrowed. “We have no intention of getting entangled in whatever mess you’re facing.”

“Do you know about the Battle for Holy Paradise?” the man wearing silken robes suddenly asked, his expression growing ever so serious.

“… I do.” Lynne said, pushing back a swarm of emotions.

“It is somewhat tied in to the issues we’re dealing with,” the man said. “And, unfortunately, it doesn’t involve solely us. Are you perhaps aware of the Princess Anna’s fate as well?” Lynne’s heart skipped a beat suddenly when he heard the name again. “Seeing your reaction, I imagine you are. Perhaps, though, you aren’t aware of the aftermath it caused.” the man took in a deep breath before continuing.

“Princess Anna’s parents, the King and the Queen, upon learning of their daughter’s fate, barred the Capital from the outside world. They were a part of the trio-union of Elvernheimn, Rolyhard and Lords of Zen, and their actions effectively ended the alliance, causing no small amount of ripples to spread throughout the Kingdom. North is completely ravaged, with losses numbering in millions due to the Northern Tribes invading.”

“As for the rest of the Kingdom, it’s in a state of surface tranquility,” the man continued. “But, that’s all it is – surface tranquility. I don’t know who you are, young one, or who your friends are,” the man said. “But, I am unable to see through any one of you. I can’t see what rank you are, your Mana attributes, or even your aura. However, for some strange reason, I feel like I can trust you with the information that may change your outlook on the world.”

“I’ll stop you right there!” Lynne suddenly interrupted, rising his hand. “I’ve already told you – we have no intention of getting entangled in whatever it is – whether simply about your city, Kingdom or the continent itself.”

“… can you at least discuss it with your friends?” the woman who asked him earlier spoke out again, her eyes gazing at him pleadingly.

“… I can already guess your problems,” Lynne said after a brief moment of silence. “Your rulers have abandoned you, while forces they betrayed are frustrated. North is collapsing, and I have no doubts that after the Holy Paradise battle, Elvernheimn isn’t much of a support either. In the end, you’re all left to your own devices. Yet, those same devices suddenly begin disappearing mysteriously. So, you investigate. And, now, you’re shaking in your boots, as you believe that the civil war is imminent, instigated by the outside forces who simply wish for Capital’s gates to open. How am I doing so far?”

“… you are well-informed.” the Major said, sighing.

“No, it’s simply common sense,” Lynne shook his head. “So, in conclusion, you are asking me and my friends to take up arms against forces you know you can’t defeat. In essence, you’re asking us to suicide for your cause.”

“… it isn’t true we can’t defeat them,” the oldest man in the group suddenly spoke out, his arms crossed as he looked at Lynne indifferently. “Naturally, we didn’t sit on our asses all day long once we found out about the threats.” Lynne looked at him calmly, observing the man’s indifferent appearance.

“Meaning?” Lynne said.

“A deserter appeared in the upper brass of the Lords,” the man explained. “Very, very upper parts. We’ve learned that their Young Lord’s Awakening Ceremony will take place in a few weeks’ time, and that its stage will be no other than our own city of Thenors.”

“… more reason for me to abandon ship.” Lynne said.

“Naturally, if we stood no fighting chance, we’d have long since fled ourselves,” the man said, somewhat impatiently. “The only thing we lack is the last bit of puzzle.”

“… which is?” Lynne asked cautiously.

“A person – or a group of people – who’ll deal with the Young Lord himself… at least for some time.” the man said.

“…” Lynne stared at the man, somewhat in shock as he processed the words. “Ha ha ha!” he then burst out in strange laughter, startling the group of six. “You must be absolutely mad!”

“Dammit already!!” the Major suddenly roared, erupting onto his feet, pointing at Lynne while his tone grew harsh. “Have you no heart whatsoever?!! Do you know how many lives are at stake here?! What do you think will happen if the Awakening Ceremony is fully completed?! Huh?! The entire world will erupt in an outright war, causing tens of millions of deaths by the time it is done! Why the fuck do you think the alliance was created in the first place?! Do you think Highlind was their only goal?! No, everything was! From North to South and West to East, that was the sole purpose of it all!”

“Do you think you can forever remain indifferent, wandering the world as you please?” the Major’s voice grew deeper and deeper the more he spoke. “Do you even understand what continental war means?! No… it won’t be a war – just flattening massacre of all those who oppose their rule! Do you wish to live under a thumb of Lords of Zen?! Do you even know who they truly are and what their end goal is?!” Lynne looked at the man strangely, his eyes shimmering slightly with anger.

“I’m well aware of what war represents,” he spoke as he got up, lowering his head. “You aren’t. None of you are. I’m also well aware of who Lords of Zen are and what they did throughout the continent – more so than any of you are. For starters,” Lynne glanced at the group, his eyes seething with anger. “I witnessed Princess Anna’s fate with my own eyes.”

“Y-you were… in the Ancient City?” the indifferent man stuttered out as he got up onto his feet, as did all others.

“Aye,” Lynne nodded, smiling bitterly. “I was there. I was in Holy Paradise as well. In just two months, I’ve seen two of these so-called ‘flattening massacres’.” Lynne almost blurted out that he was also in the Highlind when it fell, but he held back. “So, I’m well aware of what will happen to this city, Major.” he then turned around and began walking towards the doors.”

“You--”

“Don’t worry,” he said lowly. “We’ll stay behind and help. What’s another death-toiling battle to witness after all, right?”

Lynne left the Major and others stunned as he exited the room. The air stiffened and they felt their hearts sink slightly, as they recounted their words. In the end, all they could do is sigh, sit down and invite the next person in, but were still unable to cast out the agonizing expression of the youth whose eyes seethed guilt beyond comprehension.