Author’s note: Chapter experiment is over.. sorry for the trouble./

Episode 14: Sparks of the Flame

Kent's POV

The throbbing pain in my head was slowly subsiding. My whole body seemed sluggish and numb. I couldn’t move at all. Where was I?

A wizened old fellow appeared before me, poking at my tender muscles and pushing me back to the bed. A physician. I was at a healer’s house.

“Easy there, fellow. You had a big accident. What made you jump in front of a horse, anyhow?”

The carriage. The thieves. Damn them to Oblivion!

“I was part of the cordon. In the Lower District. The whole place’s dangerous, you know, so they sent a whole regiment for guard duty. I was the…”

The man was only nodding his head at my words. Guess he just wanted to check if I could still speak or not.

“…at the end, two people did break through. One was a small boy. He slipped through before we even realized. And the other was a man chasing him. I grabbed his hand but he had dragged me halfway before shaking me off. And by the time I could understand what had happened, the horse had barreled into me.”

“Well,-”

Before he could finish his sentence, a door blasted upon and rapid footsteps approached us. I strained to see the face. When I did, my heart stopped for as it all came together. I was dead, and the old man was Arkay, testing my virtues.

But this angel had given it all away.

Her coifed golden tresses gently slid down her rounded face. Soft and tender cheeks glowed softly, making her radiant. The slightly pursed lips made it impossible for me to look away. But the epitome of perfection was her eyes. Deep purple eyes that I could stare into forever and never tire of it.

Was I dead?

Both the healer and the angel turned to look at me. I had said that out loud.

“Why do you say that?” The angel asked me, her brows furrowing together.

I couldn’t bear to look at her tensed face, so I spoke the truth. “Because you look like an angel, come to take me to heaven.” The words just tumbled out before I could think them over.

The angel’s eyes widened at my words, and her cheeks reddened slightly. She sat down on the side of the bed, her face closer than before. My mind nearly blanked out.

“I am sorry to disappoint you Captain, but you’re not dead yet. I was the one who was handling the carriage, and I went faster than I should have… and the horses hit you. I am so sorry. I hope that you can forgive me.”

You didn’t deny the angel part.

She blushed further. I had said that aloud again. What was wrong with me?

“Alright, I’m also not an angel.” She smiled a little at the end, making her face even more radiant. “Now, please rest, alright? I will be going now.”

“Wait.” I caught her arm as she was about to walk away.

Don’t mess this up. Say what you want properly. Think it over.

“Please don’t blame yourself for crashing the carriage. That’s what I would have wanted, anyway.”

Pin drop silence followed as the two stared at me, wondering if I was crazy. I realized my mistake immediately.

“I mean… if you hadn’t crashed we wouldn’t have met, right? And that’s what I would have wanted. I mean… not wanted. The crash horse wasn’t totally bad. Horse crash. What I’m trying to say is…like the horse… no. The crash was simply… Wait.”

I looked up at her increasingly confused face. I would do it right this time. “Everything was for the best, as it ended up with me meeting you. And I wouldn’t mind going through it again, just to meet you. Can I see you again even without an accident?”

WHY? WHY! WHY COULDN’T I SAY A SINGLE LINE PROPERLY!

Her face seemed to be blank for a moment, but then she burst out laughing. That laugh erased all the pain away.

“You’re very funny, you know that? Alright… I’ll visit you again, but you better not expect another accident from me.” She wagged her finger at me and left quickly as she had come. I just remained staring dumbfounded as I thought over her words. She had actually agreed!

Oh no. I hadn’t even asked her name. Way to go. Perfectly creepy and completely idiotic.

The healer was the one to speak next.

“I’m guessing that you don’t know her?”

“Should I?”

“Don’t you know of the Blade?”

“She is the Blade?” Cold water suddenly doused all my thoughts. Image of the beautiful girl contrasted with the monstrous tales that I had heard.

“You’re joking with me, right? Why would a Blade on a noble carriage… oh. It was the royal carriage? Was anyone else hurt? But if they were hurt… I wouldn’t be here now would I? Seriously though, she really is the Blade? But how? I mean, the Blade does guard the king, but her? It’s impossible.”

He said nothing, but pierced a needle in my arm. That hurt.

“But the stories? About what happened in Rihand? Then they are surely exaggerated, right?” They had to be. No one as beautiful as her could do... something like that.

“All true.” But I could see a hint of smile on his lips. He was definitely joking.

Before I could ask further, another man entered the room. I leapt to my feet and immediately saluted. Commander Hieronymus, the head of the Imperial Garrison himself had entered the room.

“You. What’s your name again?”

“Captain Kent Denson of the 42nd division, Sir!”

“Captain Kent. Good job today. I have been informed that you have been injured when you were assaulted by a thief on the District today. Is that true?”

“No sir. I was injured in pursuit of two unknowns who had broken through the cordon.”

“Interesting. So you’re saying that the thief broke your formation and you could do nothing?”

“Our primary assignment was the protection of the carriage, Sir.”

He stared at me, occasionally twirling his busy moustache. I stared back at him, not wanting to break eye contact. When my eyes had nearly started tearing, he spoke.

“Can I get some privacy?” He asked the healer. Well, more like ordered. When Commander asked, it generally meant that he was expected it to be done. Even the healer understood it.

After he was gone, the Commander turned to me. “Sit down, Captain.”

“Yes sir!”

Another silence followed.

“Do you know how long I’ve stationed in Imperial City, Captain?”

“About a month, sir.”

“About a month. That’s correct. And what have I done in this month?”

That was hard to answer. After Commander Hieronymus had transferred here from Bravil, he really hadn’t done anything new. Extra sparring, marching and inspections were the only changes. But that was common when a new head came in.

“Can’t answer? Let me tell you. I have been studying.”

“Studying, Sir?”

“Yes, studying the city itself. Did you know there were over 6 different commanders over the past few years? And each of these commanders had failed to eradicate the pestilence in this City that corrupts an entire district. No changes in crime at all, even after six different commanders? And that’s why I studied the city and learned its secrets.”

“If I may ask, what secrets, Sir?”

He leveled his face at me. The scar above his eye seemed more menacing than ever.

“The Thieves Guild, Captain. I learned about the thieves’ guild. I learned that my predecessors were all corrupt and struck a deal with them to keep a cushy life here in the better districts. I went through all the reports they made, the arrests they did. Only those who had betrayed or worked independently from the Guild were arrested. In some cases they even had hardened criminals let go. The revelations were shocking. But I also learned something about you.

Exceptional sword skills. A natural leader. A winning streak of 12 matches in tactical scenarios, often impressing your teachers with improvised and highly effective methods. That man is still a Captain?”

He continued speaking. “You should have at least been a Centurion by now, if not a Centurion Captain. But what happened? You were too idealistic. Too confrontational. And they realized that if they promoted you, their entire careers would be over. And that’s why you are still stuck on cordon duty.”

The truth stung. Years and years of diligent work, to realize a childhood dream. To become a true knight of justice. That dream had ended when I graduated from the academy. When I saw the world for what it truly was.

“Deep in your heart you knew the truth. And even deeper I know that you wish to change it, to do better. I know you, because I was you, back when I had joined the force myself. And now, I am going to make you an offer. I hope you accept.”

“What’s the offer, Sir?”

“A special cohort, that answers to no one else but me. This cohort works alone, free from all jurisdiction requirements throughout the city. If a crime has been committed, the cohort gets priority investigation. Your task would be simple: To capture or to eliminate thieves in this city. How you do it is of no consequence. Feel free to break rules in order to capture them; I’ll take of the paperwork. This corruption has gone far too long. Accept the offer, and clean this city up, Captain!”

The words had lit a fire inside me. I couldn’t let go of this chance.

“Sir, it would be my honor to serve.”

“I knew you were going to agree, so I had already briefed your second-in-command of the details. They begin immediately.”

The man acted fast and efficiently. Imperial City could have been a much better place if he had arrived before.

“Sir, I request to be present on the scene.”

“Not allowed, Captain. You’re still injured and need rest.”

“I won’t be fighting, Sir. Please, just let me be present there.”

The commander sighs.

“Very well. The location is somewhere at the southern warehouses southeastern of the Gangly way, where you had your accident. Now, this gang is made of mostly children, but makes no mistake, they are hardened criminals. The leader,

Kiroh; I want you to capture alive. The rest can depend on the circumstances.”

“I won’t fail you, Sir.”

“Good. Now, I must be off. Have some hands to shake, you know. Best of luck, Captain.”

The Commander walked out of the room, leaving me by myself. No time to waste. In one single day, my entire life had changed. And I wasn’t the one to let go any opportunities.

****************************************************************************************

Doyle's POV

The commander exited the building. He had been inside for some time, visiting the surprisingly popular Captain Kent. The wait was torturous. I couldn’t get inside and had to listen in from the window. A new cohort? The boss needed to hear this.

Finally getting a chance to use my feet again, I tail the man carefully, changing ways and hiding in the alleys. The man was a top priority; the guild needed information. Information that they couldn’t get I was caught.

But there wasn’t any reason to bother. Hieronymus might have been a Commander, but he sure sucked at being discreet. I could see him fumble around, looking around for tails from a mile away. The man was obvious.

But the fact that he was worrying was problematic. None of the commanders ever before was like this. They generally strutted about with a cohort of guards, or roamed about in the richer Districts. No, this was suspicious.

The commander took a few twists and turns to shake tails like me off. Amateurish effort on his part. And I was one of the best. Finally, he reached a small alley. In the shadows, I could see a robed person waiting for him. A mage?

I ducked around the corners, and kept walking. A mage complicated matters. Their sight could expose me in a heartbeat, and I didn’t know his capabilities. But I couldn’t just let this go.

The invisibility potion! The boss had given it to me for this very purpose.

After I had drunk tit, I silently crept back to the alley. The effects would last only for two minutes. The commander better hurry up.

“—yes, he’s the man for the job. You asked me to find the person who could do this, and trust me, Kent is the best.”

The robed man muttered something, which I was too far away to hear.

“Why wouldn’t he? He needed a reason to fight, and I gave him that reason. Now answer my question: Why is this Kiroh so important anyway?”

“-- - --- ----------------”

“None of my business? It’s my business to know if I sending my men to danger!”

“--------------------------------------------------------------------------” A long string of whispers, and I couldn't hear any of it.

“Very well. But you better live up to your end of the bargain.”

The man again muttered something which I couldn’t hear. Damned to Oblivion! The guy was clearly up to no good.

The commander then exited so suddenly that I nearly ran into him. Somehow I managed to balance myself at the last second. He looked around, and evidently again started walking away.

The invisibility potion had worked. Of course, I knew it was going to work, but if the ingredients had been improperly mixed…No, better not think about that. I saw Commander walk away. No, the priority now had changed. I needed to tail the mage, preferably from far away.

The mage started slowly walking and soon stood at the edge of the alley. I started slightly backing off, in case he made any sudden moves or casted a spell. The potion’s effect was going to stop soon. I needed maximum distance before me and the this man before it did.

“Log out.”

And he teleported away, leaving me alone on the street. Of course, as a mage, he could simply teleport. The idea hadn’t crossed my mind at all. No way to know where he came from.

I could see the Commander in the distance, but chose not to follow. No, it was imperative that Fox knew of this conversation. I started my long run back to the hideout.

***********************************************************************************

Dreamcast Corporate Offices, Ground floor

Eliza's POV

“Did you get that all, Eliza?”

“Yes. Don’t worry, I can handle it.”

Finally. After a week of internship, I could finally see him in person.

In the afternoon, Darwin had handed me the file to check for errors. I had done it, but then Sybil informed that the file needed to be signed by the boss himself by tomorrow. But since Darwin had already left; it was up to me to get it signed. And I wasn’t going to hand it anyone else.

The guard gives me a look over as I walk over to the executive offices on the ground floor. The special elevators there had fixed with all sorts of high tech stuff that I didn’t understand. Biometrics or something. Only senior executives could use it. But today, I had the permission.

The ride up was beautiful. It was entirely transparent at the sides. I could see the entire city as the elevator rose up to the 49th floor. The topmost.

There was a small lobby that led to the elegant black door. The words, “Alexei Luthor, CEO” were embossed on it, giving it an ominous appearance. I entered softly, not wishing to disturb him. The office was dimly lit by a small white light overhead his desk and chair. It looked simple and bare, stripped off all but the bare necessities. A bookshelf, a fish tank, and a red rug were the only other objects of interest in the room. It wasn’t what I had expected.

I approached slowly, but Mr. Luthor was nowhere to be seen. Better leave the file on his desk.

I was about to leave when I caught sight of it. The bookshelf was slightly ajar. Was it a door? And where did this stairs lead to?

I slowly climbed down, the only light being the soft blue neon glow in the hand rails themselves. Another door? I opened it, and could see my breath crystallize inside. The room was cold.

I stepped in and looked around. Rows and rows of black behemoth cubes, seemingly extending to infinity. This was the server mainframe! I needed to leave immediately. If they found me here…

I had nearly walked out of the door when I saw it.

A capsule. And inside it was a… body. Millions of wires seemed to be attached to his head, connecting to the server nearby. No way. The body was alive! It was moving slightly inside the liquid goo. No damn way. What damn mess had I gotten myself into?

I needed to get out of here. Something was deeply wrong.

“Oh dear.”

Mr. Alexei himself. “Sir, I can explain. I was here to-”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Go now.” He smiled. Oh thank god. It was going to be alright. I had stepped out of the room when he called out to me.

“One more thing, miss…”

Oh no. No.

No. No.

No.

Please God, No. Don’t let this happen. I couldn’t let this happen. But I couldn’t move. The gun had frozen me in my tracks. Don’t. Don’t do it, please. Please….

“You should have knocked.”

The gun recoils slowly, the cartridge thundering…. down on the floor. The red stain grows…..I try to make sense…. but it's all dark……

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