Now that both Zel and Lena were finally outside of the facility.

Zel, still in his wheelchair, gazed up at the blue sky. and took a deep breath of fresh air, then closing both of his eyes. trying to make the most of this simple moment.as if it were his first time breathing.

" hope city...."

He said quietly, with a smile on his handsome face.

"Let's go," he added, tilting his head slightly toward Lena

Lena simply nodded and gave him a sincere smile instead of speaking.

That day The sun was bright, and the weather was pleasant., if one ignored or simply didn't know what the actual situation on earth was, They would deem the day suitable for hiking.

Their surroundings suggested that they were currently within a large medium-sized military base. Apart from the two most easily identifiable buildings—the first being the research facility they had just left and the second being what appeared to be a well-entertained office building—there was nothing distinctive or remarkable about that area.

Unfortunately, that was all they could see because their view was obstructed by two imposing perimeter walls, each over 200 meters high. . With the first being immediately in front of them and being about 2.5 kilometers away from the research center, and the second being in its back. sandwiching the research facility thus making it appear as though it was located directly between them.

However, if one looked at all of their extremities, they would notice that they were all connected to what appeared to be a larger, greater, at least four times taller version of these twin walls, making it easy to deduce that their main objective was not just to protect, but also to separate and isolate that zone they were in and prevent any outsider gazes from peering into it.

Then Lena began to push Zel's wheelchair while walking. One could easily deduce from the expression on her face that she had a clear destination on her mind.

both silent, and simply enjoying their sunbath without saying anything.

" soo, do you plan on heading to that new world anytime soon ?! .. " Lena gently inquired, breaking the silence..

"No, I'll go to Berlin first," he replied as if it was obvious that was the first thing he needed to do

" Berlin?!... Are you... ? If I can ask, are you gonna meet her? "

" Yes "

"I see.....if you give me a specific date, I can plan your departure," Lena said to Zel

" tomorrow " he replied calmly.

""WHAAAAAAAT!! " Lena exclaimed in surprise" I- am sorry lord Zel I just,... it is just too soon, it would take me at least 4 days to contact the royal gourd, and 5 more for them to arrive."

she said before adding

" I could request that the military division dispatch a team to escort you, but that will take time too, and he will undoubtedly question why someone like you requires escort in the first place...if they see you like that! it would only give them more reasons than they already have to try and justify why you should resign..."

" No worries, I'll be going alone..." Zel said it stoically as if it were the natural thing to do.

"...." Lena paused for a moment, closed her beautiful eyes, and then resumed the situation.

" So if I clearly understand, correct me if I am wrong! you are planning on going to Berlin alone without any escort.. And on top of that, you are planning on going not when you are fully recovered, but.... tomorrow, in your actual state "

" Yes "

" At least, can I ask sir ludolf to accompany you ? "

' hmpf sir she said ' he thought to himself

" no need I have other plans for him," he said, dismissing her request.

'Now I'm sure this man lost it,' she thought to herself, before asking him, "Is there any reason you want to go alone?"

" Non in particular "

After hearing that answer of his. her face lost all expression and just became stoic. Before then talking in a stoic tone,

" I see finally this world got the best of you, Then so be it! Trying to persuade you is a waste of time, but I suppose you could consider it an honorable suicide......but you know! our guests have what I believe they call seppuku or something like that, it would be less painful if that was your objective! .....ah! and just promise me that when you'll die, you will not return to haunt me " and just as she was about to push him once again. and resume their road.

"Well, if I do..." BOTH OF YOU HALT BY ORDER OF HIS Lord Zel HIGHNESS! "

ZeL was about to say something when he was interrupted by the voice of a man shouting and running toward them from afar.

This man was not alone; a squad of ten people was following him in an organized and disciplined military fashion.

'hm?!... by my order!' he thought, raising an eyebrow to show his surprise, then turned toward Lena, who simply sighed and said to him

"Leave that to me..."

In that group a mixe of 4 women and 6 men's, all wearing the same military uniform that wasn't particularly fancy or "Nobel-like," but rather appeared to be that of a special force They didn't have any guns, but some of them did have a variety of weaponry, including crossbows, swords, and shields. The peculiar thing about their equipment was that it was all black.

They all came to a coordinated stop around five meters away from Zel and Lena.

Then the man who had been shouting at them began to approach. His uniform was a little different from the others; the only things in common with them were his boots and the pants, on top a military-style black jacket that he was partially wearing but still posing into his shoulders, along with a training-style black tank top that hugged his lean, well-toned figure.

In the shoulders of that jacket, you can clearly see what appears to be one golden star beneath a golden Phoenix, an indication of whatever rank he held. "

"Greetings, Miss Lena,... and please accept my apologies for disturbing you; I didn't recognize you from that distance,...well, I had my suspicions it was you, but I needed to confirm it." In embarrassment, the man scratched his head. and with it, his silky short black hair.

"Greetings, I'm the one who should be apologizing right now, I didn't tell you I was coming even though I knew this area was sealed and guarded by you" Lena politely replied, slightly bowing toward him.

" Oh, please don't !.. what are you doing miss Lena let's forget about it, plus you don't have to inform me about anything, we are merely all of you guests ..." he said in a hurry when he saw her bowing. awkwardly gesturing with both his hand .

" And if it was anyone's fault, it would be none other than ludolfs " he added

" sir ludolf ? why ? " she asked

"sir?!..well I have seen him with some young man, I am sure he know you were coming and he didn't inform me," he explained to her

" oh !... By the way congratulations, I see that someone finally was lucky enough to put a ring on your finger " he added pointing at her finger.

After that, she followed his finger and when she saw her ring, she blushed and quickly put both her hands on her face to hide her embarrassment, her cheeks turning red like tomatoes, causing her cuteness levels to skyrocket. It was simple at the time; any weak-willed man who saw her would have been struck by what we call love at first sight.

However, she quickly recovered.

" hem ?! " This time, it was Zel who reacted in surprise, attracting that man's gaze for the first time.

"you are in bad shape, handsome unknown man,.... perhaps he is the lucky bastard who proposed to her...may I ask who that long-haired man is!? ... I've never seen him before yet I have a feeling I've met him before,"

The man literally mixed his thoughts with what he said and the questions he asked.

with one hand resting on the chin of the black mask, he was wearing

'Long-haired?!' Zel wondered, touching his metallic black/gray hairs, which were now shoulder length. because he went more than a year without cutting them

' that explains the princess thing '

" it is his highness! ...I mean his highness guest,...and that ..." she said meanwhile touching her ring

" thank you," Lena thanked him for his congratulations with an angelic smile on her cute face. Scratching the ring on her finger.

" I see....he is suspicious, yet she said he is lord Zel's guest, she is too cute to lie so he must be someone from one of the other major cities. that will explain his injury...perhaps he is her fiancee. yep that's it! "

the man said still focus on Zel not caring at all about the ring story, meanwhile voicing his thoughts out loud

" Well then lets me welcome you to HOPE CITY! young lucky bastard, man " the man said in a proud honest voice taping his chest and taking a military salute pose once again mixing his thoughts with what he was saying,

upon seeing that, all the other 10 members of his team followed suit and saluted Zel.

He then looked at Zel, who didn't even say a thank you, he was just smiling meanwhile slowly nodding two times with his head.

"..."

"..."

" ... Then if you excuse us miss Lena! we still have some work to do. "

he gently said to miss Lena

" but before I go lucky bastard, let's me warn you... if I ever hear you made miss Lena sad or made her cry..... I will personally come after you!... and believe me you don't want that to happen, understood!? "

said that man in a calm yet menacing voice meanwhile unleashing an intense murderous aura redirected only toward Zel.

" ehm!!! " one of his subordinates purposely coughed.

causing him to quickly withdraw his aura.

then he began to walk away with his team closely following him.

* * * * *

Author thoughts : as always if you enjoyed the chapter don't Hesitate to support it by adding it to your library, leaving a review or simply sharing it

thank you for reading and see you next time - Agld