Chapter 19

The Reality We All Face

Step aside.

I plant my foot on the floor as I look upwards at the face of the man looming before me, answering him with a defiant stare. His eyes narrowed at me, his expression stiff and his arms crossed over his chest, showing no signs of moving from that spot.

“I can’t let you pass.”

You knew. You know what he’s doing.

After witnessing what I saw, I immediately rushed to the commissioner’s office, but... to think that of all people, the chief would stand in my way.

I form a small fire above my palm, not bothering to insulate it so that he can feel the heat.

“You want to burn me, little magus? Like you did those people back in the forest?”

I’ve done worse.

“This. This is your problem, lass. You’re too impulsive, then and now. You know, you shouldn’t let your feelings control you and think about what you’re doi‒ Gah!”

the chief shouts as I kick him in the groin, bringing him down to his knees as he holds his preciousness in pain.

I’m not asking for a pep talk.

I launch my foot again, aiming for the head, but he grabs my ankle before my foot lands on its target. With a swift movement, he pulls my ankle and pushes me down on my stomach, his body weight pushing the air out of my lungs.

Agh!

“Please, just... listen‒Anq’vok!”

he cursed as the fire burns his back. I turn my head to see the look on his face, but instead, what I see is a big, furry fist, filling up my view.

--- --- ---

I wake up and find myself back in my room. Looking out the window, I see the rays of a setting sun, casting long shadows into the room.

Fuck...

I lightly touch the side of my face. More precisely, the swelling on my cheek. Damn it, it hurts so much...

........

Aira!

How much time has passed since then?!

I quickly hop off the bed and run towards the door, but it’s not budging when I pull the knob. I pull with all my might, but it’s now clear that someone had locked me inside.

Darn it...

I could try blowing the door off the frame, but I’m not confident enough that I won’t get myself killed in this small room. Then... the window?

I open the window and look outside, noticing a small ledge below the window, just enough for me to put my feet on.

Alright... I can do this. As long as I stay calm, I’ll be okay. Right, this room is on the third floor, and at this hour, the other rooms are most likely locked as well. Even so, if I can go to the edge and around the corner, there’s a window that connects to the hallway.

Okay, okay... come on, Fay. The longer you spend here, the longer Aira would be with that man. You can do this...

I sharply inhale and steel myself as I climb over the window, using one foot to tentatively feel the ledge. I can feel the surface, but it feels more narrow than it looks. No, no... I’ve done this before. Just a walk in the park.

Carefully, I put both my feet out on the ledge, holding the window frame as to not die a stupid death. Although, at this height, I doubt I would lose my life. It’s probably just... twelve strides? thirteen? Even if I fall, it’ll probably be some broken bones, depending on how I fall... ah, what am I thinking? Focus. Aira is waiting.

Just as I thought that, the door swings open and a hulking, furry figure walks in.

“...I knew you’d try something like this,”

Um...

the chief sighed as I freeze in place, like a deer caught in torch light. This is awkward...

“Wait, I’ll let you out, under the condition that you hear me out first. Even if you go there now, it’s already too late.”

What?

--- --- ---

I sit back on my bed, giving up on getting out. He may be an imbecile, but the chief is not a liar; Ichard was done with Aira, and there’s already nothing I can do about it.

“Sorry about that,”

he said while motioning at my swollen face.

Damn right, you gave me a concussion!

Meanwhile, beneath his shirt, I can see some fresh bandages wrapping his body.

Not sorry about your fur.

Seeing that there’s no chair in the room, the chief walks as if to sit on the bed at my side. Just as he’s about to sit, I put my legs on the bed, leaving no space for him to sit on.

“... *sigh* I know you feel uncomfortable about what he’s doing, but you don’t know the whole story, do you?”

I just stare back at him as an answer, impatient to get on with it.

“...After Hrakia’s fall long ago, many of its population seek refuge into nearby countries, Lephander included. However, as expected after the Movals’ ultimatum, we were treated like slaves, and this city was no different. “Inhumans”, they called us. Every day, I watched my kinsmen being sent off against their wills to be meat shields against beasts. Every day, I hear about young luphaens disappearing in the alleys, only to have their bodies turn up the next morning. We... tried our best, me and Orlev, but there’s only so much two people could do. But then, he came.”

His eyes flared and his ears perked up as he reminisces further,

“he was relentless in the pursuit of his ideals, and that passion was what made us followed him. Even when it seemed the whole world was against us, he never wavered. Years later, this town became what it is now; a haven in a world where we’re considered no more than vermins or slaves. Of course, I didn’t know about his... quirk, back then, but consider this, little magus; It was him that achieved this peace, that humans and inhumans alike are able to coexist in this town. Do you wish to destroy that?”

...I see. I understand now.

A person’s virtues, if great enough, would cover up his wickedness, is that what he meant? Ichard had amassed a great deal of trust and rectitude, and should his closed-room activities are to be known, it would discredit everything he sought for. Without him to protect the status quo, Tarnlake would go back to the way it was.

“Listen, I know that despite your tendencies to act on impulse, you have the wisdom to understand. I can see it in your eyes; you’ve gone through more than what most people do in their entire life, and that’s why I trust you to keep your caprices in check. Am I right to trust you?”

I pathetically nod at him and he rubs my head in response, like a parent would after lecturing his disobedient child.

“You know... that girl is lucky to have you looking out for her,”

he said as he roughly ruffled my hair before turning to leave the room. I sit still and listen to his heavy footsteps, echoing through the hall as he walks away.

--- --- ---

I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know what to think.

I understand the chief’s reasoning, but that doesn’t mean that I have to like it. So I rushed out the room, though without knowing where to go, I just ambled around the guild building, hoping to run into Aira.

Then I saw her—The woman. Her fluffy brown hair hangs behind her supple shoulders, the guild uniform somehow emphasizing her sultry curves as she walks with her tail, the same fluffy color as her hair, peeking out from under her skirt. She was the luphaen who took Aira to Ichard.

I follow her quietly from a distance as she paces to and fro, always holding one or two bundles of parchments in her hands, delivering them between the offices on the second floor. Most of the people here are too busy to give me more than a glance, but I still take care to attract as little attention, lest the luphaen might notice and run away from me.... would she, though? Judging from her behaviour when she saw me this morning, she probably would. Anyway, the intricate corridors and adjoining rooms makes it hard for me to follow her from a distance. I need to get closer...

She’s heading downstairs now, using the staircase near the training field. I follow her and soon enough, the sound of shoutings and clashing steels reach my ears. I look out at the field, noticing the new dark marks on the grounds below the feet of the training drifters. The woman looks out at them every now and then, but keeps walking to wherever her destination is. Meanwhile, I’m just looking for a chance to confront her, patiently, and when she’s alone, I’ll... jump her? As long as she doesn’t notice me, that is‒

“Miss Fay! What a coincidence! I’m done with the training, so let’s eat together!”

K‒Kaelyn!

I’d love to, but this isn’t the time‒ah. The woman just turned around and... our eyes met.

.........

Ah,I knew it! I knew she’d run away once she’d seen me!

“Wait, miss Fay? Where are you going? Wait...!” (Kaelyn)

Her hair flows behind her as she runs, revealing some kind of faded tattoo on the back of her neck. I work my legs to try and catch up with the woman, but... she’s fast, as expected of a luphaen. I’ll be left in the dust at this rate! But I won’t let her get away, not before I get some light to these questions that I have for her. Not that I have any way of questioning her, but I’ll figure it out when the time comes. For now, I just have to get to her somehow, and then.... Oh, crap, she’s getting away!

“What’s this? What’s going on?”

“Oy, don’t run around in the corridors!”

Voices of complaint reach me as I brush past people; this little chase has gotten more attention than I’d like. Damn it, Kaelyn, why’d you have to go and shout out to me?

..........

Huff... I can’t... I’m out of breath...

*sigh*

I give up. There’s no way I can catch up to her. Judging from the direction, she seems to be heading to the far end of the east wing. If I remember correctly, that place is... the storerooms? Why would she run where there’s the least amount of people? Shouldn’t it be the safer where there’s a crowd, where I’m more restrained in my actions? Except if...

...Let’s head there for now and see if she’s really there.

--- --- ---

...She’s really in there, in one of the storerooms. What is her intention? Is she hiding from me?

I enter the room she’s in, and there she is, standing there as if waiting for me.

“Miss Fay, is it?”

...Yes.

I close the door behind me and make sure there’s no other escape routes, but looking at her, that probably won’t be necessary.

“...I had a feeling that you know what’s going on,”

she said, her grey eyes squinting to see me in the darkness, looking for my eyes under the shadows of my hood.

“You do know, don’t you? About what he’s doing?”

Her posture, her gestures... they tell me that she has no intention of running away. Could she have purposely led me here? A trap laid by Ichard, because he knows that I saw something?

“...You hate me don’t you, for what I’ve done to your friend?”

I wonder...

“I’m right, am I? Come on, then. Show me what you’ve got.”

Contrasting her brave words, her voice trembled. Her bravado is starting to fall apart as I step towards her, tumbling against her own foot and falling against the stores at her back. Her ears are lowered and her tail is tucked between her thighs. Yet, she still shows no signs of running away, not even searching for a way to escape as her gaze is locked with mine.

Why? If you’re afraid of me, why did you bring me here in the first place?

“...Do it. Just do it quickly, whatever it is you planned for me.”

...........

Ah, I see...

I understand, now. Looking at it like this, it’s quite obvious, isn’t it?

Goodbye.

“Eh? Wait! Where are you going?!”

As I open the door to leave, I feel her hand grabbing my wrists, saying,

“aren’t you going to take revenge for your friend?!”

Revenge... was never my intent. I just wanted to see her perspective, and now I see it. I pull my hand out of her grip, ignoring her shouts, sounding like pleads now, as I walk away.

This woman, she’s just the same, isn’t she? With nowhere else to go, with no choice to go along with her tyrant’s wills. The same as Aira, and perhaps the same as the other female luphaens working here.

The marking on the back of her neck... it was probably some kind of slave brand, and from what I heard from the chief, that kind of thing was widespread here before Ichard came around. She, who had experienced what this city was like, chose to live within Ichard’s protection and goes along with his desires in exchange. No matter what kind of disgusting acts would be asked of her, it would be better than what she experienced back then... is that what she thought?

........

Even though I came to her for enlightenment, it seems that it’s become more confusing instead.

--- --- ---

As I walk through the hallway back to the main foyer, I notice that it’s more crowded than before. Is something going on?

“Yo, Orlev! You’re ahead of schedule!”

The chief’s words guided my eyes to the source; standing in front of the entrance is the commander. Beside him is Luise and the other drifters he took with him, all with delighted, but tired expressions on their faces.

“It’s the chief constable!”

“Commander Orlev, welcome back!”

As the people at the front welcomes the returnees, my eyes are drawn to the top of the staircase at the other end of the room, to the cold eyes of the man standing there.

“Well, well... look who’s here. Our hero has returned!”

His voice, as usual, is laced with a business persona as it carried across the large room. He has that customary fake smile on his face as he walks down the stairs to greet his old friend.

“Commissioner, I’ll have my report ready within the night‒”

“Hah! Getting all formal on me, now? The report can wait, Orlev. Come, you look like you need a drink, friend."

I watch them being led by Ichard to the dining hall, behind them the large group of people anxious to hear about the mission. It’s somehow a little odd to see the commander, who had intimidated people with his overbearing presence, complying dutifully to someone who is probably half his age. I guess that amounts to how great Ichard’s influence is.

“Miss Fay! There you are! Come on, let’s eat!”

Before I could react, someone grabs my arm and pulls me to follow the group.

“I have so much to tell you. I won’t let you escape this time,”

said the redhead while pulling me, a thoughtless grin plastered on her face.

As we walk towards the dining hall, I feel a stare boring into my back and when I turn my head, I see the luphaen woman standing there at a distance, watching me with melancholic eyes.

I wonder, what did she expect me to do? Or rather, what did she want me to do? From the way she spoke, she seemed to be burdened by the guilt of letting Aira go through what she herself went through years ago, maybe even now.

...I’m sorry.

Maybe she wanted me to relieve her guilt somehow. Maybe she wanted me to do for Aira what no one could for her.

--- --- ---

“...so, like that, I think I’m more suited with two-handed spears because they’re more sturdy, you know? But Hork kept insisting that it’s too heavy for me, that craghead...”

As we eat, Kaelyn keeps on talking in-between chews, mostly about her training and other stuff that I don’t really care about right now. Beside her, Aira makes small and listless movements with her cutlery as she plays with her food, barely eating her meal. Her complexion seems pale and her gestures are sluggish, her eyes staring into her plate as she loses herself in her own thoughts.

“By the way, Commissioner Ichard seems awfully close with the commander and the chief, don’t you think?”

Kaelyn said, and with the mention of Ichard’s name, I see Aira shuddering, dropping her fork to the plate with a clang.

“Aira? Are you alright? You seem so pale...”

“Y‒Yes, I’m...”

Suddenly, a shadow looms from behind Kaelyn and a giant hand presses down on her head.

“Aah!”

“Who said you could eat?”

“H‒Hork?! No, but... I did all you asked!”

“By any chance, did you call me a craghead just then?”

“Y‒You heard?! I mean, you heard wrong!”

“Hmm... ‘Dzat so? C’mere, twitty girl!”

While they bicker with each other, I watch the person beside them, languid and indifferent to the world around her.

Hey, Aira...

I reach out to grab her hand, but she immediately pulls away at the touch, surprised at the contact.

“Ah... S‒Sorry...”

she said regretfully as she shoots her gaze back down at her plate, avoiding my eyes.

As I thought, she’s rather edgy. Her emotions must be in a mess right now, and yet, the fact that she’s brought herself here to eat with us means that she’s still trying to fit in; to adapt to her new life here.

...No, it could be that she just wants to be close to someone. I know how it feels to be alone when everything falls apart on you, and even though she probably can’t say anything about her troubles, being near the people you trust is better than being alone. If only Farica is here, she might be able to comfort her with sweet words. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen that girl in the last couple of days. She’s probably busy with her new job as Rips’ new assistant.

“By the way, Hork, I’ve been wondering, why is Commander Orlev called “commander”? Isn’t he the chief constable?” (Kaelyn)

“That’s..., he used to be military, and that’s what people called him back then. It just stuck, I guess. It’d be too confusing if we have two chiefs, anyway. Hahaha!” (Hork)

“Oh, and don’t you think those three seems close?”

Kaelyn asked, motioning at the people sitting two rows away. The three there; Ichard, the commander, and the chief, drinking together with an unapproachable atmosphere around them.

“Those three? They’ve been friends from waaay before, since before Ichard even joined the guild. You could say that they’re the pillars of the Tarnlake branch.”

“Eh? Even Chief Aldwan? I thought he was from Gerslow?”

“You mean Steadville. Before he became chief there, he was a drifter here first. He still hangs here a lot, though.”

“Oh, I get it... because they’re so close as friends, right?”

“Hahaha! That’s right, girl. Even now, Ichard is still trying to get the commander to be his deputy. The man in question wouldn’t take the position, said he’s more suited for field work. Not that it matters, though. Since there’s no deputy, the chain of command falls down to the chief constable, so Orlev is practically already the deputy, but with less paperwork and more legwork.”

“I see, I see...”

I observe the three from a distance, trying to hear what they’re talking about amidst the sound of chattering people and clattering plates.

Commander Orlev, he knows about Ichard too, doesn’t he? He struck me as someone with upstanding moral values, but I suppose I was wrong again. Or maybe, is that the reason why he won’t become Ichard’s deputy?

“Miss Fay...? Is something wrong?”

Kaelyn’s voice made me realize that I’ve been staring at them too long, so I turn back at my plate to continue my meal. Even so, the feeling of disappointment is still there, weighing on my mind.

...Huh. “Disappointed”, am I? After everything I went through, it seems as though I still expected something more. How stupid of me.

“Umm... miss Fay, if you’re worrying about him, don’t worry! I’ll protect you in place of miss Latasha!”

Eh?

I look at the direction she’s nodding at, and there I see a certain wolf looking back at me, as if he’s been staring at me for some time. The second our eyes met, his face beams up with a grin, like a brat who just got back from a field trip and can’t wait to tell all about it to his mother.

There’s still the matter of his proposal, isn’t there. Frankly, I don’t want to deal with that right now, so I think I’m just going to avoid him for now.

“Miss Fay, that... what happened to your face?!”

...Ah... I guess I didn’t hide it well enough.

“Who did this to you?! Or perhaps, is it because of your magus training?!”

Stop shouting...

I pull my hood tighter as I look around, noticing the attention Kaelyn brought to me. Even the three across the hall had their attention here. I even see the chief looking at me with guilt.

Don’t worry, chief. I’ll get back at you for this, somehow.

At any rate, the wolf’s been staring at me for quite a while now. What should I do...? Frankly, marrying him isn’t really a bad idea, but with that arcanist alternative, the notion doesn’t seem as appealing anymore.

Sorry, Luise. I’ll have to put your proposal on hold, at least until I get some closure on this matter with Ichard... or so I say, but he’ll come after me, anyway.

Now then, how do you escape a wolf? Heh, Eretz would know.