Chapter LXXIII

A Party's Aftermath

It took them several days to reach the new camp for the Silver faction. Nestled in a lush valley a few kilometers south of the Eslavian border, the settlement bordered a tropical beach and picturesque coastline, with ruins of a town lingering in the distance.

Upon their arrival, they discovered a bustling settlement teeming with thousands of members. People worked diligently and efficiently, using local resources to sustain their daily activities. Adriaas was embraced like family upon reintroduction to the group, her opinions and insights highly valued by the members.

The group’s numbers had diminished after the prison break, with reports suggesting a loss of twenty percent of their forces on that fateful day. In the weeks that followed, they received news of multiple ambushes, mirroring the ordeal the Silver group had endured.

The land they chose, known as Kangerlu Town, had been abandoned for years. The Elkrachets had lost control of the area when a group of locals mounted a resistance, eliminating nearly four thousand of their soldiers before it was wiped out. Rumors swirled that those responsible that remained had formed an elite force within the rebel hierarchy, some even speculating they had become nightshadows from Capahuento.

In the weeks since her liberation, Adriaas searched for a place where she could truly belong. She opted to serve in the infirmary, where healers tended to those needing medical help. As an aspirant to Chesedin, the trainee to the fourth Sephirot in Malkuth, she had acquired basic knowledge about the human body.

Even before her imprisonment, Adriaas had applied to join the medical team at the Silver Camp, but without success. Initially guided by a sense of newfound freedom after her lengthy confinement, she helped the fishermen with their tasks. It was a simple, traditional method involving nets and spears. Despite her efforts, she struggled and failed repeatedly until the professional fishers, Irrevol and Zunkit, took pity on her. They taught her the secrets of their craft. After weeks of dedication and practice, Adriaas learned the trade, including cleaning the catch, which she found revolting. She soon realized her genuine passion and aptitude lay elsewhere, as the smell of fish became unbearable.

Adriaas experimented with construction and kitchen duties, discovering hidden talents in those areas. A week after mastering al dente pasta, a letter arrived:

Dear Zaraz,

I hope this letter finds you well. It has been quite some time since we arrived in Kangerlu Town, and I apologize for not reaching out sooner. During our time together, a flood of memories resurfaced, including a significant moment involving my former boss, Dulicus, who sacrificed his life during the Landica’s Prison break. While serving as Dulicus’ assistant, I preserved submissions that I believed held great potential, and yours was among them. As the head of the new administration, I invite you to become my personal trainee and offer you access to knowledge and expertise in medicine. The infirmary will now be known as the Medtent. Present yourself whenever available, and further instructions will be provided.

Gruvin Landares

While still working in the kitchens, Adriaas became an apprentice to Gruvin, a compassionate healer who traveled through the camp, attending to the sick and injured. Every day under his guidance, she faced new challenges and opportunities, finding joy in helping others.

Adriaas felt an inner calling to follow in his footsteps. Initially, she started by assisting with cleaning duties in Medtent. Mopping up the blood from patients or meticulously sanitizing the rustic wooden bathroom. Being safe and away from Sabina and the Elkrachets made it worth it.

As her bond with Gruvin strengthened, Adriaas felt a deep sense of trust between them. One day, feeling confident enough to delve into his past, she inquired, “Were you once a member of the Fourth in Malkuth? It doesn’t seem like something you would learn in Sectum.”

Gruvin, known for his extraordinary skill in repairing broken bones, ensuring complete recoveries for those he treated, shared a painful truth. “Yes, I was, until my negligence resulted in the death of a patient. It’s the reason for my exile.” His tone was grim, filled with regret.

Curious but non-judgmental, Adriaas asked, “How much longer will you be in Sectum?”

“This is my fourth year in Imperia. It’ll be about eight years before I can return.” Gruvin’s yearning to reclaim his life in Aequiteism was evident, a desire shared by many Extarri she had met.

Although life in Kangerlu’s Silver Camp was far from perfect, Adriaas felt a sense of belonging within the community and was committed to providing the best of her abilities. During her initial months there, Elchome had come and gone on secret missions to maintain connections with the factions and ensure safety. One Wednesday, after a three-week absence, he returned to the camp bearing a pleasant surprise. His primary mission had been to bring back Gidit, the woman who had rescued Adriaas from extreme poverty, and Remian, Elchome’s closest friend to their new settlement. Tears flowed when they reunited, having not seen each other since the assault on the carriage.

"I am so sorry. Everything is my fault," Gidit whispered into Adriaas's ear as they embraced. "We fled and kept moving until we could no longer stand on our feet. Some of them reached us but we managed to take them down. When we returned, every evidence of the altercation was gone, including the four of you."

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Consumed by a guilt she should not have carried, Gidit's confession weighed heavily. Adriaas returned her embrace, finding comfort in the familiar presence of her friends. Life had changed since their first encounter, yet being among that family brought warmth and a sense of home. Gidit, Elchome, Remian, Miveria and Adriaas had forged a strong bond, which made them natural choices for a new task a few weeks later.

Their mission was straightforward: locate two council members from the Pink Faction who had vanished and missed a crucial leadership meeting. Elchome, as the team leader, had carefully selected individuals he could trust for this sensitive task.

A private farewell gathering was held for those involved before they set out at dawn the next morning. Adriaas awoke with regrets from the festivities of the previous night, experiencing her first hangover as a Homo Sapiens. It felt as if a hammer had struck her, resulting in an excruciating migraine.

"Good morning, crazylegs," Gidit said, pulling her from her discomfort. "Take this ginger tea—it'll help. There’s some lemon in it too, but be careful, it’s hot."

The aroma alone revived Adriaas’s senses, infusing her with revitalizing energy. Aware that more sleep was futile, she rose from her mattress and accepted the offered cup. Her body felt sluggish and sweaty; she had indulged in excessive food and drink the night before, just like everyone else.

After a refreshing shower and finishing her ginger tea, Adriaas dressed and made her preparations while half asleep. Gidit, equally fatigued, followed her own routine. The tent was a mess, strewn with pizza and stained from spilled drinks on the polymer floor, the lingering scent of rum causing waves of nausea. Both roommates had continued partying after Elchome had dismissed everyone, squandering the chance for a proper rest.

With only two hours of sleep, the ginger tea had worked wonders in easing their nauseas. The scorching heat slowly awakened their senses. Turning to face Gidit, Adriaas noticed her friend looked just as pale and fatigued.

"Next time, let’s just bring food back to the tent. It’s always those two with their electrobombs, and final round of shots," she remarked.

Her comment stirred Adriaas’s memory. Parts of the previous night remained hazy but gradually cleared. She was referring to a special drink prepared by Irrevol and Remian for the entire group before bed. Contrary to its intended effect of inducing sleep, it seemed to have had the opposite result.

Once out of the tent, Adriaas felt the warmth of sand beneath her feet, grounding her thoughts. For the mission ahead, they needed boots, a backpack with supplies, and a jacket, yet Adriaas had left everything behind. She rushed back to the room and gathered her gear. After checking and double-checking each item, she stepped back outside, feeling a cold sweat emerging from her pores.

She walked towards their meeting point as the sun climbed higher, casting a purple hue over the ocean’s glistening waters. Gidit sat near the waves on the beach, while Elchome and Gruvin waited alongside her.

"Same face, just as I suspected. Take a nurtrix," Adriaas's mentor said, handing her a round, green pill coated in a gel-like substance with a peculiar scent. She retrieved a water bottle from a makeshift cooler they had assembled and joined her roommate.

"Furka, why did we keep drinking?" Gidit asked once they were both seated.

"I’m trying to remember. My memories are all messy."

Both roommates, nursing their hangover, remained silent, gazing at the sunrise as they awaited the rest of the group, trying to recover from the night before.

Remian and Zunkit approached together five minutes later.

"Where's Irrevol?" their leader inquired, already anticipating the answer.

"He couldn’t make it, Elchome," his best friend responded, Remian’s face twisted with nausea. "He asked us to apologize on his behalf. Zunkit offered to take his place, if that’s acceptable."

"It’s not a problem for me; Irrevol can make up for it later," Elchome paused, noticing a group of individuals approaching, Raxae and Miveria among them. "Ah, there’s the rest. Come on over; we’re running late."

Gruvin, exasperated, added, "That same expression on Gidit's and Zaraz’s faces! Get in line; we don’t want this collective hangovers delaying us any further!"

His words elicited laughter from everyone, realizing that most were experiencing similar effects. Following the healer’s instructions, the members of the Silver Faction formed a line.

"Remian," Elchome called his friend seriously. "Come, please."

The tall man with sandy hair approached after grabbing a nurtrix and some water. Gidit and Adriaas were close enough to overhear their conversation.

"There was something else in those bombs; don’t lie to me," their leader asserted.

Remian dismissed Elchome’s concerns, rolling his eyes.

"They’re fine; the nurtrix is exactly what they need. I just added some excitement to their night. Don’t be so uptight; they’re risking their lives just by showing up."

"You can’t drug people without their consent," Elchome's voice contained his anger with a hush. "That’s what can—"

“Get us exiled? Well, in case you haven’t noticed, we already are,” Remian said sarcastically. “No one is complaining. Please, let’s not make a big deal out of it. Yesterday was fun.”

Remian was right. It had been years since Adriaas had felt so euphoric. She couldn't deny her enjoyment of Silver Camp’s parties. After the mix of nurtrix and ginger tea had restored Adriaas’ sense of self, she turned to find Gidit sprawled on the sand, fast asleep.

“Hey!” she called out to her friend. “We’re leaving.”

Gidit stirred, momentarily disoriented and forgetting her surroundings. “Right, let’s do this.”

Soon, Elchome stood before them, ready to brief the entire group.

“So, I’m going to pretend this walk of shame didn’t happen. We arrived here well-rested and refreshed. That’s why there won’t be any complaints throughout our adventure. It’ll be a two-day trek to our destination.”

They nodded, fully aware of what they had signed up for.

“This is a reconnaissance and possibly a rescue mission. Prepare yourselves mentally for the task ahead, and ask for help if needed,” Elchome said before leading the way along the shore.

One by one, the remaining eleven members of their group followed, with eight of them still recovering from the previous night’s festivities. As the sun continued its ascent, the rising temperatures came with it. Zanda and Gidit lingered at the back of the line, waiting for everyone to move before abandoning their comfortable spot on the beach. With a cool breeze brushing against their skin and the sand beneath their boots, Elchome led the chosen few on his crucial mission.

****

Thank you for reading! See you in "Chapter LXXIV - Elchome's Request."

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