Chapter 14

Sentry Ship (Part 2)

"Almost ten years ago, the Heroes' Association attacked the capital of Gashu. They mentioned what they found there like the puppets, desolate lands… but that must be old news to you—you've seen it firsthand, haven't you?" Chief Dynil Walker smiled at the blonde child across from him. His voice held a casual tone, but his gaze was sharp.

The child sat down with trembling hands, attention fixed on him. "Uh… n-not exactly…"

"Right, where was I? Oh yeah, we did a number on that land years ago. You probably saw me but didn't remember me?"

"I-I guess?"

The child made a confused look.

"Right! But you were probably drawn to Marcus the Hero, huh? The one who gave you the medallion."

"Ah, y-yes…"

"I know, I know." Dynil nods his head with a smile, "Like everyone they were swooped in by his charming face and beautiful golden hair! He was like a prince out of storybooks, huh?!"

"Um y-yes… His hair was very pretty… That's why he caught my eye… A g-golden glow like that could only mean he is blessed by the goddess, right?"

When the girl answered like this, Dynil couldn't help but grin. "So even girls are a fan of older princes, huh?"

She smiles, eyes sparkling while giggling shyly. "Yes… I love princes."

"Is that so?"

The Sentry Chief leaned back to the couch and eyed the girl seriously. She had blonde hair that looked like golden locks and eyes that matched it.

"Um S-Sir, do you need to confirm my identity?" The girl frowned in embarrassment when he suddenly turned quiet.

"Hmm, that's right." Dynil nods, "As you know I've interviewed your friends before you, ah, your family too. What did you say your name was?"

"…Nameless…"

Nameless answered hesitantly because based on the reaction of Eliron before, it was outright weird.

This Sentry Chief had been keeping an eye on her since the medallion accidentally slipped out of her cloak. Though he mentioned wanting to interview her, he actually left her for last.

And while he escorted the children in and out of the waiting area, he would intentionally look at her.

It was provocation in poor taste, as if he wanted to dig something from her.

"Hahaha! Nameless, huh?" Dynil laughed out loud. On normal occasions he wouldn't have done that but he had inkling that she was not normal. "I'm a bad father myself for not meeting my kids while they grew up but that is… Hahaha! Your father never really had a good naming sense!"

While Dynil Walker continued laughing, Nameless' mask cracked slightly.

She frowned.

'Gotcha!' He thought under his burning gaze against the demon in front of him.

Shrugging, the Sentry Chief smirked. "I thought you were favoured but maybe you were hated after all?"

The magic deformed, pink eyes burning through her fake orange irises, glaring up at the man, "How dare you!"

Dynil grinned and clapped his hands, a large green shield-like mana passed through their bodies and encapsulated the whole room. "You have quite the temper. Your father is unusually calm most of the time so I believed you were too."

"Are you going to deny them freedom just because of my existence?"

Nameless clenched her fist to the point of drawing blood.

The Sentry Chief shook his head, "There is no such thing. The fact that you have that ancient medallion meant that you're safe."

At his answer, Nameless let out a sigh of relief clutching her chest. "T-that's good at least… If you deny them entry to the safe continents just because of me, I'll choose to remain here then."

"You're quite emotional than you look."

"People tend to say the same." Nameless smiles gently, "But thank you. They… they are all very precious to me. I don't want them to get hurt or get tired."

Her pink eyes warmed up, fading back to the pull of transformation magic.

The Sentry Chief watched that phenomena but did not comment on it. He had a hint to what it was, but right now wasn't the best time.

"Get some rest, kid. Tomorrow we'll travel to Efascht."

"Don't we need permission from your higher-ups?"

"For what?"

"For taking in children from the land of Gashu. It's not safe for your citizens after all."

"Don't worry about it. You're all kids anyway and we also have one strict order for passage, that anyone with that medallion and has pink eyes is safe." Dynil smiled, "So it's nonsense of you to say that you'll stay here. Your existence is the clearance they needed after all."

Nameless' attention heightened.

An order to let her pass through… There can only be one being who can make it happen.

Seeing her become quiet Dynil stood up first, "Come with me, Miss Nameless. I'll lead you to your room, pipe down there for a bit and by tomorrow, I'll personally escort you to Efascht."

He opened the door for her, "By the way, we never raided ten years ago. But don't worry about it!" Dynil winked.

"N-Nameless…"

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Hearing Royce's hesitant call, everyone turned around.

They were all in an empty bunker with double beds barely enough for them. Nameless quietly surveyed the room after the sentry chief dropped her off, "This place is great. Have everyone eaten yet?"

It was noon at this point.

Nameless thought that it was too quiet on her way here. Apparently the soldiers were eating lunch.

"We've already eaten in the morning though?" Keith tilted his head.

"That's not enough, is it?" As if on cue the door opened, revealing Karson, the foot soldier from earlier and a few other soldiers. They brought make shift tables and utensils.

While they set up, Loyd stepped forward. "I'll help, sir!"

"No need!" Aria, one of the soldiers, gave him a kind smile. "You're guests here—sit back and relax."

But Loyd shifted restlessly, hands twitching. Aria noticed and softened, "How about you set the plates, then? Careful—they're a bit–"

Loyd was already in action, stacking and spinning the plates with impressive precision. In minutes, he'd distributed all 54 plates and cups, forks and spoons all laid neatly beside each plate.

All of these were done less than a quarter of an hour.

"Huuu… Looks like I've still got it." He smiled in satisfaction, wiping away a non-existent sweat on his forehead.

Aria, Karson and the other soldiers held their breaths. Their eyes watched the child who looked like he was glowing.

However three children brazenly walked closer to the tables and frowned at it.

"Ah! A spoon is crooked!" Lime happily announced after finding it.

"Ahahaha! You're getting shabby, Loyd!" Lemon jeered at him, poking his side.

Loyd was a quarter taller of the twins' size but they poked him on both sides. "Ugh! Stop! Stop!"

"B-but still…" Karson interjected their teasing, "Like wow! You did really well, kid! I can never do that even if I train for it."

With his show of amazement, the other soldiers followed.

Being bombarded with compliments like that, Loyd who did not know how to it feels to be appreciated felt his face turn hot, though he did not understand why.

"I-It's only natural to be good…"

Aria and Karson looked at each other and then back to Loyd.

A hand patted his shoulder, "I don't know what's your idea of good, but for us it was really great!" Karson gave him a thumbs up but Loyd did not understand it.

The food arrived a bit later and the soldiers watched the children eat.

They served them a feast. From grilled beef, pork broth, salad dressings, hotpot and noodles, to desserts like apple pies, cookies and cupcakes.

At first they were reluctant, seeing different kinds of dishes prepared just for them felt weird.

"C-can we really eat this?"

"Oh no.. We can just eat potatoes…"

However they all quieted down when the soldiers moved to the barracks and ate with them. They showed how to eat specific dishes like blowing on the soup before swallowing it.

It was such basic table manners and routine, but they didn't even know such a thing.

"Control your face, Aria." Karson whispered.

His friend looked like she was about to cry. Karson felt bad too, they were a few kilometers away and yet they couldn't save them.

While they enjoyed food and drinks, there were children who didn't even know what other food looked like. They didn't know that its better to eat food on the table nor how to use spoon and fork. Even washing their hands before and after eating was a wonder to them.

"I just…" Aria tried to say more but Karson shook his head as if there was nothing more to say.

"We just have to protect them and their future now."

She nods at his words and continued playing with them.

Though the soldiers' mood were somber and their hearts' torn, afternoon turned into evening quickly as the children enjoyed the unfamiliar comforts

When dinner came, there were new types of dishes too like the children's new favorite: fried chicken.

"H-help… I can't move."

"I don't want to eat anymore…"

"Ugh. My stomach wants to… get out…"

Eliron watched the children sprawled out everywhere. The portable tables were removed and the foams were laid out on the ground instead with the children's decision to stay in one place together.

They were all huddled together, some on the beds and some were laying on the thick foam on the floor.

Maybe because it was unusual for them or maybe they didn't really notice but despite the groans of eating too much, the children were smiling while they talked amongst themselves.

He wanted to feel happy for them.

Maybe join their conversation too. Especially with Royce, Keith, Loyd and Ynez talking with serious faces.

They're probably talking about how to sell all the materials they have.

However for Eliron, who was busy yet not busy as the same time…

"Mister dragon… Do you transform like this all the time?"

"I wish my brother was this cute…"

"Please turn your head this way for a bit!"

Eliron frowned. While waiting for the children to finish their interview, he who was given permission to land on the sentry's base, fell asleep and woke up as a human kid.

It was obvious that Nameless used the goddess' magic again without consulting him.

But the issue was when he woke up…

He was cradled on the arms of a guard and being poked around like a stuff toy.

"Argh! Stop!"

It was a night of new experiences…

The children who had been trapped under the veil of darkness finally managed to eat properly and slept one night without worrying a single thing.

For everyone, except one.

As the others settled in, Nameless rose quietly, casting a glance back at her group. The murmurs of laughter echoed behind her as she made her way down the hall.

Knock knock.

There was a quiet sound coming from behind Sentry Chief Dynil Walker's office.

"Come in."

Jesse, his right hand personnel, walked in with a file in her hands. "I've finished compiling the children's details, Sir. Should I send it to the association?"

Dynil shrugs, "Depends on their decision."

The personnel fixed her glasses and was about to ask what he meant when another knock rang softly from the door.

Without waiting for an answer, the door opened.

Jesse' eyes moved down. It was quiet kid whom everyone depended on. Nameless, was it?

It was obvious she was their leader.

Whenever she came in, talked or moved, the children would look and follow. At first Jesse thought it was the child who begged first during their earlier encounter, Keith.

Even when she jumped first at the center of the sentry's ship, she thought she was just very emotional.

She thought it was Royce too, the largest kid, who lead them first inside the barracks. Or Ynez who was taking care of the little ones.

But when she left for the interview up until it was over, the children were visibly on edge. Only letting themselves loose once she got back, "Do you have a business here, Little Miss?"

Nameless looked up and smiled sweetly, "I have something to discuss with the sentry chief. Is that okay?"

"Discuss with him? What kind of…" She trailed off and remembered the current topic, "Ah. So are you here to decide which direction your group is going?"

The blonde girl nodded and walked in without waiting.

"Who will come through the backdoor and who will be reported to the Association, it is your call, Little Miss." Dynil Walker spoke, his attention on her.

"That's right. Shall we begin our discussion?"