Finally, FINALLY, I found myself standing before a thick wooden door, curiously missing a door handle. When I questioned Rella about this, she said, "{Debriefer} doesn't like us barging in on him while he's hard at work."

"I see. This {Debreifer} have a name?"

"Eh, he's never told me it. You know it, Wing?"

Wing just stared at us.

"Gonna take that as a no," Rella said with a sigh. "Well, this is where we'll have to leave you. We've got to get back on duty."

"Thanks," I said, smiling at her. "I probably would've gotten lost making my way through the halls."

She shrugged. "Least I could do for a new brother of the faith, ya'know?"

"Yeah. Um, speaking of a brother of the faith, I have a...Well, he's my co-{Guard}, you know? Served at the gates with me for a couple of lives. His name's Frost. He's a real wreck without me, you see, and Rightie and Leftie-"

"Who?" Rella interrupted, cocking her head to the side. She glanced at Wing, who only shrugged.

"That's what I call the {Guards} at the keep doors," I explained. "I didn't care to catch their names."

"Oh. Weird..." She rolled her neck, popping a few bones in the process. "Well, don't stop. Keep going!"

"Right. Uh, Rightie and Leftie are giving him quite a hard time because he's a bit of a wimp. Easy to push around and all that. I'd appreciate it if you could safely escort him inside the building without their interference."

"And you're sure he's a brother?"

I shrugged. "He'll be easily converted."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Rella shook her head. "Forceful conversion goes against Johanna's ways, you know? It's deceitful, shoving your faith down an unwilling person's throat. They won't be truly able to worship."

"I-uh, yeah, um, I guess you're right..."

"We'll still give it a try," she assured me. "And hopefully, he'll come to service with you!"

With a final exchange of agreements and goodbyes, they left me to face the {Debriefer}.

When I was sure they were gone and I could no longer hear their heavy footsteps, I collapsed against the door and sighed with relief. I was no stranger to facing off against threatening opponents. Heck, that {Great Warrior} had been two heads taller than them! But even then, he hadn't terrified me as much as Rella and Wing had.

I'd gotten rather...complacent around other {Guards}, especially female ones. Crystal hadn't been anything special, nor did I think much of her fire magic. A burn or two was nothing compared to what I could do to her if I got close enough. I'd grown smug, training against Frost and fighting invaders.

Seeing them, and hearing [Battle Sense] scream in silence in the back of my head...that humbled me. I could tell that, even without their armor and weapons, they were strong.

The {Great Warrior} was strong and I still beat him, said one part of me, trying to regain some confidence. Yeah, but Crystal distracted him for the most part. I was only able to not die again because I had [Burst].

...Good point.

Enough debating with myself. I needed to get my debriefing done and over with.

Standing up straight, I raised my fist and knocked on the wooden door. When no one said anything, I knocked again. And again. And again. One more time, with a little bit more force.

Is no one in? Rella said the {Debriefer} was always working...What if he got so exhausted he worked himself to death?!

Panicked at the thought of a dead man sitting at a desk, left to rot behind a locked door, I endeavored to break in by force. I threw my shoulder against the door, wincing as it came to a hard stop. I heaved and hoed, taking a point of damage with every push. The wood creaked ominously the longer I hit it, which was good news. I was gaining ground!

I backed up against the far wall, taking a deep breath as I readied myself for a charge. Rolling my shoulders, and ignoring the twinge in my left arm, I bent my knees and activated [Charge]. I wouldn't be running for long, but I'd take what little Strength boost I could get.

With a courageous shout, I burst out of my running stance, barreling across the hallway. My eyes widened as the door swung open and the haggard face of furry man-creature popped out to greet me. Our eyes locked and, at that moment, the seconds stretched for a lifetime. I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop in time.

He knew that I knew and I knew that he knew because he sighed, opened his arms wide, and took my knee in his nose.