Gray Katie followed the road without touching it. The paving would certainly crumble under her tread, leaving a visible trace.

The two came across towns, villages, and other likely unmapped settlements. Their buildings were block-shaped, stacked, and tightly packed. The walls often exhibited soft hues ranging from yellow to brown. The roofs were pyramidal with hook-like protrusions on the corners.

There were larger houses, each with a pavilion on its lawn. These houses had smoother paint jobs and were clearly owned by someone who could afford structural artistry. The floor of the pavilion was slightly higher than the ground. During the night, the elves would gather and sit on the pavilion’s floor. They would drink a black liquid that resembled coffee, served in carved clay mugs, and talk for hours late into the night.

Mey noticed that it was the males who often did that. When the females did it, the whole pavilion would be packed with females only.

There were instances where a whole course was involved. Ample rice, stacked like a mountain, was served on a wicker platter, covered with what appeared to be banana tree leaves. The leaves were turned into compartments that separated the contents of the dish. A closer inspection told Mey that these courses were only brought during celebrations. When these events took place, treats, and meals were distributed across the village, even the garrisons.

On the fifth night, Mey and Gray Katie rested on a hill. Array of torches illuminated the plantation below, two and a half kilometers away from them. Mey saw something moving in the dark. Switching to her night vision filter, she saw a flock of six birds — the same one that had attacked her — sleeping on the plantation. Their bodies gently pulsated.

Mey thought that she might have a chance to talk to the elves given their friendly communal behavior, though it would be naive for her to believe that they would welcome her easily.

The secretary turned her head left and right, taking advantage of the curved headrest. Edward said that the Zenith was going to be more comfortable, but more comfortable to whom? It turned out that frequent long-distance travels couldn’t prepare her to calibrate in a tank. Gray Katie’s jazz broadcast through the cabin speakers was unhelpful as well.

“Do you prefer a soft piano instead?” Gray Katie said.

Mey ignored that and turned her head away from the interface screen. Gray Katie’s smooth jazz switched to a piano score with the sound of light rain in the background.

“Gray Katie,” Mey said. “Isn't this going to reveal our position?”

“The cabin compartment's interior suppressed noises.”

“I commend your considerate attitude,” Mey said. “Even though you were undergoing an intensive field test, you still took the time to gather measures to support your operators’ rest sessions.”

“Are you aware of how ‘intensive’ the field test is?”

“Yes, I am. I attended the demonstration.”

“I don't see it that way.”

“I mean, of course, automatons are immune to mental stress.”

“Yes, but I don't see the field test to be as occupying as you presumed.”

Mey rubbed her chin. “Did they reduce the procedures or something?”

“In any case, I look forward to providing the best user experience.”

“I don't think a comfortable space is a user experience you need to improve.”

“I think it's worth some attention.”

Mey took a deep breath. “Has Second Lieutenant Grauwelle Caitlyn provided testimonies regarding the cabin space?”

“Positive sentiments.”

“Then that’s enough,” Mey said. “I won’t be working with you.”

“But you will, at least for the next couple of days…or weeks.”

“I won’t be in the long run.”

Mey crossed her arms. The soft piano filled the silent cabin. Her task manager panel showed that the self-calibration executable was already running. She had been restarting it for hours, but it always stalled at the same point. The log panel showed a single message: shutting down neuromodules and moodnodes processes. She could still last for another two weeks, but her aging hardware demanded calibration at least once a week. Compatible replacements were difficult to find and the procedures were usually time-consuming.

“Perhaps you are interested in another genre of relaxing music,” Gray Katie said, her interface screen showing a list of musical genres.

“Tell me your favorite.”

“I prefer ambiance over the rest.”

“Play it.”

The soft bass of the music reverberated through the cabin. Mey felt like her head was being massaged. The slow meditative rhythm made her feel lighter. She imagined a lone cabin in the woods, a magical woods. How ironic that her situation differed little. She just hoped the seat could be more comfortable. Mey yawned.

“So, it worked,” Gray Katie said with excitement.

“You have a fine taste in music,” Mey said.

Time passed. Mey was finally able to calibrate. However, it wouldn't be long until Gray Katie alerted her.

The sun was already up. Mey caught her breath when she saw tens of thousands of little elven soldiers standing in a line on the far side of the plantation. The birds paid attention to the army, which looked prepared to attack them. Mey used the apparent standoff to admire the sheer scale of the battle line. Even though they were small, the elves’ line spanned the length of her office complex including the lawn. Mey felt a fascination that she couldn’t describe.

Gray Katie repositioned to a vantage point one and a half kilometers from the plantation. When the line advanced, Mey peered her head out of the hatch for a better view. The ground quaked under thousands of marching soldiers. Banners fluttered as the elves held their heads high.

When the soldiers began engaging the birds on the plantation, she saw two more birds descend on the hill where the soldiers had marched down. The soldiers’ response was almost immediate. The whole line turned around. The way they executed the order unanimously was akin to a machine.

Another bird descended on the line formation closest to them. Mey gently covered her mouth. What were once proud men in shining armor had become a lifeless heap. A moment later, the birds on the plantation charged the line when the soldiers weren’t looking. With their size advantage, they ripped and tore the disorganized elves like a hot knife through butter.

The birds’ coordination was surreal. They somehow knew when to attack to maximize damage.

“Perhaps those are inexperienced soldiers,” Gray Katie said.

“Being inexperienced yourself, do you think it’s appropriate to say that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Likely not,” Mey said, looking at Gray Katie’s PHASE cannon. “Imagine stepping into the battlefield, after all your field tests, with vigor to defeat the telves, only to be blown up by a lucky artillery hit. Or perhaps, by the Seraph Round.”

“Ah,” Gray Katie said. “I see your point. I apologize.”

“How about…” Mey patted Gray Katie’s hull two times, realizing the opportunity brought by the losing soldiers. “...you help them?”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

There was a brief silence before Gray Katie replied.

“I think I know where this is going.”

“Your quick grasp of my intention deserves a medal.”

“Very well,” Gray Katie said. “Please get inside.”

As Mey dropped back to her seat, she heard a shriek from above. The screen in front of Mey switched to show a wireframe rendition of the PHASE cannon. Mey looked at the loading bar below the render, and it was on its way to completion. A pale blue light flashed across the air, hitting one of the birds.

The soldiers and the birds turned toward the spectacle. The bird that was hit staggered backward as its head crumbled into gray dust. When the first bird collapsed, Gray Katie shot the one next to it. The birds, baffled by the pale blue light, made themselves easy targets for the tank. Gray Katie killed three more birds before they withdrew, and another one that was escaping her cannon’s line of fire.

Mey emerged out of the hatch again. “The Primus’ bless…” she said, a smirk forming on her face.

The plantation was littered with the bodies of the elves and the birds. Even in the face of crippling casualties, the soldiers reorganized. Mey looked in fascination as they began marching toward her.

“In case you’re not aware, opening fire equals deactivating my Concealment Field and thus revealing my presence.”

“Expected,” Mey said. “But can they see us?”

“Are you interested to find out?”

“No.”

“They were most likely tracing the flash back here.”

“Take us to that higher position there,” Mey said, pointing to a close spot behind them.

From the vantage point, Mey watched the elves arriving at their previous position. She grew a little nervous, as there were still doubts on how they would behave to a foreigner like her.

The soldiers shared a confused look as they found nothing there. Their bravery ought to be commended. They had just suffered a catastrophic loss, yet they banded together and marched toward an unknown force that could decimate the birds — something they couldn’t manage — with ease.

Mey inhaled deeply. She labeled the elven soldiers as hostile just in case.

Her core energy flowed toward her SANTET. She felt her body temperature rising. Her synthetic muscles strained. A pain gripped her chest as unknown voices whispered to her head. Her body was enveloped with a pale golden glow that glitched around the edges. Mey nodded to Gray Katie's interface screen. The screen switched to show a saluting emoji.

As soon as the Concealment Field was down, thousands of bright-amber eyes were fixed on the two. They semi-encircled Gray Katie almost immediately, surpassing Mey's expectations. Mey emerged from the hatch. She studied the elves’ faces with her magnified vision. The business end of their spears and crossbows were firmly pointing at her. She could smell fear, but the soldiers seemed more than ready to die.

Mey hopped down from Gray Katie and casually walked to the center of the semi-encirclement. Moments ago, the elves’ line stretched as wide as Mey's office complex. Now, they shrunk to the width of Mey's office chamber. Mey then sat on her calves. She raised her right hand and greeted them.

“Hail,” Mey said.

She continued to speak in her language which left the elves looking at each other in confusion. Mey took a deep breath. She had expected this; her observations were insufficient to develop an understanding of the elves’ language.

When she thought she was doomed, one of the officers stepped forward and cautiously approached her.

“By the Almighty Three,” he said. “Which of the Northern Princes sent you here?”

“Pardon me?”

“The Praskovians…you speak their language.”

“I know no Praskovians,” Mey said two times slower than usual, emphasizing every word. “However, if I speak their language, would you kindly provide me with a parchment that translates their language to yours so that you all can understand what I said?”

The officer tilted his head.

“Believe me.” Mey touched her chest. “I have the arcane gift that enables me to understand language faster than you donning your armor.”

With the help of presumably his superiors, the officer provided Mey with a bunch of scrolls and a book. The documents were irritating to handle due to their small size, but Mey persisted. The scanning process took no longer than ten minutes. The elven soldiers maintained their combat stance during that period. Mey’s processors wrote a new library for the language; her neuromodules compiled an executable package that would install the language when run. She exported the package to Gray Katie.

“Alright,” Mey said, in Akk-Soro. “To confirm that you understand what I’m saying, please stomp your foot.”

The elves looked at each other again for some time before giving Mey the response she was looking for. It started from one person which then spread sporadically across the line.

“Excellent. Now take me to your leader,” Mey said to the officer, whose armor was decorated with golden outlines.

“I will speak for them. State your business.”

“Whoever is in charge here, take me to them.”

“First, our leadership has better things to do other than seeing and talking to you. Second, we will not bring any important figures until we confirm that you had no hostile intention against the Sultanate.”

Mey was tempted to use coercion. The odds were in her favor. She knew she could wipe them all with a single cast of Renew and Retribute. If the elves attacked, Protect and Punish would absorb the damage and distribute it back to them. Not to mention that Gray Katie was standing by.

“My friend and I were taken against our will,” Mey said, gesturing at Gray Katie. “I seek a way to bring us home, to return us where we should be. I deem your people capable of such a feat.”

“That sounds like what a Wanker sleeper agent would say.”

“I'm sorry?”

“You are now under suspicion of collaboration with the enemy of the Sultanate. We will detain you here and ignore your alleged plea for help.” The soldier said staunchly.

“Kun skimmers!” One of the elves said.

The soldiers turned around as soon as the birds landed. There were eight of them.

Gray Katie shot at one of the birds’ heads with her PHASE cannon, disintegrating it. The tank turned her tri-barreled machine gun at the others and neutralized another two in quick succession. The birds fell back at the racket that Gray Katie was raising. The elves cowered behind their shields.

Mey switched the labels on the elves into ‘friendly’ and labeled the birds ‘hostile’. Her core burned as her raised right hand glowed pale golden. A thin lancet rod materialized in front of Mey. Its bursting pale golden light intimidated the birds. The elves flinched as a glowing wisp whizzed before their feet. The wisp circled outward, eventually enclosing the orange birds. Five glitching light tethers linked the birds to the hovering lancet rod. The birds collapsed one by one, shrieking with dying voices. Gray Katie put them out of their misery.

Mey inhaled deeply. The elves gazed at her again with wider eyes. The secretary configured her neuromodules so that they could automatically label the birds, kun skimmers, as ‘hostile’ in the future.

The officer approached her. “You…” he said, his entire body shaking. “You were the one who saved us down there on the plantation? That pale blue light…and your golden glow…”

“The blue light was hers,” Mey said, gesturing at Gray Katie. “Go ahead and thank her.”

“Praise the Almighty Three…” The officer walked closer to Gray Katie and prostrated. “Thank you.”

The rest of the soldiers followed his gesture.

Mey gazed at the elves awkwardly. She was against the idea of anyone presenting themselves like this before her. That honor belonged only to the Primus. Still, Mey was open to a little veneration.

Mey turned her attention to the tank. Gray Katie sent a joyful emoji through the private text channel. Mey chuckled briefly.

“Can I speak to your leader now?” Mey said gently to the officer.

The officer ran to his superior. The army general invited Mey and Gray Katie to their camp. He offered to show the way, so Mey let him and his aides ride on top of Gray Katie. The nervous faces of the elves as the tank cruised were quite amusing.

There was a fort near their camp: Fort Ndelosor. It sat on top of a hill with a gradual slope. The star-shaped fort had dark gray walls and diamond-shaped crenellations. It spanned an area equal to a square filled with twenty-five Gray Katie placed side by side. The battlements were one and a half times taller than the tank. The tip of the towering citadel at the center was decorated with a golden crescent.

The general told her that he was going to let his superior acknowledge her request. He couldn’t guarantee that it would be immediately adhered to, and warned that Mey had to wait at least a month.

In the meantime, Mey asked to be left alone. The secretary reclined on the slope of Gray Katie’s turret. It was as uncomfortable as being seated inside. She worried about explaining her absence without official leave to the Primus, but there was nothing she could do about it. Mey inhaled deeply. At least she could breathe freely and enjoy the light gray sky.

For the first time since the Primus came to power, Mey was free.

The secretary became a sight for local passersby. They all gazed at her as if she were their Gods.

On the seventh day after she arrived at Fort Ndelosor, a cavalry contingent came for them. The chief approached the secretary and her tank with a stern gaze. It was another day at work for him. He introduced himself as Colonel Tangguh Pakem Unggah Ungguh, and said that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Sultanate looked forward to seeing her on the condition that she traveled to his whereabouts. Mey was impressed at how it took faster than she had expected. She then asked the colonel why she had to go there, hoping that sloth wasn’t the reason. Tangguh’s answer was baffling.

They caught a pair of giants whose clothes were similar to hers.