"Where is this place exactly?" he asked as they were led through a dense forest that could only be described as a maze after they had seen them take make many branching paths, those of which didn't look different from the other path in the forest.

Yet after trekking the forest for half an hour, they came to a small town in seclusion behind the dense trees. A wide clearing could be an understatement, but there were small lodges here and there made of wood, other establishments that have special uses, but it is as if they were led into a society hidden from the outside world.

"I will tell you everything later. But for now, why don't you both come in and settle yourselves. I would very much like to know you both more, and serve you some treats," she said happily, walking alongside Laruse, closer than Cecil, making her do the same inexplicably.

There were others walking about, giving her friendly smiles and greetings, while they gave Laruse and Cecil curious and wry looks, becoming cautious towards them all of a sudden.

She led them after dismissing those that she was with, escorting them to a place that had a wooden signboard with a red cross on it, exiting and resuming what she had to do.

"This is where all the matters are handled. I will explain, so do not worry about it for now," she opened the door to a tall, two-story, wooden structure being guarded by two others in armor, not looking to be alike, but simple, random armor.

They came to a spacious room where a wide square table stood, and on it were a clutter of papers, books, maps, and many other things which she tidied up, putting in one spot with the others, dusting the table off right away.

The light came in from several directions of the room, a cool and warm breeze passing through one of it, fluttering the curtains.

"Please, sit. There is much I want to ask you. But wait here. I will get what I promised," she ushered them into their own seats which they took graciously, then leaving for another room.

"I wonder what we've gotten ourselves into again, Cecil," he said, examining the room, which looked normal despite what his gut tells him.

"I don't know, Laruse. But what I'm more amazed of is this small town inside the forest. It's just like the Yavelian city."

"You've been there?"

"Well, yeah. I had to. We were on a mission, and were allowed passage by the tribe."

As they talked amongst themselves, she came back with a tray and an ornate set of tea cups filled with a hot beverage of some sort, one that emitted a fragrant aroma.

"Indulge yourselves, please," she gave them the cups one by one.

"Tell me, what is this place exactly. There's a lot of questions in my head, but I don't think I'll be bombarding you with it. So how about you explain it yourself?" he said, sipping from the beverage, heaving an exhausted sigh, expressing his content face from the comfort of the beverage.

"Forgive me. Keep you in the dark was not my intention. I wanted to at least calm things before I could explain it. So I will. I am the daughter of Palas's former governor, Samuel Noire. This is a place we have built for those who sought freedom from the oppression of the revolutionaries. Their acts when they first took control of the city was heinous, murdering many and justifying it as a path to be paved for the next generation. I and many other created this organization in order to combat that."

"Against the revolution, huh? I thought it was founded on the government of Palas."

"That is what many others think. But here we are now. We have been operating after the revolution begun its inhuman acts of subjugating people to their faction. Have you heard of what happened in Civil? A massacre, both the civilians and the revolutionary army, dead, and no one knows who did it. But it was stated that the revolutionary army indeed purged the city, leaving nothing."

"Well, how's the entire effort going?"

"Not well. We have been trying to scrape by, but for now, the only thing we can do is supply Port CIty Harrick with weapons and rations, and hope for it to withstand its ground and hold back the army. We have lost too many already due to attacks. Not many here are experienced with battling, and we only have a few who are capable. Now, it brings us to here. I have thought it through while you are here, but I want to ask you. Will you join us? With your skill, we are sure to succeed," she said calmly, looking sternly at Laruse.

"Sure, why not."

"Thank goodness," she smiled, holding her hands near her chest.

Suddenly, a man barged into the door, making a loud crashing sound as he came in fuming.

"I won't allow this! I don't care if you're strong and all that. Your just here to take advantage of people's good will, like every other person out there. You'll have to go through me if you want that to be approved!" he said, making Ophelia's head turn in surprise.

"Cedric?! What are you doing here? You're still injured. There will be no fighting!" she protested, standing and scolding him.

"Fine. Who will I be fighting? I doubt it'd be the injured man in front of me," Laruse said nonchalantly.

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"So you're not a coward after all. Good. Unfortunately, you'll be fighting me still. Don't think I'm weak since I'm injured. I'll knock you down," he exited, opting Laruse to follow.

Coming back to the streets, there lay a small, round arena consisting of the people working here, gathering around, anxious and informed of what will be happening by the looks of it.

There Cedric stood with his sword in one hand, and the other in a cast, preventing him from moving efficiently.

Laruse stepped forward, drawing his sword as the people around them looked at him in awe; his entire being emitting an aura of his strength.

He stood opposite of Cedric, waiting for him to make a move.

"Start whenever you want," he said, standing without a form of his sword.

"Cedric please stop this! There is no need to go to such lengths. Settle this with words and you might find him as a good person. Not everyone wants to take advantage of each other. Please understand that there are those out there who are more than willing to help the cause," she said as she stood by the door, pleading.

"Just watch Ophelia. If you believe that he can do the impossible, then I'll win this for you. I'll admit that I was frustrated when I saw him flaunting his strength that time in the forest, but that's not enough to stop me from doing anything that is necessary," he said facing Ophelia, who stood at the headquarters’ doorstep.

"That so? Alright, Cecil. Heal him please," Laruse said, surprising the crowd, and Cedric.

"W-what are you saying?! Are you looking down at me?!"

"Just shut it. It's meaningless if they see that I beat you while you're injured."

Cecil approached him, placing her hand over his injured arm, creating a green, calm light that shrouded and invigorated the man's senses, fully healing his injury.

"Her healing's top notch, so don't even try to blame her if anything bad happens to you. Everything that does happen to you is now solely your fault, got it? Now if you're done, come at me and back your words up."

He gritted his teeth, feeling his sword with both hands, assuring that his injuries had indeed gone away, doing a few practice swings, those of which surprised the crowd, seeing Cecil's effective healing prowess.

He looked at him, immediately rushing quickly to Laruse's astonishment.

Yet he only saw a reckless drive of anger flowing through, making it easy for him to detect what he could do.

Once the gap had closed, Laruse defended himself with his sword using only one hand while Cedric used both, cleaving and cutting at the wind in a fit.

There he thought to test him a bit, redirecting his sword's path every time he would slice at him.

"Stop going on the defensive! Are you not going to do anything, huh? Or is that all you're capable of?" Cedric tried intimidating him as he used his messy foot work to try and get past his defenses.

"If that's what you want, then take this!" Laruse pushed his opponent's sword away as they locked blades, giving him room to rush faster than Cedric ever thought possible for a man, closing the gap in a single step.

Laruse had dashed past him, stopping behind Cedric, who was wide open.

With a twist of his body, Laruse struck the ground with his sword, leaving it there, taking Cedric's sword arm and gripping it tightly, disarming him.

He then kicked the back of his leg, forcing him to the ground on one leg, and finally, he took the sword he had struck the ground with, and placing it near Cedric's neck, inches away to cut at his cleanly.

"This means that you lose, doesn't it?" said Laruse, standing triumphantly before him, and letting him go afterwards.

"Fine, do what you want," he said, standing up and dusting himself off, walking away briskly into in one of the buildings.

"Well, I guess that settles that. Looking forward to be working with you, Ophelia," he walked towards her, extending his hand which she shook.

"I-I'm sorry for that, Laruse. I hope that you will still be able to befriend him after that. He means well, but it's just that he's gone through a lot in the past," she cast her head down with a sincere apology.

"Ah, don't be like that. It's making me feel guilty for winning. Don't worry, this isn't going to stain anything between us. I'll do something about it once his anger boils down."

"But you truly are strong. You did not even flinch at any of his attacks, defending with simplicity and a cool mind. I wonder how you got to be so strong."

"I don't know either. I can't say for sure if it's about constant training, or something else. But what happens now? An initiation?"

"Ah, I'm afraid we are short on people today, so I will be the one introducing you around here. I hope that you're alright with me," she smiled curtly, standing in an upstanding and gentle manner, tugging at his heartstrings.

"We'll be more than happy to, right Cecil?"

Instead, Cecil gave Laruse a scowl in response, nodding anyway as she remembered his natural antics of trying to impress women and the like.

Night had come, and Laruse stood in front of their lodge house, feeling the winds blowing by peacefully; the moon high up above, concealed by a few clouds.

It was just then that Ophelia came along, surprised as she saw him standing by alone.

"Laruse?! I thought you'd be asleep by now. Is something the matter?" she spoke gently, taking small steps as she came to him.

"I should be the one asking you that. on a stroll?"

"O-oh no, I was just passing by," she fidgeted, averting his gaze, instead looking around everything else.

"Really now. Alright then, how about I interrupt you a bit. Want to sit down here?" he sat on the front porch, patting the spot next to him.

She looked hesitant, but ultimately went to do as she was asked to.

"It looks like you're worried about something. Care to tell a stranger you've just met today your problems?"

She looked at him quizzically, but then gave off a small laugh, understanding what he said.

"Is it that obvious?"

"As clear as the sky. And here I thought that you were just a bundle of joy. Turns out that you have troubles too."

"I think everyone has troubles here and there. But you might just be an exception.

"Why do you think that?"

"it's just when I look at you, it feels like you can do anything that you desire, no having much troubles and difficulty in the midst of anything. You are strong, but from looking at you, I can feel that that's not everything about you... Forgive me, I was just rambling. You might think of me as odd, but I don't think I'd blame you."

"Odd huh? I kind of like that. It's just right. You're just full of small surprises aren't you? But I don't think that's everything, isn't it?" he said, glancing from his side.

"It seems that you're right. But I think that I will keep that part to myself. There are some things that are too much to be said," she stood up from her seat, walking away from the lodge.

"Thank you again, Laruse. You saved me, and I am in debt to you. Good night," her frame disappeared as he saw her off.

"O-Ophelia! So you were here like I thought. Taking a stroll?" Cedric said bashfully, acting differently in front of her, not frustratingly aggressive.

"Cedric? What's the matter? Did something happen?" she said quizically.

"Oh, nothing, it's just that I wanted to see you, as all. I wanted to check up on how you were doing."

"Is that so. I am fine. I was just going back right now from Laruse and Cecil's place."

It all came crashing into him like a strong hammer, waking his psyche.

"Is that so? It looks like it went well, didn't it?" he asked begrudgingly.

"Yes. He truly is a nice person. I would like it if you and him got along. It looks like you and him would be great friends. Good night, Cedric," she bowed curtly, leaving him distraught; his emotions in chaos, but his exterior expressionless and deadpan.