Side story: Missing Alper part 3
Erza Ironheart POV
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"Ugh, where could he be?" I groaned impatiently, dashing through the cave with a golden glowing orb leading the way, illuminating the path before me.
As I sprinted forward, I scrutinized any potential traces Alper might have left—a smattering of bat blood, patches of disturbed earth. The scarcity of signs didn't concern me; instead, my thoughts focused on deciphering Alper's possible maneuvers. Although he was but a child fleeing from potential assailants, the sentient core he carried bestowed upon him a resourcefulness akin to that of an adult. By tracing the direction guided by that core, I hoped to unveil Alper's whereabouts.
After nearly an hour of relentless pursuit, I encountered a fork in the path. Strangely, one route bore the marks of significant damage, as though a colossal force had collided with the cave wall.
"Please be safe, Alper," I whispered in a prayer, following the trail of destruction. Before long, the path opened into a cavernous expanse, with the exit to the cave visible in the distance. Intriguingly, cobwebs adorned the ground, and a discarded spear lay nearby, its tip stained with a hint of blood—an ominous sign of recent use. Hastening to inspect it, I discerned that it was crafted from dirt and stone, a testament to Alper's ingenious resourcefulness.
"Alper..." I uttered his name with a heavy heart before discarding the sentiment, redirecting my focus toward the exit. The pathway bore the unmistakable signs of a forceful breach, as if some colossal entity had forged a passage to the outside world.
Emerging into the open air, I gasped for breath, fatigue settling into my bones after relentless hours of sprinting. Surveying the surroundings for clues, my eyes alighted upon a small camp nestled in the vicinity. A cluster of individuals occupied the space: one lay unconscious, his head wrapped in bandages, while two sat beside him—one rugged, the other unusually slender. Additionally, two individuals were engrossed in examining some mysterious bones.
"Greetings!" I exclaimed, catching my breath. The group turned their eyes toward me, wearing expressions tinged with suspicion, but I paid little heed to their guarded glances. "Apologies for the intrusion, but have any of you seen a child emerge from this cave? White hair, red eyes, innocent and frail, not older than 14. His name is Alper, and I'm desperately searching for him!"
Immediately, I uttered a fervent hope, praying for Alper's well-being. The robust figure, seemingly the group's leader, took the initiative to speak, demanding, "Who are you, and why are you searching for this kid?"
Swiftly, I retrieved my badge, a tangible proof of my affiliation with House Luminari and my role as a Metalweaving teacher. "I'm his Metalweaving instructor. He's the heir of House Luminari, a minor Clan. If you possess any information, I'm willing to make a fair trade for it," I asserted. Nomads by appearance, these individuals held a reputation for prioritizing personal gain, making trade a language they understood well.
"Oh, I see... hahaha, so that's why," the slender man seated next to the leader chimed in, his demeanor shifting abruptly. Suddenly, he erupted into manic laughter, seemingly driven to madness. "THAT'S WHY HE WAS BETTER THAN ME! HE WAS THE HEIR TO A CLAN! HAHAHAHHAHA!"
Baffled by the man's outburst, my irritation rose, and my narrowed eyes signaled my growing impatience. Before I could retort, the group's leader swiftly intervened, delivering a resounding punch to the hysterical man. "I told you to let it go, Kastor!" The thin man crumpled in pain, and the leader, fixing his gaze on me, continued, "I knew from the start that kid was a big shot. So, he belonged to House Luminari, huh?"
As if a weight had been lifted, a yelp of relief escaped me. "He's fine!?" However, my elation was short-lived, replaced by a sense of foreboding when Kain, the leader, cast a sorrowful gaze in my direction.
"More or less," he replied, gesturing for me to join him. "My name is Kain, and unfortunately, I bear some distressing news."
Seated beside him, I listened as Kain unfolded the tale before me—a narrative that left me incredulous. The young lord, Alper, had fallen victim to amnesia, adopting the temporary moniker of Adam in the wake of memory loss. Kain detailed the survival saga Alper had shared—his sojourn in a cave, subsisting on a diet of bugs and bats.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The revelation that struck me with awe, however, was Alper's apparent prowess in crafting Core nodes. Achieving a success rate exceeding 50% without the aid of alchemical machines and tools was already a mark of mastery, yet Alper seemingly effortlessly attained a flawless 100% success rate. The news landed like a bombshell, leaving me stunned and bewildered. Is this why did he frequent alchemy training? What drove him to keep this extraordinary skill hidden? Did his previous teacher have knowledge of it?
A myriad of questions whirled through my mind, but immediate concerns demanded attention. Pulling out my communications tablet, I swiftly contacted the head office, relaying the updated information on Alper. This step was crucial in briefing the soldiers and expediting the search for Alper.
After wrapping up all the necessary tasks, I sprinted toward Stonehaven, the town Kain had directed me to. House Luminari's influence extended to this town, albeit not in abundance; they provided resources, and in return, the town received some much-needed firepower.
Upon arrival, Stonehaven unfolded before my eyes in unexpected grandeur. The town appeared deceptively large, housing a thriving population that easily surpassed the 10,000 mark. The streets sprawled wide, occasionally dotted with vehicles such as bikes, while glimpses of rare cars added an air of distinction. The bustling scene featured towering buildings, a blend of concrete and wood structures, creating a picturesque cityscape. Amidst the lively streets, children played, street vendors peddled their wares, and shops buzzed with activity. Guards, both town and House Luminari, maintained a vigilant presence, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, the automatic glow of streetlights bathed the town in a soft, warm hue.
Now faced with the task of locating a woman named Dona, who apparently dressed like a witch, I reached out to the branch manager responsible for House Luminari's local operations. Following their directions, I eventually arrived at the modest branch. Contrary to the town's expansive demeanor, the branch was surprisingly compact—a three-story structure adorned in sleek white with intermittent accents of golden and yellow, exuding an understated elegance.
Upon entering the small branch, I briefed the staff on the urgency of the situation. A swift organization ensued, forming two teams: a scouting group tasked with on-foot exploration and an interrogating team set to gather information from the locals. The manpower at the small branch dictated the team sizes, leading to a considerable group—13 members, including myself, for interrogation, and 16 for scouting. Despite the limitations, our collective efforts allowed us to pinpoint the location where the young lord might be found. The only hitch: it was already nightfall.
Undeterred, our group of around 30 individuals headed straight for the hospital where Alper was said to be staying. The elusive Dona remained unseen, but we speculated she might have slipped by, returning to her squad.
Upon reaching the hospital, we gathered information from the receptionist and ascended to the fourth floor, the designated location for Alper. As we approached, ominous sounds of crashing objects reached our ears, signaling trouble. Hastily reaching the door, we flung it open, only to be met with an empty room—Alper's supposed location now devoid of any trace of him.
"Huh?" My voice escaped me. The room lay in disarray, with furniture toppled over, including the table, chairs, books, potted plants, and even the bed tilted away. A surge of worry washed over me until I noticed the open window.
"Shit!" I exclaimed, racing to the window, fearing that the assassins had reached Alper first. However, my concern heightened when I saw only a back alley below and nothing else.
"Team Scouts!" I shouted, pointing urgently at the open window. "Search for the young lord or anyone suspicious-looking."
The team of 16 immediately leaped out of the window. I turned to the remaining members, instructing them to interrogate everyone in the building. The urgency of the situation hung thick in the air as our search for Alper intensified.
As soon as everyone left, I couldn't shake the thought of how the assassins might have beaten us to Alper. Scanning the room for any clues or traces left by the young lord, I suddenly felt a watchful gaze on me. My reflexes kicked in, and I swiftly drew my sword, pointing it towards the source of the strange sensation.
The eerie feeling emanated from the corner of the room, yet there was nothing visible. My eyes narrowed as I issued a stern warning, "If you won't come out, I'll slice this entire room in half." I meticulously scanned the surroundings.
But the moment my attention shifted elsewhere, I sensed a rapid movement towards me. Reacting instinctively, I struck at the unseen force, creating a disturbance in the air. As the dust settled, a man of short stature stood before me, adorned in mystical armor. The armor seemed to be crafted from elusive materials, possibly the reason for his previous invisibility.
"Who are you?" I demanded, brandishing my blade threateningly. "Are you the assassin after Alper? Where is he?"
In an attempt to evade my question, he sidestepped, but I swiftly swung my arm down, just the wind pressure alone sliced away a sizable chunk of the building. "You'd find it easier to live if you come to us willingly and tell us everything you know. Otherwise, there are about 13 soldiers in this building and 16 more surrounding this area, as well as 300 more soldiers who have almost arrived in this town. There is no escape."
Once again, I pointed my blade at him. "Who are you?"
Taking a deep breath, he replied in a hauntingly deep voice, "I'm Batman." Before the wall behind him exploded.