Side story: Missing Alper part 3
Erza Ironheart POV
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"Ugh, where could he be?" I muttered through clenched teeth, frustration bubbling as I sprinted through the dim cave. The golden orb I conjured floated ahead, its glow casting long shadows against the jagged walls, illuminating my path with an otherworldly shimmer.
I darted forward, scanning for any signs of Alper—a smattering of bat blood here, patches of disturbed earth there. The clues were sparse but promising. Despite being a child, Alper wasn’t ordinary; the sentient core he carried endowed him with ingenuity and survival instincts far beyond his years. If anyone could outwit an assassin and navigate this labyrinthine cave, it was him. My task now was to piece together his trail.
After what felt like an eternity of running, I arrived at a fork in the path. One direction was relatively untouched, while the other bore signs of chaos. Deep gouges marred the walls, and rocks were scattered about, as if some colossal force had wreaked havoc here.
"Please be safe, Alper," I whispered under my breath, opting for the path of destruction. The trail led me to a cavernous expanse, where the exit was faintly visible in the distance. My eyes widened at the scene before me—cobwebs crisscrossed the ground, a crude spear lay discarded nearby, its tip smeared with a faint trace of blood.
Cautiously, I approached the spear and picked it up. Its construction was rough, made of dirt and stone, but undeniably effective. A small, wry smile tugged at my lips. "Alper... your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me." The thought of him fashioning weapons from the earth itself filled me with a mix of pride and sorrow. He was fighting to survive, but at what cost?
Shaking off the sentiment, I turned my focus to the exit. The pathway bore the unmistakable signs of a violent breach—large cracks and chunks of displaced stone. It was as if some monstrous entity had smashed its way through to the outside.
Emerging into the open air, I greedily inhaled, the cool breeze washing over my sweat-soaked skin. Hours of relentless pursuit weighed heavily on me, but the sight ahead recharged my resolve. A small camp nestled nearby caught my eye. A group of people gathered around a fire: one lay unconscious, his head bandaged, while two others sat beside him—one muscular and broad, the other lanky and lean with a black cape and bandages on his face. A short distance away, a pair of twins appeared to be inspecting a pile of bones, their hushed murmurs carried on the wind.
"Greetings!" I called out, trying to steady my breath after the mad sprint. The group turned to face me, their expressions a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Ignoring their guarded looks, I pressed on. "Apologies for the sudden intrusion, but have any of you seen a child emerge from this cave? White hair, red eyes, around fourteen years old—his name is Alper, and I need to find him urgently!"
The robust man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward, his expression hard. "Who are you, and why are you searching for this kid?" His tone was direct, with no hint of hospitality.
Without hesitation, I reached into my pocket and produced my badge, holding it up as proof of my identity. The insignia of House Luminari gleamed faintly in the light. "I’m his Metalweaving instructor," I explained. "He’s the heir to House Luminari, a minor Clan. If you have any information about him, I’m willing to negotiate a fair trade for it."
I kept my tone firm but respectful. Nomads like these weren’t known for charity, but trade was a language they understood well. I hoped appealing to their pragmatism would yield results.
At first, they exchanged glances. Then the slender man seated beside the leader let out an abrupt, high-pitched laugh. His face twisted with some mix of rage and hysteria, and suddenly he was cackling like a lunatic. "THAT'S WHY HE WAS BETTER THAN ME! HE WAS THE HEIR TO A CLAN! HAHAHAHA!"
I blinked, utterly baffled by his reaction. "What...?"
Before I could make sense of his outburst, the leader turned and clocked him with a punch on the shoulder. "I told you to let it go, Kastor!" he growled as the thin man crumpled, groaning in pain.
Straightening, the leader turned back to me, his eyes sharp and assessing. "I figured from the start that kid was someone important," he said, his tone more measured now. "But belonging to House Luminari... that’s something else."
My heart leapt in my chest. "So he’s alive!?" I exclaimed, hope flooding my voice.
The leader hesitated, his gaze shifting to something far more somber. My stomach churned as I saw a hint of sorrow flicker in his eyes. "More or less," he admitted after a moment, gesturing for me to step closer. "My name’s Kain, and I think you’d better sit down for this. Unfortunately, I have some bad news."
Seated beside Kain, I listened intently as he recounted the events surrounding Alper—or "Adam," as he was now known due to his amnesia. My heart twisted at the thought of the young lord struggling to survive, forging his way through a treacherous cave on a meager diet of bugs and bats. Kain painted a vivid picture of Alper’s resilience, each word sinking deeper into my mind.
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But it was the revelation about Alper’s skill in crafting Core nodes that left me utterly speechless. According to Kain, the boy possessed a flawless 100% success rate in crafting Core nodes—without the benefit of alchemical machines or tools. To put it into perspective, even seasoned alchemists rarely achieved a 50% success rate under ideal conditions. My jaw tightened as the implications hit me. Was this why he was so drawn to alchemy? Why had he kept this talent hidden? Did his alchemical teacher know about this? The flood of questions made my head spin.
Shaking away the flood of questions, I quickly pulled out my communications tablet, the black stone springing to life with a soft glow. With urgency, I relayed all the information I had to the head office, ensuring the soldiers had the most up-to-date intel for the search. This was no longer a simple rescue mission—it was a race against time to secure the future of House Luminari. The assasins could be anywhere, and if they weren’t tricked by Alpers’s plan. Then they were one step ahead.
With the call complete and my directives issued, I sprinted toward Stonehaven, the town Kain had pointed me to. The journey felt endless, my thoughts racing as fast as my feet. Stonehaven was under House Luminari's loose sphere of influence. While not directly controlled, we provided resources, and in turn, the town offered occasional support, particularly in bolstering defenses against the wilds.
When I finally arrived, Stonehaven was far grander than I had anticipated. What I expected to be a small, modest town revealed itself to be a bustling hub. The population likely exceeded 50,000, with wide streets that brimmed with activity. Bikes zipped past, and even the occasional rare car rolled by, a testament to the blend of old-world grit and modern ingenuity. Towering buildings, a harmonious mix of concrete and wood, lined the streets, their architecture both practical and striking.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, streetlights flickered on automatically, bathing the town in a soft, golden glow.
Now, my next mission was clear: locate a woman named Dona, described as dressing like a witch, and pinpoint Alper’s whereabouts. I began by contacting the branch manager responsible for House Luminari’s local operations in Stonehaven. Following their directions, I arrived at the branch—a modest yet sleek three-story structure. Its white walls, accented with touches of gold and yellow, exuded understated elegance, a stark contrast to the town's bustling sprawl.
Inside, I wasted no time briefing the staff on the urgency of the situation. They moved swiftly, organizing two teams: one for scouting on foot and another for interrogating locals. Despite the branch’s limited manpower, we managed to muster 13 members for the interrogation team—including myself—and 16 for the scouts. The small branch worked with impressive efficiency, narrowing down Alper’s likely location. The trail led us to a nearby hospital. However, by then, night had already fallen.
Determined, our group of around 30 individuals moved out, heading directly for the hospital where Alper was reportedly staying. Dona, unfortunately, remained elusive. We speculated she might have slipped away, possibly rejoining her squad. Still, the mission pressed on.
When we reached the hospital, the receptionist quickly confirmed Alper’s presence and directed us to the fourth floor. But as we ascended, ominous crashing noises reached our ears, each thud and clatter adding weight to my already mounting dread. We rushed down the corridor and flung open the door to Alper’s designated room.
What greeted us wasn’t relief—it was chaos.
The room was in complete disarray. The bed was overturned, chairs and tables lay toppled, books scattered across the floor, and potted plants were shattered. Even the window stood wide open, its curtains billowing in the night breeze. My voice escaped me in a confused mutter: “Huh?”
The room was completely empty.
"Shit!" I cursed, rushing to the open window, heart pounding with the thought that assassins might have reached Alper first. But when I peered outside, all I saw was a deserted back alley shrouded in shadows. Not a single figure in sight.
"Team Scouts!" I barked, pointing sharply at the window. "Search the surrounding area! Find the young lord or anyone acting suspicious!"
Without hesitation, the team of 16 leapt into action, disappearing into the night like shadows themselves. Turning back to the remaining group, I issued my next order. "Sweep the building. Question every single person here. Leave no stone unturned."
The room quickly emptied as the interrogators dispersed, leaving me alone with the chaos of overturned furniture and scattered debris. Despite their urgency, unease churned in my gut. What if the assassins had already succeeded? What if we were too late?
My gaze swept across the wreckage, searching for any sign of Alper. My voice dropped to a whisper, almost unbidden: “...Just please be okay, Alper.”
"Huh?"
The faint sound made my entire body go rigid. My hand instinctively gripped the hilt of my sword as I spun toward the corner of the room. There was nothing visible, but the air felt... wrong. My eyes narrowed, and my voice dropped, sharp and threatening. "Show yourself, or I’ll slice this room in half."
The corner remained still, shrouded in silence. But as my focus shifted for a split second, I sensed movement—a flicker, impossibly fast. Without hesitation, I swung my sword, its blade cutting through the air with precision. The impact created a gust that sent dust swirling through the room.
When the dust settled, a figure emerged. Lying on the floor was a short man clad in mystical armor, its design unlike anything I had ever seen. It shimmered faintly, as though crafted from some elusive material that had masked his presence moments ago.
"Who are you?" I demanded, my blade trained on him, unwavering. "Are you the assassin after Alper? Where is he?"
The figure began to push himself off the floor, but I swung my blade again, horizontally this time, slicing through a sizable chunk of the building with ease. "You’d find it easier to live if you surrender and tell me everything you know. Otherwise, there are 13 soldiers in this building, 16 more scouring the area, and 300 reinforcements closing in. Escape is impossible."
I stepped closer, the tip of my blade now inches from him. "I’ll ask you one last time: Who are you?"
The man took a slow, deliberate breath. His reply came in a deep, gravelly voice:
"I'm Batman."
Before I could react, a plume of smoke erupted in the room, shrouding everything in dense, impenetrable fog.