“Hey-! Hey!”
We heard a voice on the other side of the collapsed rocks.
“Are you guys in there!? Let me in!”
Muffled, but clearly discernable as Cleff’s voice, the adventurer who not hours earlier had been dragged off. Not me or Berein moved, or even reacted. We knew full well that there was no chance in hell Cleff was still alive, certainly not with dozens of meters of collapsed rock in between us and the entrance to the tunnel. We’d heard scampering and clawing over the past couple hours, that was probably the beasts trying to dig away at the rocks to get to us. Evidently from the rumbling, constantly falling earth, they were having trouble. I just hope they keep having trouble, at least until Alisson wakes up.
His body was getting cold, his skin as pale as paper, and sure enough it was pretty cold in the tunnel. I’d long started a small fire, because my body heat was evidently proving not enough to keep him warm.
Breaking a cardinal rule, no fires in Freigat, was a forgivable offense when it was to keep Alisson safe. And especially when we were in a defensible enough position, only having one path that beasts could come from at present. At our backs, rocks defended us, and at our front, the dark embrace of hundreds of meters of a tiny, barren tunnel awaited. This was as good a chance that all of us were going to get to regenerate our mana and heal our wounds; If one could ignore the scampering behind the rocks and the occasional plea from ‘Cleff’.
I don’t know exactly what the future holds. In the span of just under four days we’ve lost everyone. The entire expedition of adventurers, destroyed and scattered, Dane killed protecting me and Berein, Rei killed kiting monsters away from the rest of Crimson, Patsel dragged off and disemboweled, Cleff taken away, Jachne eviscerated where she stood…
I was hesitant to add Amelathet to that list. With her limp body, giggly composure, and deliriousness, I don’t think we’ll be getting her back to normal anytime soon.
It’s just me and Alisson again. Well, and Berein. She hasn’t said a word since we escaped. She saw Alisson’s Opensen, and watched her fellow comrades die one by one. It’s incredible she’s still sane, with how little willpower she’s displayed over the last week.
Well, it’s Alisson’s call: Whether or not to cut Amelathet and Berein loose.
In the meantime, I’ve been honing my blades, buffing out my armor and trying clean it all down of filth the best I can. Clean gear is happy gear. When I went to clean off Enhérejär in Alisson’s stead, I saw for my own eyes that despite all its use, it was practically flawless. Grabbing Enhérejär must’ve awoken something in Alisson, because in the minutes following, he stirred.
…
Alisson warily sat up, rubbing his eyes. Feeling an intense headache, he put his hand to his forehead, his eyes cringing.
“Easy. You’re exhausted.”
He heard a voice almost directly in his ear and was surprised to find Celis holding him from behind. His muscles ached from fatigue, and he felt the acute phantoms of wounds that had only recently been healed over. He felt sluggish, but oddly refreshed.
“What’s going on?”
Alisson asked tepidly after gulping down some water.
“You’ve been asleep for only a few hours. Nothing happened, but they’re getting closer.”
Alisson looked warily to the rock wall.
They must be tearing away out our little barricade. We’ll need to get moving soon…
Noticing Berein, Alisson attempted to wiggle out of Celis’s grip, giving a small groan of disapproval. Celis reluctantly inched away from him, letting him free. Berein had her eyes locked onto Alisson, as if he were a dangerous animal, moments away from attacking her.
Well, that wasn’t far from the truth; depending on how Berein would react. He needed to assess her. She had seen him use his Opensen, and thus by extension, would know what he was.
He took a couple more gulps of water and shook his head. He then locked his eyes with Berein.
“Berein Viven Alnul.”
Berein jumped when she heard her full name. Probably because she’d never told Alisson, but she had told Celis.
He took a deep breath.
“You probably know what I am now.”
Berein’s eyes widened, and she hesitantly opened her mouth.
“Y-you’re…Nekomata.”
Alisson nodded slowly.
“And so is Ferris.”
Berein gasped, and her face contorted into shock. She warily looked to Celis, who had a dark expression.
“S-so…does that mean you’re going kill me now?”
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Alisson closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Berein’s face broke into melancholy, like she was about to cry. Alisson looked perplexed at her. She evidently was expecting the response, and it seemed she had already accepted her fate.
“No matter what happens,” Alisson started, “The Berein Viven Alnul you once were is dead. Do you understand?”
Her eyes tearing up, Berein shook her head reluctantly. A long few moments passed. Alisson took a deep breath.
“There is of course a way for you to live another life.”
Berein stopped sobbing, and looked up to Alisson with a glimmer in her eyes, her mouth parted in surprise. Alisson liked the reaction he got. He took another deep breath, and stared down Berein.
“As of this moment, you are now Sidonian property. Your life, your body, your power, everything you are, now belongs to Sidonia. If you cannot agree to this, then die. I’ll let you take your own life if you choose, you have been helpful to us after all.”
Berein stared down into the ground, her eyes wide, clutching her staff.
“Is…i-is that my only option?”
Alisson sighed.
“You already know of what we are. I cannot let you live; But I can allow you to serve us, and take you under our wing.”
Berein stared into the fire for a long few minutes.
“…So I’ll basically be your slave?”
“Well…yes, I suppose. Unless you survive all the way back to Sidonia, in which case I’m sure you’d be made a proper Sidonian. After that, your future would be your own, as long as it was with Sidonia.”
Berein suddenly cracked up into a smirk, and then suddenly chuckled to herself.
“What is it? I’m quite sure the decision you have before you is not a laughing matter.”
Berein looked up at them.
“Well, no…It’s funny is all. I’ve been terrified being an adventurer…I’m terrified now…but everything I’ve done…It’s been for my sister…to free her…but here I’ve gone and gotten myself enslaved too…”
Alisson didn’t reply. A long few minutes passed when Berein once again locked eyes with Alisson.
“…I’ll do it. I’m…I’m yours…”
Berein said slowly, her body quivering. Alisson raised an eyebrow.
“Know that sticking to us is your best option for surviving through this Jungle. You will listen to every word we say and do exactly as we order you. Your life will not be your own. Do you understand?”
She slowly nodded. Alisson, watching her expression, nodded in approval.
Out of everyone in Crimson, Patsel was the one who had the most likeness to Alisson, followed closely by Berein, just based on their personalities for being Sidonian assets. If it had been any other adventurers, Alisson wouldn’t have bothered, because they wouldn’t have accepted anyways. If a Sidonian came asking you to join them, it was because you had quite the good chance of saying yes.
With this, Berein’s future was now decided. She would be one of Alisson’s pieces, a mere card in his hand.
But, the question remained, what to do with that?
Alisson peered over to Amelathet, who was laying down with a crazed smile, muttering things to herself, her eyes dull. Seeing that Celis noticed his gaze, he thought aloud:
“What should we do about Amelathet?”
Celis shook her head.
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do. None of us have the medical experience or tools.”
If Patsel were alive, then whatever afflicting Amelathet would probably be a trivial matter. Alisson was really starting to regret his death; a medic was always useful. A canary too. Amelathet did her job though, right up until the end, what’s more to ask of her?
“S-she might be in pain…”
Berein said, and the thought suddenly crossed Alisson’s mind. The three of them looked to each other for a long moment.
“Her bag.” Berein started, “There’s pills in there that we all carry.”
Alisson nodded sternly. Her searched Amelathet’s person, and found a small case. Parting her mouth with a hand, he put its contents into her cold, dry mouth. Alisson didn’t bother to try and make her swallow it. It would dissolve into her blood stream faster in her mouth anyway. He closed her eyes with a swipe of his hand.
When he sat back down next to Celis, near the fire, he once again laid his vision on Berein.
“Now I suppose you have a right to know what we’re here for. Me and Ferris are here to scout out a certain structure in this very jungle, and find a way inside. It’s probably somewhere quite deep in Freigat.”
Berein’s mouth furrowed.
“You were sent all the way up here just to find something? You risked your lives and infiltrated an adventurer team just to carry out orders?”
“Yes.”
Alisson responded coldly.
“Y-you…you led our team here on purpose…they all died because…”
“Because of me, yes.”
Berein looked at him with pity.
“How can you be so…so…”
Alisson interjected.
“What we are looking for has a massive strategic importance to our Lady. Whatever it is, it warranted her sending me and my apprentice. Anymore would be too noticeable. Do you remember those Andestinians you saw when you were out with us? They’re here for us.”
Berein’s expression darkened.
“If you have any predisposition to killing your fellow man and making an enemy of the world’s superpower…”
Berein rose her hands as if trying to wave away Alisson’s supposition.
“N-no! Not at all!”
She was terrified. Good. It was better than being rebellious. Goodness knows where that’s gotten people in her situation. Alisson had employed humans this way a few times before, but never was he so alone as he was now. He only had Celis with him, when normally he’d’ve either had Rickard or at least a squad of his 51st by his back.
“Good. If the time comes then know that I expect you to have no hesitation. But, as I stated, we will be heading deeper into Freigat.”
Berein immediately had an objection.
“There’s plenty of ruins in Freigat, how will you know which one it is? And how would you even find it in this massive place?”
“It will have a certain symbol on it. As to finding it, we’ll take a gander.”
Berein stared at Alisson with wide eyes, not believing his nonchalance.
“For now though, get some rest.” He looked to Celis. “That means you too.”
Celis, who had been watching silently, was suddenly brought to life. She opened mouth to object, but Alisson was faster.
“You need the sleep,” Alisson grabbed Celis’s hand, “Look, you’re shaking. You’ve done well enough watching over me, now it’s my turn.”
Celis looked away with a frown, reluctantly nodding.
As the two of them tried to get some shut eye in the darkness of the tunnel, with the soon to be corpse of an ally resting near them, Alisson sat back against the rock wall, crossing his arms. He could acutely feel his muscles and tire at his eyes. He could sense every nick and dent in his armor, every abrasion and puncture that it had sustained. Truly his and Celis’s armor was in terrible shape by his standards. To human standards, quite normal. But he preferred armor in perfect condition, perhaps he was too needy.
He heard the cries of Cleff on the other side of the wall. Or at least, the beast that was mimicking his voice. It was doing a good job of it, whatever it was, but it wouldn’t fool any of them. It could even be a succubus, now that Alisson thought about it. One glimpse at his memory of the relative hospitality of the one in those fields abraded that idea however.
Alisson could only wonder what the future held for them. He felt that they were close to their objective. He couldn’t begin to guess what it was. Perhaps they’d find out soon enough, through whatever the darkness of the tunnel held for them, and through whatever blood they had to spill on the way there.
***