[06.11.AC0119]

[A hundred miles away from the Earthland Border]

The road was fairly silent save for the low noises made by a group of runaways on a stolen Military Truck to ensure a means of escape from Earthland and start a new life elsewhere far from the War between Earthland and Urdheimr.

At the Steering wheel was the young 17-year-old Gilbert Throne leading this group of defectors who chose to go with him on this borderline suicidal mission for a better life for all of them. The fresh wind blew through his reddish brown hair as he kept his brown eyes on the horizon. As they were driving through the Titania Valley and into the lands beyond. But he had one problem in mind.

They were running out of gas.

“Think we'll make it through the valley?” One of the fellow Defectors asked him as she peered out of the window of the truck.

“Not even sure if we'll make it through this mile.” Gilbert said as he checked the fuel gauge of the Truck and turned to everyone who overheard their conversation. “Get ready everyone, we'll probably have to take the rest on foot so pack up.”

They nodded, reluctantly, and decided to start packing up bringing only their essentials. While they had fuel, they were saving it to keep warm from the Vestigian cold.

Eventually true to what Gilbert had predicted, the truck finally ran out of fuel. He sighed as he nodded to his seatmate who in turn nodded to everyone at the back as they all grabbed their bags and started their long walk.

The small group began making their way through what appears to be a massive flower field of what appears to be blue flowers. Gilbert hesitated as it would be a shame to walk through such beautiful scenery but he had no other choice.

As he stepped through the flowerfield, he felt a presence gazing over him, something he developed after spending five years fighting Mages during the Earthland-Urdheimr War. He turned to find what appears to be a pigeon watching over him but he paid it no mind as he continued to walk through the flower field alongside his companions.

They continued to walk through the flower field until all of them tensed up. They were all hardened soldiers during the war so naturally they have what they joke is a sixth sense as they turned to find themselves facing Earth Golems rising up and looming over them all the while a handful of young men and women ran towards them holding Halberds and spears, they all look relatively with white hair and red eyes with the only thing different are the variations of their hair, height and other bodily functions.

They all raised their weapons, Gilbert himself readied his battle rifle but they knew it was deep down it was gonna be a losing battle as their main weapons are nothing to more than a 7.62 MM Rifle and M1911s, it sure they can take down the Homunculi but can they stand a chance with the Golems and Skeletons without the Armor Piercing Rounds?

“Well well, looks like we have some rats in the Garden.” They all turned to the pigeon that was perched atop of one of the golem and transformed into a young woman.

She was 17 years old just like Gilbert, a beautiful young woman with deep purple hair and purple eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses which itself is hidden behind a veil as she gave them a rather mocking look as though she was pleased with herself in trapping them.

From her sleeve she pulled out a wand, everyone tensed up. Wielders of a wand or staff meant she was a Mage, and while the quality of her wand does not determine her quality in skill they are still a threat regardless.

Immediately Gilbert raised one hand and dropped his rifle to the ground. Even if he tried to fight her and her security it would only cause so much death.

“You know I've been following you since you entered the valley,” She said, waving her wand proudly. "So who are you people and what brings you into my domain."

“We mean you no harm," Gilbert said, raising his hands towards her in surrender all the while gesturing at the rest of his group to disengage and to lower their weapons as well. "We are no longer aligned with Earthland and we are just passing through the area."

The girl was silent for a moment, as though she was pondering what to do next.

"How can you prove your innocence? You say that you are no longer affiliated with the Earthlanders but you wear their clothes and use their weapons." She said, aiming her wand at him.

"That's because we Defected," Gilbert explained to her.

"Like deserters?" The Girl concluded her general disposition changed from distrustful to pity.

"That's correct, we ran away from our duties cause we have grown tired from fighting your people." Gilbert explained to her. "Ever heard of the Siege of Krieg?"

"Who hasn't," The Girl said in a low voice, the Siege of Krieg was perhaps the bloodiest battle within the history of the battle between Earthland and Urdheimr. A five year long siege where they turned the vibrant and lush lands of Krieg into a polluted hellscape where only the dead walk the land.

"We spent five years in that hellhole and those five years gave us the realization to leave Earthland." Gilbert explained to her as they all collectively nodded. It was true, they thought once the Siege of Krieg was over they could all go home as Citizens of Earthland with access to live within the inner parts of the walls of Earthland.

Instead they were told to pack up and make their way towards the next warzone which was just as bad if not worse than the last battle. So instead of mounting up and driving to that particular warzone. Gilbert and his defectors rebelled and chose to head elsewhere.

"I know your people and my people have been at war for nearly ten years now," Gilbert said, approaching the girl only to be halted by her Homunculi Guards. "All we ask is to seek shelter for the time being and then we'll be leaving at first light."

The Girl was silent for a moment, she looked at the horizon and then sighed as she glanced at Gilbert. 

"We have a barn nearby, you can rest for the night but I want you gone at first light." She said as she turned around summoned a brook and flew away before Gilbert could utter a thank you to her as they too were ushered by the Golems and Homunculi to the barn where they would be staying.

[VESTIGE: SUNRISE]

Gilbert couldn't sleep that night, he was restless especially considering this was the first time he was able to sleep with a roof over his head. His companions however had different opinions of the matter as they were sleeping soundly despite everything that had happened that day.

With a smile, Gilbert stood up and made his way out of the Barn all the while he was being followed by a Smaller Golem which was part of the agreement of the Girl to Gilbert. They can stay and move around but only when they are kept under surveillance. He reluctantly agreed but considering they needed shelter to keep them safe from the Prana Beasts, monsters that feed off on Prana which resides in all living things, this was a sacrifice worth doing.

As he continued making his way up the hill that overlooked the entire Estate of the Girl, he noticed up a hill the Girl staring at something and with a happy smile on her face. Gilbert hesitated, he wanted to check out what she was doing but at the same time he didn't want to intrude on what it was. However it was too late as the girl saw him and scowled, she pulled out her wand and aimed it at him causing a red sphere to manifest at the tip of her wand.

Stolen novel; please report.

The small red sphere struck him in the chest, sending him rolling down the hill and knocking him unconscious. As soon as Gilbert regained consciousness the girl gripped him by the collar of his shirt and aimed her wand at him.

"What did you see?" She told him with a serious look.

"Nothing, I didn't see anything." He said realizing that the best thing he can do is pretend that he didn't see anything. For all he knew she might be practicing some shady magic spells but he decided to not press it since he's just here for the night.

His answer appeared to be enough to satisfy the Girl as she pulled her wand away and aimed at him once more.

"Good, now another question." She said as she was charging another spell. "Why are you out here?"

"I'm just going for a walk, can't you see that I'm unarmed?" Gilbert answered, raising his hands up in surrender. She was silent for a few moments and then holstered her wand once more and then looked at Gilbert.

"Fine, but only if you are within my line of sight." She said coldly, and so the two of them stood around wondering what to do next until finally Gilbert spoke up.

"So what brought you to this side of nowhere?" Gilbert said as he thought maybe he can get her to open up at the very least.

"I have a mission and you have yours, I suggest we both stick to it." The Girl replied.

"Not even your name?" Gilbert asked.

"You are a visitor, there is no need for us to become close." The Girl responded, but then an explosion shook the ground causing them to turn towards the direction of the Barn.

"What was that?!" They both asked each other but they both quickly rushed to the Barn and to their surprise a handful of Earthlandian Stormtroopers forcibly rounded up Gilbert's group and were throwing them into the Mobile Vanguard Carrier-13 known essentially as MVC-13 Zeus.

"You brought them here!" The Girl shouted at Gilbert aiming her wand at him.

"Look you can blame me for all you want but I'm going to--"

The ground erupted before him as the Stormtroopers fired their explosive rounds at them, behind him an Earth Golem protected the Girl from the incoming volley of explosive rounds.

Gilbert quickly recovered from the explosion and then tackled the nearby Stormtrooper, grabbed his rifle and began to fire back at the Stormtroopers that were present.

Fortunately the Stormtroopers were nothing more than Grunts that were sent to round them up until Gilbert managed to take them all out with ease, one of the skills he had developed during his time in Krieg all the while the girl cast various spells to kill as many Stormtroopers as possible. Despite their valiant efforts in trying to stop the Stormtroopers from Gilbert's people, they were then taken away by the Stormtroopers.

And then they heard the metal groaning and Gilbert went pale as he knew it was a familiar sound all the while the girl gripped her wand tightly as she summoned as many Earth Golems as possible.

It was the groaning sound of a Terminator Walker, a 12-meter tall walking tank with a 120 mm Rifle for one arm and a three-fingered claw.

"This is just overkill!" Gilbert shouted as he opened fire at the Terminator who started to move back. One of the Golems appeared and dragged Gilbert away as they sprinted to the top of the hill where he saw the Girl around an Ash tree that was hidden with illusion magic. But what was more interesting was that there was a sword embedded on the tree as though it was asking it to be pulled.

"We need to protect this tree!" The Girl said as she hopped off the Golem and started approaching the tree causing her to let out a sigh of relief. But before Gilbert can ask what that tree is and its importance, the Terminator Walker arrives and looked at the two of them.

Gilbert turned around and started to fire the remaining ammunition he had with 7.62 MM Rifle but the Terminator Walker simply shrugged it off and punched Gilbert sending him flying towards the Tree causing the sword to dislodge itself and land on top of his lap.

The Sword had a silver blade with intricate runes that were likely Urdheimr in origin, it's cross guard was pure gold while the handle was dark blue. He looked at the sword with confusion all the while the Girl and her Golems charged at the Terminator.

But because the Golems aren't made of the same material as the ones used for War, the Terminator easily ripped through them with ease and then the girl unleashed thorn vines and begin to envelop themselves around to the Terminator as though it was trying to crush the machine but once more the Terminator Walker did not move.

'Screw this, living is overrated anyway.' Gilbert thought as he grabbed the sword and ran towards the Terminator and with a shout, swung the sword which caused a massive wave of energy sending the Terminator Walker flying through the air and crashing into the ground the impact killed the pilot in the process.

Gilbert, on the other hand, was sent flying back into the tree by the blast caused by the Sword, knocking him unconscious once more. The last thing he saw was the sight of the sword vanishing in golden mist.

[VESTIGE: SUNRISE]

Gilbert woke up with a start, panting heavily as he remembered the sounds of fighting that were happening earlier. And yet he found himself on a soft bed in a splendid room much to his confusion, his thoughts linger not to the luxurious things and comfort the room provided but to his companions who came with him to make it this far.

The doors to the room opened to reveal the girl alongside a Homunculus Maid and several other guards.

"Glad you're awake," She said with a stern look on her face. It was clear that she didn't come to check on him out of concern but because they still had a job to do. It was the same kind of look his higher-ups from back in his days as a Stormtrooper would give him when waking him up.

"I assume you're here to want the sword back?" Gilbert said, looking for the sword that he had managed to acquire during the chaos of the fight but for some reason the sword was nowhere to be found.

“What sword?” She gave him a confused look as though he had head trauma. He was about to explain the situation but then he remembered his people were still captured and he needed to save them.

The last thing his people need is to be labelled as spies and sympathizers from Urdheimr, and the government of Earthland has the ‘The Truth can be whatever I want’ mentality when it comes to propaganda, but then again that is the point of propaganda.

“Nothing, but thanks for your hospitality but I have to save my people,” Gilbert said standing up as he felt something tighten around his neck as he gripped his neck and felt nothing, yet something was tightening around his neck like a noose.

“You really think I would let you go scot free after the mess you caused on my property?” She said with an angry tone in her voice as Gilbert dropped to the ground as he was struggling to breathe.

The Girl took the tray and placed it on the table nearby and took a sip of the tea and then crushed the cup on her hands.

“You have no idea how hard it is to make sure this home of mine is safe, unsullied from the War between those fools in Urdheimr and Earthland.” She continued as Gilbert was starting to lose consciousness, eventually she raised her finger causing the magical noose around him to loosen causing Gilbert to cough and struggled to looked at her with confusion.

“I didn't mean…to…bring them…here…” Gilbert said with a hoarse voice and slowly started taking deep breaths. But he started to float and was thrown to the wall all the while the Homunculi wordlessly just stood there with blank stares.

Gilbert curled into a fetal position as his body ached from the pain of being slammed against the wall.

“Please…I didn't—”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t turn you into fertilizer right now?” She said gesturing him to come towards her general direction.

“Cause they’re all I have left!” Gilbert shouted towards her. “I made a promise to them that I would take them to somewhere far from the war, I’ll gladly do whatever you want just please let me save them.”

“Whatever you want huh?” The Girl pondered on those words as the two locked eyes for a moment, his brown eyes meeting her purple eyes. He wasn’t lying and she could tell, his eyes showed not deception but of genuine honesty and then there was the thing from last night.

“Be thankful that those Earthlandian Soldiers broke into my home and stole my research during the chaos,” The Girl lied, believing that if he was able to do such a thing as before then it would be best to keep him at arms length just in case.

“I’ll help you recover your companions but on the condition that you become by servant indefinite.” She said pulling out her wand and aiming it at him, causing a collar to appear around his neck.

“That’s an arcane collar, under normal circumstances that would kill you if you so much as to step outside my Territory.” The Girl said with a stern look on her face. “And you can only leave if I say so or with my supervision.”

She walked towards him and grabbed him by the Arcane Collar and pulled him close to her face, she was a few inches shorter than him. “This means you belong to me know do you understand.”

“I understand, I’ll gladly offer my services to you if it meant saving my people.” Gilbert said with a nod causing her to let go of him,  “A small price to pay for keeping them safe.”

“Good, now then.” She then turned around and crossed her arms. “Tell me your name.”

“Gilbert,” Gilbert then proceeded to kneel before her and offered his hand. “GIlbert Throne.

“Bael,” The girl said shaking his hand. “Bael Ashford.”

And thus their Master-Servant Relationship began.

[VESTIGE: SUNRISE]

Author’s Note: So begins a new story, I’ll look forward to see how this goes and for the time being I’ll try to post a follow-up on this story.