[06.12.AC0119]

[Ashford Homestead]

After that incident in the Homestead, Gilbert and the rest of the Homunculi spent no time in trying to salvage and grab as much equipment as possible. Though truth all of this salvaged equipment was acquired from the corpses of the Stormtroopers that raided them and are to be used by Gilbert since the Homunculi don’t know how to use them and Bael only sees them as nothing more than primitive tools who believe that Mage like her is not suited for it.

As for the Terminator Walker, it was mostly usable but the problem was digging it out of the ditch it landed in and he didn’t have the time to dig it out.

“What are these small things,” Bael said walking towards him as Homunculi proceeded to gather ammunition in boxes.

“Bullets use a certain mixture to fire small metal balls into a particular direction,” Gilbert answered as he started putting on the Stormtrooper armor that fit his size. He then showed her the 7.62 mm battle rifles that he sorted out into crates. “We use these to aim and fire said bullets.”

“Such crude and barbaric,” She commented in a low voice causing Gilbert to chuckle in a low voice.

“Probably, but make no mistake we managed to do a great deal of damage to our enemies,” Gilbert explained to her. “To rescue my people, we’re going to need help from your Golems, Skeletons and a few Homunculi, don’t expect them to come back in one piece.”

“I don’t think so,” Bael said, giving him a cheeky smile as she crossed her arms while picking up a pistol and then curiously pointed it to herself, Gilbert saw that and grabbed the gun away from her. “If you’re going to save them, you’re gonna have to do it yourself. I spent a good fortune on saving up on Golem Nuclei, Dragon Fangs and Homunculi Embryos.”

“Can’t you just add that to my life sentence?” Gilbert asked Bael, she was silent for a moment, as though pondering the possibility of adding more debt into his sentence. Truth be told they already maxed out considering he agreed to serve her.

But then she remembered the sword he used that night and then she sighed in defeat. ‘This Servant is becoming more and more expensive to manage.’

“How many do you need?”

The two spent an hour negotiating how many Golems, Skeletons, and Homunculi would need in order to rescue his people while simultaneously trying to discuss the value of Earthlandian and Urdheimic Currency.

“I swear once this is over I'm gonna make you work your back off for this,” Bael said glaring at Gilbert who was walking alongside her all the while five Golems, Five Dragons and Five Homunculi marched their way to Fort Hopeville which was the nearest Earthlandian Military Base and his best bet on where his people might be kept in in captivity.

“Yeah yeah, lecture me all you want Master so long as I'm able to help my people.” Gilbert said while Bael blinked.

“Master?”

“Yeah, Master. I mean I am your Servant until you say I'm not right?” Gilbert told her with a confused look. “Could it be that you never had a slave before?”

“That’s right, always found hiring Servants and using Arcane Collars all too barbaric,” She said shaking her head, she had seen many cases of Masters abusing their servants to the point where they're basically stripped of dignity at best and humanity at worst when they are essentially born equal.

“Okay Abe, why do you have this then?” Gilbert asked as he tugged on his Collar.

“It was a gift from a Friend, she told me that I gotta try having one for experience,” She said, shuddering as she remembered the last conversation with her. “Does Earthland have those?”

“Before the Cataclysm yeah,” Gilbert said recalling the things they taught him in Camps. “But people wanted the servant class to get equal rights and a war even started because of it.”

“Sounds progressive of them,” Bael said growing curious as to what life in Earthland is like before and after the Cataclysm.

“Nowadays we rely on machines to help us, they do certain jobs while we learn how to keep them running,” Gilbert said but then he saw a flash in the distance and then tackled Bael to the ground causing the head of the Homunculi behind them to explode in a red mist.

“What kind of archery was that?” Bael said, raising her wand as they were enveloped in a bubble as Bullets continued to bounce off them.

“Remember the bullets I showed you,” Gilbert said, recalling their conversation earlier. “They use those but are way stronger and have greater range.”

“That's terrifying,” Bael said as she casted a protection spell onto the remaining troops they have at the moment as they were nearing the military base and were already preparing their weapons at them.

“What’s your plan?!” She asked as she ducked behind one of the Golems. Gilbert climbed into one of them and shouted.

“Throw us at them!” He shouted as a 7.62 mm Round ricochet nearly grazed him.

“Are you–”

“Yes! Now don't make me ask twice!” He said as he readied his own 7.62mm Rifle and started firing at guards. Fortunately Hopeville wasn't that fortified so there was a chance that they could potentially rescue his people.

Without hesitation, Bael raised her wand, lifted Gilbert and the Earth Golem and threw them into the fence causing a hole into it sending everyone into a panic.

Gilbert got up and started to hurry his way to the nearest building hoping that's where they were keeping the Prisoners.

Thanks to his salvaged armor, survival skills and the constant bombardment of what he assumes is Bael giving fire support, he went through building after building looking for his people.

Until finally.

“Gilbert!” One of the people from his Caravan was in the holding cell alongside several others who were labeled as Traitors, Spies and Defectors.

“Where are the others!?” He asked him as he opened the Key and the others started spilling out. All the while handing them each a 7.62mm Rifle to defend themselves, they can serve as a good distraction while he and his people escape.

“They're in other Cells, it was hell.” His friend said as she loaded her rifle. “Let's go find them.”

And so amidst the chaos, Gilbert and his friend went through Cell after cell freeing the captives hoping they could cause enough of a distraction while at the same time collecting members of his original caravan.

Eventually Gilbert and his original Caravan alongside several others who joined them ran through gunfire and magic bombardment to find Bael hurling fire and explosion spells into the Base to get their attention.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

‘Hurry! I'm running out of spells!’ He heard the voice of Bael call out to him, causing him to sprint faster alongside members of his Caravan and the Prisoners while the others raided other parts of the base.

“I need you to trust me when I say I made an agreement with the Mage we're about to meet, a Truce of sorts!” Gilbert shouted as they finally arrived to find Bael on the hill hiding behind a massive tree that wasn't there before.

“Start running!” Gilbert said as he ran towards her and instinctively picked her up believing that she was wounded or something. She wanted to protest but she was more distracted at the chaos.

[VESTIGE:SUNRISE]

“I cannot believe you,” Bael said in annoyance as she looked at the group that have arrived, it was twice as large as the original group that he set off with. This was because amidst the chaos they believed that joining with Gilbert was a better choice compared to staying behind and being executed or tortured into admission.

"Things happened," Gilbert said sheepishly as a bit of guilt surged through him as this meant that there are more mouths to feed in regards to survival.

"Well you got what you wanted, a deal is a deal," Bael said, crossing her arms as she looked at Gilbert with annoyance. "Now send them off, the last thing I need is to paint a bigger target on my estate."

The Closest thing Gilbert had for a second in command approached him.

"What agreement?" She asked him with a hint of confusion in her voice.

"In order for her to assist me in rescuing you guys, I had to agree to be her servant," Gilbert said with a sad smile on his face, this caused the other members of his group to whisper amongst themselves. "So I'm afraid that this is as far as I can go for this journey."

"There has to be another way out of this," She told him with a look of hesitation on her face.

"I've already abused her generosity, I have to pay for my end of the agreement." Gilbert shook his head, his companion gave him a hard look as though she was contemplating on punching him but instead she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close to kiss him in the lips. It was a deep long kiss that lasted for a minute or so and then she pulled away, looking like she was on the verge of crying.

"I'll do what you say, I'll lead them out of this valley and into somewhere where the eyes of Earthland won't find us." She said swallowing hard. "But we'll remember your sacrifice for this."

"I don't care what happens to me to be honest, all I care is for everyone to start over." Gilbert said with a sad smile. And with that the New Leader of the Group started walking away out of the homestead, their fates left unknown into the wind.

Gilbert stood there looking at the horizon and watching their long march out of the Homestead until they were no longer seen from the naked eye. He then turned to Bael who was looking at him with a serious look on her face while holding a piece of parchment.

"Do these chores, once you're done only then you can come inside." She said and with that she walked away.

'This is fine, it was a necessary sacrifice,' He thought to himself with a sad smile and touching his lips remembering the soft sensation of her lips. 'Melissa, I wish you told me sooner.'

[06.15.AC0119]

[Ashford Homestead]

The scent of floral bath salts lingered within the bathroom as Bael enjoyed her hot bath, it had been a long and tiring day and she was covered in dirt and sweat all because of a Servant that had strong potential. Overall she lost a good chunk of her fortune for the repairs due to that mishap but she was definitely convinced that it was a good trade for that servant.

'That sword, I feel like I have seen that sword before,' She pondered as her thoughts lingered on the sword that manifested before Gilbert and how he was able to unleash a blast of Prana that managed to send a Terminator Walker flying.

She heard a knock on the door, it was likely Gilbert as the Homunculi are free to enter the bath as much as they'd like.

“What is it?” She asked to finish up the bath and started walking towards the door in her clothes. She opened the door to reveal Gilbert covered in dirt from cleaning her Estate with the aid of the Homunculi.

“I finished the Tasks you gave me and a Messenger Bird arrived to give you this letter,” He said, handing a letter to her.

“You didn't open it I hope,” She said taking the letter from his hands gave him a distrustful look.

“And what would I gain from that?” He asked in confusion.

“Nothing, just…take a bath or something you smell,” she said, covering her nose after sniffing the air around them and he had a sour smell forming.

“Where's the servant's bath then?” He asked as she started walking away.

“Just use my bath, it saves water that way.” She said loudly as she retreated to her quarters while a handful of Homunculi started preparing work clothes for Gilbert to wear in, as soon as she was alone she opened the letter to read its contents.

‘Dear Bae-Bae’

‘I'll be visiting you in a few hours. Prepare yourself.’

‘Love Aeri<3’

‘Ugh, that woman is coming.’ Bael thought to herself as she shuddered at the idea. ‘Wait a few hours?’

She sensed something shattering like glass causing her to sprint out of her mansion and into the southern part of the Estate to reveal a young woman floating atop a white broom.

She was an olive skinned young woman who had reddish brown hair done in a low ponytail and light blue eyes.

“Hello,” She said with a wide smile. “Dear Cousin.”

[VESTIGE:SUNRISE]

Aerial Wilhelm and Bael Ashford had known each other as long as they remembered, they were step-cousins, friends, and rivals all rolled into one. This was because her uncle and niece once took in the young Bael Ashford after her parents died in the Earthland-Urdheimr war.

At first they were just Step-Cousins in name and barely interacted with Bael spending her time in the greenhouse practicing magic while Aerial focused more exploring the world around them.

Eventually the two developed a rivalry as they branched off from basic schools of Magic to specialized magic.

The two of them even made a childish oath that whoever becomes an Archmage first would no doubt be considered the greater of the two mages.

“I heard you got attacked by marauders from Earthland so I came here as soon as I could.” Aerial said sitting across the living room.

“Well as you can see I'm still alive aren't I?” Bael said as Gilbert entered the room carrying a tray of tea and biscuits and placed them on the table. It was at that moment, Aerial and Gilbert locked eyes and then looked at the collar that he was wearing causing her to smile at Bael.

“What?”

“I'm glad you finally got around to finally getting your first Servant!” She said tackling Bael in a hug all the while Gilbert tugged on his collar in mild confusion causing the plates and foodstuffs to spill much to his chagrin.

‘They seem to get along well.’ Gilbert thought as he pulled out a broom and started cleaning.

“Personal Space!” Bael said, placing her hand on Aerial’s face and pushed her away.

“Yeah but this is a good day, like you who always preferred the company of Skeletons, Homunculi and Golems.” Aerial said as the two girls got up. “So what's so special about him?”

‘Excuse me?’ Gilbert thought as he looked at Aerial while she kept a fixated look on Bael.

“Nothing, just a Squa–Informal Settler that happened to stumble upon my property,” Bael said trying her best to sound polite about it but she was very much this close to say that he was a Squatter.

Which while true, is technically offensive.

Hmm that's a shame, I hoped he had something good going on with him.” Aerial said with a hint of disappointment in her tone. But then a realization struck her, causing her to give Bael a teasing look.

"Oh I get it, you have a crush on him right?"

"No," Bael and Gilbert said at the same time.

"You two are even in sync, that's cute." She said giggling at their answer.

"Our relationship is pure business," Bael said as Gilbert finished cleaning and then excused himself leaving the two mages alone in the living room. As he did so, Bael explained the situation, how he stumbled into her yard with a group of defectors and for safe passage he offered to stay as her servant.

She did however leave out the part where her Enchanted Ash Tree gave him a sword, she has yet to study what anomaly was that.

"Right Business," Aerial said, giving her a skeptical look.

"Say what you want, that man is now under my care as my Servant." She said, crossing her arms. But to her surprise, Aerial placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her an 'I understand' nod in a patronizing way.

"Knock it off!"