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“Stuttering already?” paused he with a disappointed look, “-well, only if you resist. I don’t mind going easy. Perhaps, maybe, telling me what I want before we begin. I must say, torturing another person is a very good bonding experience,” he paced around her bed, “-we get to see what’s inside of you. How much pain till you pass out, how much water to have the consciousness return. If this had been a day before... yeah, no, let’s not think what I would have done.”

“W-Who a-are you?”

“A traveling adventurer,” said he taking a seat, “-also, I removed the curse.”

“W-why would you s-save me?” she stopped, “-never mind,” the face froze, “-I understand. My c-companions are dead?”

“Correct. Had to use their bodies and soul to save you. Don’t you hear, the weeping souls of the dead?” just in there, he gently drew Orenmir – broke the mundane seal and allowed the howling faces to dash about the room.

Fidgeting about her bed did no good. The specters made for the head, hands, legs, taking a turn, scratching, biting, and freezing. Her composure cracked, seeing undead, her comrades, the featureless apparitions forced the mind to think outside the box. What was unreal took on a real form, the specters held her dead comrade’s faces. Not like Igna knew, he plainly sat with one leg over the other, watching and waiting. Psychological torture and trauma brought greater results than staining one’s clothes.

.....

“Stop moving so much,” said he in discomfort, “-making me nauseous.”

“W-what d-do you mean?” she tugged and pulled; “-don’t you see these ghosts?”

“Ghosts?” leaning to her forehead, “-what ghosts?” At the same time, a horrifying apparition enlarged itself behind his nonchalant expression. “Where in the world are there specters?” looking to where her eyes rested, “-see, there’s nothing.” He reached out to no avail.

“S-stop l-lying to m-me,” cried she.

“This fa?ade outlasted its welcome. Are you going to talk, or no?” Her hauntings intensified. The ghosts climbed onto the bed, laid on her chest, legs, and neck. Some whispered, others gave nightmares, and a few even going as far as to take blood.

“Not willing to talk, huh?” calmly staring at her terrified expression, “-how about this.” The locks tightened; a small pot rested above her forehead – droplets of water fell at regular intervals. Her expression screamed of never-ending bravado. She kept her composure even after the ghost’s assault. “I’ll see you in a few days, goodbye.” An imaginary door shut, *Mana Control: Shadow Element Variant – Illusion,* the barrier created a differing space. Time accelerated for the wife.

In the meantime, inside the office, the negotiations turned into full-blown heated arguments. The investigators named: Char and Harne were ostentatious in refuting her advances.

“The military failed to keep the peace,” said Char, “-we have reports that a massacre occurred. The guild isn’t so powerless,” smirking at the fact, “-the army ordered machine-guns to be fired onto the fighters, that is unacceptable and a breach of their oath.”

“Don’t talk to me about the oath,” cried Serene in a tone that’d make one feel idiotic, “-what of the fighters revolting for a worthless cause. Let’s say, the culprits managed to bring a cursed body, one INFECTED, to the capital for a family to see. Yes, it will help the relatives have a semblance of peace. We know for a fact the taint can affect anyone who comes in contact. What would the guild do then, a family gets infected, spreads the taint over the continent, breaks the economy, ravages the land, and plunges us into a world of hate. Don’t expect help from the Federation, they’re already in trouble. Now, add the Wracia Empire’s blatant attempts at invasion. What then, tell me, what then? Will the guild send out members to fight a war, no, tis the military, who showed a sliver of humanity, that is then forced to fight a pointless battle.”

“Tis hypothetical,” said Harne brushing off her well-constructed conclusion, “-we have the know-how to heal the curse. The body would be burnt right after. The fighters did nothing wrong, they were showing remorse. It wouldn’t have happened if the wall wasn’t breached,” turning to the Lieutenant, “-isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” said he, “-I take responsibility for leading good men to die. The amount of death on my name is unsurmountable. To make amends, I’m willing to take any punishment the army decides.”

“Wrong,” said Serene with a less than amicable tone, “-Harne, Char, are you both cretins. Never mind, it’s out of line, you are, fully bred idiots who cared only about the rules and not the miracle the military performed.”

“Excuse you, what miracle?”

“I’ll explain,” said Viola flashing the Platinum tag, “-the newest monsters are strong, the same level as Boss-Class. Their abilities differed; I even saw one evolve well past Tier-2. I’m sure Sergeant Appy has something to add.”

“Sergeant?” inquired Char, “-do you wish to interject?”

“Yes, it took us 4 parties of our best adventurers to take down one of the beasts. Then again, we didn’t kill it, it was Kinless, a novice adventurer. He stormed the outpost, killed off the threat, made for the wall, cleared it, and then went on beyond the walls. I’m ashamed, as a silver adventurer, I should have laid on the battlefield to fight and hold back their advances. Sadly, orders are orders, my oath is to protect, and I did so.”

“I don’t buy it,” shrugged Harne parting his dirtied black hair, “-how do we explain 75% loss to the public, the guild, and the military. We have no proof...”

*Knock, knock,* the heated debate cooled. A single question went through their minds, ‘-who is it?’ *Knock, knock,* the wood buckled.

“Enter,” said Mello feeling desperate. So far, the logical conclusion didn’t matter. The investigators were possessed to make the military the ones responsible. The testimony didn’t matter, and at said rate, Phantom would join as a suspect.

“Sorry to intrude,” two figures entered, “-I’ve uncovered something of interest,” he kicked the lady onto her knees. “Meet Enia Koskov. A rather strange individual hailing from the Empire,” he met Serene’s thankful gaze, “-Investigators, Reforge has outlasted your welcome. I’ve contacted the guild in good faith. The issue is far beyond the jurisdiction of pawns, tis a matter of national security. Hence, it falls into the military’s hand.”

“Military’s hand?” fired Char slamming his table, “-what in the fuc-” he stared anxiously.

“Mind thy tongue,” scowled Igna, “-there are people of fame and stature in attendance. Disrespecting them equals death.”

“And who the hell are you?” inquired Harne pushing up his glasses in dismissal.

“Kinless,” replied he nonchalantly, “-the son of Duchess Haggard of Rotherham. Shall I say more?”

“Nobility...”

“Worry not,” said he, “-Harne, Char. Might I ask a few questions?”

“What is a silver-spoon fed brat wish with us, hard-working peasants?”

“Information,” tightly grabbing Enia’s cheeks, “-come on dear,” spoken in an unnaturally soft voice, “-what are Harne and Char’s true identity?”

“S-sp,”

*Clang,* three daggers echoed onto the floor, “-you’ve been outplayed,” said Igna dispelling the magical barrier. “-Enia’s confession has been sent to the guild as well as the military. Harnold Kosnia and Charmin Vosk,” the grip over her mouth lessened. Cover blown, they stared at one another resolutely. The thumb slit, *Blood-Arts: Crimson Threads.*

“Traitors,” said Serene telepathically pushing the two against the wall.

“How pleasant,” said Viola, “-poison pills. Interesting.”

“Restrain them,” ordered Julius, “-be mindful, they’re spies from the Empire.”

Tied, the advance squad handled the extraction. “-take her too,” said Igna, “-she’ll speak whenever. Maybe drug her as well, there’s no saying when she might recover.

The room emptied, Mello and his team watched, everything happened in haste, none knew what really occurred. From an outside perspective, a boy said spies, and the others restrained the investigators.

“Perplexed?” inquired Julius proudly.

“Yeah,” said Zoey with an open mouth, “-what happened?”

“Let me explain,” and so, he went into a detailed summary.

‘Serene had her doubts about the whole turn of events. Why would adventurers start a fight without a cause? For the sake of a tainted body, who in the right mind would do so. Then again, it doesn’t matter. Her suspicion came true when the investigator stood adamantly on forcing the blame onto the military. The note was insurance, a gamble on a gut feeling. After spending time and breaking her mind, Enia gave crucial information. This was nothing more than a planned attack to break the public’s trust in the government. Hidros is walking on thin-ice as is, they saw the weakness and saw fit to act on it, very shrewd and commendable.’ Potential cause and effect riddled the mind, he watched as Julius reached his conclusion.

“What about contacting the guild?” inquired Tommy.

“A lie,” said Igna, “-lying often brings more results than speaking the truth. I could tell what lady Serene thought, only had to edge them over. Nobility, assumed of treason, and lastly, Enia’s confession, well-fabricated lies.”

“It worked,” said Viola, “-they tried to kill themselves.”

“Fast thinking from my cousin,” said Julius reaching for a playful handshake, “-good to see the good spirit.”

“Yeah, it’s nice to be here.”

“What’s going to happen now?” wondered Appy at the window, the spies hurled out the southern gates.

“We take it to the top,” said Julius, “-as Guild Leader of Xenon, there isn’t much I can do at the moment. The rest is in the higher-ups’ hand. One thing is sure, neither the adventurers nor military are to blame.”

“Won’t this mean war?”

“Don’t think so,” added Serene, “-we have an edge on the Empire. A turn-coat spy is worth more than a weapon. Leave it to us,” said she in a seductive manner. On that, the chaotic scene at Reforge ended. Ambulances arrived to carry the many wounded to Meke. Support from Ground-Zero and Stonegrove would cover for Reforge until new orders. Phantom’s forces returned; makeshift tents were dismantled.

‘I guess it’s over,’ thought Igna at the vending machine, ‘-some ice-tea might do good.’ Three light taps, “-Igna,”

“Mina, something the matter?”

“Not really,” said she fidgeting, “-I h-h-heard from the others. You’re strong, very strong,” her cheeks flushed.

“Not strong, just lucky,” turned with two soda cans, “-what, do you have a crush on me?” rather than being monotonous, Origin jumped in with a joyful expression.

“N-no,” she skipped to hide behind her palms, “-i-I’m j-just impressed.”

“Mina, Mina, o’ dearest Mina,” knelt as if to propose, “-would you make me the happiest man on earth.”

“W-what is this?” jumped to hit the back of her head.

“Are you ok?” quick to grab her wrist, “-does it hurt?”

“N-no,” her cheeks boiled.

“Here,” she yelped, cold against hot didn’t bode well, “-sorry if I took the teasing a bit far.”

“It’s fine. Are you going back?”

“I suppose so.” They sat with back against the window, “-I came for my graduation. Don’t have a clue what’s next. Life moves on, not much to it.”

“Will I ever see you again?” sincere and a hint of coyness, “-will I?” asking so took courage, blatantly displayed on the embarrassed posture and expression.

“Don’t know,” replied he calmly, “-Mina,” taking a sip, “-let me say one thing. I don’t think I’ll ever get involved in a romantic relation. I had a girl, she betrayed and left me for another. The fault is mine since I always ran off to do quests and get strong. I’m selfish, so, it’s not a good idea. Behind a pretty face lies the worst person ever known to man.”

“I don’t care,” said she sharply, “-I’m not interested in pretty boys. You worked hard, sweated, and bled to save the girl; I don’t even know you. Even if it’s a crush or whatever, I want to know more ... I guess my visage and small stature isn’t much to please another.”

“Don’t play the victim,” said he sharply, “-have more self-respect. No one cares for someone who takes pity on herself. You worked hard to take care of the patients, look at you, dirtied, the hair is a mess, the face is sweaty, you smell like ass. Still,” he took her hand, “-what you did to save others is worth more than one would ever think.”

“So, can we meet again?”

“Sure, I won’t make any promises.”

“Good enough for me,” she smiled, “-let’s start as friends.”

“As you wish,” he gave into her friendliness, she exuded a familiar charm. “-To a newly formed friendship.”

“A new friendship,” said she warmly.