After the talk with Major and getting some sleep, he walked away from the room, his gaze held strength, far more than he had before. He now had a concrete goal.
Become stronger, so that he would not lose no one else.
With the knowledge that Vince believed in him, he also knew he had no right to fail.
Thus, was born the determination to become stronger, unwittingly mimicking his brother's.
"So, any thought on what our newest mission will be? They called us here for that reason, right?" Oliver asked from his side, his face still scrunched up, but he was getting better as time went on, something that satisfied the homunculi in his squadron.
"I don't know. We'll be briefed about it later today, but, from what I heard, it's for a favor to a Synclair nobleman."
"A favor? What kind?"
"That's not something I'm aware of, but, if they decided to send us alongside Lady Lenna, it'll be something big" he said, his voice a bit anxious. That's the only reason he could think of why Lenna was here with them, instead of leading her battalion in the frontline.
But then again, few could make such a decision. Maybe it came from the Military High Council, maybe from the king himself, but Lady Lenna was from the house of a hero, his direct descendant.
And, from Bernard experience, that gave her some big political backing he could hardly imagine. He did, however, heard that, at some point, her family held a position of authority that was only second to the king. In fact, apparently her grandfather was a sage, someone the previous monarch sough when in times of need.
And his word was, in times of crisis, the word of the king.
"Hey, Bernard… Did you see the head nurse?" Oliver took him from his musings, his voice oddly subdued. Glancing at his brother, he tilted his head. "I mean, while she and Vince were always at odds, word is that she's sad for his passing."
"Is that true?"
"Yes… I went there for a bit to see how she was holding herself… She was crying."
"That's… interesting." And it was. From any other perspective, both of them hated one another. She already didn't like the attention she got from some of the rowdy soldiers, but Vincent never gave her that. In fact, they despised one another in a way that it was almost comical.
He couldn't say why it was, however.
Maybe I should go see her, if only to see what this is all about.
…
I glanced at the numerous books in the Library, my interest picked by a few titles. I was never a fan of science in my old world. In fact, I always preferred fiction to reality, mainly for what my main job was.
Didn't read too much fantasy, enjoyed more grounded stories, so, a few titles here called for me. Taking one of them, I read a bit and closed it quickly, glancing at both sides.
Perverts…
Placing the book there once again, I quickly went to the science section, but all I could find was still fiction. Nothing grounded in reality, nothing that could help me in my current predicament.
"What is it that you seek?" A voice that I never heard before spoke close to my ear, chilling my spine. Glancing at the owner, I saw a young maiden, with dark hair, almost purple in color. She had piercing blue eyes, smooth skin, and the face of a goddess.
She also had pointy ears.
I reprimanded myself for glancing at it for more than necessary, especially seeing her narrowed eyes.
Not off to a good start, great.
Clearing my throat, I tried to focus on something that wasn't her face. She was beautiful, almost enough to make me forget my vows. "I'm trying to learn new tricks. My ESP requires me to know a bit about physics, so I was wondering if you had a book about that."
I glanced at her direction, trying to decipher the enigma that she was. Why would an Elf be in Fallabrek sect? From what I remember, they lived in isolation, and the few that came in contact with humans were pretty much devoted to the ancient religion of the Sun lord.
"I see… You don't need to explain it. I read your files."
"You did?"
"Yes, and I believe I talked with you before" she said, glancing pointedly at my direction. I gulped, but tried to keep a poker face while trying to remember when I spoke with her.
I know for a fact that if I met someone that gorgeous, I wouldn't forget her face for a long time, so who is it? Trying to remember, something else caught my attention.
Her gaze… it was familiar…
"You're the one who Drott sent to get me that day."
She smiled, pleased. "It is good to see you can see more than just my outward appearance." Her words sent a shiver down my spine and I broke eye contact. "Most men only come here seeking my body, so it is very difficult to have proper conversation."
"I see…"
Somehow, what she said seemed wrong. It wasn't what she said, but the disgust she felt. While back in my world, many things these men do would be considered inappropriate at the best of times, there was another layer of emotions behind her calm exterior.
I couldn't say exactly what it was, but it was raw enough to tell me that something was off.
"So, do you have anything in mind?" She said, squirming in place as if I was a book, and she got into the most anticipated part.
Somehow, I think it's best if I don't involve myself with this woman. Everything about her screams' danger, that she is more trouble than she was worth it.
"Mostly about the laws of Physics, if you have anything that is that basic." Then again, she is quite beautiful, and I need an ally here.
She is smart. Smarter than almost everyone in this compound, I could see that very well. She was, at the very least, better than me in that aspect. So she is more useful than Arthur, at the very least.
Then again, that guy is a monster when it comes to raw power, so I can't say we would survive in a fight directly against him.
I would probably be able to escape, but I can't say the same about her.
"I see… I may have something on the topic." She walked away, leading me to an isolated place. Idly, I searched at the titles around us, trying to see if anything related to what I was asking.
Strange, why would she lead me to the history section…?
Piss!
Before I could react, she threw me at the wall and coiled her hands around my wrists, locking them in place. Glancing at her, I saw her eyes glancing at me with the same cold look on them. Before I could say anything, she forced any words I had back inside.
By kissing me.