The moon had climbed itself over his head, when Baldwin decided to go back to his house. He got up from the front of the grave and started to walk. He was about to reach the end of the fence; his feet landed on something; something solid and hard. It was a Celler. Baldwin hadn't seen it before, so he opened it. As he went inside all he could see was a messy room Filled with scattered files. It was filled with cobwebs and dust that had gathered for years on the wooden floor.
Baldwin observed that mess had same amount of dust and cobwebs as the other parts of the room. 'The mess was created same time this cellar was last open.' Baldwin concluded.
He then calmly started to pick up the messy files and dusted them. Baldwin frowned. Every file was document related to the military. Each file carried the symbol of the Crimson Knights.
'Why were they scattered in such way? Was someone looking for something?' Baldwin thought.
As Baldwin collected all the files he put them on a nearby table. The table had had a photo.
Baldwin cleaned the photo to see that it was a portrait of Sonia and Claus. It was a photo painted in their own house.
He had come here looking for evidence. He hadn't expected to find memory waiting instead.
Baldwin packed the photo and the files and left the cellar.
He had not found anything of relevance to Claus's betrayal, but he did find solace in his heart.
The next morning, Baldwin carried the files and the photo to his workplace. When he reached there, he started to read the files. Each of them was written orders addressed to Claus. As he read the orders, he found that Claus was frequently asked to spy on Baldwin. The sender for most letters was the General Holdum Vancouver.
After two hours of scouring through the documents. Baldwin took out the Claus and Sonia portrait and looked at it. There he could see something that had escaped his sights yesterday.
The background of the portrait was their house, but on the ground, there was another cellar inside the house. When Baldwin visit the site last night there was no signed of it. The location was exactly where he had seen Sonia's corpse.
'Does this mean they changed the door of the cellar to make it unnoticeable? Or did they close this cellar off to open the outside one?' Baldwin wondered.
He decided if he wanted to find out he needed to visit the house again.
٭٭٭
Hal jolted awake, breath shallow, the sheets sticking to his back with sweat that had already dried.
The room spun for half a second before settling. His legs throbbed from the excessive running, but the ache came with a strange satisfaction — the kind that only followed revenge.
His opponent was expelled. He felt bad for the kid but the kid had made his choice when he attacked Hal.
Hal's who was still laying in bed awake started to hum a song. It was a song he had heard thousands of times. It was the victory anthem of the crimson knights.
"Seems to me your good enough to leave." A voice said above his bed.
"AHAH!" Hal yelled aloud surprised.
A punch hit him on his head and said, "Stay quiet you idiot, this is a hospital."
Hal sat right up to look at who the stranger was.
"My name is Dr. Elric Halden. Refer to me as Dr. Elric." The stranger said.
"I'm sorry about the noise. You surprised me." Hal replied.
"How's your head, kid?" Dr. Elric asked.
"It throbs a bit. But, its fine other than that." Hal said.
"That's fine. I mean you were dosed Salicylic Acid." Dr. Elric said.
Hal face crunched in confusion so Dr. Elric decided to continue.
"A painkiller. It may cause a headache which you might be experiencing." Dr Elric explained.
Then Dr. Elric lifted a writing pad and wrote something then said to Hal, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Hal replied
"What's your relation with Scott?" Dr. Elric asked.
"How did you know about that?" Hal exclaimed.
Dr. Elric said nothing, waiting for an answer.
"He… He is my father." Hal replied looking down fidgeting with his fingers.
"Well, I'll be damned. You do resemble him a bit, I'd say." Dr. Elric said with an astonished look.
"I'm not him." Hal's voice cracked halfway through the sentence. He wasn't sure if he meant it — or wanted it to be true.
"Well, I don't care about you or your father to care. I just want you to know a letter arrived two days ago addressed to you. The security after examining it for a day tried to give it to you yesterday." Dr. Elric said.
Then he removed a letter from his black jacket pocket and handed it to Hal.
"Well since you weren't in a state to receive it. I kept it for you." Dr. Elric said.
Dr. Elric stood, gave Hal a brief nod — and walked out without another word, coat swaying behind him like a verdict.
Hal saw that the seal on the letter was still intact. The sender's name was clear: Scott Ambers.
The seal on the letter did not carry any symbols but, the wax on the letter was of high quality. Its cost extended upto 100 zes a bottle.
Hal opened the letter and removed the contents inside.
It said as follows-
Hal,
I heard a few rumours that you had joined the military.
At first, I dismissed them. But now I know they are true.
How long do you plan to keep this tantrum going?
You were not built for the life of a soldier. You know that.
Come back. This is your final warning.
— Scott Ambers
After reading the letter a small sting of fury encroached through Hal's back. It was his father's handwriting. Hal hated his father. He had married Hal's mother to bear heirs when his first wife couldn't give him any.
Then a fear started to course through his body. What would happen to his mother if he did not return.
'Would that bastard harm her? Or would he ignore her?' Hal wondered. The last warning part of the letter scared him. It scared him more than any instructor ever could.
Hal sat still for a long time before he finally made his decision.
He didn't want to go back to his hellish house, he would rather endure the training of the Crimson Corps.
He folded the letter once. Then again. His thumb hovered over the crease, but the decision had already been made. He ripped it down the middle — and didn't stop until it was nothing but dust and splinters in his palm.
He rose slowly. The ache in his legs flared with each movement. By the time he reached the window, he was sweating again.
Then He threw away the paper.
A strange determination filled Hal's eyes. He decided that no mater what happens he will prove his father wrong. He will gain honour for himself no matter what happens.