Hello everyone! Hope you all are enjoying the story so far!
Just wanted to thank my reviewers Ann E. Casap, fadedSorrow, and most recently EightNine for their wonderful and encouraging reviews! You all are the best!
Chapter 6 – A Reason to Follow
Silent. That was what Teresa was the next time she saw Adri. The onyx-eyed warrior regarded Teresa coolly before returning to their normal training regimen. Leoni left to return to Region 15 later on in the day but stopped by to say farewell to Teresa. It was only then, while Adri was busy with something else, that Teresa spoke to Leoni.
"Why is Lady Adri so mad?"
Leoni glanced towards Adri before replying. "She's not mad at you, Teresa. She's just concerned that her place in the Organization might be compromised because of recent events. You, on the other hand, still need to be careful. Try to curb your curiosity for a little while at least until this whole mess has blown over. Okay?"
Teresa frowned but nodded. She'd just started getting some answers to her questions and now she had to wait? Unlike Leoni or Adri, Teresa was not patient. Her miserable failures at trying to beat Leoni at chess taught her that much. Nevertheless, she'd try to keep her questions to herself, if only to keep clear of Adri's ire.
A week went by with no change in Adri's mood. If anything, the warrior was more wary now. Teresa was improving with her swordsmanship but still wasn't strong enough to defeat a partially distracted Adri in sparring. However, it was at the end of that long week that everything changed.
A man in black visited them during training.
Adri blocked one of Teresa's attacks and twisted her blade so that both blade tips were forced into the ground. Adri pulled up her blade and sheathed it before walking over to the man. "Yes, Orsay?"
"Your request has been granted. You and the trainee will leave for Region 34 as soon as you have gathered the materials you have been provided for the journey."
"Understood."
Orsay strode off without another word. Adri turned to Teresa, her dark eyes showing no emotion. "Well, you heard the man. Let's head over to the supply station."
Teresa merely nodded and followed her mentor. Her relation with Adri had become strained as of late. It was almost as if Adri was going out of her way to show that she saw Teresa as only a trainee she was forced to train and not her student.
Was this happening because she'd asked Adri if she could help? Teresa grimaced. Of course it was that. She'd been so caught up in so much excitement and unfathomable fear that she hadn't been thinking straight and now was suffering the consequences. If only she could've kept her big mouth shut…
A man in black gave Adri a pouch then motioned for Teresa to go into the back of the warehouse full of supplies. Teresa was hesitant to go in alone with the man but Adri placed a hand on Teresa and pushed her towards the back of the warehouse. The onyx-eyed warrior followed her in, giving Teresa at least some comfort and reassurance.
The man in black handed her a new white uniform, heavy leather chest armor, leather boots and vambraces, and short sword with a belt already attached. Teresa took all of the items but nearly dropped the lot it was so heavy. They expected her to move and fight in all this?
"You'll be wearing that when you are on your mission. You won't get the regular kit that ranked warriors get until you receive your number. You're one lucky trainee," the man in black stated. "No trainees have ever been allowed to leave this place and see the outside world unless they've been given a number."
To Adri he simply said, "Zero, your handler for this mission will meet you out in the field."
Adri nodded then grabbed Teresa by the shoulder and led over to an area where she could have some privacy while she changed clothing. The fresh uniform felt wonderful on her skin though she wished she could have bathed as well. The leather armor was old but still in rather good shape with no cracks or tears.
The sword was what drew Teresa's attention the most. She could tell the blade was made of the same metal as a standard issue Claymore but it was shaped as a longsword that a human might use. There was a symbol on the blade that Teresa thought she recognized but couldn't place. It was a circle with four tangential lines added to make it look like a whirlwind.
She shrugged and belted it onto her back before gathering up her courage to face Adri. Adri looked her over then nodded. "It fits you well. Let's head out for Region 34 then."
Teresa just followed Adri on instinct, but within her mind was whirling. It was the first time that week that Adri had spoken to her conversationally and not just during lessons. Had she misjudged Adri yet again? Perhaps the Adri Teresa had witnessed at the library was not the true Adri.
The very thought of the memory brought back all the fear she'd experienced racing back through her body. The very sight of Adri's silver eyes… Adri's silver eyes?
She ran over the memories again to confirm what she knew and nearly stopped in shock. Adri's eyes had turned silver when she'd become angry at Teresa. It was the proof she needed to know that Adri was suppressing her power to the extent that her eyes had reverted back to their original color!
She was about to call Adri out with her discovery when she saw three men in black approaching the duo. Adri faced them casually, not even revealing her annoyance at their appearance. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Where are you going with this trainee?"
Adri handed him a piece of paper from the pouch given to her by the equipment supplier. All three looked it over carefully before glaring at Adri. "It seems the Elders' have sanctioned you and the trainee to leave the compound on a mission. However… That's only if you return promptly in two weeks. Can't have the precious princess running out in the country for too long, now can we?"
Teresa looked nervously over at Adri, but the warrior didn't seem to be fazed at all by the mockery in the man's voice. "If you're done examining the document, I have a mission with this trainee I must see to."
She plucked the paper out of the man's hands and walked out towards the border of the Organization's lands. Teresa ran to catch up but hard, cruel hands clamped onto her and shoved her into the ground.
"So the 'Troublemaker' gets rewarded?" A man spat into her face as she struggled to get up. "The Organization shouldn't have even let you live! A brat like you becoming a warrior? Ha! If it ever happens, I'll eat my own boot!"
"You're a worthless piece of dirt! The only reason the Organization took you in was because your family gave you to us! They should have spared us all the trouble and just fed you to the Yoma!"
Teresa couldn't stop herself. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to force herself up but kicks from the other two soon took their toll on her body, half-yoma or not.
"Look at her! She's crying like a child! She doesn't deserve, let alone is ready, to venture out from the Organization's 'tender, loving care'. Let's teach her what we do to wannabe warriors, boys!"
Teresa braced herself for more kicks but they never came. Instead, something warm and compassionate held her close. Without thinking, Teresa hugged her rescuer. When she finally opened her eyes, Adri's dark eyes greeted her.
Suddenly embarrassed, Teresa rolled out of Adri's grasp only to fall hard onto the ground. Adri sighed, "You startle very easily, don't you Teresa? Come on, we need to get moving if we want to make it to Region 34 before tomorrow evening."
Teresa looked around and saw the limp forms of the men who'd assailed her. No blood stained the ground, so Adri must have just knocked them out. But why…?
Adri followed Teresa's gaze then turned away. "Don't worry about those three. The hyenas… I'll make sure that their behavior is mentioned explicitly when I report back to the Organization after our mission. Now, get moving."
Teresa watched Adri walk off in awe. The warrior didn't have to save Teresa from those men; she could have just walked away. Nevertheless, she'd saved Teresa and put herself under the Organization's wrath for attacking three of their members.
A woman, who barely knew Teresa, except through teaching her how to fight, was risking her very life to save the life of a trainee, who was just another piece of meat to their creators. A person shrouded with enigmas dared to defy the Organization in the open by attacking members of the same group she was a part of.
Yes, Adri certainly was a mystery; but within that mystifying warrior of the Organization, a monster according to the humans, was the kind heart of a true human being. That was more than enough reason for Teresa to trust her, something she very rarely did since being betrayed and forced to become a monster.
Who better to trust than a warrior willing to die to protect the lowest of the low?
Teresa brushed off her uniform and, for the first time, willingly followed Adriana.
"Master Rumito! I have an urgent report!"
"What is it? We're in the middle of a -"
"It concerns Number Zero, sir!"
"Report. Quickly."
"The four sent to kill Number Zero were found recovering from sever wounds. However, none of the injuries were life-threatening but caused them to lose a fair amount of blood. Also, none of the four have been heard from since their initial reports after they were found."
"Hmm... It seems Number Zero is finally making her move..."
Adri's finally making her move! But what is her plan?
Tune in next time to see the plot unfold and more questions be revealed!
P.S. To those wondering if I'll have Irene/Ilena show up in this fanfic, the answer is yes. Just be patient, she'll come soon enough.
