Chapter 12 "Unwanted Guest"
"Mornin'…" Mio's voice softly rustled Noah awake two hours after sunrise.
"Mmm…?" the caged Kevesi pried his eyes open. "W-what's going on?"
"Taion's holdin' another assembly in the plaza," she informed her travel partner, rolling up her sleeping mat.
"Oh?" Sitting up, Noah heard the distant orations of the tall, bespectacled commander delivering updates to the ranks. "Have I missed anything?"
"Sounds like you'll be released soon," her ears twitched, straining to listen. "Did you not hear the soldiers' jeers?"
"No," the ponytailed soldier stretched his arms. "I heard you, though."
"Mmph… yeah, I figured you'd appreciate the heads-up," the tenth-termer stood and fixed her hair. "Taion will probably come over here when he's finished, so we'd better make ourselves look presentable."
"Not much I can do about that," he gazed down upon his filthy uniform.
"Right," she empathized with his unfortunate state. "Also, a-about last night…"
"Last night…?" confusion colored his blemished face.
"You… reached out for me," Mio jogged his memory, her tone exuding residual embarrassment. "What was that for?"
"I-I don't know. I just… did it without thinking." Standing as well, the swordfighter peered at her through the iron bars. "Sorry, I won't do it again."
"Wha…?" His running mate was taken aback by his apology. Unwittingly, she clenched her left hand with her right. "Actually, I rather liked it."
"You did?" Now it was Noah's turn to be surprised.
"It brought me warmth," she smiled cautiously, "the kind I felt from my commander at Colony Rho."
"Your mentor," the ninth-termer recalled from their earlier talks.
"Yeah, she always knew how to make me feel good on bad days." The memories sent an inexplicable tingle through her body. "I wonder where she lear-"
"Mio!" someone hollered from behind.
"Bowan," she spun around to find the blue-finned defender heading towards them. Lennick, the ether-lined boy and Moraine, the lavender-skinned girl were following in his tracks.
"Still the early riser, eh?" he remarked before noticing her sleeping mat. "Wait, were you out here all night?"
"What's it to you?" her guarded response was enough of a confirmation for him.
"The soldiers might think ill of you if they see you hanging around the Kevesi any longer than necessary." Bowan scooted back upon finishing his explanation, nearly bumping into Lennick and Moraine.
"Oh please, you really think I care at this point?" Mio crossed her arms, sticking her lower lip at him. "Opinion of me is already divided after yesterday."
"I'm pretty sure they're wary of all of us," Lennick offered his equally pragmatic thoughts.
"It's alright," Moraine seemed less bothered, "we'll be out of here today, right?"
"That's the plan," the moonblades-wielder swiveled back to the now silent Noah. "We've wasted so much time."
"Ahem!" the defender cleared his throat audibly to grab everyone's attention. "The commander's coming."
"Good morning," Commander Taion called to the quintet, having just dismissed his soldiers from the plaza. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"No, sir," Bowan shook his head, though their chatter had subsided anyway.
"Taion…" the tenth-termer approached the authoritative soldier.
"You're looking much better today, Mio," the bespectacled Agnian greeted her with an idle compliment. "I'm glad you've been able to recover fully."
"Thanks," she acknowledged him, though her focus was on Noah. "How much longer will he have to stay in there?"
"If you'd been in attendance at this morning's assembly, then you would've heard my announcement of his release," he resisted the urge to snap at her impatience.
"Oh, I heard you, alright," his former associate contested.
"In that case, please move aside," the commander proceeded to unlock the cage door. Timidly though no less politely, the prisoner stepped out with his equally soiled belongings in hand. "This concludes your internment, Kevesi."
"Thank you, Commander Taion," Noah bowed his head, grateful to be mobile again.
"I must confess that I'm not entirely comfortable hearing my name uttered by my enemy," the tall officer backstepped.
"Then don't look at him as your enemy," Mio suggested as she stood beside her travel partner.
"Is that what you've done?" Commander Taion inquired, scanning them both.
"I have," the zephyr poised herself, "though I suppose it took me some time to adjust."
"I, too, am willing to make an exception for him," the blue-finned Agnian added his similar sentiments, "considering he saved our lives."
"Same here," the group healer raised her hand.
"Aye, aye," their ether-lined teammate followed suit.
"I appreciate that," the pacifist smiled for the first time since setting foot on Agnian turf, "more than you might think."
"Oh, fine then," the soldier in charge acquiesced to his guests' showing of good faith. "How would you like for me to address you?"
"Noah, my name," the lone Kevesi nodded once.
"Very well, Noah," the commander fiddled with the collar of his uniform. "For the good behavior which you've exhibited during your visit to Colony Phi, I'd like to provide you with a shower and one fully cooked meal before sending you all on your way."
"Taion, do you really mean that?" The cat-eared Agnian seemed most surprised of everyone that he'd be charitable to the former prisoner.
"I guess you might say I did some thinking, last night," her bespectacled compatriot momentarily closed his eyes, smirking. "I told you, I value your opinion the way you value him."
"This seems too generous, coming from you," her own eyes narrowed on him.
"Have I really been that rigid?" his hands fell to his hips.
"Yes," she answered too quickly and reprovingly for his liking.
"Hmph… nevertheless, Kev… er, Noah, please head for the bathhouse on the eastern end of the colony," Commander Taion directed the unwashed swordsman. "I've mandated a window of thirty minutes for your private use of the showers so no conflicts will arise with my troops."
"I'd better escort him so there won't be any conflicts on the way over, too," the moonblades-wielder started scooting ahead.
"Mio, Taion, thanks again." Nearly feeling overprivileged, Noah followed her away from the group as she led him to the bathhouse.
It was a short walk through the colony grounds, just like any other. However, the wary stares from the local soldiers along the way made it seem like a precarious trek through a minefield. He didn't need any of their varied expressions of disapproval to know that he was their most unwanted guest. The good vibes from Commander Taion and Bowan's group had been neutralized by the time Noah and Mio reached their destination.
"It's all clear in here," she stuck her head in the tiled room before letting him in.
"All to myself, huh?" his sigh of relief was heavy enough to echo.
"You deserve it," the pitying Agnian shut the door behind him, "especially after the way you've been treated up to now."
"Yeah," the ponytailed soldier tugged at his hair tie. "I never knew how depressing it was to be stuck in a cage."
"It's the worst, isn't it?" the zephyr fetched his outerwear, including his crossbody bag and power frame. "Now hand me the rest of your clothes so I can wash them."
"Won't that take longer than a shower?" he hesitated before complying.
"Taion gave you a half hour in here," Mio hastily folded his whole kit, stacking his overturned boots on top. "Use every minute of it until I get back."
"Okay then," the ninth-termer watched her leave. Wrapping his hair tie around his wrist, he realized that he'd never enjoyed a solitary wash before. Unfortunately, he would only have five minutes of it before the door swung open again, and it wasn't by Mio's hand, either.
"Yup, he's in here, alright," the voice was male, unfamiliar, bellicose. Tensing up, Noah peered over his shoulder to find an Agnian with a lavender-toned face full of contempt.
"Is he by himself?" another voice poked through, this one female. Noah opened his mouth to object to the invasion, but no coherent words came out. Two more Agnians soon appeared at the door, bringing their total to four as they approached their target.
"So, it wasn't enough for you to keep your embers," the first heckler cut his way through the steam. "Now you're in our showers, too."
"Feel special, Kevesi scum?" the Agnian girl took his cue and joined in the harassment, lowering her brows below a pair of short, pink horns.
"Y-your commander granted me access," Noah finally responded, slowly backing out of the warm stream.
"Yeah… don't know what he was thinking," the lavender-skinned, male Agnian sauntered forward, shutting the water off.
"I don't suppose you'll leave me alone if I ask nicely," the pacifist tried to reason with them with no expectation for success.
"Leave you alone? Now isn't that a cute idea?" The leading invader felt emboldened with every step across the wet tiles. "Why can't we have a nice, little chat?"
"Chat?" the intimidated Kevesi stopped retreating. "I-I'd be more than happy to do so aft-"
"You're from… what was it, again? Dannagh Desert?" The horned, female Agnian feigned innocuousness. "That's more than a stone's throw away from here."
"And how!" the lavender-skinned soldier formulated a knavery in his head. "You must always be thirsty, huh?"
"Thirsty?" This sounded most dubious to the swordfighter.
"Maybe we ought to be good hosts and give him some water, right Kane?" she took her comrade's cue.
"Right, Alyss," the leading invader winked at her. "Maybe it's a good thing he's in the showers, after all."
In one swift, surprisingly coordinated maneuver, the two bullies tackled Noah to the floor and dragged him under the nearest showerhead. While the outnumbered Kevesi was pinned, the two onlookers behind them got into the act by helping with the restraining and turning on the water. Unable to break away, Noah turned his head to the side before the much colder stream could unload onto his face.
"Stop resisting, Kevesi," Alyss leaned away to avoid getting splashed herself. "We're trying to be helpful, here."
"Yeah, don't be an ingrate," Kane snickered fiendishly, proud of his idea. "We'd hate for you to be parched to dea-"
"What in the flames is goin' on, here?!" someone shouted appallingly upon discovering the most unpleasant scene.
"M-Mio…?" the horned girl backed against the wall, relinquishing her hold.
"It's the queen traitor herself," her lavender-skinned comrade likewise yielded as the bullies climbed to their feet. "You're late to the par-"
"Leave him alone!" the cat-eared Agnian hissed, her hands vibrating with rage.
"Tch… how the mighty have fallen," Kane meandered around the still floored Noah to eye her closely.
"Get the spark out of here!" Mio shoved him out the door before addressing the other three. "You all as well, get out!"
"I thought you were cool," Alyss scowled on her way outside.
"Unbelievable…" the tenth-termer slammed the door and hurried to her travel partner who'd clumsily rolled out of the stream. "A-are you alright? Shall I get Moraine to heal you?"
"I'm unhurt," the ponytailed soldier sat up, wrapping his arms around himself to squeeze his shoulders. "Though, I am rather tired of being tackled by this colony."
"I'm so sorry, man," the moonblades-wielder adjusted the water temperature to something warmer. "I've had my share of hazing in the shower, but it was never this bad."
"Should've expected it…" his defeated tone unintentionally stoked her guilt.
"Perhaps," she extended her hand to help him up, "but still, this is all my and Bowan's fault."
"It's my fault, too," Noah concurred whilst assuming some of the blame himself. "I should've waited at the lake."
"I don't even know how I'll ever make up for… everything." Mio was visibly more upset than Noah was, her self-proclaimed debt to him increasing with his continued mistreatment.
"Please don't feel like you owe me anything," the ninth-termer slowly reacclimated himself to the water. "This is the path I chose when I deserted, and if it takes me past some… unsavory characters, then…"
"Your selflessness is getting hard to believe again," she exhaled through her teeth. "Anyway, I'll stand guard so you can finish washing."
"Thanks…" the pacifist proceeded to do so while Mio pivoted towards the door.
In twenty restless minutes, Noah was dried and dressed as the two soldiers sought refuge in the guest barracks. Bowan, Lennick, and Moraine soon joined them, all five preferring to have breakfast in private rather than in the canteen. Halfway through their meal, Commander Taion and Lieutenant Isurd paid them a rather unexpected visit.
"Mio, a report, if you please," the officer in charge approached her. "What's this I'm hearing about a conflict occurring after all?"
"A bunch of your upstanding troops snuck into the bathhouse," the zephyr steadied her tray on her lap. "I found them pinning him on the floor under the shower."
"That's rather distressing to hear," the commander pursed his lips before checking with the others. "Did anyone else see this?"
"No, sir," Moraine answered for her contingent while everyone chewed slowly and quietly.
"Hmm… Mio, is it possible that you can tell me the names of the perpetrators?" the bespectacled Agnian returned to his lone, trustworthy witness. "Going against my word is a punishable act of defiance."
"I recognized one of them," his former associate dimmed her eyes, "Kane."
"There was also a girl named Alyss, commander," Noah added to the short list.
"Just these two, then?" Commander Taion stepped closer to the victim of this hate crime.
"There were two more helping them," the swordfighter tried to remember, "but I got neither their names nor a good look at them."
"They slipped out when Alyss said something to me," Mio stared at what remained of her breakfast.
"Commander, Kane is a captain of one of our Avis teams," Lieutenant Isurd flipped through his notepad which he'd remembered to bring this time. "Alyss is a member of his team, too."
"That explains a few things," his brown-haired superior needlessly adjusted his glasses. "They've caused trouble before, so maybe now a demotion is in order, or worse…"
"I'm not sure punishing them will do any good," the ponytailed Kevesi glanced at Mio and her allies. "We're not going to be hanging around here for much longer."
"An example must be set, otherwise Colony Phi will fall into disorder," the commander's tone suddenly constricted while he towered over everybody. "We are a hub for Agnus, so decorum is paramount in how we operate."
"Is that why you want to punish them?" the moonblades-wielder leaned forward, reading between his lines. "To keep the colony looking good to the castle?"
"Our rank is iron," he glossed over her suggestion. "Frankly, it should be higher, given what we do here."
"Ah," her brows came down together, "and here I thought you were seeking justice."
"I don't think I like your tone, Mio," the officer in charge returned her grimace.
"You're still the same as ever," she shook her head disappointedly.
"If you were in my shoes, then you'd want to keep messes to a minimum, too," Commander Taion strained to keep his voice down, the discussion heating and drifting further off course. "You haven't a clue how stressful it is to lead nearly a hundred troops with a Kevesi colony of equal rank just beyond the hill."
"You think I don't know stress?" such an unsympathetic, vainglorious stance affronted her. "I thought you said my opinions mattered to you."
"Please, you must understand the commander's been under scrutiny following an incident last year," his ether-lined subordinate interjected. "He wants what's best for everybody."
"You're speaking out of turn, lieutenant," the bespectacled Agnian declined his defense. "They needn't know what doesn't concern them."
"Do you seriously still not trust us?" she challenged his principles.
"I trust you, Mio," he swiveled back to her. "I'm simply saying you don't ne-"
"What about Bowan, Lennick, and Moraine?" her hand extended towards her allies. "Discounting our breakfast right now, you've purposely kept them separated from your troops like you don't want them to intermingle."
"Y-you are… full of accusations, today," the commander stammered, almost incredulously. "If anything, I'd say that you don't trust me."
"Well, maybe I have lost some trust in you," Mio admitted while everyone else listened intently. "You used to be so forthcoming, sometimes to a fault."
"Perhaps I was, back then," her former associate relaxed his stance. "Now as commander, I have to be careful with my words and actions, even with a largely absent consul."
"That excuse is invalid," the zephyr hardly let up. "You were still a foot soldier when I transferred to Colony Rho."
"I was." Commander Taion's glassy gaze slowly descended to the floor under the weight of her logic.
"Where was your support when I needed it?" There was a detectable intonation of hurt in her voice. "You hardly answered my calls."
"I don't… know what to say to that," his well of words ran dry, "if you'll pardon the irony."
"It's hard to keep in touch with old friends while the war keeps us busy," Noah interposed, unwittingly poking a hole in the tension.
"Speaking from experience, are you?" his running mate dignified him with a tired glance.
"I have a sniper friend from my Colony 17 days who's always on guard duty," the pacifist shared his example with the group. "We can only communicate when she's available."
"Mio…" the commander returned from his cogitative pause, "while my position as commander will likely keep me antisocial, I would like to be forthcoming with you again."
"Nobody's stopping you," her fingers gently tapped on her tray.
"Very well," he turned to his subordinate. "Isurd, how would you rate the level of risk in divulging last year's incident?"
"I don't think these people will ever talk to our consul, so it should be safe," the lieutenant reckoned without the need of his notes. "Besides, I quizzed the Kev… er, Noah about it yesterday."
"Blithering sparks…" the taller officer clenched his forehead, "that wasn't what I meant when I allowed you to study him for strategic insight."
"Taion…" the moonblades-wielder grumbled at his swift relapse.
"R-right," Commander Taion displayed his palms, uncharacteristically flustered. "Last year, an individual transferred into Colony Phi under the guise of an Agnian soldier. However, they were discovered to be an agent for a colony affiliated with neither Agnus nor Keves."
"Neither nation?" Bowan perked up, having finished his breakfast first.
"They called it… the City," the fourth-term officer revealed to Mio's allies, "but we don't know anything about it."
"There was a lot of talking behind our backs," the bespectacled Agnian lamented their oversights. "When we sniffed them out, they staged a successful escape with a bunch of our soldiers."
"Bound for the City?" Mio ventured a guess, now that the subject had been blown wide open.
"Correct," the commander sighed ashamedly. "I was wary about one of you people being another agent."
"Colony Phi may be big, but we can't afford to lose that many soldiers at once and expect to keep up with Colony 18," Lieutenant Isurd added for context regarding their concerns.
"Hence why I isolated you all," the older officer brought his confession full circle. "Does knowing this satisfy you, Mio?"
"If it's the truth, then I'm glad to know it," her expression hardly changed.
"Me too," Noah set his tray aside, having savored every crumb.
"While we're being candid, Taion," she wasn't quite done talking, "can I ask you about something else?"
"What is it?" the bespectacled Agnian braced himself for another round with her.
"Do you really believe that those who run away from their homecomings are cowards?" For a moment, her question seemed to suck the air out of the room.
"My comment from yesterday…" Commander Taion hung his head low again.
"Yes," she noticed his unease. "I think you know that it more than rubbed me the wrong way."
"I did get that impression," he swallowed hard, preparing a stopgap response. "I won't deny that there's a certain degree of dishonor about a homecoming."
"It's more than dishonor, Taion," her eyes struggled to find his behind his glasses. "It's absolute dread, the kind that eats at you day after day… until it arrives."
"Mio…" the ponytailed Kevesi tasted the despair in her words.
"You needn't say more," the commander emerged from his discomposure. "I might even be starting to understand your mission, unusual though it may be."
"That's all I wanted to hear," she finally relinquished her pressuring.
"But I haven't apologized yet," the tall officer kept himself on the hook. "I'm sorry I implied that you're a coward."
"Thank you," Mio brought her hands together over her chest. "I don't care how strangers see me, but you'd agree that friends' opinions matter."
"You consider us friends now?" he blinked in mild surprise.
"I'd like for us to be friends going forward, even if this is the last time we see each other," his former associate disclosed her wish. "I know your position means you'll be tied to this colony for as long as you're able."
"Indeed," Commander Taion acceded whilst appreciating her sympathy of his situation. "My tasks are never-ending."
"Good thing you have a likeminded lieutenant at your side," Noah attempted to keep the positivity afloat.
"Well, I did select Isurd here to be my lieutenant and eventual replacement," the bespectacled Agnian bestowed a proud grin upon his subordinate. "Anyway, I believe we've delayed your departure for long enough."
"Yeah," the zephyr briefly checked the time via her Iris, "it's almost noon already."
"Then we'd best prepare you all for your long journey ahead," he brought his palms together as everyone stood in unison.
"Long journey?" the defender tilted his head. "We can reach Colony Rho before nightfall if we hitch a ride."
"I'm aware of that," the commander observed his confusion. "However, we haven't any transport Levnises to spare at the moment."
"During lulls in our fight against Colony 18 like we're having now, we take the opportunity to send out supplies to other Agnian colonies," the ether-lined officer explained, though it hardly eased the group's disappointment.
"Well, you did say my timing left a lot to be desired," the cat-eared Agnian stuffed the last of her lukewarm breakfast in her mouth.
"That was in reference to yesterday's rain," her former associate resisted chuckling at her misinterpretation. "We'd offer you to stay until our suppliers return, but I imagine you'd rather not spend another second with my troops."
"You're right," the pacifist slouched slightly. "I know when I'm not wanted."
"What I can give you all, however, is one rucksack each of water containers and dried rations that'll last you to Colony Rho," Commander Taion presented a different form of assistance. "Will this do?"
"We humbly accept," Mio spoke for the party, bowing her head. "Thank you."
"Yes, thank you, Commander Taion," Noah did the same as well, "though I already have a bag."
"Duly noted," the older officer turned to the younger one. "Isurd, please retrieve four rucksacks and five provision sets from storage while I escort our guests to Lomi Hill."
"Yes, sir!" the lieutenant saluted before cracking open the barracks door. Within five minutes, everyone had reconvened outside the colony where Noah had been toppled in the mud the previous morning.
"As straightforward as it'd be to reach Colony Rho through the plains," the commander peered southeastward, "I think you're all aware of the dangers presented by Colony 18 further along this path."
"We are," she reactivated her Iris to update everyone's maps. "Instead, we'll take an alternate route which I've used before."
"Through some tunnels and a steep valley," Bowan summarized it aloud after checking it over. "It's quite the roundabout, but I'm all for safety."
"Exactly." With no objections to her plan, Mio faced the two officers one last time. "Taion, Isurd, thanks again for hosting us."
"Be careful, Mio," her old friend shook her hand. "I bid you farewell, and safe travels."