The bus rolled to a stop a few dozen yards from the Excavation site.
The area was blocked off and had a couple of warning signs scattered here and there to ward off any solicitation. Two security guards waited at the checkpoint as Cassian got off the bus and walked towards them.
He scanned the area as he made his way there. In the distance, a treeline dotted the horizon.
What was odd was that a few military vehicles were positioned near the edge of the forest, and he could see that a couple of thick trees had been broken and thrashed through. Signs of battle were clear even from a distance.
'That must be where the earlier commotion had started from...' He thought, as nothing else caught his attention except for the two in front of him.
He came to a stop in front of the pair of armed guards.
They didn't look special by any means; identification badges hung from their necks, detailing their info and positions. The first guard was shorter and had a chinstrap beard that failed to connect to his moustache; his chubbiness was held back by a utility belt that looked to be as distressed as his partner was.
He grunted as Cassian looked at him for a sign of direction, receiving a response instead from his partner, a skinny man with a gaunt expression.
The latter spoke with a raspy voice that matched his disposition.
"Name." He asked.
"Cassian Kervar"
The shorter guard looked up while typing his name into a tablet.
"If you are a mine worker, your shift started half an hour ago; the foreman won't take kindly to tardiness, you might as well catch the next bus out of here."
He paused as the file he was looking for pulled up, changing his tune while he read the info slate on Cassian.
"Contractor at twenty-two, huh? You must be one of those rich kids who got handed such a cushy job. What're you doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be in an office somewhere?
Cassian responded to the man, never taking his eyes off the skinny guard. Something was off with him; he just couldn't put his finger on it.
"Yes - I mean no. I was told to report here and meet the foreman to go over some contracting issues and meet the team."
"Right, Samuel here is probably the reason for that. He was a rush assignment and wasn't fully cleared by the previous contractor as part of the team. I'm sure you two will get along smoothly, seeing as it's both of your first days."
Samuel looked at Cassian, nodding to him and then gesturing towards the mine entrance.
"Ah, he's not much of a talker, is what I've come to learn. The foreman is probably waiting for you inside. Subsection A-3, I believe. Here, this is an updated map of the cleared areas so far. Shouldn't be too hard to find."
Cassian took the paper from the man, giving Samuel one more glance as he started his descent into the mines.
He thought back to his interaction with Laila when she first brought up the job.
***
[The previous week]
"Dude, you're never gonna get a girl if you can't even stay on top of your job. Forget a woman, I bet you couldn't even take care of a hamster if those things were still around."
Laila was in a mood.
Her father, Arthur Fowling, was quite the businessman and public figure in Xalta. Apparently, he had scolded his princess that morning for her latest scandal: beating up an heir to a competing family from the Zephir Empire.
Of course, she wasn't really punished, as the only daughter and heiress to the family business, she could get away with hurting a brat or two. Especially since she had multiple witnesses who saw her politely reject the first few advances that were made.
"The owner of the bakery didn't have a need for, and I quote, "Gluttons that eat more than they can sell." and honestly, I can't argue with him, those scones were definitely worth it." Cassian grinned as he remembered the taste.
"Welllllll" Laila started.
He rolled his eyes. Whatever she was about to spew from that silver tongue of hers certainly couldn't be good... at least for him.
"As your number one supporter and only friend, I have a great business proposition for you that you will for surely love" she continued.
He groaned. "Go on".
"The council will be hosting a gala next weekend, it's some event for a breakthrough in Essence development that was recently made. Something about integrating it with our current technology"
Cassian gave a low whistle, considering the impacts of what she said.
So far, Essence has been used in more mechanical technology, the extent of their ability being the energy source of transportation for cars and the like.
The world would be undergoing massive developments if this were true.
"Anyway, my dad is forcing me to be there to keep up appearances after the other day, but I'll be damned if I have to endure the constant perverted gazes of every horny kid that looks my way."
They stopped walking near a pond a few blocks from Cassian's apartment and got to their spot, a bench that was under a shadowy willow tree, overlooking the murky waters.
"So what I'm gathering is what? You want me to be your date?" He asked.
She looked at him, horrified at the suggestion.
"Buddy, you couldn't date my middle finger even if it was lodged in your ass." Clicking her tongue, she continued insulting his apparently audacious question.
"Alright, alright, I get it, I'll be the object of disdain for whatever white knight comes your way.... but what's in it for me?" Cassian questioned.
Laila smirked, her gaze carrying a glint of chaos that contrasted her doe eyes and soft features. She had won and she knew it.
Despite her playful outrage, Cassian knew that it meant a lot for her to have someone by her side for the event. He was her only friend as well, and they had been so since their childhood.
"This beautiful and most generous lady found you a nice job at the mines. But wait! There's more!! If you agree to this deal now, I'll throw in a suit for the gala. Huh? How 'bout it?" She said in her most sales-like tone.
Cassian thought about it.
On the one hand, he could manipulate this into a later favor. Knowing Laila, this deal probably had more to it than she was letting on. On the other hand, he hated the social scene that she was used to. But if he was being honest, a free job wasn't worth looking the gift horse in the mouth.
After taking a second to weigh out his options, he gave in.
"Fine. But this better not be something that gets me in trouble with your father, I've taken more heat from him in the last month than I can handle."
Her father, Arthur, is the head of Fowling Conglomerate. A distribution and processing group, as well as an off-branch of the Evangeline family, one of the two main powers of the Zephir Empire. It was safe to say that he doted on her and held certain expectations for those around her.
He saw Cassian as a distraction at best and a growing tumor at worst. This never deterred the two from the mischief they created of course, but as they got older, Laila was wrapped in more caution tape than was worth the trouble.
"I'm sure he'll give us some shit, but as long as you do your job and nothing happens, it shouldn't be much more than his usual remarks. Besides, I wonder how hell will react seeing us walk in together. Should be a good laugh if nothing else."
"For you at least. Last time he spoke with me, there was a series of promises that I'd like to forget."
It was Laila's turn to roll her eyes.
"Such a wimp, I really do pray for your future wife" she teased.
"Whatever, what's this job about? Please tell me you didn't sign me up for some graveyard shift that'll mess up my routine."
" No, no, nothing like that. You think so little of me Cas, I thought you had more faith in my ability. Truly a shame. Its a contracting job, basically just overseeing the net gains from daily hauls at the mines."
He was surprised. Only for the fleeting moments of shock to be overshadowed by the reminder of who he was talking to. If the job was so sweet, the task at hand was probably more grueling than he thought.
"...This gala. Who exactly is supposed to be there again?" He asked in a doubtful tone.
Laila suddenly found a nearby tree utterly intriguing. Since when did they come in such an interesting color? She'll have to come back and journal it. Yes, yes, it was noteworthy indeed.
"Laila."
"Hmm? Oh right the gala. Y'know, the regular crowd; some family heads, some council members - Ulric Evangeline - some generals. Just the usual peeps" She said while finding another tree to be such an outstanding specimen.
He face-palmed.
It was one thing to be her bodyguard and fend off some random pricks that came her way, but Ulric was a main member of the Evangeline family. Son of Korrinth Evangeline herself. Cassian felt a massive headache coming on.
He may have to reconsider the entire deal; maybe the bakery owner will see things differently and take him back. What's a pastry or two when you have a great employee like him, right?
"Okay I may have forgotten that detail, but it's fine, I promise." she rushed, "He's going to be presenting the new advancements, so I'm sure we'll be fine to sneak off after. Come on Cas, I know you hate his guts, but it'll just be a few hours and he'll be back on the fastest E-rail we have to the Empire."
Cassian sighed.
"Fine, but you definitely owe me now. There's no way this'll go off without a hitch, that man is a walking disaster waiting to happen. We both know he'll likely beeline his way to you as soon as he can." He said as he lamented on his previous interactions with Ulric.
"I know, but we'll be long gone before that happens, I promise."
He slowly shook his head.
The Evangeline family was comprised of monsters.
Each family member in the direct line was a genius in their own field. Ulric and his twin brother, Byron, were the only sons of Korrinth Evangeline.
To put into perspective, the Evangeline family was behind the discovery of Essence stones and their usage.
To say they were the saviours of their time wasn't a stretch of the imagination at all.