As they closed in on the walled-off city, Ira could not help but feel a sense of awe spread throughout her being. A single glance told her everything. 'The scenery of this place is truly magnificent…' Her mind was entranced by the beauty of the Fort. 'And I am not even inside of it, yet!'
As they approached the walls, the young girl could begin to make out the shape of people; along with a large gate that they used to guard against both Purge Beasts and Raiders.
Soon, the cohort was forced to stop.
"Identification?" One of the armed guards asked, with a silver star-shaped medal on their coat.
It told them that the man was of the Awakened rank. 'Four smaller stars surround it... A demon?'
Stars of two different sizes were used to indicate to others what rank and class a person was in the government. 'It is weird how I never saw Andrisson wear a star... or how none of us, the Dormants, have smaller stars. Perhaps it is because we are in two different occupations overseen by two different major Forts?'
She would learn, eventually.
While Ira was in deep thought, Andrisson had reached into the glove department and pulled out a folder stamped with the official symbol of Fort Echo. It was a symbol that was completely unique and impossible to forge, made from neither ink nor wax.
The armed guard nodded his head to another, the gates that led into the Fort screeched against the ground as they opened.
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Entering the Fort, Ira stuck her head outside of the window, taking in a deep breath of the sterile air, 'Much refreshing—at least compared to the horrid air outside of the Forts.' A deep exhale left her mouth as she sat back down in her seat, her lips curling upwards into a drowsy smile.
A stretch and a yawn later, they were now past the slums and into the main city, a vibrant array of colors all around them.
Signs and billboards that used a multitude of different colors to catch the attention of passersby, roads that had been freshly painted to dictate the flow of traffic, people wearing all sorts of clothes—some raggedy, and others fashionable.
In the distance lay a towering mountain the city surrounded, a castle near the summit for the most distinguished nobles, such as the family of Bariealla, who belonged to the Riallman's.
The armored vehicle did not slam into the concrete roads from potholes—it did not bounce at all because of how maintained it was; a privilege not every Fort was capable of having.
◇
Turning into a parking lot, Andrisson parked the armored vehicle in one of the many open spots.
As the engine's power was cut, the vehicle no longer roared with might—falling into silence that was occasionally interrupted by the sounds of leaves being blown through the air, 'It is spring, after all… I think. The seasons over the years have become increasingly inconsistent. It makes it particularly difficult to determine the current season. The weather has been horrid recently, too.' The young girl thought to herself, but in the end, it was not of too much importance.
What was, though, was delivering the folder to the headquarters of Fort Bravo.
Stretching her lengthy arms, Cammie let out a satisfied yawn. "I missed this place; it has amazing food!" The seemingly blind girl said.
'Is she really blind?' A momentary pause followed that thought, "H-hey, Cammie. Are you blind..? It's just-"
Cutting Ira off, Cammie answered the young girl's question, "It's just my eyes? how they look, right? Well, I am not blind. My eyes are only unique—not crippling."
Opening her mouth to respond, Ira could not find the words to do so. At least she managed to get her answer—her curiosity now satisfied. 'She has pretty eyes... That does not make her obnoxious personality any better, in the end.'
Andrisson watched the exchange between the two girls, no words left his lips, though; but there had been a flicker of tension in his jaw—possibly because of the contents of the folder they were tasked with delivering to Fort Bravo—or perhaps because of something else. Whatever the reason was, Ira did not know and did not mind not knowing; it did not bother her in the end, at least she assumed it did not.
That would all change if it were related to R-0, however. R-0 as mysterious as it may be, still concerned all of humanity. It was even the driving factor on why humanity had in recent years begun to allocate an overwhelming amount of resources to the Purge Realm.
◇
The doors to the armored vehicle opened, and the cohort left the confines of the safe space provided by the vehicle.
"Do you remember what I said last time?" Andrisson questioned at no one in particular.
Bariealla was the one to respond, as she always did. "You said, 'avoid prying into things that do not bother you or us', right?" Bari knew she was right, but she wanted to verbally hear it.
Andrisson stared at her firmly, "Correct. Good job."
A smug smile appeared on Bariealla's face.
'She is acting like Kaine… ugh. She must love praise...' The young girl thought to herself. Glancing at Cammie, a look of knowing appeared on the seemingly blind girl's face, "She gets like this whenever we get to Fort Bravo, or any major Fort in general. Don't mind her."
Ira nodded her head gently—she did not need to use words to convey her understanding.
Pushing against the metal doors, the cohort entered the government-controlled building, crisp air entering through their nostrils and into their lungs. "This air is amazing… Could be better, though." Kaine said with his usual tone; it was filled with superiority and fake indifference that he stupidly forced out.
The lounge was nearly identical to the one in Fort Echo—except that the floor tiles were covered in lines that led down the hall, presumably to guide guests or new employees.
'Efficiency over style. Very typical for the government; not that it is bad to do that.'
A man turned the corner down one of the hallways, clearly walking towards them with purpose. His eyes were a beautiful shade of Amber, mixed with his lush brunette hair and slender figure. He was a sight to behold.
As the mysterious man drew closer, Ira peered beneath his flesh and mind, staring directly at the man's Will.
Perhaps the young girl assumed she would see another Crowned human—that was not the case; the man was a Crested Tyrant. Perhaps he was not a Crowned human, but he sure was one of the most—if not the most powerful person on the entire planet. It only made sense that they would find some of the most powerful humans in the world here. This was the main base of operations related to the war against Purge Beasts: Fort Bravo Assault Division.
Regardless of whatever the case was, one did not need to be able to see Will, to know what rank and class the man was. His suit donned two large stars with four points, and five smaller ones surrounding it.
Andrisson reached his hand out to shake the other man's, "You must be Dawn, the Administration Director? I did not expect the strongest of humanity to come down to personally take this report from us. Now onto the contents of the report, we are here to deliver key information related to R-0."
Ira's eyes grew wide, 'So this report is about R-0… I knew it"
The man put on a warm smile, "Ah, I see; call me Luminious. Dawn is a simple abbreviation for my Title. Well done on making it here safely. Not many people could do that, especially with a Fallen Beast hiding around the city walls."
Andrisson's eyes opened wider, "If I had known there was a Fallen Beast nearby, I would not have taken up this mission. On the matter of the Fallen Beast, why has it not attempted to attack the city yet?"
Dawn's smile grew wider, his expression turning almost uncanny as he clasped one of his hands against the folder, flicking through the contents with both phenomenal speed and precision; "It is simple, really. Because I exist; what could a mere Fallen Beast do to the likes of me—a Crested Tyrant? Nothing! Nothing at all…"
◇
The world seemed to crack as a rift in space appeared. Small at first, and then in the next moment it seemed to split the sky with its might.
What was it? Why was it there? It was simple, really…
It was a Purge Gate, also known as a Realm Gate.