Eternal Elysium

I reached the canteen, my steps stopping right before the hall.

Ahead was a bustling crowd of people waiting in line, with cold steel plates in hand. But the place wasn't overcrowded; rather it was open, and big. The structure was supported by several black metal pipes on the roof, holding the roof and lighting rather calm and soothing, neither too much nor too little. It was a perfect blend of creativity and infrastructure.

From the corner of my view I saw several people eating while sitting beside white table and chairs in large groups.

I sighed, and walked straight to grab food for myself.

The place was nice as I didn't need to wait for too long before getting food myself.

I had come here only once, and that was during rush hours.

That awful experience was something I had managed to avoid this time.

Walking forward, I searched for a place to sit, and then finally saw a familiar face at the corner.

A young man wearing a military body suit was sitting not far from me, his attention focused entirely on the soup, as if he was planning to dive inside of it.

I walked closer and gave him a strong gaze, before asking.

"Bob, what are you doing?"

"Huh?"

Bob raised his head, and grunted. But stopped after seeing me.

"Can I sit here?" I asked.

"Wh–"

Seeing his hesitation I didn't wait and sat down on the wooden chair.

It was not like he would have said no to me anyways, asking for permission was just a courtesy.

"Hmm. Any problem Bob?"

I asked, seeing his exaggerated look.

"Ah, no sir. I was just surprised…"

"I see. Do you always come alone here, Bob?"

"I do, Captain Asher. My teammates are on different duties these days."

I nodded, taking a bite in the loaf of bread. Surprisingly the food here was always good.

"Which division do you belong to?"

Bob tensed upon hearing my question, he moved his gaze, trying to see anyone but me.

I frowned, and tapped my fingers on the table, loud enough for him to hear.

Bob flinched, his lips pursed tightly.

'Ugh, damn this guy.' He muttered under his breath.

While I couldn't hear him properly I had an idea of what he was trying to say. Which made my brows furrow up together in disbelief.

Do these guys have no idea that people can hear them?

Clearly not!

Otherwise just like me they would ridicule someone in mind. Not in the face, well unless I just want to.

Thinking as such I gave Bob a cold glare, making him even more tense than before.

"I asked something, didn't I?"

"Yes? Ah, I mean. I am from the 2nd division!"

I nodded, smiling at him.

"How long have you been here? Well, I just came recently as you can see."

"Four years? Maybe a little more… telling it correctly is hard."

"Well isn't it obvious." I said, trying to ease the tension.

He probably didn't like me much, as from day one I have been bossing him around. Otherwise he is also a trained soldier, fighting on the frontlines like the others.

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Bob looked down at his soup again, his spoon making circular motions, creating waves that touched the edge of the bowl and retreated back again. It was almost like he was lost in his own world.

"Anyway, what do you all usually do here? I had a mission yesterday so I couldn't get much information regarding the central base."

I asked, taking another bite from the food.

Bob thought for a while and shrugged his shoulders.

"Monsters attack like usual. The last wave was some weeks ago, we fend it off, and repeat." Bob said seriously, his face not looking so young anymore.

"That's how it mostly goes here..."

Bob continued his voice softer, his eyes searching around desperate as he fell silent.

"I see... that sounds rough." I whispered, my gaze down.

"Captain Asher, I am actually sorry for the last time. Trying to intimidate you I mean, that wasn't my intention."

"Oh, it's okay. I actually forgot that."

"Haha, really? That's good to hear."

Bob laughed but his gaze still didn't remain still even for a second.

I followed his gaze or at least tried to but it was random, without any purpose. His eyes would move from corner to corner than at the gates, but didn't stay anywhere for more than a moment.

"What have you been looking for?"

Bob stopped, his gaze turning to look at me. His gaze sharp, brows furrowed together in confusion. Seeing his confused looks, I leaned back. My lips curling up into a small smile.

"I, I don't know what you are saying about Captain Asher. Did it look like I was looking for something?"

"You certainly were looking for something or someone. But who is the question?" I said, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. Bob's face wrinkled hearing my words, he turned his head around in confusion. He stayed silent, as I waited for him to speak, my gaze shifted to my food, as I took another bite from it.

"Captain Asher, well it's nothing serious, really."

I sighed, hearing his answer. My disappointment was clear, as Bob shifted uncomfortably in his seat under my stern gaze.

"I'm probably just tired." He added quickly

'This guy won't speak like that. Should I bait him?'

I already had a guess why he was acting like this. And that certainly made sense knowing what was secretly going around Kalista.

Even then most of my words were half truth.

Temple has given me an astonishing report on Kalista. In a way I was as much aware of how things happen here as anyone else. But of course seeing things with eyes and experiencing them was entirely different than reading mere words in a book.

I had also observed people here for quite a while, and on the surface everything looked as normal as someone could possibly be here in this dead zone. A place where no sunlight ever reached and attacks from monsters on a regular basis certainly did a number on the human psyche.

However, as I had spoken earlier things were still mundane as they could be except for one thing.

And that was the confused expression everyone seems to be making once in a while.

Soldiers, workers, and even staff working here on paper would sometimes pause, look around them in confusion, open their mouths to speak but not a single word would come out.

I had observed this up close, and reached a single conclusion.

Those who went missing were surely forgotten but not erased, they still existed in people's memories, which led to these unconscious actions.

These subtle actions were proof something had gone wrong.

"Who are you searching for, Bob? You can tell me. I won't make fun of you."

I probed further, and didn't think of giving hints. It was better to be direct right now seeing how hesitant he was.

Bob licked his lips, tension clear in his eyes.

"Its hard to say actually." Bob sighed, scratching his cheeks.

"I don't know what I am looking for. Sometimes, without even knowing myself, I would turn my gaze to look everywhere, as if some kind of pull is forcing me to or like a—"

"Habit? Hmm," I completed his words, shocking him.

Bob nodded.

"Yes, as if it were a habit. How do you know that captain?"

"Well, from what I have found you alone are not the only ones doing it."

"What?"

Seeing him finally get interested, I stood up from my seat and placed the empty plate somewhere else.

"Wait, wait! Captain Asher."

Bob followed after me, making me laugh. The distant murmurs of the soldiers in the canteen vanished, as we came out.

"Hmm, what is it Bob?"

I asked, walking leisurely outside.

"Sir, Um, what do you mean other people also have it? The hobby I mean."

"How about I show you, then." I walked faster, Bob eyes seeing this widened, as he tried to follow me.

"Where are we going?" He asked, his patience thinning as we stopped behind a wall.

I didn't answer, my eyes remained on the medical wing.

Bob frowned, and turned his head following my gaze.

A woman, wearing a white coat, could be seen walking toward the medical wing staircase.

Bob squinted his eyes, and saw nothing suspicious.

"Why are we—?"

"Look now."

I interrupted him, and raised my hand, pointing my fingers at the woman.

Just as she was about to reach the gate she stopped, her eyes turned to look at the guard standing at her right, but then blinked, her eyes hazy as she searched around looking for someone.

She opened her mouth but then closed it immediately.

"Any problem Miss?" The guard asked, equally confused.

His gaze turned to look at his left but saw no one and fell silent.

"No, nothing." The woman answered, shaking her head softly and went inside.

Bob gasped seeing from the side lines, his eyes wide open.

"Huh? Isn't that—"

"Familair yes, I saw this yesterday. And also noticed you doing the same thing at the canteen as well. Weird, right?"

"I was the same yesterday?" Bob muttered, his face wrinkling at such thoughts.

I kept looking around, trying to search for more people like them but saw no one.

Maybe it was related to a fixed time. That it only happens at certain places and times.

Coming here was to check if it was true or not. Bob being here was just better, as I got extra evidence.

"Hmm, any idea?" I asked, and turned my gaze back at him.

"Oh, no. But was I really doing the same?"

"Yes, but I guess you forgot it soon after. Have you tried telling this to someone else?"

I asked, leaning back on the wall.

Bob nodded, looking confused.

"I did sir, but I don't think I was aware that much…"

"You were not aware?"

I raised my brows in confusion.

His words were contradictory.

At one point according to him he is aware that he is looking for someone,but at others he isn't.

'How strange?'