Somewhere Someplace

“Hmm…”

“[And these were all of the bodies retrieved?]” so inquired the overseeing officer, the same one who had stood before the entry gates at the very beginning of this operation.

“[Yes sire, that volunteer was the one who found the first four. During our following search, we found the other two]” so replied a soldier.

The overseeing officer stared down with analyzing eyes at the six bodies which had been properly and carefully excavated and were now laying upon a white cloth tarp of sorts.

The four bodies suspected to be Guild receptionists each had the amulets which had been found near them…placed next to them, the foreigner having been able to…remember which amulet she had taken from which, each amulet being…distinct in their own way, for indeed…these had been four different types of receptionists and thus four different…designations of amulets.

The other two bodies, however, were discovered after more Company soldiers had arrived, who then searched and excavated the site in more detail. The foreigner’s own…participation was minimal, and eventually she was simply asked to remain where the discovered bodies were laid down and to do…nothing but wait until the overseeing officer arrived to deal with both her and this situation—for indeed, she had still trespassed into a restricted area.

Yet, nevertheless, when the overseeing officer did suddenly appear, the soldiers seemed rather surprised by his arrival, for…such had happened much faster than was expected, significantly so—they were still in the middle of preparing things for him, in fact. It appeared that the overseeing officer was actually in route to another location—the foreigner’s prior stationing, in fact—when the soldier who had been sent to inform him…bumped into him by surprising chance.

The overseeing officer sighed somewhat; “[So…four likely-to-be Adventurer Guild receptionist staff…with apparent wounds indicating an execution shot to each head…]” he remarked.

“[Yes sire, and each seemed to have…indications that both their legs and hands were restrained… as you can see, we found these remains on their persons of…what appears to be…iron or some iron-derivative restrainers—highly burnt, of course]” the soldier explained.

The overseeing officer nodded his head; “[I see…and what of the other two? Why are they separated from these four?]” he inquired.

“[We found no amulets on them or…other markers to indicate an affiliation, hence the separation; they seemed to be men, also—according to…her at least, for we couldn’t tell given the condition—but…uhm, yes sire…they are, they are thought to be unaffiliated with the Guild]” the soldier replied.

“[And cause of death?]” the overseeing officer inquired.

“[We had yet to…inspect them in detail, sire, before you arrived; so, undetermined…but it is clear that it was no head wound… One seemed rather crushed upon discovery and is in bad shape, as you can see, even more so than the other bodies… but overall, we do not know, besides speculations]” the soldier replied.

“[Also, sire]” another soldier interjected, pointing to an object laying next to one of the two bodies; “[we also found…that amongst the rubble alongside the more crushed body… Extremely charred, but it is clearly a pistol of sorts…I think a wheellock, most likely, suggesting he was armed]” he said.

“Hmm…[and just that one?]” the overseeing officer asked.

“[For now, yes…we did not find any firearms on the other’s person…nor near the area wherefrom his body was found; only that one]” the soldier replied.

The overseeing officer nodded his head away; “[So at least one is indicated to have been armed, fascinating most certainly]” he remarked, before…shifting his attention to the foreigner who was standing next and near…silently so, having not been given any explicit permission to speak freely. “Well…you there, you’ve been awfully quiet” he began to say in local tongue, his accent as sophisticated as with his native tongue, “any more details you would want to add?”

The foreigner nodded; “Well, I suppose…but as it may have been…said, there was not any of the…major inspections of those…not Guild peoples, but from my own…small inspecting, I believe that one of them”—she pointed her finger to which—“has what seems to be the signs that…they were shot in the throat… It is hard to see with the…state of the neck…but it is evident from the damage of the…bone, and I found…what could be traces of the…ehm…lead, also” thus she explained.

“Hmm…” the overseeing officer’s breaths mumbled out as he listened.

“Also, we found another set of…ehm, I do not know the word, but those…hand and leg bondage things—the same ones that were found with these four…bodies; but this set of bondages were not found along with any body, and were…found very close to where the other four bodies were found as well” she added.

The overseeing officers lightly nodded along, eyes staring at the bodies, mind clearly contemplating; “Interesting…” his breaths quietly mumbled.

“I do not think that the positioning was a…coincidence” the foreigner continued, “these four were found close together, so they were probably…held and detained as a group; so, an empty set of bondages…might mean that there could be a missing fifth; I think that, if so, then maybe…this missing other…could have perhaps made themselves free and…had stolen the…pistol from one of the two and shot them, which could also explain why only one of the two men…was found with a pistol; but…I cannot say this with any certainty; this is just guessing, and…there could be other possibilities”

“Well…everything here is mere guesswork and theory…all we see are corpses and dust, after all” the overseeing officer remarked, his attention focusing on the four receptionist bodies, amulets specifically.

He kneeled down somewhat…as he began to inspect their amulets; “Hmm…a beverages and amenities intendent class two, a general assistant class three, an administration management assistant class three, and…a main intendent class four” he remarked out, more than able to identify which specific designation the amulets…well…designated; “These are…all intermediate-to-high positioned receptionists, this does not suggest random…rather targeted…”

He stood himself back up; “Hmm…well, interesting, it appears the bombardment was not the only one to have taken advantage of that holiday distraction; it appears another conspiracy was in motion…and an interrupted one, from the looks” he remarked. “I cannot say I am too surprised; Guild receptionists are often the targets of…political enemies, sick fetishists, and other assortments…” he remarked further.

He shifted his goggled eyes to the foreigner; “Quite the mysterious discovery you have trespassed yourself into, I see, and quite the observant eyes and insights you have as well. I can see why you’re found to be so interesting” he…remarked? “[Alright, all of you, continue with your efforts; this now a priority affair, so I want full attention; and lieutenants, start sending a few into the sewers for anything of suspect… There is always something to be found in the damned sewers…]” he ordered; “you, however, stay here; we must speak” he said to the foreigner.

The soldiers around acknowledged and promptly made way to continue the investigation efforts as everything swiftly resumed, the foreigner…remaining in place as ordered. The overseeing officer, however, waited until it was effectively just the two of them before continuing to speak.

“Nilia, your name is, rightly? Quite identifiable with that mask of yours” he finally inquired and remarked…stepping closer to her, his voice quieting.

The foreigner nodded “…yes?”

“Hmm…now, I won’t ask how or why you were even in this area to begin with, but…you said that you were searching for…these amulets, rightly?” he asked.

The foreigner yet again nodded “yes…”; “I was asked by the Guild, or…one of the receptionists, a…ehm…friend…of one of the dead” she replied.

“I see, and how many have you found?” he inquired.

“Uhm…if not including those four…then just five” she answered; “and these four were…the only ones that I found to be with…very weird circumstances, if that is what you may be wondering” she added.

“Hmm…I see, well although it would have been better to inform a Company officer of any discovered amulets anyway, the Guild and the Company have a…special mutual understanding, so we would have seen to their return along with the bodies” he remarked.

“…I was not…told of that…” the foreigner replied…indeed, she was not aware of that…

“Well, that’s neither here nor there, you were asked to personally return them and thus you adhered… and I doubt anyone thought that there would be so many intact bodies…” he remarked further, rather…casual in his tone as well, oddly enough. “And…you just said that…a friend of the deceased had asked, implying that you have found and confirmed that the friend’s deceased is in fact…deceased?” he inquired.

The foreigner simply nodded as her gloved finger…pointed to what…was likely to be the receptionist’s charred body…her amulet next to it; “Yes…that one is…her” she said.

The overseeing officer eyed; “I see…well, in that case, you are free to take the amulet of that one, then, so that you may return it; so as long as the other three remain, we will still know to whom that one belongs; and worry not, I’ll be sure to keep track; these will be returned to the Guild” he stated.

The foreigner…tilted her head, now she was becoming somewhat confused, and not just by this sudden allowance. The tone of his voice…was drifting in…a rather peculiar direction, she was noticing.

“And we will be sure to see to the return of any other…Guild amulets we encounter, or adventurer badges for that matter, along with any feasibly retrieval bodies—again, the United Company honors its…mutual understanding with our partners in the Adventurers’ Guild” he added.

The overseeing officer approached closer, his hand searching for something that was in a pocket underneath his coat, taking out…a folded paper of sorts. A letter…one ordained with the Company’s coat-of-arms and stamp. Elaborate and thick; official and formal in all ways.

“ ‘Fortune plays the strangest of games?’, thus is the saying in this land…rightly? Certainly, that is what this felt like; for, as it turned out, I was already looking for you, Nilia, before being dragged here” he remarked all so…casually as he handed her the folded letter, which she…took in hand.

She tilted her head, confused; “Uhm…alrightly, then” she mumbled out as she opened the letter and…began to read, it being in both Company Elklander and local tongue.

“…‘qualified dismissal’?” she abruptly blurted out, her eyes shifting to the overseeing officer; “…I…I am being…fired? I did not…did not…even…do anything…this time—well, before this, but…” she stated, now even more confused.

“Not ‘fired’, dismissed and with quality—which implies cordial terms with the Company; you’ve fulfilled your duties here and are more-or-less being…dismissed for something else. As for why, I’m not at any liberty to say even if I knew all of the details—this order comes from those well beyond even I” he replied.

The foreigner’s head only tilted more, “Uhuh…”

“Well, I’ve said my share, any more and I’ll be saying things I shouldn’t know” he said onwards, chuckling rather fancily; “Best be on your way now, however; once you exit the interior, be sure to collect any of your things from the volunteer mess; it was a pleasure having you among us, volunteer Nilia, and you have done both the Company and this city a great service” thus he effectively dismissed.

“…alrightly, it is understood” the foreigner acknowledged, still so very confused.

Truly, such a mindaching day it has been…most indeed. So many things just kept popping out from hidden shadows.

-||-

The sky was becoming orange and yellow, the clouds clearing. The sun was making way to set.

The foreigner…now devoid of her protective cloak and gloves, wandered through the streets of the outskirts. Having been…so abruptly ‘dismissed’ from her volunteership, she had…only one obligation, one task…needing to be done: returning the amulets she has collected.

The five she had collected prior…were gently stored in a bag of sorts she was carrying; one she had so…requisitioned from the Company’s inventory. Though, the one specific amulet she was allowed to take from those she found this day…still remained in her hand.

Her attention fixated on the receptionist’s amulet…as she made way, mask-obscured eyes staring down into it.

Even after…all of that, she still…did not know what to truly conclude…about any of this, besides the blunt fact that…this amulet and the others were found…on charred corpses which had been seemingly detained, held prisoner, and then…shot…in the…head, among two others who were seemingly unaffiliated.

Though, without the proper technology and tools…it was impossible to definitively know if any of those bodies…were truly to whom the amulets…even belonged. Indeed…she did not find them…exactly affixed to their figures, but…near and around, leaving uncertainty and the possibility of error. Though, she had no reason to believe…they weren’t…unless there was evidence to indicate otherwise—which there was not.

She…sighed, placing the amulet into a satchel she had on her waist-belt, a satchel which she had…also…requisitioned from the Company’s inventory—right before…her departure, in fact. Regardless, she wanted to keep this amulet separate from the rest, for whatever reason…she certainly did not know nor comprehend.

Her mind…lingered, oddly enough, on…how she was going to…disclose this to the receptionist’s peer. Such an…easy question with an obvious logical answer, but…her mind seemed to stagger.

Indeed, the implications that…something bad…had happened to the receptionist…before the bombardment and fire-tide, made it…so oddly difficult to answer. Such…would be a hurdle needing to be crossed soon, however.

She continued making way down these streets which became…more familiar as she…drew closer to her destination. So deserted…so desolate…closed facilities all around, as if this entire area had been…abandoned.

She eyed the cracked and unattended walls around…seeing words…scribbled and painted on them, having yet to be cleaned off. Having nothing better to do, she decided to read them as she walked.

‘Remember Tinkleberry! Remember this! Never forgotten! Never forgiven!’ so read one.

‘So as long as the outer city lives, we will not become Graillight! Coastfield survives with us!’ so read another.

‘Federalists! We are not numbers! We have names! Say our names!’ so…read… huh? The foreigner froze in place, tightly shutting her eyes…shaking her head, tapping it somewhat…before opening her eyes and…evaluating again, her vision clearing…

Ah…there were…no words on that particular wall. Another…leak, then?

She quickly continued onwards…no longer reading any of the painted words she saw as she made way.

Yet…eventually and all so suddenly: Caw, caw, caw. So many crowing caws began to bounce all throughout the dusty air around. The foreigner froze yet again as her attention instantly lanced itself to a roof near…eyeing that all too familiar…corvid as it eyed her back, one not seen in…what felt like rather the time.

With her attention successfully grabbed, the corvid flew up into the air somewhat…cawing away…relentlessly, clearly indicating what it so wanted.

She sighed; « Çertissimë…ģe tot-tot rés annoyantes me vulont consequere hodíe…síc videtùr maximë… » she muttered to herself; truly, so…so many things just wanted her to follow them today. Though…it has been a while since she had last spoken to that…specific denizen. Right…he had given her that… truly, so much happened since then that…such had escaped her mind entirely.

The corvid’s cawing only grew more relentless, but before that strange bird could cawingly lance all the way down to peck her to follow, she promptly began to…well…follow. The corvid’s caws simmered and calmed as it began to guide her to…wherever the spot was to be the meeting point.

Though, the foreigner reflected as she followed. Although she was one to more than acknowledge random chance and absurd coincidences, this certainly seemed awfully convenient. She had just been randomly dismissed from the Company by mandates that superseded the overseeing officer of that entire operation, and now…after all this time…that corvid was suddenly appearing. Likewise, that same overseeing officer had mentioned some…‘special mutual understanding’ between the Company and the Guild, had he not?

Indeed, dots quickly began to connect in her head; none of this was a random coincidence, she began to think.