The Doll Corps

Felix and Velvet returned home. Felix was exhausted. He didn’t really feel any different since entering the covenant, but Velvet had drained much of his energy to defeat the great wolf.

The two hadn’t talked much on the way back, and as Felix sat down on the couch in his workshop, the reality of the situation started to hit him. He had made a covenant with Velvet. While the meaning and value of the ritual varied, they had undeniably bonded their souls. He blushed at the thought.

Velvet, equally unsure, sat next to Felix. After a long silence, asked, “Are you feeling all right?”

“Hm? Yeah, I should be okay…”

“I’m sorry if I overdid it.” She fiddled with her fingers. “Now that I’m using your energy, I need to learn to be more conservative.”

You’re already pretty conservative, he thought, but instead replied, “It’s okay. You did what you had to do.”

“Those people… Do you think they made it back home safely?”

“Maybe. It’s out of our hands now.”

Velvet was a bit surprised by his callousness. He was always kind to her, yet he was seemingly so cold to others. It intrigued her. She decided to just ask him outright. “You didn’t want to help them, did you?”

“Not really.”

“Why?”

He sighed. “‘No good deed goes unpunished.’ Helping strangers is a good way to get yourself killed.”

Velvet didn’t necessarily disagree, but she wasn’t satisfied with that answer.

“Besides, they were from the New Republic.”

“The New Republic?”

“A state up north. They pride themselves on old world ideals of democracy and freedom, but it’s all just a facade. The president is a de facto dictator, they suppress individual rights, and practice conscription. Not to mention,” he paused, “they enslave dolls.”

“They do what!?”

“It’s actually pretty messed up… They force dolls to wear these collars, inhibitors, that turn them into mindless drones who follow whatever orders they’re given.”

“That’s horrible!”

“Yeah, well, it is what it is. Anyway, I hope you can understand why I prefer to steer clear of the Republic and its people.” He kept silent on his real fear, them coming after Velvet.

***

Ava set off immediately with a small battalion of ten soldiers and ten dolls. Their mission: retrieve Velvet through diplomacy or force.

According to the scout, Velvet should be in the abandoned city to the south, an area unexplored by the Republic, but well worth the risk.

The journey was only a few days, and as the city came into sight, Ava could feel it, the presence of the fallen Gwehrtain Angel.

***

A few days had passed since they saved Republican scouts. Velvet was getting used to her enhanced magic, now being able to fire off several spells in rapid succession. Many crates had been blown to smithereens during target practice at an abandoned warehouse. She had also gained a penchant for hovering around. It was a bit odd at first, but Felix actually kind of liked finally being level with her. However, Velvet's new spellcasting, while impressive, took a toll on Felix, tiring him out, but a hearty meal and a good rest would recover him.

However, Felix remained on edge. The Republic kidnapped and enslaved dolls, meaning that Velvet was now at risk. Of course, coming all this way for just one doll seemed unlikely, unless they knew who she really was.

“Hands up!”

“Damn it.” Felix said under his breath. He complied, signalling to Velvet to do the same.

Before them stood a soldier who pointed a gun right at them and a doll ready for combat. They were clad in the all-black, masked uniforms of the Republic’s Doll Corps. “You are hereby detained by the New Republic. Your safety will be ensured if you come willingly.”

Felix surrendered. “All right, all right.”

The soldier lowered his guard, his grip on the rifle easing, and in an instant, Velvet unleashed a volley of spells, incapacitating them. Without hesitating, they fled.

“Thank goodness that worked.”

“Don’t start celebrating yet, we might have a small army on top of us any second.”

They had concocted a plan in case this happened. It was simple, pretend to surrender, attack, and escape. They would then flee to a safehouse Felix had set up outside of the city. So far, it was working.

The two dashed through the streets, vaulting over and weaving through rubble, but just as they turned a corner, they were met by another soldier-doll pair. The soldier fired. Felix braced himself, but felt nothing. Each bullet was stopped in midair by a translucent barrier. He looked over at Velvet, elated. She was holding up her hands, summoning the barrier.

This was Velvet’s special ability, Aegis. With it, she could create extremely strong barriers with magic. Before her covenant with Felix, she almost never used it because of how mana intensive it was, but now it had become a viable option.

The soldier had hopelessly unloaded his clip trying to kill Felix. The doll had also joined in, sending some second-rate spells flying at him which were also effortlessly stopped by Aegis. After their unsuccessful attack, Velvet countered, blasting them both with two bursts of light.

But before they could escape, even more troops appeared, cornering them.

Felix sighed in defeat. This was it.

Fate had other plans, though. A doll descended down upon them. This doll was unlike the others. Her aura was powerful, rivaling even Velvet, and she wasn’t accompanied by a soldier. Her uniform was special as well, leaving her face uncovered, showing her long brown hair and blue eyes.

Velvet’s face was a storm of emotions. “Ava!?”

“Velvet. It really is you.”

Velvet stayed silent, her mind racing.

“I thought you were dead. What happened?”

After a brief silence, Velvet responded, “I was dead. It was Felix, my medium, who saved me.”

“What?” She looked over at Felix. “That’s impossible. Unless…” She started thinking deeply about something.

Felix wanted to steer the conversation on the right track, though. If this doll wasn’t an enemy then maybe they could work something out. “Um, sorry, but can you maybe fill me in here?”

Ava refocused, “Of course, where are my manners? My name is Ava Gwehrtain, the deputy commander of the New Republic’s Doll Corps.”

“Gwehrtain? So you’re–”

“Yes, I am a Gwehrtain Angel.”

The Doll Corps was always very secretive. Other than the commander, Adam Gray, who served as the face of the organization, almost nothing else was known about it other than that it was a military branch that used dolls. Felix could hardly believe that the deputy commander would be a doll.

Velvet’s eye hardened. “Ava, is it true that you enslave dolls?”

Ava winced at the accusation. “It’s necessary…for the good of humanity.”

“Ridiculous! Dolls and humans help each other! That’s how it’s supposed to be! That’s what Father wanted!”

The mention of “Father” made Ava flinch, but she composed herself. “Please, Velvet, just come along. You’ll understand in time, I promise.”

Velvet was livid, but Felix knew they had no choice. He exhaled sharply and looked at Velvet. As their eyes met, they begrudgingly made a decision without a word. Finally, Felix turned to Ava. “Fine, we’ll go.”