Chapter 8 – The Fort

October 13th 2027 11:53

Inside Odyssey’s place, still in house arrest, Pov cooked lunch. For a few days now, she had been cooking for him, and every time he ate her food, it was as if he ate something that he had never eaten before.

‘Pov, I don’t think I’ve said this enough, your cooking is simply divine!’

Pov blushed. He had said this a few times; even then she still wasn’t used to receiving his praise. ‘Surely not. I’m just a normal cook.’

‘You have talent, Pov! I’m serious! In this city, the food material that’s given to everyone is basically the same. It takes a great cook to take those materials and enhance them beyond what was possible! You turned stone into gold. That’s how it felt!’

‘Ody… Stop it…’ Pov was smiling from ear to ear. It felt good to be appreciated like this. When she was with Razor, she would be appreciated casually when she made good food. And when she was with Carrie…

Carrie would… say that it’s tasteless.

‘I wish my companion would react the same way as you…’

Pov wondered how Carrie was doing. Sure, she was a horrible person, but… she wasn’t so bad. She was willing to put up with her antics. Willing to put up with her being a burden. She didn’t even think of abandoning her.

‘I hope she’s fine…’

‘… Hey, I’ve requested help. With the description that you provided us with, I’m sure that my colleagues will find your companion. As long as she’s around. And as long as she doesn’t make any trouble, she’ll be treated like you. With respect. No harm done.’

‘… Thanks, Ody.’

‘No worries, Pov.’

There was nothing that Pov could do right now. Aside from improving her cooking skills and creating something that Carrie could hopefully call tasty.

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12:31

Odyssey’s radio buzzed.

He made sure to pick that up, put it beside his ear. Stood far from the range of Pov’s earshot. Technically, as long as she was still jobless, she remained an outsider. And not allowing outsiders to listen to information exchange was simply a protocol here.

The information exchange was short. After, Odyssey had a serious look on his face.

Is it related to Carrie?

Odyssey went to Pov. ‘We’re summoned by Kez.’

Finally. The time had come for her to meet the leader of this city.

‘Let’s get to it.’

Pov nodded.

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12:21

Pov, responding to the summons, rode a motorbike that Odyssey had borrowed. She sat on the back seat, hugged his waist, and secured her position as much as possible. Maybe it was no longer a thing, but back then driving hazards was a big issue. And riding without a helmet was supposed to be illegal.

The old laws no longer stand in this world. She wasn’t sad about it. Nor happy.

Pov had gone into this place from one border of the city. And Kez’s base was located at the opposite border. Near a bridge that passed through a river. Which was… blocked and guarded by many people with rifles.

‘Why are they blocking that?’ Pov asked with her voice raised.

‘It’s the path that leads to the capital city!’ Odyssey answered. ‘We block it because that’s our line of defense should the capital city decide to attack us! It’s a gate, basically!’

‘Attack? Are they going to?’

‘Perhaps. The possibility is not not there!’

Not not there?! The whole situation sounded horrible. ‘So, there might be a war before the end of the world?!’

‘There might be a war before 32nd December, yes!’

Sounded horrible. Perhaps it was best to leave this city. Avoid this hypothetical war. If Pov was concerned about her survival, then she needed to find Carrie and travel elsewhere. Anywhere but here.

Wait… But Carrie did say that her destination was the capital city…

Pov would say that her current situation was difficult.

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12:29

The building that Kez was in was a… fort. Not sure why there was a castle in a place like this. Perhaps it was an amusement park that had been closed down. Perhaps it was an odd building made by an odd architect. Perhaps it was a remnant of history that had remained through the test of time. Regardless of the reason, the fort was there. A small castle made of bricks. Standing there. Looming tall. Having a presence that Pov would say was overwhelming.

The fort’s entrance, a small gate, was guarded by two people. One man, one woman. Both holding a rifle each. They nodded at Odyssey as he led Pov and passed.

The inside of the fort was… medieval, if that was the word. Only old furniture filled the space. No signs of modernity. Just an old chandelier at the top, old double staircases that led upstairs, and… old armors hung on the wall—the same one that knights would wear in films.

Finally, Pov decided to ask, ‘What is this place?’

‘Something from history, that’s my guess,’ Odyssey answered. ‘No one really knows.’

Weird…

‘Kez had decided to occupy this place because the building is unique. It could stand as a symbol, he said.’

‘A symbol?’

‘Don’t ask me.’ He shrugged. ‘Sometimes I don’t quite get what he says, but I believe he’s onto something with this.’

They went upstairs. Chose the left of the double stairs to ascend. And was greeted with a room. The door to that room was slightly bigger than normal household doors, but not so big that it could be called a small gate. The knob was made of gold, the shape of a majestic lion’s head.

Odyssey knocked on the door, announced himself, ‘It’s Odyssey,’ he said, ‘I’ve come here to bring you the girl that had appeared in the border opposite here a few days ago.’

There was no response.

‘Let’s go.’

A no response meant go? Sure.

He opened the door, allowed Pov to enter first.

The room was spacious. Inside, there was a desk, filled with electronic equipment that could be powered with batteries such as a walkie-talkie and a radio. Used for communication to manage this place, so it seemed.

Sitting at the desk, on a glorious-looking throne chair, was a man. His stare was sharp. If stare could cut, then his surely did. He had his hands interlaced with one another. Then, he opened his black lips, got directly to the point, and asked:

‘Tell me, Pov, do you believe in the calamity?’