Arc 3 - Chapter 36: Raid On The Adobe I

(Reverence 4, 59 / 12:45PM)

In a tavern north of Dodgerock.

Country blues blessed the walls along with the tables. Waitresses working on the clock carried bowls of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and clam broth filled with mush. Alcohol cluttering their noses, men from all ages ate and drank their problems away.

One half was ordinary folk; while the other wore thick brown jackets and khaki pants. Being none other than the Pacithiests, they made the tavern feel like happy hour.

On one of those tables, three men sat peacefully near a window. The sun blazing onto their faces, they didn’t indulge in booze, but coffee. Their mugs whispering out steam, the cowboy brought the tip of it to his lips. Drinking it softly, it was then he put the mug down, and swallowed the black liquid.

“Suprised how long this tavern has lasted.”

“Indeed. I believe this is the same tavern where I met Jenny.” Said Boris.

“She was a waitress at this very establishment. I don’t know how, but you managed to put an end to her little shenanigans.”

“So it was you that made her grow? Very well…”

Kenji glanced at his coffee mug, and saw the bitter black swirl and stain the white marble. Seeing his own reflection within the liquid, he also saw two respective women in that same frame.

One took the splitting image of her mother; but her personality was a copy and paste of him. The other looked similar to him, but her calm yet fiery spirit … could be drawn from the woman he lost. Two daughters, two fighters, he stared at the chubby man.

“I should properly thank you for that. She was a popular waitress in this tavern.”

“So I heard. She did try to seduce me, but she was so tipsy that she tripped on her own two feet. Such fire and will, only to sell her ‘gifts’ to average men.”

“With your way of words, you could be a recruiter.”

“But I choose civil justice, yet I handle a group of false criminals that are now on the run… just my luck.”

Boris grabbed the mug with both of his palms, and raised the edge toward his lips. Letting the hot liquid steam his own gums, flavor his own teeth, it was only a sip he took. Placing the mug back down, he was about to speak…

Until they heard a woman’s yelp. Turning their eyes near the bar, one of the waitresses jumped back. Smacking a man’s hand, he quickly pulled back, and then giggled like a little kid.

“Watch where your hands are, you gongoozler!”

“Woah … burps … pardon my miss, french…”

He fell from his seat.

Even though it was labeled a disturbance, everyone continued to drink and eat away without constraint. Seeing the waitress stomp off, her high heels splintered the ground with each step. David softly grinned, as the waitress’s appearance looked oddly familiar to a certain woman…

“Jenny would’ve thrown him out the window.”

“I suppose that’s the blessing I have. I could tame the most dangerous of men, dangerous of women, and make them docile.”

“Then I guess you lost your touch with Loraine.”

“She’s only a kid. What can I do with such a brat?”

Boris grumbled, and he turned his attention toward the window to his right. Letting his eyes take in the old paved street, and the cemented sidewalk, David meanwhile placed his attention on his mug. Raising the mug to his lips, he drank the bitter liquid that grouched his breath.

‘Everything worked out in the end for all of us.’

Once he laid his drink on the table, he drank it halfway. Unable to see his own reflection, the little shadow blanketed what he could see. Lost in trying to find something … why was he lost exactly?

‘Just wondering where that boy Luke—’

—A shadow appeared.—

David and Kenji saw the blur of black, as their eyes traced the lightning speed at which it ran.

Their eyes widened, and they couldn’t trace any characteristics that belonged to anybody. Wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants, his sneakers looked modern, too modern. No sunlight to radiate his body, what stood out was the paper he carried. His hands stood out, like he was giving them a message.

‘The Adobe…’

Once time flowed into normalcy once more, David and Kenji jumped out from their seats. Boris being the only man lost, he was left to be dragged by David. As Kenji began dumping money, mostly for their tabs, Boris gawked at the sudden shift in action.

“David! What is the meaning!?”

“Something’s going down at the adobe! We got to go!”

________________________________________________________________________

Back at the adobe…

Briggs didn’t need to touch his revolver. Keeping his hands close to the height of his shoulders, he dug deep into Iris’s irises. Cold, no emotion, he too was at the same temperature. Moving through the paved cement, his shoes somewhat held him back, but not by a longshot.

While Iris finally leaped forward.

“Fool.”

Having one foot on the ground, he directed his body to the left. Avoiding a single slash from her, the blade from her rolling pin acted like a sword.

Jumping back, she slid through the ground with sizzling heels. Unwilling to falter, she pushed forward again, and thrusted back her right arm. Barreling at him, Briggs couldn’t blink, but he instead leaped back from the sudden—

The tip of his fedora was slashed.

‘Shit.’

The more he dodged, the longer he felt being on the edge of a rope. Being entirely on the defensive, there was no window, no way for him to throw an attack. Because of that, he did the only thing he could do…

‘So you really want to do this huh…’

She widened her eyes.

Once he twirled 90 degrees, he thrusted his left hand straight at her wrist. Pushing his fingers into the bone, she hissed, as he had his sights on the same hand she carried her rolling pin. With his other foot, he launched it straight toward her stomach…

Plunging his shoe deep, he let go of both of her wrists. Sending her back, she rolled through the cement, as strain strangled her cheeks.

“I told you that it would be a waste of time. Give up while you can.”

Strangling the ground with her fingers, she quickly got up with quivering legs. Feeling her bones turn to jello, she maintained her breathing, while adjusting herself. Having her rolling pin low, and having the blade shimmer in the desert sun, she slid her right foot back.

“But I’m afraid I can’t. Why should I allow failure to plunge my family name?”

And with a simple push of her foot, the ground beneath her cracked. Her right hand still throttled on the wooden pin, she didn’t charge forward. No, she side-stepped to the right.

Moving along with her, he arched his head back. Feeling the blade almost slice his skin, most notably his forehead, he held his breath.

‘I’m starting to predict her movements now.’

With fully grasped eyes, he watched as she swerved with only her hind toes. Seeing the leather of her heels sizzle, he jumped back with all of his might. Sliding through the ground, he lowered his hands.

‘She’s going to thrust her whole body forward … in about—’

Right as he was about to lunge … something wrapped around him.

Feeling his breath escape, he still managed to keep his boots firm on the ground. Straining his eyes, down to his nose, he quivered one eye at the entrance. It wasn’t hay, but nylon, as its flexible state squeezed air out of his system.

“What…”

Ignoring Iris, she basked and readied the hand that cusped her rolling pin. Out of the entrance, was a teenage girl with pigtails, her hair streaking down her back. Having a smile to her face, she eyed the blonde-haired agent with smug irises.

“It’s been a while since I last fought.”

But Briggs frowned. His pupils reflected against the teenage girl, not even a whiff of breath throttled his throat.

‘She looks a lot like Emilia…’

________________________________________________________________________

(Laurinius 4, 56 / 12:19PM)

7 years ago.

Two months before the Fall of Ticia.

Lagefor bustled with commerce, as men and women walked along the streets with pride. Tall buildings outlashed by the sun, windows reflecting the rays down onto pedestrians, even soldiers couldn’t escape the city’s grasp.

Inside the military complex lay a building, and within that building, was a large hallway bustling with agents. All wearing tuxedos, along with dress shoes, fedoras, and slacks, they carpeted the marble with their soles. The walls sculpted in stone…

A man tripped.

Falling flat on his face, the butt of his chin bruised instantly as he got up. His palms forming sweat, he rubbed it back and forth, and took note of a gang of agents.

“Oops. My bad.”

In front of him, was an agent whose muscles bulged from his clothes. All muscular, all burly, his whole face reeked of sinful pride.

Rubbing the back of his head, the scrawny agent rustled his blonde-hair with his fingers. Having a side bang covering his left eye, and being below average in height, he looked to be in his young 20s…

“I-It’s okay, no harm done.”

“Look it here boys, the shrimp says it’s all good. Hehe”

Folding his arms beneath his chest, the burly agent looked down. Casting a shadow over him, he had on a grin, one that only the cockiest of men could create. With his friends right behind him, they all glared at the weak-minded agent.

“You look like you just got in. Care to explain why a man like yourself serves the agency?”

“I-I’m just trying to support my family, that's all. I was always, well, good with martial arts.”

“Bullshit.”

The burly man took a step forward. Gulping a load of saliva down his throat, the rook paled his face. He wasn’t backing down, and his biceps only gleamed in the sunlight. Raising both of his hands in the air, it was as if he was already surrendering.

“You look like you couldn’t fight your way out of a chicken shed. And you call yourself an agent?”

“Well, there are situations where fighting is necessary. But I don’t think anyone should—”

“Hey you there!”

Running towards the group, was a silver-haired man waving his hand. His hair wrapped in a ponytail, his fedora kept a tightened grip on his head, while the rook’s hat was wrinkled on the floor. Glaring at the burly agent, and his group, it wasn’t long before he stopped in front of them.

“Leave him alone! You can’t treat newbies like this!”

“What are you his boyfriend? Unless the two of you are close, then I could break a bit of—”

“Ogre. Yeah you.”

The group of agents turned their heads, and noticed an agent wearing sunglasses. Having a curvy body, and wearing the same attire as everyone else, she tapped her foot against the marble. Her arms folded beneath her chest, she furrowed her brow, while some of the men paled their faces.

“Go pick on someone your own size.”

“Oooh, ‘The Reliever’ coming to the rescue. Careful boys, you might catch something by touching her.”

“Yeah yeah, I heard it once, and many more after. So shoo. Scram.”

Laughing to themselves, they walked away, leaving only the three of them. Hearing the burly man’s obnoxious laughter, the woman exhaled air out of her mouth.

Letting her arms drop to her sides, she turned her eyes on the two men, most specifically the timid agent. His blonde-hair and youthful face sparkled her eyes. Creeping up a smile, she walked toward him with rocking hips.

“My my, what do we have here?”

“Oh uh, hello.”

“Wanna be one of my boyfriends? You could be the MVP~”

“Hehe, sorry, but I have a wife and daughter waiting for me back home.”

Both agents widened their eyes. The woman agent flustered her face red, but her cheeks blemished pink. Taking a step back, she casted her eyes to the floor, unable to make eye contact with the timid agent.

Eren rubbed his chin, his knuckles grazing against his skin.

“You have a wife and kid… interesting. You probably started a family in your late teens.”

“Well, she really wanted to start a family, so I just gave in.”

The timid agent continued to rub his neck. With his other hand, it was low to his side, as it accumulated sweat.

“What’s your name? I’m Eren by the name, and that woman is Alexandra. You’ve probably heard of her, mostly for her all-male harem.”

The timid agent turned toward Alexandra, her eyes still unable to look at him. Fidgeting with her fingers, he then moved his eyes to Eren, and seeing him with a warm smile, he let himself a little chuckle.

“My name is Briggs, Briggs Church.”

________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 4, 59 / 12:12PM)

Briggs kept his eyes on the pigtail girl, his lips puckered and sealed. Even when he felt his waist be wrapped against, the nylon rope only tightened while Iris walked. Since he was immobile, unable to move, she gripped her rolling pin in a firm grip.

“I’m giving you one last chance. Leave this adobe at once, or else.”

With a simple spring to her arm, she had the tip of her blade aimed at him. Her blade inches from his nose, her glare furrowed and stressed.

Feeling his body begin to loosen with oxygen, Loraine’s rope tightened. Lowering his head, he kept his eyes glued on Iris’s heels. His whole frown darkened, his chin sulked in so much coldness, it looked like he was going to surrender.

“But I was given a mission. And the way I see it…”

She didn’t blink. as the air in her lungs was trapped.

His fingers digging deep into each airway, Loraine froze as his hand encapsulated Iris’s throat. Coughing, gasping, it took Iris a second before she tapped her hands onto his body. So lost in shock, it took Loraine a few seconds before she blinked.

“I might as well treat you like the criminal you are.”

“Get your hand off of her!”

Pulling back her rope, she pressed all of her body weight on her right foot. With just her toes, she hissed with frustration, before launching herself forward. Throwing her rope outward, her aim was at his—

She caught something, but it wasn’t him.

Briggs had already let go of Iris. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, her breath came in small weeps. Drool salivating from her lips, she collapsed, her chin bruising upon impact. And above all, the nylon immobilized her.

“No I…”

She felt a hand.

Standing absolutely still, she buckled her knees, and froze her body. From her muscles down to her bones, it was as if death had grazed his scythe upon her skin. Feeling his cold fingers, he could snuff her out with ease, but he didn’t.

“Who are you?”

It was a simple question, but the tone wasn’t that of ice. Her nylon rope still wrapped around Iris, her grip on her body loosened, but it didn’t look like she might get up.

Being the only one to fight him, she narrowed her eyes forward.

“I’m part of the reserves for The Dark Angels. Loraine. Only Loraine. Believe it.”

“So you’re a child soldier…”

With his other hand, he stuffed it into his pocket. Hearing like he was getting something, Loraine wiggled her toes, as static filled her bones.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

Taking out a pair of handcuffs, the metal collided against one another. Hearing it click and clack, Loraine paled her face, her fingers convulsing the more she heard. As for Briggs, he lowered his voice even further.

“And I promise that nobody will harm you.”

She leaped—

In the blink of an eye, she almost fell, but metal and stone had clobbered her wrists. Feeling her muscles ache, it was like the handcuffs were her kryptonite. Having her hands behind her back, the metal and stone dug into her skin. Clenching both of her teeth, she tried to growl, but her eyes swelled in sweat.

“Come on. The others will be waiting for you.”

Having a hand on her arm, she had no choice but to walk with him. Her legs feeling like jello, they stepped over Iris… leaving her behind.