Thirty – I am the pouring bait in the entanglement of power

Where am I?

What is happening?

I think it is very early in the morning.

I can hear other people sleeping.

What?

Canny is holding me.

How long has he been like this?

How long have I been here?

What happened?

I remember Du.

My master…

Everything seems so calm.

Why am I not at ease?

Did Canny stay with me like this all night?

Why is he like this?

Maybe I should not move right now.

I do not want to be alone now.

This much quietness.

Too serene.

It does not even feel like we are at war.

I wish I had news about anything.

I wish I knew how the others are doing.

I miss my friends.

Canny wakes up.

He smiles the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.

I wish he had stayed asleep and never let go of me.

Why is he here?

Why does he help me so much?

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

I nod.

He lies back down.

He rubs his nose against my neck and breathes in my scent.

“You have a calming scent. You have a familiar scent. It is like the way my home used to smell.”

“Do I smell like your home? What was your home like?”

“It does not matter now. It is just a familiar scent. A scent that makes me feel safe. I really like your scent.” He tightens his embrace and pulls me closer to him.

I think this is the best place in the world to be right now. “I like your scent, too. I want to smell you for the rest of my life.”

The camp's wake-up call sounds.

Time to start the day.

I do not want to get out of bed.

Canny gets up and starts getting ready.

I get up too.

Time to face reality.

Everyone is gathered in front of the main tent.

The three camp leaders stand side by side before the group.

A fourth person approaches.

Everyone falls into line and stands at attention.

She begins to speak: "You must be wondering what the next steps are. And the news are not good. Following our attack on the capital, Olvad Heeran Autagavaia is in command of all of the Capital. By all accounts, he has eliminated the remaining Council members and seized total power. He used the opportunity to ensure no one would oppose him. Anyone who dissented has either vanished or was detained. He has become the one ruler of the Capital and is already planning the retaliation. You will receive instructions regarding your next steps shortly. We must attack now and leave no time for him to rebuild. This is a decisive moment for us. We are close to victory. Olvad is the final obstacle. We will succeed!”

Everyone screams excited after the rally of the troops.

“You are dismissed.” She finishes.

I do not know whether to call this situation unbelievable or the exact opposite.

Olvad used this moment to take power.

He is power hungry.

I need to stop him for everyone.

Canny and I are going to get something to eat.

It looks like we will be doing a lot of things together from now on.

He is constantly by my side these days.

I like that.

Maybe, once all this is over, he will stay with me.

Will he?

Probably not.

What am I even thinking?

Is it even right for me to be thinking about that now?

We are back at our tent.

Now we have to wait for the organization's next orders.

Do I need to induce sleep to receive them?

Everyone is right here.

Why would I need to sleep just to get orders?

I do not know anything anymore.

All I can do is wait.

They said it would not take long.

It did not take long.

Very soon, someone came to summon me personally.

Solo.

I accompanied him back to the main tent.

The three members of the command team were there, along with the commander.

They were all waiting for me.

I greeted everyone and snapped to attention.

“Number 2014,” the commander began, “you have become a key figure in our conflict. Our sources indicate that Olvad is personally hunting for you. Posters bearing your image are all over the Capital. You have become a liability to our operation.”

I had not realized the situation was quite that bad for me.

Olvad is actually hunting me down.

I still can not believe.

Why me?

What a pain.

“However, the situation has also presented an excellent opportunity to use you as bait. You will be used to draw the Consul's attention and distract him so we can complete our other missions.”

Just great.

“You will be sent on one of the most dangerous missions yet. You are to return to the Capital and cause a commotion to draw everyone’s attention, while our forces infiltrate the Council’s facilities to destroy the prototypes of their new war machines.”

It does not really look like they expect me to return from this mission alive.

I think this clash with Olvad will likely be my last.

I think I am ready for it.

No.

I am ready for it.

I am back at the tent.

Canny looks worried when he sees me arrive.

“What happened? You do not look good at all.”

“I got my next mission. I do not think it will be an easy one. And I think it will be my last. I probably will not make it out alive. I need to get ready and head back to the Capital by the end of the day.”

He holds my hand. “I do not want this to be your last one. I want to see you again after all this is over. Promise me you will stay alive and come back to me.”