Anna
2348 Words
White House Oval Office.
Michael was on his desk, reading the compiled reports from various departments. As he scanned them one-by-one, his knowledge about the area they are in right now increased.
Through satellite imaging and reconnaissance planes, they found three towns eastward while one town just 40 kilometers north from the Willow Town, aka Empire of Liberty Capital.
Luckily, that town and Willow Town are separated by the wide river, wide enough to fit an entire second fleet of WW2 warships which are now patrolling, guarding, and researching.
Also, that river name is called the Redwater River, it’s the main waterway of the Kingdom of Euphoria and it plays an important role in the trade and transportation of goods and people.
Now that he has taken care of the papers at hand, he begins preparing himself as he departs to head to the hospital where Anna was in.
Snatching the coat hanging in his seat, he left the White House.
…
In such a silent night, a silver beast flew by.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe. The flowing, elegant, streamlined body with a scent of antiquity resembled a noble lady, while the roaring of the Inline-6 SHOHC engine was like that of a fierce beast’s. And behind the steering wheel of the classic sedan recklessly going beyond 100 kilometers per hour - were unexpectedly the slender wrist of a young lady.
“Hey, hey, this goes pretty fast, doesn’t it?”
Raphael, who held the steering wheel and whose face was full of pleasing smiles, said.
Sitting in the passenger’s seat, Michael’s face was full of nervousness, and he barely managed to squeeze out a stiff smile and nod.
“You’re a skillful driver, I didn’t expect this.”
“General, you might be underestimating my capabilities, when I got summoned here, I was equipped with the necessary skills to serve you.”
“Is that so? Then just drive carefully, please. The roads here are not the same in the modern world.”
One of his upgrades in the town is the paved road. Arriving in Willow town, he noticed that the road here is nothing but mud as mud may hinder the logistic line of the military, thus prioritizing infrastructure.
As he felt the car was slowing down in his request, Michael peeks at his window and saw the newly upgraded town.
As winter as its backdrop, he saw his military troops entering entertainment establishments for shopping, pre-modern buildings, and street lights.
It was not the same as the first time they arrived here. It was just nothing but an abandoned village. But due to his upgrade, he was able to change the medieval town to a modern one.
“Here.”
Raphael pressed the brake and stopped in front of the Hospital where Anna is recovering.
She gave them quite essential information so Michael decided to meet her.
Michael opened the gull-wing door and stepped into the frigid night.
Snowflakes floated in the air. The winter is very cold.
Raphael also stepped out of the car and stood by his side.
Michael looked around left and right and saw restaurants and shops. The lights were still brightly lit this late at night and he dashed towards the hospital at once.
The Hospital was nice and warm. Michael entered and shook of the snowflakes off of his body and went up to the reception desk.
“Room 302, second door to the left.”
The young lady at the reception desk informed him of the room where Anna was staying and directly headed there and used an elevator.
Seeing the sign mounted on top of the door, he peeks at the small window and sees Anna talking with someone.
He knocked on the door and entered the room.
The man who is wearing a black suit saw him enter, they were startled at first but the moment they saw his face, they immediately stood and saluted.
“Who are they?”
Michael leaned over closely to Raphael’s ear, whispering.
“They are from the Intelligence Department general.” She whispered,
“Ahhh…” he glanced at the two men in black, “Okay, I want to have a private conversation with them, do you mind?”
“No problem sir…”
Saluting, they promptly leave the room, leaving Michael, Raphael, and Anna behind.
Michael sat at the chair where the man in black was sitting. Raphael also sat beside him.
A looked of nervousness in her eyes indicates her comfortability with him. Even though they already met her, it seems like she doesn’t remember him.
Taking a pocketbook out of his coat pocket, he opened and saw a list of phrases.
‘How do you introduce yourself…Ah, I see it.’
“Asalamaytum, kore wa Michael des,” (Greetings, my name is Michael)
Anna slightly tilted her head to the side, it was not perfect though but it seems like she understood it.
She smiles brightly and nods.
“She’s cute.”
He muttered softly, now that he saw Anna again and looks perfectly fine, she’s not wearing a patient gown anymore. Instead, she wore a white cashmere coat, she was full of dignity and vitality. He could have looked at her forever but the piercing gaze of Raphael stopped him.
“No need to speak my dialect, sir Michael. I’ve already learned your language.”
The room turned silent, what did she just say? Did she learn English in a mere one week? How absurd.
Her tone and movement of the mouth are fluent enough to confuse him as his troops.
“How did you do that?” It was an obvious question, he wants to know how she learned it so that he can use it to himself when conversing with the locals here. But her next word stunned both of them.
“Magic tool.” She raised her hand that let them see a ring embedded with a blue gem.
“Hmm, this will make this easy, let me introduce myself again. My name is Michael Stevens, I’m the Commander-in-Chief, simply a leader of the Empire of Liberty.”
“My name is Anna, I’m one of the maids employed by the lord of Willow Town. Also.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, “I’m half-elf.”
A pointy ear was shown, Michael was really reincarnated in another world.
But surprisingly, Anna seems to be befuddled about their blank expression.
“Uhm...are you not scared of my identity?” She asked.
“Why would you ask? There’s nothing to be scared of from you, to me you are just a young girl…” Michael continued, “Now that you mention it, are there any other races besides a half-elf?”
“There is. In this world, most of the population is made up of humans who live until 60-70 years old. Elf is a race that dwells mostly in the forest and is located north of the continent Agra, there is also beastmen and dwarves…” Her voice turning gradually depressing, “The Kingdom of Euphoria is a human kingdom with human-supremacy ideology. Any races found in their territory will be convicted to become slaves. I as one of the different races become a slave of the lord.”
“Hmm...Raphael, what do you think?” Ernest turned his head to the side and asked about Raphael’s insights.
“Anna, are you not scared of us?” Raphael said firmly, “We’re humans and you said that humans take other races as slaves, when the General is talking to you, you looked calm..”
“A slave huh? I don’t have a good definition of a slave but I believe they exist to serve their masters no matter the orders.” Michael added.
“I’m not scared of humans because I’m a half-human myself. Your definition of a slave is quite true, I’ve experienced horror in my life but I got accustomed to it. Also, you asked me why I’m not scared of you, that’s simply because you saved me. That’s why thank you.” She smiles brightly again but to Michael, it tells him the opposite.
A lot of things came inside his mind when she said she experienced a lot of horrors and considering the fact that they are in a medieval-age era. There’s a high chance that she got violated.
But why is she smiling brightly, why is she hiding such suffering. Michael can detect if she’s lying or not due to his training as one of the SEALs and he’s absolutely certain that she is not lying.
Michael cleared his throat. “Anna, who are the other four we’ve found in the basement?”
This time, she showed a pitiful expression. “They are also slaves like me. Two of them are elves and two of them are beastman. The lord left us when they evacuated to the Marlton City.”
“Why?”
“Because we are just slaves, we have no value to them but that’s okay. Because we believed that we’ve done our best to serve our master since our only purpose is to serve them. If they wish for our death, we will gladly do so…”
“Enough.”
Michael with a dead look in his eyes stopped Anna. Raphael was surprised about this and looked at him curiously.
“I’ve heard enough Anna, I can conclude that your masters are a piece of shit.”
“Michael…”
“You don’t have to be concerned about me, Sir Michael. I know that I’m just a tool of my master since I was born. I was born to serve them.” She smiles warmly again.
“...”
Michael doesn’t know what to think anymore, she thinks of herself as a tool only with no value. Again, that smile again, despite her past she smiles, she smiles, she smiles.
“Fine, if you say so. You helped us a lot so I wanted to give you something in return.”
“No need sir Michael, just saving me is enough. I will leave immediately and go to the Kingdom of Euphoria…”
“I’m sorry but I can’t grant you that.” Michael rejected.
“Huh? But sir Michael...since I’m alive, I need to find my master and serve him again…”
“No he is not your master anymore, your master is staying in that city living a lavish life without any concern for you…”
“I can’t do that sir Michael...because of him, my family was spared to death. I will do anything just to serve him again…”
“Hoh? Where are your parents now?”
“They died five years ago…”
The atmosphere became heavy again.
“I see...sorry about that. However, the moment we found you in the basement and treated you here cost us a lot of money. Do you think we could just let you go? You’re an important asset to us in this world, you provided us information about the town and the cities near to us. But that’s not enough for me.”
He told a lie, information like that cost a lot of money.
“Do you even have money to pay your hospital bills?”
She didn’t answer.
“See, then…”
“How can I pay?” She asked, interrupting him.
“You will become my maid and a personal interpreter when the time comes…”
A proposal that made someone angry.
“With all due respect General, am I not useful to you? Am I not worthy enough to serve you as your second-in-command...ow?”
“Don’t misunderstand…” Michael smacked her in the head. “Of Course you’re still my second in command but she is just a maid, I want her to regain her value and cripple her current ideals…”
“But I’m your secretary also…” Raphael said with a brimming eye as if she’s going to cry, “I’m sorry for being cold to you that day...I’ve been reflecting since that day…Ow...General it hurts.”
He smacked her again in the head and glanced over to Anna.
“What do you say? When you become my maid for one year, you’ll be able to pay your hospital bills and once that day comes, I’ll let you go. Deal?” He offered a handshake.
She slowly reached for his hand… "Deal.”
-Bang.
Someone entered the door. It was the men in black again.
“Sorry to interrupt you sir but you need to see this.” He opened the file.
Michael and Raphael take a look.
“A monster's breeding ground huh? How many are there?”
“Roughly 100,000.” He reported, “ Also wolves are not the only ones found there. There are also goblins, hobgoblins, and trolls. Sir, they are waiting for your orders.”
Michael and Raphael exchanged a meaningful glance.
“Okay do it…”
The men in black promptly closed the file and suddenly, five men in black entered the room.
“In the meantime, we need to get you in the safe location.”
“Okay, take her as well.” He pointed at Anna.
At that moment, Anna complied with their orders and traveled along with them towards the building she hadn't seen.
- Writer
