The Echoes of Forgotten

Chapter 8: A Strange Dream. (I)

The cave grew quiet after the commotion that the girl’s sudden fall had caused. The three men looked at each other in turn, gears in their heads working furiously, trying to think of something. The young lady’s injuries should have healed by now, as any aeternum’s would have done by now. But even the smallest cut on her arm was still visible, making them worry about her condition.

“What should we do now?” the man holding Elara asked, his tone though neutral, had an edge of concern.

“I think the better question is how do we answer him?” the tall man, Lester, interjected, his tone light but couldn’t hide the angst in it. “He clearly ordered not to let her get hurt... but... it won’t be considered our fault, since it was not us who injured her, right? Unc-

I mean captain?” He crossed his arms with feigned nonchalance, though his gaze kept nervously darting toward Elara’s limp body.

The deep-voiced man, who was also their captain stayed silent, looking at the fragile body of the lady they were tasked to find unscathed. She looked fragile in Vlar’s string arms, broken even, her usual commanding presence reduced to something hauntingly vulnerable. This would be the first time he was not able to completely fulfil the order he was given, and he was thinking what to tell their master. How would he justify this? The girl was already battered to this state before they arrived? No, they should have found her sooner. She looked like she was through battle... but they didn’t find any sign of fight on their way up or down the mountain... then when and where?

“For now... we send her back to the encampment before her condition worsens... As for the report...” the captain finally said, his voice steady with authority. He turned toward Vlar who was still holding Elara’s limp body, looking at the weightless body as if it might disappear if he let her out of his sight. “Vlar, I want you to stay and look around for anything- any clue that can tell of her predicament. We will send her back and return to assist you.”

Vlar said nothing but only nodded slightly in approval, his eyes still fixed on the girl in his arms. He adjusted his hold slightly, careful not to jostle her further.

“Haah!! when I thought we could finally rest...” Lester groaned, stepping forward with a dramatic sigh. “Fine, hand her over. I’ll carry her.”

“Wait,” Vlar stopped Lester after handing her the limp body, Elara shifted in his hold slightly, a hint of tear coming out of one of her eyes. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around the girl, covering her from head to toe.

“Don’t you think you are being overly cautious?” Lester asked, though there was no real bite in his question.

“I am sure she doesn’t want her knights to see her in this condition.” Vlar simply replied, his voice low even in the quiet of the cave.

“Be careful- I know you can conceal your presence skillfully even without the cloak but just in case. Lady Elara is the best fighter of her generation... she is even better than Lester- “

“You didn’t need to rub that on my face you know? That's rude.” Lester huffed, though the other thought ignored him.

“If she is in this condition, it means whoever or whatever did this is nothing to underestimate. Stay extra sharp as you look for clues.” The captain advised. He knew of Vlar’s expertise in stealth and his deadly fighting style. He was already impressed by Vlar’s control of his instincts when Elara suddenly attacked them, he had expected him to- if not kill then to gravely hurt the person but fortunately, he didn’t. Even he himself didn’t expect to be suddenly attacked by her. They must find out who and what made someone as composed and calm as Lady Elara to be agitated and wounded to this degree.

Vlar gave a slight nod, his focus unwavering. The captain, satisfied, gestured for Lester to move. And the two men along with Elara- who looked nothing more than a strange, shapeless object in Lester’s arms- left the cave. Vlar followed them out but stayed at the cave’s entrance.

The atmosphere outside the cave was a stark contrast to the stillness in it. The wind was howling, biting through the snow but it did nothing to disturb the soft fabric that was concealing them effortlessly. The fabric that was dark, just like the cave they were in moments ago instantly faded in color, mimicking the grey and white surrounding.

Although the figures were visible, but if seen from a distance, no one could tell them apart from the scenery around them.

Lester, ever the free spirit, broke the silence as he trudged through the snow. “You know, this sounded too easy to be true. ‘Find the lady, bring her back.’ He conveniently left out the part where we’d be tracking through a blizzard with her half-dead body... not to mention the sleep-free days we had to find her and that too in such cold!”

“You can say that to master’s face. Maybe he will refrain from sending you to such easy missions next time.” Vlar’s low voice sounded from the back. The man was still standing at the entrance of the cave. His eyes, instead of following his comrades, were tracking the area around, for any sign of movements.

“Why do you always have to include master in whatever I say? And you can’t comment on anything when you get to stay in the cave with all the fun detective work, while we play babysitter in this cold.” Lester sighed theatrically.

“Because you never stop complaining, if you want to complain why don’t you just say no from the start? As for my staying in the cave, we can switch anytime- “

“Quiet. This is not the time for distractions. Focus on your tasks. Vlar, flare the signal after some time.” The captain interrupted, exasperated by the two kids’ arguing all the time. Vlar was usually quiet but when it came to Lester’s complaints on mission, he couldn't stop himself either.

“Yes, yes, Captain Killjoy,” Lester muttered under his breath, though he adjusted his grip on Elara and fell silent.

The group pressed on, the storm swirling around them. Though their steps were careful, the captain’s mind was already racing ahead, calculating their next move and preparing for the inevitable confrontation with their master.

Behind them, Vlar lingered in the shadows of the cave, his sharp eyes scanning the ground for any hint of the mystery Elara had tangled herself in. He waited for the group to get out of his sight and then flared the signal, indicating they had found the Commander of Aeternum troops.