by Ain Soph
For the Remnants not having as many members as other militias, their camp is still fairly large. It’s divided into two visible sections. There’s one half that’s filled with large blocky buildings with smokestacks sticking out of the tops of them, housing boilers, steam engines, vacuum pumps, and other paraphernalia that I don’t understand. The impoverished work in that section, keeping the militia running in top form, and in return, the grangers provided them with food. But the impoverished don’t have any buildings dedicated to housing, and they’re forced to live in tents set up around the buildings they work in for the militia.
The other half is the one that I’m currently standing in. It’s right on the edge of where the impoverished meet the aristocracy, but there’s a clear difference in wealth here. There are tall, ornate buildings the sections for different militia leaders and members of the aristocracy. Amber lighting hangs outside each door, casting the brass detailing around me aglow with an inviting warmth. Even the doors are nicer here. They’re a thick, solid oak with rich wood detailing of vines and floral patterns painted in a deep, forest green. To take things just a little more over the top and clearly illustrate the division between classes, a tall brass statue sits in the front of the governmental building showing a strand of DNA. It’s actually all very impressive, but I’m sure if they didn’t take so much time perfecting the comfort of the aristocracy, the impoverished would be able to have actual homes.
I glance back toward the bunch of poverty stricken humans crowding around the fire and notice a few of them split off into pairs, cuddling with one another in small groups. At least they have that going for them.
The door swings open without warning and I gasp as I lose my balance and almost tumble inside the compound. A strong arm wraps itself around my waist and halts my face first descent toward the ground. I stare at the wide hands and strong fingers pressing into the side of my waist and clear my throat uncomfortably, “Thanks...” I pull his hand off of me and jump back slightly in surprise when I see his mask. It’s the mask worn by the Dagger Corps, a golden bird mask with a beak covered in intricate patterns of gears and feathers. The eyes are large, made of ruby colored glass. The masks are worn to intimidate, and they do the job well. The Dagger Corps aren’t one of the most violent militias, but they’re fierce and known as death bringers to the militias who’ve dealt with them. I pretend to adjust the cuffs on my wrist while I size up the mercenary across from me. He has short, glossy hair, an athletic build with veins popping out along his arm, and a chiseled jaw. That’s about all I can make out of the mystery man though. The masks do too good of a job concealing the Dagger Corps mercenaries’ identities.
The mercenary laughs slightly under his breath and removes his mask. My eyes widen in shock as I stare into a pair of round, crystal blue eyes shadowed by strong brows. “Edric,” I murmur breathlessly. How long has it been since I last saw him? And we didn’t part on good terms either. I wonder if he’s holding onto a grudge.
Edric cocks his head to the side and smirks, “Luxie,” he drawls, nodding his chin toward me in a casual hello. “It’s good to see you again. I’ve thought about you a lot over the years. You’ve obviously been doing pretty well for yourself.” His eyes gleam with mischief as he crosses his arms and leans against the door. He’s standing too close for comfort, taking up most of my personal space. Usually I’d be annoyed with him for not having awareness, but right now all I feel is relief. He’s acting normal at least, and that’s the best I could have hoped for after all these years. Edric stretched his neck forward and sighs as it cracks, taking his time as if neither of us have anywhere to be. I supposed that’s true in my case though; I’m still waiting on information about my mission. On Edric’s end though...I have no idea what he’s doing here or if he received a mission.
“What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in years. Are you still living in Timberwood or do you just have a home with the Dagger Corps now?” I fire questions at him in rapid succession while drawing my eyebrows together in slight suspicion. Meeting Edric here felt like more than a coincidence. Who would have thought Edric and I would end up back in each other’s lives at some point. More importantly, I want to know why he’s here. Most mercenaries think the Remnants are a quack militia who only cares about books. When choosing a militia to work for, they usually pass over the Remnants in favor of a more powerful militia that looks like it’s going places. For mercenaries a lot is riding on which militia they choose to partner with. I know that if any other militia rises to power before I’m able to find the Reapers, then I’d be out of luck- the Remnants will be gone. Still though, I have to wonder if it’s even possible for any militia to truly hold any sway in the world when the Reapers are always lurking in the background. They hold all the true power as an unseen, unstoppable force. I hope that Edric isn’t here to threaten the Remnants. I know the Dagger Corps can be vicious, and I need the Remnants to remain safe long enough for me to get the information I need out of them.
Edric raises his eyebrows in surprise and hold his hands out in front of him in an attempt to slow down my questioning. “I’ll try to answer everything you threw at me. I don’t live in Timberwood, but I visit often, and home is currently a truck I stole from the militia that runs our dear old home, Timberwood.” Edric winks at me and I roll my eyes in response. It would seem that in all the years Edric and I have been separated, Edric hasn’t changed a bit. “I’ve been on the road a lot more than usual lately per request of the Dagger Corps, so stealing the truck was kind of a necessity. Well, probably not stealing it, but that militia is full of jerks anyway. But today, my mission is fairly simple. I just had to stop by the Remnants and deliver a simple message that I’m sure they’ll take to heart.” The easy grin Edric flashes toward me is starkly contrasted by the wicked glint in his eyes. Whatever message he brought, it wasn’t good. I shrink away from Edric uncomfortably and look away. Edric’s always been easy going and he has his funny moments, but there’s a dark side to him that has always set me on edge. The last time we saw each other, we were just twelve year old kids. To see him now, five years later, and as a man is throwing me off guard. He’d always been like an older brother to me, even if he’s only older by a couple of days, or maybe he was more of a partner in crime. Now, not only does he look completely different, but he feels like a stranger. He used to be lanky with a willowy body that was slightly shorter than mine. Now...he’s just different. So much has happened with me in the last five years, and I can’t help but wonder what’s changed in Edric’s life since then. After I left, there was a part of me that always wondered if I’d see him again, but now that he’s in front of me, it’s hard to even remember what we had in common.
“So you ended up in Dagger Corps? That’s what you always wanted, right?” I mumble my sentence in a feeble attempt to hide the nervous chatter swarming my thoughts. I don’t want to seem insecure or anxious in front of him- in face, I want to feel like I’m in control of the situation. I guess Edric and I were always competitive with one another, and it’s a little relieving to know that at least that hasn’t changed.
Edric gives me a cocky grin and quirks his eyebrows (his signature move for our conversation), “Obviously. I understand we haven’t seen each other in a while, but did you honestly believe I’d work for any other militia?” I’m not particularly surprised that he ended up working for the Dagger Corps. He wanted to work with them since they were kids.
However, I am now extremely curious about the message Edric came to deliver. The Dagger Corps are known for being violent, and sometimes, when someone disappears, people wonder if they’re taken by the Dagger Corps instead of the Reapers. The situation always clears up pretty quickly though due to the Dagger Corps only kidnapping when they want to hold hostages and use them for trading favors with other militias. If the trade falls through, they just keep the hostages on as work slaves. To be honest, most of that is all hearsay and rumors, but regardless, I try to steer clear of the Dagger Corps. T
hey’re intimidating and they’ve always seemed like bad news. I always knew Edric wanted to join the Dagger Corps, but I hoped he would keep his morals in tact and stay pure unlike the other mercenaries they have for hire. I wonder I put too much faith in him, or if he’s still the same Edric I knew once upon a time ago.
Whatever message Edric came to deliver wasn’t good; that was a fact. I just want to know how bad it actually was. “If you’re thinking of asking questions about my mission, don’t. I’m under contract to tell no one except the Remnant’s leader.” Edric gives me a cheeky smile and stretches his arms high above his head. He turns his face skyward, looking away from me, but I still catch a hint of melancholy in his eyes. I can only assume he’s remembering the days when we were inseparable. We once vowed to never keep secrets from one another, even if it meant breaking our contract to whatever militia we decided to work for. I suppose we just always thought the bond between us would be stronger. For Edric’s sake, I let my mouth relax into a small smirk and meet his gaze as he lowers his head.
“I wasn’t going to pry,” I quickly lie, rolling my eyes as if the idea of questioning him about his mission is ridiculous. Maybe Edric and I are strangers after all these years, but it feels good to have someone to tease. And he remembers my insufferable curiosity. I absolutely would have asked him if he didn’t say anything first. Being by myself for so long makes me forget that I actually do have a playful side that’s able to have fun.
Edric shakes his head and meets my smirk with one of his own in obvious mocking. Whatever message he brought to the camp has to be the reason I’ve been forced to stand outside for the past thirty minutes. Good to know. Even with Edric being secretive, I’m still able to at least get something from him. And more importantly, the Remnants aren’t just getting their kicks by making me wait as long as they can. They’re probably dealing with whatever disaster the Dagger Corps threatened to bring onto their camp.
I look away from Edric toward the dense forest that surrounds the Remnant’s compound. Their camp is in the middle of nowhere, and due to the low amber light emanating from the buildings, the woods surrounding us seem much darker than they actually are. The sun has barely set, but an inky darkness is still descending around the Remnant camp and the air is heavy and thick with moisture. I really hope there won’t be a storm tonight. My car has a small leak in the roof that will make sleeping even more uncomfortable than it already is. “Say, Edric,” My eyes land on the mask in his hand, and I think about all of the negative rumors I’ve heard about the Dagger Corps and the possibility of them kidnapping humans just as the Reapers do. I glance back toward the forest and keep my eyes trained on a tree in the distance, hoping I appear nonchalant even as a bead of sweat breaks out on my forehead. “The Dagger Corps wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the increase in disappearances lately, would they?” I know that even though kidnapping is a popular rumor that’s spread about the Dagger Corps, it’s still awful of me to bring it up to a mercenary from the very militia in question. It’s offensive and I’m basically blatantly insulting Edric and his choice of militia, but I need to know. If there’s even a chance they’re involved, then it wouldn’t hurt to take my investigation over to their militia. They’d be hard to talk to, but maybe the Dagger Corps would even have information on Dryden.
Edric stays silent for a moment, staring down at the ground. He audibly swallows and runs a hand over his face before answering me with a stiff tone and hardened eyes, “Asking questions like that is a sure way to guarantee your own disappearance. Whether it’s by the Reapers or...someone else. You’re a part of the Remnants, Lux, and I just...” He struggles for a moment to find the proper words, his voice sticking in his throat, “While you’re employed by this militia, I don’t think you should look too heavily into the disappearances. And regardless, if anyone else in the Dagger Corps heard you talking like that, there would be serious problems- problems that I don’t think just me vouching for you will be able to fix.” Edric finishes his sentence with a hard glare to drive his point home, but I continue to look toward the forest. It’s true that I’d find myself in deep trouble if I cross the Dagger Corps. They have their own code of honor and I have no idea what all that encompasses, but I do know that if they hear about me asking after them, thing’s won’t end well. Still, it might be my imagination, but maybe Edric’s trying to tell me something. He acted strange about the Remnants and he was vague about the Dagger Corps. Is the Dagger Corps actually involved or is that just me getting my hopes up? “I know it’s been years, Luxem, but I would really hate to hear your name among the disappeared.” Edric avoids my surprised gaze and looks toward the sky. He takes a deep breath before glancing toward me again with a sheepish grin and a casual shrug of his shoulder, “I wouldn’t want to lose my Luxie for good.”
“Yeah, I know all of that, Edric,” I whisper, more referring to the risk of disappearance I’m taking than his fear of me going missing. I know Edric’s straining his ears to catch everything I’m saying, but I keep my voice low. “I wouldn’t have asked just any mercenary for the Dagger Corps, but it’s you, and I’m desperate. We haven’t seen each other in a while, but I’d like to think that even with your devotion to the militia you’ve always yearned to join, you’d still have a little bit of dedication to me left, as selfish as that probably sounds,” I pause, finally looking Edric in the eyes. They’re intensely trained on my own and I know he’s trying to remain stoic to the deep pain deeply etched on my face. I sigh and bit my lip for a moment before continuing, “I have a lead on the Scarlet Reapers but the trail’s gone cold and I’m starting to think that the guy I’m looking for is among the missing. I can’t find anything about him anywhere- no matter who I talk to. And, most importantly...Lucie’s disappeared.” Edric draws in a sharp breath but retains his composure. “That’s actually the main reason I’m even working for this militia. It has its perks every now and then, but they have the most information on the Reapers out of any other militia I’ve seen. Apparently, and it’s just a rumor, but one of their high ranking officers has actually seen the interior of the Reaper’s camp.”
Edric raises his eyebrows in genuine surprise before knitting them together in doubt. Funny how he was able to remain calm at the news of Lucie’s disappearance, but that information made him break his stoicism. Actually, it’s a little more disappointing then funny, but I’m not done talking yet. That conversation will have to happen later. “Like I said, it could just be some rumor the guy made up to help him further his position within the militia, but considering there isn’t much information on the Reapers out there, I feel like it’s the best chance I have of locating them. I’m just getting small tidbits of information at a time though. It feel like I have an unpaid debt that I’ll be forever trying to work off. Still though, I thought that maybe if the Dagger Corps have something to do with the disappearances...” I let my sentence drift off, falling into a deep discomfort. I didn’t intend to bare my soul to Edric, but we had been close once and he had known Lucie well- as well as I did, if not better. Edric always seemed to be able to understand Lucie in ways I couldn’t. Lucie had always taken every chance was given to be around Edric and Edric saw Lucie as the little sister he never had. She was his chance to feel like a true older brother, somebody important. A part of me felt like Edric deserved to know, and another, smaller part, just wanted to be able to talk to someone I know about what’s been happening in my life.
Edric’s eyebrows remain drawn together as his hand grips harder on to the mask, tight enough that his knuckles are turning white. I slightly jump as Edric cracks the mask in his hand. His strength is surprising. I have no idea what the Dagger Corps masks are made of, but I do know that they’re extremely sturdy. After cracking his mask, Edric’s expression quickly softens, as though he’s trying to let me know that everything’s okay. I’ve always had an uncanny ability to catch Edric off guard, and it seems like five years later, I’m still doing it. “When did she disappear, Lux? How
long after you left Timberwood?” I feel Edric’s hand slowly reach toward my shoulder to comfort me, but he pauses before it reaches me and after a split second of deliberation, he just lets it fall back to his side. There was a time when Edric would have easily been able to provide me with that small semblance of comfort, and it’s painful to know that we’ve drifted apart to the point where he no longer feels comfortable to even put an arm around me.
“Lucie and I left Timberwood after our parents’ disappearance five years ago, as I’m sure you probably remember,” Edric winces from me bringing up the painful memory. No doubt he’s thinking of the last time we talked. “Lucie was taken two years later, in the spring. It’s been three years she’s been gone, Edric, and I’ve been searching for her every day since then. I keep thinking that I can locate the Reapers, then I can somehow find both her and my parents, or at least the truth about what happened to them, or maybe even the why and how of their disappearances. I’m just...” I drift off and sigh, breaking eye contact with Edric and staring blankly toward the forest. I chew on my bottom lip for only a moment, gathering my strength before continuing. “I’m just getting tired, Edric. I’m not giving up; I’ll never give up. But I’m tired of expending all my energy on searching for the Reapers and Lucie, and now this Dryden kid that might be able to give me a lead, and coming up empty handed every time. It’s wearing me down and every day that I don’t have results, it makes it harder to keep going.” I finish my sentence by pinching the bridge of my nose, attempting to relieve the tension that’s been building in my head since Edric stepped outside. There’s a headache coming on fast, and my day isn’t even close to done. There’s still my mission briefing, and depending on how much time I have to complete it, there’s a good chance I’ll have to start on it immediately.
