The carriage moved steadily along the rough dirt road, its old wooden wheels letting out a soft creak… creak that echoed through the deep silence. A cool breeze slipped through the tall trees, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and wet grass. Above them, the sky slowly melted into shades of orange and grey, with darkness quietly creeping in—bringing with it a strange sense of calm… and an unspoken unease.
Inside the carriage, no one spoke.
Leo sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the endless stretch of forest outside. It wasn't just a glance—he was observing, as if trying to understand something hidden within it. Skye sat with her eyes closed, arms crossed. She wasn't asleep—just distant. Ray kept shifting his gaze between the outside world and the floor, lost in thought. Chris, unusually, was silent.
Only the sound of wheels… and the wind remained.
After a while, the forest began to thin. The towering trees slowly gave way to open land. The ground wasn't smooth—it was cracked, uneven, scarred… as if countless battles had once taken place here.
Then, slowly… structures began to appear.
Small houses.
Built from wood and stone, slightly worn, some leaning with age… but alive. Smoke rose from a few chimneys, proof that people still lived here. The roads weren't properly built—just paths formed over time by constant use.
This wasn't a normal town.
Every corner carried the marks of war.
A few people could be seen, but their expressions weren't ordinary. Tired. Serious. Alert. Like they had seen too much… and expected worse.
As the carriage entered deeper into the town, the air itself felt heavier.
As if peace didn't belong here.
And then—
At the center of the town, it appeared.
A massive structure, towering over everything else.
The 6th Division Base.
Built from old stone, patched and repaired countless times, its walls were filled with cracks and scars. Time and war had tried to break it again and again… but it still stood.
At the very top of its central tower, carved deep into the stone, was a bold symbol:
IV
Simple… yet commanding.
In front of the base stretched a vast open ground. The land was uneven—deep cuts, burn marks, and even broken weapons still half-buried in the earth.
This wasn't just a training ground.
This place had witnessed war… over and over again.
The carriage finally slowed to a stop near the entrance.
One by one, Skye, Leo, and Ray stepped out. Chris followed behind them, stretching his arms above his head with a tired sigh.
"That was a long ride…"
Leo didn't reply. His eyes were already scanning everything—the base, the surroundings, every small detail.
Chris turned back slightly."Let's head inside."
He started walking, and the others followed.
Soon, they reached the massive entrance gate.
It was made of heavy steel, old and rusted, yet still intimidating. As it began to open, it let out a deep, grinding sound—Grrrrnnn…—like something ancient waking up.
Leo and Ray watched in silence.
It was their first time seeing a base like this.
As they stepped inside…
Leo's eyes widened.
Ray, too, couldn't hide his surprise.
From the outside, the base looked old… almost broken.
But inside—
It was completely different.
The interior was vast and alive. Strong stone pillars held up the structure, but everything was well-maintained. Torches and modern lights combined to illuminate the halls. The floor was polished, reflecting faint shadows of movement. People moved around with purpose—soldiers, staff, members of the division.
It felt… powerful.
Chris suddenly stopped and turned back.
"As the captain of this division," he said with a slight smile, "it's my responsibility to show you around."
Leo and Ray immediately looked excited.
Chris then glanced at Skye. His expression shifted slightly.
"Vice Captain… you know what to do."
Skye gave a small smile—though there was a hint of irritation hidden in it.
"Yes, Captain."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
Chris then looked back at Leo and Ray."Come on."
They entered a massive hall.
Elegant paintings covered the walls—portraits of past warriors, battle scenes, and unknown figures. Three long dining tables stood at the center, large enough to accommodate dozens of people.
"This is where we eat," Chris explained.
Leo blinked. "But… why are the tables so big?"
Ray looked at him like he was stupid."Are you acting dumb or what?"
Leo scratched his head awkwardly, smiling.
"There are many members in the 6th Division," Ray added.
Chris nodded. "He's right."
"Now… come with me."
They walked further and soon reached the library.
The moment they stepped inside, everyone present immediately stood up. They bowed slightly.
"Captain."
Chris smiled lightly in response.
But Leo and Ray…
They were stunned.
The library was enormous.
Shelves stretched endlessly in every direction—towering high, filled completely with books. Ancient texts, records, scrolls, manuals… knowledge layered upon knowledge. Ladders were placed against shelves, and soft golden lights gave the entire place a calm, almost sacred atmosphere.
It felt less like a room… and more like a world of knowledge.
"Sir… can we read some of these?" Ray asked.
Chris smiled. "Of course."
Just then, a few girls approached Chris, surrounding him and asking about his day. Leo and Ray exchanged a look.
"…He's popular," Leo muttered.
Suddenly, one of the girls noticed them."Who are they?"
Chris replied casually, "Guests. They're still learning."
Before anything else could happen—
A tall, slim woman walked in.
She held a cigarette between her fingers, taking a slow drag. Light freckles dotted her face near her nose. Her presence alone made the other girls step aside—even the ones who didn't want to.
She stopped in front of Chris.
"The cultist… was he captured?"
Chris nodded. "Yeah."
Her gaze then shifted to Leo and Ray.
A smirk appeared on her lips.
"Well… where did you find such handsome boys?"
Leo instantly turned red. Ray, on the other hand, stayed unfazed.
She stepped closer to Leo, leaning slightly toward him.
"I like young, strong boys."
Leo froze completely."Th-thank you…"
She laughed softly.
From behind, Chris sighed."Aarya… stop teasing him."
She turned slightly, smiling."Alright, Captain."
Chris added, "You should go help Skye."
Aarya understood immediately. She turned to leave… but paused.
She glanced back at Leo—and winked.
Leo's face turned completely red.
Chris shook his head."Don't mind her. She's always like that."
"For now, you two should rest," Chris said. "I'll show you the rest tomorrow."
Leo and Ray looked around. The library was still full of people.
"Doesn't look like it's time to sleep," Ray said.
Chris replied calmly, "People here don't sleep because of work. You two are tired. Go rest."
He led them to their room.
The moment they entered—
Leo was reminded of their academy days. The room was spacious, clean, and well-prepared.
Without wasting a second, Leo ran forward and jumped straight onto the bed.
It was soft. Warm. Comfortable.
"Finally…"
Ray walked in more calmly.
Chris stood at the door."Get some rest."
Then he turned and walked away.
As he stepped out, the gentle smile on his face slowly faded.
His expression turned serious.
"…Time to get back to work."