“Okay let’s start with thirty lap-”
The huge metal door suddenly banged open, drawing everyone’s attention to the fine lady entering the training hall. Suddenly, the air felt cold. Elias met Siel’s burning eyes and shivered a little. She was covered with air he couldn’t explain as she made her way straight to Elias without minding every soldier present in the hall.
“Go to the training ground and run sixty laps.” Siel commanded fiercely, fully forgetting her position in the Seiron as her rage slowly overpowering her. “Now.”
The soldiers looked at Elias, confused if they must follow the new woman in the base or not.
“Obey her.” Elias said, giving the captain a quick glance and they quickly marched out of the hall.
“I just came here and you were still in your pajamas when I left. How come you’re rushing in here, covered from head to toe?” He asked in confusion but Siel did not respond, only keeping her sharp eyes locked to his.
“Let me check.” Elias spat, fishing for his phone and dialing one of his men’s numbers. After two rings, he picked up. “Check my room if she is still there.” He ordered, never leaving his eyes with Siel’s.
“She left about ten minutes ago, sir. She said she’ll meet you. Must I check the security?”
“No. No need. Tell me her outfit?”
The man on the other line became silent for a moment. “She’s covered, sir. Only her black hair was visible, I think.”
Elias hissed. “You think?” He asked sardonically, checking the Siel in front of him.
“N-No, sir. I am sure.”
“Okay.” Elias spat, ending the call. Yet despite his man’s confirmation, he felt something weird. “Something about you is off.” He blurted out. “What’s your deal?”
“It was impetigo and scabies. Probably caused by poor hygiene. Why on earth do you let your people stay in places like that without even proper segregation of garbage? Or even burial of the corpses? Do you intend to kill them softly?!” Siel fumed towards Elias who was taken back with her sudden explosion. He frowned.
“Impetigo and scabies? Places like tha? Burial? What the heck are you blubbering about?”
Siel crumpled her fist and tried to calm her boiling blood by taking a few deep breaths.
“Stop feigning ignorance, Elias. You’re completely aware of the state of that village in the south where people are living in garbage.” She retorted with gritted teeth as Elias calmly listened and analyzed her words. Then, his eyes widened upon his realization.
“How did you know about that place?” Elias suddenly became serious. “How the hell did you get that information?” His voice started to rise.
“That’s not the point here.”
“Do you really think I am happy with what was happening in that village?” Elias’ voice was sharper, indicating he was pissed.
“Edom was the one controlling that place and it was specifically for rejected people, didn’t you notice it?”
Siel stopped. “Rejected people?”
Elias’ eyes narrowed. “Women here are raped, forced to bear baby boys to be trained for battle against the Two Empires. Not only that, the population in this Kingdom is being controlled. If a women carried girl babies, they are forced to be aborted and are raped again just to bear baby boys.”
Siel’s frown disappeared and her lips gaped. Raped? Forced to bear baby boys? Abort? Such rules exist?!
“What do you think was the reason I asked you to always stay by my side? This kingdom is not safe for women. Especially for weak ones. People with weak immune systems, sickly bodies, old useless people are exiled to that place and sometimes, killed on the spot.”
“W-What?”
“Now tell me how the hell did you know the current state of that village?!” Elias exclaimed, having no intention to hide his fury. Siel gulped, bewildered. Elias was suddenly acting strange.
“So, it was that bastard.” Siel murmured, ignoring Elias’ sudden change of attitude. “That’s all I need to know. For now.” She said and turned away but Elias pulled her hand and pushed her to the nearest wall angrily.
Siel met her eyes and was shocked to see them burn in anger.
“Answer me.” Elias spat, tightening his grip to her shoulder. Siel’s face darkened.
“Release me.” She commanded.
Elias smirked. “Have you forgotten? You are under me and so, you will follow me.”
Siel grinned. “Only a fool or an ignorant will follow a fool.” She shook her head. “I am neither of them.”
Siel raised her two hands and shoved Elias’s hands off her shoulder like a flash of lightning then gave him a strong uppercut.
“Ack!”
Elias’ eyes widened with the sudden attack and held his stomach. He looked up to Siel and she took it as an opportunity to give him two hook punches, making him stagger back and fall on the ground.
“Argh…” He groaned, doesn’t know if he’ll hold his swollen cheeks or stomach. “Play fair, eh.” Elias mumbled with a small grin. “You caught me off guard.”
“What a lame reason.” Siel spat. Elias took it as a chance to slide his feet against Siel’s feet but Siel was faster. She saw it and quickly jumped, back tumbling a few meters away from his spot. Elias was mesmerized. The way she fought was different from the Siel he fought with last night. It was as if he was fighting with someone else.
“Tsk.” Elias hissed and grabbed his gun from his side, pointing it to Siel and clicking the trigger without any hesitation. Siel’s body moved swiftly to the side, dodging the bullet and hiding herself. Elias clicked again and the huge jars shattered to pieces.
“Is that all you can do? You shot poorly.” Said Siel, taking her gun out but upon seeing it, she pushed it back and fetched for the weak one. “I’ll be kinder this time.” She whispered.
Elias saw her shadow on the floor and shot another bullet but he staggered back when Siel threw a huge vase in front of him and it shattered to pieces when she shot it, aiming to scratch Elias’ face. Yes, just a scratch. Unfortunately, Elias successfully covered his face with his arms.
“How can you make objects fly?” Elias asked with a confused smile.
“Don’t make me look down on you by asking such questions. Watch out.”
Elias quickly dodge the bullet but felt a sting on his face. Siel successfully scratched him.
“What happened overnight? Something about you is different.” Elias spat. “How about some sparring? Guns are a little dangerous to play with.”
“You commented that twice, if I’m not mistaken. Thrice if I’ll add yesterday.” Siel answered. “Weak people play weak games, eh?”
“Not at all.”
Elias raised his hand and threw his gun on the floor, kicking it to Siel’s feet.
“You know I can take this opportunity to kill you. What a rock for a brain you have.” Siel insulted, tossing her gun back to her inside pocket. “Game. No rules. Fight till you fall.”
Elias stopped for a moment. “You really are Her Highness’ men.”
He charged first, throwing Siel a straight kick but she bent and gave him an uppercut. Elias regained his composure and blocked her fist. Predictable. Siel grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the side, thwacking him on the nearest wall with ceramic displays.
Elias groaned as he felt the pain on his back.
“Next time you ask me for sparring, make sure I’ll receive a scratch.” She whispered locking her hand on Elias’ arm and was about to throw him on the ground but,
“What the hell are you two doing?”
Siel became alarmed and quickly grabbed her gun and turned back but was stopped with countless firearms pointed at her.
“I thought you enjoyed your intercorse last night? How come you fight so easily? Are you two masochists?” Luis asked plainly, checking the whole hall that looks as if the HQ was raided with barbarians.
“Oh brother, how long were you watching us?” Asked Elias, wiping the blood from his lips. Seeing his condition, Luis became annoyed.
“How come you’re beaten with a woman like her? Pathetic. You’re putting our name to shame.”
“Well, you said it yourself, brother. I'm a masochist.” Elias laughed, teasing Luis more.
“Asshole. You pressed the alarm so I thought something happened. Next time you enjoy each other, make sure not to trouble people you piece of shit.”
“Noted.” Elias spat and walked towards Siel who remained composed. “Put your guns down and refrain from pointing them to her.”
The Quislings were hesitant to follow Elias but with Luis’ permission, they obeyed.
“Respect her as your soon-to-be Mistress.” Elias chuckled, wrapping his arms around Siel’s shoulder, which she greatly despised.
“You can’t be serious, Elias.” Said Luis. “Think a million times.”
Siel nodded and pushed Elias aside. “He’s right.” She spat and hid her gun.
“Isn’t she cool?” Elias laughed, scooping his gun on the floor. Luis’ eyebrow raised in annoyance.
“What piece of trash are you.”
“Watch your words, brother.”
“The heck would I.” Luis answered. “We’re going back to Aparctias three days after tomorrow. Make sure to make no trouble. That brainless Donovan is about to blow something so you better prepare.”
Siel managed to keep herself calm as she listened. One suspicious reaction and she’s dead.
“Blow something? What do you mean?”
Luis smirked and looked at his twin with warning before stepping out of the hall.
“I’ll take my leave now.” Siel said.
Elias was about to speak but Siel quickly dashed out of the room, leaving him hanging. She needs to gather more information before they go back to Aparctias. Three days. That’s a very short time. Siel bit her lower lip.
The people bowed like tall grasses bent by the wind as soon as they saw Luis walking past them. Everyone in their HQ revered him and he was the one the Quislings feared the most aside from Edom. But for Siel, for some reason, Elias was far more intimidating than his brother.
Luis walked with pace and was about to turn right but stopped when someone bumped into him.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” His bodyguard shouted angrily and grabbed the person but stopped upon seeing who it was. Even Luis’ eyebrows met each other.
“You. I just saw you with Elias. How come you’re here?”