Fortress

Keeping up with Adam was getting progressively more difficult. He was intentionally lowering his speed and so at the beginning I was able to catch up to him easily but seeing this he kept increasing his speed until, eventually I began to fall behind, so for the past hour he had been maintaining the same speed with a 2-meter gap separating the two of us and the lights of the city border getting closer and closer.

Eventually, the border came into view, it looked like a traditional battle fortress seen in medieval settings, with archer towers and watch posts towering over a giant brick wall, but the fortress was also fortified with glossy looking metal at key locations and had large searchlights placed on top of the archer towers. It was most likely made by earth and metal mages in a short period of time. As we got closer to the fortress, we began to slow down before coming to a stop right outside the searchlights range.

"Stay behind and let me handle this." Adam said confidently before throwing his arms up in a sign of surrender and stepping directly into an area illuminated by one of the searchlights. The searchlight instantly stopped moving as a loud blaring alarm came from the fortress, as the other searchlights focused on him as well. I was worried that the archers would fire at him, but he simply stood there with his hands raised and a smile on his face.

"Stop moving! If you make any sudden movements, we will fire!" Spoke an amplified stern voice from the fortress.

Adam did exactly as they said while I began to move away from the illuminated area. After some time, multiple figures began to emerge from the fortress as they approached our location weapons drawn.

Once they got closer, I saw that the one leading the group of five heroes was a woman with orange hair, approaching us while dual wielding curved swords resembling scimitars and light armor.

"Who are you?" spoke the orange haired woman with her sword pointing at Adams neck.

"Hey, I know I don't look the best right now but that's no excuse to not recognize me Corin!" he said while looking up at her and smiling.

Immediately, everyone in the group dropped their weapons and surprise was evident on their faces.

Corin, the leader of the group began speaking "Adam? How? We thought you were dead!"

"Please! As if you could get rid of me that easily." he replied with a smile and holding up his hero ID to remove all doubt.

Immediately, Corin charged at him, embracing him in a tight hug.

"Yes, yes, I missed you and your violent tendencies as well." replied Adam while patting her on the back.

In response, Corin struck him lightly on the head and then released him, before saying in a shaky voice.

"You have a lot to explain."

"I will but before that, I would like to introduce you to Ajax. You can come out kid, she can already see you."

I was a bit nervous but slowly walked into the illuminated area, causing the other heroes to immediately raise their weapons at me.

"Stop! He's with me." he yelled.

The group all had confused looks on their faces but due to their trust in Adam, they decided to lower their weapons and looked towards Corin for further instructions.

She sighed and said "We can speak more once we get inside." Signaling the others to escort us into the fortress. Upon reaching the fortress walls, a guard verified Corin's ID and then earth mages displaced a section of the fortress wall, forming a giant doorway.

The inside of the fortress was bustling and was much more modern compared to its medieval exterior. There were vehicles carrying around supplies, modern tents and security cameras all around the interior of the base. The base was pretty crowded with heroes present everywhere. However, our appearance had made quite the impression, and many were now gathering around to get a better look at what was going on.

Soon, word of Adams survival began to spread among the crowd and they started to cheer for him and applaud. This caused him to have a wide grin on his face as he turned back to me and said, "Told you I was famous."

Soon, we arrived at a large tent and Corin dismissed the guards as we walked inside. In the center of the tent was a work desk with a laptop as well as many documents spread out on it but most notably a plaque that read 'Corrin Turner'. Taking a seat, she said in a stern tone.

"Tell me exactly what happened."

Adam then went on to explain what had happened to him in the last three days. From being ambushed by a group of corrupt awakened, his defeat at the hands of the sadistic swordsman, how I helped him and also me being an awakened. She listened intently before speaking in a fearful tone.

"What kind of monster is able to defeat a B rank hero so easily?"

"I don't know, but he's dangerous and we have to stop whatever he's planning." replied Adam.

"I understand but we don't have any information, I can't remove heroes from their post so they can go on a wild goose chase."

Turning her attention to me she said "As for you, thank you for saving this idiot and putting up with his behavior instead of killing him."

"Hey! I helped him-" Adam tried to say but was interrupted by Corin.

"However, I can't let you into the city so easily. You will be questioned by an experienced interrogator and only then can we deem you as trustworthy."

"What! He saves my life, and you repay him by putting him under interrogation?" He said outraged.

"I know, but his circumstances are quite suspicious, and we know nothing about him. I'm sorry." Corin said giving me an apologetic look.

I nodded and said, "I understand."

"Thank you, for the time being, you will be given some time to rest and freshen up before we call you for the interrogation in the evening."

Adam let out a sigh in frustration but decided to give up as he probably wanted to have a proper rest after all he had been through.

Corin called for a guide to show me and Adam to our temporary residence as she had to return to work. He arrived shortly after and took us into a rather large encampment with several large tents that seemed to be where the heroes were residing. He showed me an unoccupied tent and told me the time and location at which I could get food before leaving with Adam who was looking at me in pity.

Walking into the large tent it was much different than I expected. It was clean and spacious having a carpeted floor and a comfortable looking bed in the center. There was also a desk with a notepad and writing utensils along with an open cabinet with a fresh change of clothes. There was also a different compartment with running water using water magic inscribed into low grade mana stones. Sealing the entrance to the tent, I decided to take a bath first in an attempt to clean the dirt and grime accumulated through days of traveling in an abandoned city.

As, I was showering, my mind began to wander as I thought of the interrogation that would await me today evening. There was still quite some time, but I couldn't help but worry. A few mages were capable of discerning whether someone was speaking the truth or not using a personal spell and their inhuman perception which meant lying would be a bad idea. However, if I didn't lie how could I explain that I didn't evacuate the city because I didn't exist in this world until two days ago. In the novel some characters bypass this by telling half-truths but I had no idea if this would work on this experienced interrogator.

I began to think what would happen if I was deemed untrustworthy after the interrogation, best case scenario would be that they simply wouldn't let me into the city and return me to the ruined Ironguard and worst-case scenario was them executing me. I was not that afraid of death itself, but the idea of being in the void for eternity made me desperate for survival.

Whatever the case, I had no choice but to attend the interrogation as running away now was impossible and would make me seem even more suspicious. Making me wonder if I should have come here at all.

Getting out of the bath and tying my hair up, I sat down on the bench they had provided to me. Sitting down and opening the notebook, I decided to write down all the important events in the novel that I still remembered in English in an attempt to encrypt it. I did this to pass the time as well as prepare myself better for the future.