The City Below (II)

Walking through the broken streets of the hidden city we could hear the faint laughter of children as a huge crystal on the ceiling lighted the surrounding. What I previously thought to be a dead city now looked livelier than ever. Small building spread across the city, their old and worn out walls gave shelter to the survivor, the citizen were now refugees in their home, but looking carefully one could see their will to take back what had been lost.

Lost in though I mindlessly followed our guides till what seemed to be a tavern.

A jug flying through the broken window hit my forehead spilling alcohol on my face and snapping me out of my thoughts.

With a loud bang the door opened and the body of a small humanoid creature flew out landing face first on the ground.

"And don't ya dare call me names agwain!!! U gwot it!!"

At the door appeared a woman with short curly hair, deep blue eyes that looked like the vast sky and red puff cheeks. From the looks of it, she was probably the one who threw out both the jug and the man.

Slobbering she invited us to join her for a drink, but Francis coldly refused and even if temped I decide to get some sleep in.

Entering the tavern hot air enveloped us as and strong smell of grilled meat invaded our nostrils. Directly going to the counter Gurdis briefly talked with the host before coming back to us.

"They still have room for two so you can sleep here for tonight… but nothing is free, as merchants you should understand. Let's meet in the plaza tomorrow and decide what you shall do to repay this debt from now on."

….

Entering the room, Francis followed me.

"We need to decide on our next course of action"

"Don't worry, I got it covered"

I confidently replied. I had a plan, of course it wasn't great as I came up with it in the last few minute. But the premises were in place, if we played our cards well completing the mission would be a breeze.

"And does your plan also include the survivors?"

"That's not part of the mission. We gather the info and then run. In and out, pretty easy right."

If it went well we could be at home for the end of the month, it was a nice plan if I say so myself.

Francis brows twitched as he listens to the outline of my plan, being a goody two shoes the idea of leaving the people who helped us alone to fend for themselves must not have clicked with him, unfortunately he also understood that the mission had higher priority and after pondering for a bit more he finally agreed.

The sun was down, not like I could see it from underground, but the sun was setting when we entered the cave, as rough estimate we were well past dinner time and being too tired to do anything else I decided to sleep.

Landing back first on the bed I quickly fell between Morpheus's arms. As my mind blanked only one thought remained 'is this really the right thing to do?'

…

Going back to my room I continued to ponder over my decision.

Even if I agreed with Boja on the surface, in reality I didn't like what he said. Basically he wanted to use and throw them away as he pleased, like an expendable tool with no other use after it accomplished its goal.

I've already seen many die for the indifference of others and I won't let history repeat itself. Laing down on the bed a plan to bring him to my side started forming in my head, with that saving the people and completing the mission wasn't a far off dream. It was like killing two birds with one stone.

Thought this time the only one killed would be me, after ruining another of Boja's plan I had no idea of he could react.

….

—TOK, TOK

"Professor? Are you there? I'm here to give you a report on todays outing…"

Timidly entering a room, Milo glanced at the figure before his eyes. A middle aged man whit silver hairs that looked like a moon brightly shining in a starry night, quietly lied face down on the desk as a faint snoring echoed through the room.

Tip toeing his way to the desk he left the report on the table before lightly putting a nearby jacket in the man's shoulder. Leaving his side Milo made sure to be as silent as possible.

Unexpectedly a bright light emerged from the boy's pocket, it came from a small compass with golden decoration and tiny a crystal as the needle.

Taking out the compass he turned in the direction pointed, as the light became brighter he approached a drawer in the desk. Kneeling down to open it he realised that it was closed with a key, suddenly a faint groan made him winch, looking up and seeing the professor almost waking he decided to leave the room. It wasn't the right time yet.