Chapter 16:The Gate to Nowhere
Peter put on a mask of feigned surprise and confusion. The guard's words merely confirmed what he already suspected—at least partially. For Selene, however, it was the first time she'd heard anything of the sort.
"What do you mean by 'forgotten'? When you say people haven't heard of this place, do you mean it's just... not commonly known?" she asked, clearly confused and trying to make sense of it. After a brief pause, she followed up:
"Could you explain what you mean exactly?"
The captain looked at her with a hint of pity, then answered in a tone tinged with sympathy.
"I'm afraid I've got bad news for you, young lady. When I said 'unknown to the people of the real world,' I meant that we are in a part of Ether that has never been discovered by mankind. We are completely cut off from the commonly explored regions. To put it bluntly—those who were unlucky enough to end up here... are stuck. There's no way back."
"N-no... No way... This has to be some kind of sick joke! I can't just accept this and stay here!" Selene cried out in desperation. Peter observed her quietly. He didn't know her past or her reasons, but her reaction made it clear—someone, or something, in the real world still mattered to her.
He had no intention of comforting her or telling her empty lies about everything being fine. He wasn't about to offer her false hope. Instead, he turned to the captain and spoke with calm, neutral composure.
"If it's not too much trouble, could you tell us more about the area? From what you've said so far, it looks like we'll be staying for a while. So, knowing the lay of the land, local rules, and city customs would be useful."
It was a practical question. If they were going to enter the city, knowing who ruled it and how things worked would help them avoid unnecessary trouble.
The captain looked Peter over, clearly expecting a more dramatic reaction. After a moment, he let out a crooked grin and replied:
"You're pretty grounded for someone your age. Quick to accept reality. That'll serve you well here. And sure, as a city guard, I suppose I'm obligated to give you some pointers about local laws and customs," he said, with just a hint of sarcasm when he said obligated. Then, he introduced himself.
"Name's Elric Brahn. And this here is Lio Ferrow, the scout of our unit. He knows the area better than the rest of us, and he can tell you as much about the city as I can."
"You can ask him whatever you want. In the meantime, we'll get back to our watch."
'So, you're pawning off the task and going to lounge in that hut while someone else stands guard in your place?' Peter thought, keeping the words to himself. He wasn't looking to antagonize the man. After all, Elric had a squad under his command that could easily overwhelm both him and Selene.
In fact, Elric leaving was actually a benefit in Peter's eyes. First, it might relax the young soldier, making him easier to talk to. And second, he wouldn't have to listen to the grating voice of an overconfident captain.
"Thank you very much, Sir Elric. We won't keep you from your duties," Peter said, swallowing down the curses that almost escaped his lips.
Visibly pleased by the flattery, the captain nodded at the young scout, instructing him to stay behind, while he and the rest of his men returned to the wooden house. Peter briefly noted that the man hadn't even bothered to ask his name, but pushed the thought aside as he turned his attention to the scout.
The young man looked several years younger than Peter and was slightly shorter. His blond hair, clean-shaven face, and bright blue eyes were full of energy and youthful enthusiasm—practically the polar opposite of Peter, whose face was shadowed by a short, graying beard, and whose eyes, dark and unreadable, gave nothing away.
After quickly sizing him up, Peter glanced at Selene. She was still staring blankly at the door Elric had disappeared behind. Noticing Peter's look, she blinked and turned her eyes toward the scout. Taking that as his cue, the young man smiled and introduced himself with enthusiasm.
"Hey there! Like Elric said, my name's Lio, and I'm the scout of this squad. It's really nice to meet you—even if the circumstances kinda suck," he said with a friendly grin.
Peter was slightly surprised by the young man's optimism. Despite apparently being stranded in an isolated part of Ether for the rest of his life, Lio seemed full of spirit. After a brief moment of thought, Peter responded in kind.
"Nice to meet you too, though yeah... the situation could be better. I'm Peter, and this is my traveling companion—Selene."