Kaelen stood quietly on a branch of a very tall tree, his posture leaning against its girthy trunk with his left shoulder.
His gaze was as cold as ice, his eyes unwavering as they glared up at the rocky mountain — even though there was nothing to see there.
Except for the rays of dusk which illuminated it with its warmth... A warmth which was yet to reach the forest down below.
"... What do you want, Specimen 2555?"
Kaelen spoke those words with his gaze never once shifting from the mountain top.
The Specimen to whom that label belonged, was frozen in place as though his joints were smitten by frost.
[He... Was able to sense me?]
Mused the cunning Homunculus with light-yellow eyes, or otherwise known as Specimen 2555.
He was naturally light on his feet, his footsteps no different from a falling feather.
"Good morning, Captain..."
"I bring good news."
He said, his words robbing Kaelen's attention, and his cold gaze was now planted on him.
"Specimen 2902 is no longer in a critical condition... She has just opened her eyes."
Those words... They thawed out the coldness in Kaelen's eyes, and he couldn't help but smile.
[Thank goodness...]
He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, the darkness in his heart escaped from his mouth along with vapor.
"That really is good news, thank you for telling me."
Kaelen turned his gaze back to the mountain tops and began plotting. He was unsure about the number of prey that was up there, however, he wanted to hunt them more than anything.
Perhaps for a personal vendetta, such as avenging Specimen 2902?
Or maybe, he wanted to repay them for the embarrassment he suffered by almost dying to monsters of their calibre?
Either way... He was hell bent on hunting them.
"Have you distributed the breakfast supplies I gave you yesterday?"
"Yes, I have Captain... But you don't look to have eaten yet, please do so. We need you at full strength."
"Yeah... You're right, I'll eat now."
Kaelen reached into thin air and retrieved a sandwich packed with vegetables, sauces and meat, two thick slices of high fibre bread holding everything together.
It looked as though it had just been made with how fresh it was, but that was not the case.
Anything stored inside of a pocket dimension would not rot or be subject to weathering.
"Munch... Munch! "
He began scoffing down on it, and it was gone before he knew it, had it not been for Specimen 2555's presence, he would have shamelessly licked the sauce from his hands.
[... Why is he still here anyway?]
Kaelen wiped his hand on the tree's bark and glanced at the Homonculus who just stood there in silence like a mannequin.
"Ah, you can go back..."
He said, awkwardly chasing him away.
"Captain, may I make a suggestion?"
[...]
"Go ahead."
Kaelen raised his eyebrow.
"Given her current condition and the urgency of this hunt..."
"...Would it not be better to just l —"
"Please don't say anything you'll regret. She saved my life. "
Kaelen knew exactly what he was about to say and cut him off, lest he lose his temper and strike his subordinate.
"Understood... Captain."
"I will return to the others. We await your orders."
Specimen 2555 swiftly departed.
"Sigh... These coldhearted tube babies..."
"...Was he really about to suggest that we leave her to die?"
Kaelen sat down on the branch and continued formulating his plans.
//
[...]
[... A leader who shows empathy and gratitude...]
[... Is this truly the best course of action?]
[Surely not, the most practical thing would be to just leave her be... Or better yet, use her as bait...]
Specimen 2555 mused as he walked in silence, his chin resting on his thumb and index finger.
[But the again... I may not be able to comprehend what you have already anticipated.]
[I am sure whatever it is you are planning will reap the best possible outcome.]
He raised his chin, his eyes reflecting the other members of the Decadon he was a part of.
Based on what he had already seen from Kaelen, he had absolute faith in his intelligence and strategic capabilities.
To him, Kaelen was an unfathomable genius who was always a step ahead of everyone, planned for every possible contingency, and took the best course of action at every instance.
Of course... His view of Kaelen was a tad bit exaggerated.
Or perhaps... By quite a large margain?
[... I still cannot understand how you were able to tame that monster, Captain.]
His eyes reflected Veylith's frame.
"Make sure she lives, that's what Kaelen wants."
"If she dies I'll kill you."
Said Veylith, her crimson eyes glaring daggers at the two Homonculi who tended to Specimen 2902.
"Y-yes!"
They frantically did... Well, nothing as she was currently asleep, so they honestly didn't need to do anything at all, they just wanted to look busy so that Veylith would leave them alone.
[She's so scary, but she acts different when you're around...]
A cold sweat trickled down the side of Specimen 2555's temple.
[Just how did you do it?]
[She's stronger than you, so she could have easily taken your spot as Captain if she wanted to, by proving that fact to our Master.]
His steps became slower as he approached where they had set-up camp.
[No matter how many scenarios I can think of, there is not a single one where she can be tamed!]
He simply could not understand it, and he had long given up on trying to.
He figured that it was something only geniuses like Kealen were able to conjure.
Clink...
[...Eh?]
A thin chain suddenly wrapped itself around his left arm.
"Oh no —"
Yank!
[!!]
A strong force suddenly pulled him violently, and before he knew it, he was in Veylith's grasp, his feet dangling in the air.
"What took you so long? Where is Kaelen?"
Her crimson eyes pierced into his very soul as she asked those questions.
"He's still at the tree, he should join us soon."
He said, pretending not to be absolutely terrified.
"Has he eaten? Is he still angry with me?"
She tilted her head.
"Yes, he ate... I stood there until he finished, just like you asked."
"I don't think he was ever angry with you, so please don't worry."
Despite his heart pounding out of his chest, Specimen 2555's expression was as still as stagnant waters — albeit, not as murky.
"...Really?"
She looked to be extremely relieved and slowly set him down whilst clutching... Her pearls?
It was honestly horrifying for all who witnessed it —that such a monster would act this way, so innocently.
She then turned her back on them, as though not wanting them to see that she was smiling from ear to ear.
///
At the center of a wide room whose walls were painted with nude and decorated by multiple works of art that were breathtaking to behold... Stood a desk.
The desk in question was crafted exquisitely from Elven wood and polished to perfection, all four of its legs were carved in such a manner that they seemed to spiral like the stairways to heaven.
The matte-black carpet which the table stood on was made from the fur of a certain mythical beast, which was slain by the one sitting at the desk.
"Sigh..."
A heavy sigh escaped her full lips and she extended her arms to stretch herself, her bright-orange curly hair which was reminiscent of the embers of a raging flame, swaying to her motion.
She then lowered her navy-blue eyes to the piles of documents she'd been buried in for the last three hours or so, and felt like screaming at the top of her lungs.
But...
It couldn't be helped, this was her responsibilities as the Guar — No, the Governor of the Seventh Floor of her Ruler's Tower.
She should be grateful, most would sell their souls and those of their children to be in her position.
[... Should I hold a banquet after this?]
[It's been an arduous month, the people need to rest and unwind.]
[And so do I, when last did I enjoy some leisurely time to myself?]
She began daydreaming about the bathhouse in her castle, and the delicate hands of her maids who would usually fight one another for the privilege of massaging her.
She also thought about how nice it would be to —
Knock, Knock.
A knock on her office door rudely awakened her from her daydream.
[I specifically told them that I did not want to be disturbed...]
Her throat vibrated with a low growl that shook the multiple bookshelves and the neatly packed tea cups at the corner of her office.
"... Come in."
She curled her lips, her jaw resting on her fist.
"Forgive the intrusion, my Lady."
Her personal assistant, the Weretiger maid, stepped inside the office and bowed deeply.
"What is it, Bethsheba?"
Rowena's lips curled even more, revealing her slightly long canine teeth.
"An envoy from the Eighth Floor is here to see you, my Lady."
[...]
"...What?"
Rowena was absolutely shocked at what she'd heard, her pupils constricting violently until they became vertically slit, like those of a feline, and she began snarling like a fierce beast.