Freedom Isn't Free

Chapter 1 Part III: Arguments and Preparations

~???~
"I see... No wonder you're infatuated."

"Mother!"

"Oh but it is obvious, is it not? The way you talk about him, oh that is just the way a person talks when in love!"

~Soren~

He can't believe this was actually happening.

It's only been a day after Andy's arrival and his tour. It wasn't really all that eventful since it was just a tour, maybe except for that one thing that happened that he refused to talk about.

Andy was friendly with everyone so he didn't think that someone would actually want to fight him. As it turns out he was completely wrong on that.

It was peaceful when he woke up. It was peaceful when he, surprisingly, ate breakfast with the others. It was peaceful when he sat down on his couch about to read his book.

And then that's where the sound of shattering glass was heard.

Soren sighed and shut his book, placing it down on the coffee table and started his journey to the meeting room, where the source seemed to be coming from. He prayed to whatever god out there that was listening that the damages weren't very severe.

He shook his head once he saw the crowded doorway. Honestly, when was there ever a peaceful day in his faction? Only rarely, and by the end of the day there's always some kind of crisis going on. Soren didn't know why he expected a peaceful day.

Kate seemed to be waiting for him, waving him over. She was wearing a purple low-sleeve shirt that was longer at the back, that he thinks she owned before the factions happened since it looked a little old, and brown shorts.

He approached her, trying to peak in the room past the other watchers. "You look good in that outfit, I'll admit. What's going on now?"

There wasn't an immediate response. He turned to face her. Her cheeks seemed pinkish than he last remembered. Did she put on makeup?

"Vince is at it again trying to hurt Andy." She said after clearing her throat.

Ah. He thought so.

His attention was directed back to the meeting room, hearing a chair being hurled towards someone. "You little shit!" The others moved away from the doorway, the office chair hitting the sides with a loud clang! instead of going through.

He saw Kate shake her head, tempted to do it as well. "Sometimes I keep forgetting we're actually related to each other."

Soren has to agree with that. Really, Kate and Vincent have more differences than similarities. Kate has long and clean brown hair while Vince has a very messily slicked black hair. She has brown eyes and he has green ones. Even their personality and interests differ from one another.

He stepped over the fallen chair, taking note of the broken arm rests of fallen chairs, pieces of glass scattered all over the table with blood on some, the heavily dented wall and the worryingly creaking long table. Vince had Andy pinned on said table, a shaking fist raised while the other held the latter down.

Soren thought he felt a vein pop. It's starting to happen frequently now. He took a deep breath. "Vincent. Andy. Stop this nonesense now!"

Both flinched, the former letting go and backing away. Andy sat up quickly, hand flying to his throat.

Those bruises turned his anger to concern, then back to anger. He studied the two, noticing more injuries than he had originally assumed. "I expect you two to clean this place up after you go and get yourselves patched up. It's only been your second day here Andy and I'm already disappointed."

Vince let out a grunt and looked down while Andy stood. "Oh come on! He started it first! Why was I punished too?!" He exclaimed, gesturing at Vince who only glared at him.

"Don't think you're innocent. I heard you taunting him."

Andy dropped his hands in defeat, groaning.

~=*=~

It took them a while to clean the place up but at least the room looked...decent. Of course Soren has to fix the wall and the table but he'll do that later. For now he has to discuss the mission he issued out to the co-leaders and some of the strongest in his faction.

Everyone shifted in their seat, anxious to start. Soren was standing at the end with his hands on the table. "Well, as you all should know by now, resources have been diminishing at an alarmingly fast rate," he drummed his fingers on the table, "and that's why I've called you all to this meeting."

Someone at the other end raised their hand and everyone turned. Ah. It was Kenny. He could tell by the blue, of course dyed, hair.

"If most of the leaders and strongest leave, what about defenses?" He asked.

"That's part of why I called you guys here. Be honest, who doesn't want to leave?" A few hands rose up, some hesitantly and others without a doubt. "Right. If you don't want to leave, that's your choice. That way we have some form of defense against raids."

A couple of murmurs went around as some relaxed their tense form. "How long will we be gone?" Kate asked.

A dirty blonde girl with sharp blue eyes spoke up from beside Kenny, "It's probably going to be half the day, considering we need so many things. Assuming that it won't be crowded as hell in the kingdom."

"Speaking of which," Vince ran a hand through his hair, "shouldn't the king be doing something about this already?"

"He is," someone from Soren's right answered, "It's just that things haven't been going so well since there have been reports of towns being attacked by...you know."

Being attacked by Auralia's biggest enemy in the entire world. That man could easily destroy kingdom after kingdom yet he always stops. Everyone is suffering from this, even Magi.

"...Good point, Alex. God, they need to stop him already. Wasn't he here before we even came?" Vince asked, everyone else nodding.

"Anyway, we're getting off topic." Soren cleared his throat and all heads turned to him once more.

"We're leaving in an hour, so everyone joining please be ready before then."

~=*=~
A/N: This was uploaded a little later than usual. Rip. Anyway, I got a new username! Idk, it fit more than Ace tbh. This part was a little rushed but eh. Feedback, comments, and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I hope you have a very great day today~

Edit: fixed the chapter after it got cut off.

~Ace/Beats~