Chapter 5: A Garden with Something Else.
"Who are you?"
"Kyle Barker, Petty Officer 3rd Class. I worked as a local guard in the state of Trentheim in logistics and management. After assisting the Hero's Guard while they were in the region I was offered a full time position due to my skills and ability to provide moral support, mostly in the form of baking."
"Good," Bethial clapped him on the shoulder. "You've got your story straight but you'll still need to back it up." He placed several books in front of him.
Kyle read the titles. Introduction to Magic. The Basics of Management. A Guide to the Military. How to support others, a guide for dummies. The last three weren't all too large but the first one was especially thick.
"Considering your backstory this should all be standard. Also keep in mind that you should already know all this."
"Can't I just be a baker you decided to hire?" Kyle asked feeling daunted by the concept of study.
"It's not that easy to get into the Hero's Guard. Everyone is combat ready and just from appearance you most certainly aren't. Even Valandus was near the top of his class."
The driver looked back from his seat and complained, "What do you mean 'even'. I do good work here."
"The Captain is mostly implying your frivolous personality," Reina remarked from her desk without even lifting her gaze.
"Don't make me turn this truck around!" Valandus said in mock anger.
"We have a schedule to keep Valandus," the Captain folded his arms.
"Twas a joke sir," he faced forwards and focused on the road again.
Kyle shifted his eyes between the three. When it came down to it, each was an expert in their fields. The rank he had been given was already an officer's rank and though the lowest it was something military personnel would work years for. He had practically cheated his way up and was even being paid for it.
"These three books are fine but this one not so much," Kyle held up the introduction to magic. "In Tomph only the school teacher could use magic and the most he could do was blow a gust of wind and light fires. I've never touched the topic." Just flicking through the first few pages he was bombarded with mountains of terminology he had never heard.
The Captain simply shrugged, "Regardless all members of the Hero Guard must have studied magic to a useable degree. You can't escape it."
"I'm not running away, it's just, do I get any help?"
"I can help," Lillia raised her hand. She was sitting at the edge of the loft with her legs dangling over the corridor. "I'm actually considered an expert. All of us Hero candidates need to study it after all."
"I'm not sure that's wise...," the Captain frowned. "We still haven't decided where Kyle's position will be. For now try do the best you can on your own." He patted Kyle's shoulder.
"I'll give it a go," he stared at the pages blankly. Back when he was learning to bake he had read a few books to help him, but this was on another level.
Before he could begin in earnest however, Valandus suddenly called out, "Kyle come over here."
"Um sure," he stood up and left the books on the table. It was still a bit of a wobble to reach the front of the truck as he wasn't used to its sudden jolts but the past few days of driving were enough to stop him feeling sick at least. "What is it?"
"I thought you might like a front seat view. After all it's your first time heading to Central," Valandus smiled. "Here we go."
The truck began turning circumventing the nearby hill. Then it was there and Kyle almost couldn't believe his eyes. When he had turned twelve he had taken a trip to Trentheim city with his father. Back then he couldn't believe the size of it or the number of people that were always in the streets and yet the city in front of him made that experience seem so small in comparison. To put it simply, it was immense and the perfect representation of the centre of their world. They were still far away and yet the sight covered almost the entire landscape. Arriving with the setting sun the city was dyed in a fading orange. Row upon row of buildings and streets turned and twisted creating a strange mosaic of life. The city stretched from flat plains and steadily rose towards a small mountain, each point seemingly covered with something new to witness. At the top resided a building he had only seen in pictures, the Hero's Cathedral and home of the Hero's Guard. Even from a distance he could make out some of the detailed architecture. Pressed against a cliff face the building morphed into the peak of the mountain and marked the point of a wedge that was the Midnight Forest. The contrast of the dense forest on one side of the mountain with the full city scape of on the other painted a strangely poetic picture.
"It's... it's amazing," Kyle could only mumble the words and blink as Valandus drove them closer.
In Trentheim City the roads exiting and entering had been full of traders many of who were using vehicles like trucks to carry their goods. Central was yet again on another level as even a good distance away they could see the line of people waiting to be processed into the City. Several entrances had been created and though there was no defining wall the process was neat and orderly.
"Ah, the train line," Kyle gasped as he saw the fast moving vehicle exit the city. His eyes followed the exceedingly long accompaniment of carriages leave to places unknown. He had heard of it before but even during his visit to Trentheim, he and his father couldn't get too close without tickets.
Lillia poked him in the side causing him to jump, "You look like a kid in a candy store. Is it really that amazing?"
"Of course it is!" he leaned forward towards the glass as if pushing himself even a few centimetres closer made a difference. "There's so much going on here I can't even begin to catch it all. Like over there, why are there so many entrances to the city and the train, do you think I can get on it? Oh and up on that stage. Wow you really can see it from far away." His eyes locked on to the giant statue of the Eternal Hero that stood proud halfway up the mountain. He wanted to get closer, to see it all, to experience it but just as his excitement began to peak Valandus pulled off the main road and away from the City entrances. "Wait where are we going?"
The Captain answered, "If we try go in like everyone else it'll take us more than an hour to even past the checkpoint. We're going through the back."
Valandus steered the truck along a side road leading around to the opposite end of the city where the Midnight Forest lied. With casual ease he took a series of turns and headed into the forest. Soon the tall trees blanketed the sky and the already fading light was gone. The further they travelled the thicker the flora became to the point it became obvious why they called it the Midnight Forest. Still, aside from Kyle who continued to fidget and gaze about, no one reacted. Finally after what could be considered a maze of manoeuvres the truck began to make the climb up the mountain not stopping till near the top where the ground suddenly evened. A rocky outcrop stood in their way but after a flash from the truck's headlights, the stone itself began to shift revealing a hidden entrance.
"Cool isn't it?" Valandus smirked. "The Hero's Guard needs a quick way in and out of the city in emergencies. Plus it saves us a lot of time in general."
"I feel like I'm in way over my head," Kyle mumbled his eyes wide. They entered the tunnel and after a short drive reached a large garage of sorts, one that was lined with things he felt like he shouldn't be seeing. A full military operation. Weaponry being sorted into differing vehicles, personnel in full uniform going about their duties, crates of supplies being shifted from here to there and all the while with strict supervision. He gulped. Was this the life he was heading towards?
"Calm yourself Kyle," the Captain placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We'll ease you in slowly. Your job will most likely involve something else entirely."
"I feel like I should have closed my eyes before."
"Probably." Valandus laughed evilly, "There's a few projects going on here that even the Council don't know about. Now you've seen our secrets you'll be stuck here forever."
Although Kyle could tell he was joking there was a disturbing realism to his words that clung tight. Even with his limited knowledge of machinery he could tell that the vehicles inside the garage weren't ordinary at all, some he didn't even know how they'd move.
The truck pulled into an enclosed private bay and at the Captains insistence they began to exit the vehicle. Away from the garage the space around them began to feel more pleasant as the cold metallic workshop was replaced by a calmer environment. The walls were sparsely decorated aside from the occasional weapon or suit of armour and overall it was actually somewhat of a mess with open boxes lying half sorted. With no one else inside the room, it felt incredibly quiet compared to what they had passed through before. Strangely enough however the space felt lived in.
"Welcome to our unit of the Hero's Guard," Bethial walked him and Lillia away from the truck as the other two began to unpack. "On paper we're the advanced scouting party. In truth, well you know what we are."
A door leading out and elsewhere opened. Several uniformed men and a woman came to greet them. The foremost, a lady with black hair standing straight, spoke, "Captain Bethial congratulations on another successful mission."
"Not as successful as we would have liked," the large man frowned meaningfully. Seeing his expression Kyle felt his heart weigh heavier and beside him Lillia was the same.
The secretary like women simply nodded, "Yes I heard and it would also seem you have bought an unwanted guest. We'll bring him in for testing and wipe his memory before returning him as usual." Kyle felt his body freeze and he unconsciously looked at the Captain betrayed. This wasn't what he said.
"No!" it was Lillia who stepped forward. "As current Hero I won't allow that. I believe Kyle would make a fine addition to the Hero's Guard."
A ghost of a frown crossed the lady's face, "With all due respect, we haven't even done a background check on him. Proper procedure dictates that-."
"Leave it Anna," the Captain cut her off. "We've already given up a lot these past few days. I'll vouch for the young man myself."
"As you wish," she replied unevenly. "In that case I leave his duty and care to you. Now Hero-," she checked her chart, "-Lillia, please follow me. We need to complete your medical procedures before you can return to the Garden."
Lillia hesitated shifting her eyes towards Kyle. The Captain gave her an understanding nod before she accepted and followed the lady out of the room. Several seconds passed before Kyle could feel himself breathe again.
"Am I okay?" he asked tentatively.
"You're okay." The Captain sighed, "Sorry for giving you a scare. Honestly it as she said, as a civilian we are to wipe your mind and return you, however," he patted his shoulder again, "neither you nor Lillia wanted that."
"Umm thank you?"
"Don't thank me. If I was truly compassionate I'd follow procedure." He turned around and called back, "Reina, Valandus, I'll leave things here to you. I'll be taking Kyle for inspection."
"Yes Captain" Reina nodded her head dutifully.
Valandus smirked and waved casually, "Have fun. Oh and Kyle I'm not sure where you'll be stationed but if we see each other let's get lunch sometime. I know quite a few good places in the city."
"I'd like that," Kyle smiled and waved his own goodbye. At least whatever happened he wasn't entirely alone.