7th of Light, 1849

Valg was buried in the camps, the first Enforcer to lose their life in the Laveska conquest. The wind blew over the hillside, the Enforcers standing by the grave, silent for a fallen warrior. Slowly, one by one they left, the sun fading before the clouds.

Kant turned to Kjallo and Astrid, the three the only ones left. “Let’s go to my house. I want to talk.” His Enforcer uniform was tied only at the top, blowing as he turned around back down the hill, Kjallo and Astrid following.

⇓⇓⇓

Kant’s office was large, a bed on the right, bookshelves on the left, a desk in the back and a table in the middle surrounded by chairs.

“Take a seat,” he told the two, sitting down and resting his arms on his knees.

Kjallo and Astrid sat on the two other chairs.

The commander sat back and took a deep breath. “Nine years ago, when I was eighteen, I became an Enforcer,” he said. “I was studying the human body when the government took interest. A high ranking official came to me one day, interested in my work. He told me my research could be used for the military. Tath intruiged me, so I accepted. I drank from the Fountain of Tathos, and became an Enforcer. After that, Valdora gave me an objective, they wanted me to make artificial soldiers, incarnations of Tath.”

Kjallo leaned forward. “Tath soldiers?”

“Yes,” Kant said, a glimmer of passion in his eyes. “But, unfortunately, the Fountain of Tathos made me a Berserker, so the country gave me Valg, an Alterer. Valg would be my means to achieve my work, while I would be the brains. He was set on helping me achieve my—no… Valdora’s vision." Kjallo's eyebrow twitched. “Then I was given the perfect opportunity to take my research from ideas to reality: Laveska.”

“How could Laveska help you?” Kjallo asked.

“You see, I’m still in the early stages of perfecting what I’m doing, I need a pre-established base to work on, like a human. They'll be the first phase, half human, half tath. Then, once I'm ready to start the final phase, I'll need a conjurer for a complete Tath incarnation. That's when you, Kjallo come in. And as for my lost Alterer, I have you, Astrid, to help meet with.”

Kjallo’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Who exactly are you experimenting on?”

Kant looked at Kjallo’s expression, and blinked twice. “Never mind, that’s not important. Astrid,” he said, turning to her. “You’ll help me right now. Valg was my perfect tool, and now he’s gone. I hope you can fill his shoes.”

“A tool?” Kjallo stood up, seeing the commander in a new light.

Astrid shot him a look. “Kjallo.” He looked at her, she had his same expression, shock and confusion.

Kant looked out the window, the sound of the rain crashing on the roof sounding through. “Maybe I'll just have to show you two. Come with me,” he said, walking out the room.

Kjallo and Astrid shared a look, before following after the commander. Kant headed down the stairs, turning left onto the main hall. They walked to the end, facing a locked door. Kjallo had seen it before, but had never questioned it, nor did anyone else. The commander walked forward and reached into his suit. He pulled out a key and opened the door. Inside was a path leading to stairs going downward.

“Through here.” He moved down the stairs, Kjallo and Astrid hesitantly following. The stairs led into a vast chamber, dimly lit by lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Kjallo’s eyes widened at the sight in front of him. Bodies scattered about, deformed and bloodied. Cages holding men, women, and children huddled together.

“If you’ll excuse the mess,” Kant said, walking to the middle of the chamber where a table stood. He untied the straps and pushed off the body on top. Kant turned to Kjallo and Astrid and put his hands out to his sides. “This is the Laveska operation.”