Kevin has dark blue eyes with a root-shaped scar under his left eye that I initially thought was a tattoo. His gaze is sharp, constantly watching me like a shopkeeper eyeing a thief. He's also wearing the same clothes as us. In his hand, he holds an iron rod that he now uses to support his exhausted body.
"You didn’t burn our lunch, did you?" Layla shouted as she walked in.
Kevin furrowed his brows, looking uncomfortable with Layla's question. "Don’t compare me to the Fire Weaver. Those people are idiots."
Layla didn't walk towards Kevin. She pulled me to one corner of the bunker. A small square piece of brown cloth was spread out there. On it, there were three pieces of wheat bread the size of a fist. Layla immediately sat down without hesitation. She took and devoured the bread hungrily. I sat next to Layla a moment later, followed by Kevin. There was no conversation at that moment. Just the bland taste of the bread with its rough texture in our mouths. Kevin occasionally glanced at me.
After a few moments of silence, Kevin finally started a conversation. "Is he really the person you were looking for?" he asked Layla.
"What do you think I brought him here for?"
Kevin was still staring at me. His face seemed to say that my appearance wasn't what he imagined from Layla's description six years ago. "Tell me, how do you feel after meeting her?"
I frowned. The question was directed at me. What should I say? Layla clearly hadn't told him that I didn't know her at all. But if I said it like that, I worried Kevin would keep an eye on me. He might also think about striking me with his lightning.
I swallowed the lump of bread in my mouth. "Not much has changed."
Kevin's eyes widened. "Really? You mean her attitude has been bad since back then?"
"Excuse me?" protested Layla. "If the comparison is in the past, you're much worse, Kevin!"
"Maybe!" countered Kevin. "But who’s the idiot who dares to go to the human world without bringing a weapon?"
"For your information, every human travels around without carrying weapons."
Kevin's face looked sour. He turned away and bit into his bread harshly. "Forget it, take me next time if you want to go."
Layla smiled mischievously. "I'll note that down, prince. Why didn't you say so from the start if that was the issue."
The conversation continued with Kevin, who has been curious about what we had been through in the human world. Layla explained it in detail. How we ended up in the research facility, the tests we went through as test subjects, and the intervention of the Republic Council that turned out to control the facility. Layla hid the part about our meeting, pretending as if I still knew her at that time. She also didn't mention Orion's arrival, turning it into an epic escape plan assisted by Seon. Kevin occasionally looked at me for validation of Layla's story. I just nodded, affirming all of it.
For whatever reason, maybe the painful parts are better left hidden.
It felt strange. This underground bunker should be quite spacious. With metal plates lining each side, the temperature also felt cold. But somehow, sitting in a small circle in one corner of this room felt so warm. Kevin and Layla didn't treat me like an outsider. They included me in the conversation and joked with me as if we had known each other for a long time.
I had always felt worried. I always had one person close enough to me in every place I lived. But it always ended very badly. Maybe, as Layla said, if Calmora is a place for those who have lost their homes, this should be something I needed all along.
This time, I'm sure it shouldn't end like before.
Half an hour later, Kevin got up hastily, saying he had to go somewhere. He left me with Layla, who also got up to leave.
"His stomach must be hurting," Layla whispered as she folded the cloth.
I looked towards the door that Kevin had left open. He ran as fast as the lightning he might be able to throw. "Is he really a prince?"
Over the past half hour, Layla kept calling Kevin "prince," although with a mocking tone that made Kevin constantly scowl.
"Not anymore," Layla replied, walking towards the door. "He was supposed to be the crown prince in the Kingdom of Thunder. But three years ago, he led a coup to overthrow his father, King Zois."
"Why did he do that?"
"I don't know. But the coup was impossible from the start. No one can kill Zois at this time. Kevin fled from there and ended up in Calmora."
Sunlight touched my skin again. The clouds had filled the sky.
Layla looked at me, "No one knows about Kevin here, so—"
"I understand," I cut her off.
The first raindrops began to fall, wetting the grass and our heads. Layla immediately grabbed my hand and ran towards the camp area. From the field, other Weavers were also running towards the tents. All activities immediately stopped as the rain began to fall. Layla led me past rows of tents. Passing by some Weavers who were already soaked with sweat and rainwater. Layla stopped at a closed tent. She opened it and pulled me inside.
The rainwater did not penetrate the white tent fabric. The temperature inside also felt warm. It was small and rectangular. Like the tent I woke up in, the floor was covered with coarse-textured black fabric. The tent was filled with a bed covered with white sheets, one pillow, a neatly folded gray blanket, a wooden table and chair beside the bed, and a wooden shelf containing some folded dark green clothes.
"This is your tent now," Layla said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "My tent is also nearby. Maybe just five tents from here. Kevin’s tent is at the north end."
I stood ahead of the clothes rack, examining its contents in more detail. Several sets of dark green shirts on the top. Pants below them. And black boots at the very bottom. "Are these from the Republic too?"
"No. We only get food and weapons from the Republic. And those through hidden channels. Every month, we send a team to go out. They collect whatever can be taken from villages destroyed by Nien attacks. All these items are then recycled into clothing or other things."
My gaze was still fixed on the clothes rack, but my mind was still spinning, bringing up some painful memories.
"It’s not as comfortable as the facility. But you don’t have to undergo any tests here."
I looked at her, "I think this place is much better."
We didn't say anything for a few seconds. Trapped in our thoughts that were hard to explain. Until Layla spoke again, "Maybe I’ll rest in my tent too. I’ll come back tonight. There will be a war simulation games."
"Sure, thank you, Layla."
The girl began to step back, giving a final smile before turning and walking out into the rain. I still can't understand what Layla was thinking from her last expression. She might have been smiling. But somehow... I felt like she was worried about something.[]
Thank you for reading this chapter! Actually, this is my first time writing in the English language. Apologies if there are any grammatical mistakes.
If you like this story, don't forget to vote and subscribe for the following chapter!!
When the vision appeared, a prophet knew there was nothing more to be done.
When the truth was revealed, the banished prince knew the fate of all Solaris would change.
When everything connected, they would come looking for him, someone with the power to change destiny.
So, when the symbol of peace was about to be destroyed, what would they do to prevent it? After everything that happened, did he care enough to change the fate of certain destruction?
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