Chapter 4

The 3rdBatch were celebrating their graduation. They were laughing. Their first mission was fast approaching and they were very excited. 

"Deal."

Dealla turned to look at the guy who called her 'Deal'. He's the only one who called her in that way. The rest of the 3rdBatch called her Ella.

"Peter." the guy smiled when she mentioned his name.

Peter was approaching her with his gigantic steps. He's kind and friendly but his actions towards Dealla were different. He wanted something from her, something beyond their friendship.

Peter arrived in front of Della with a wide smile. His cheeks were a bit red.

"What is it?" Dealla asked, pretending to be interested.

Peter thought that Dealla was really like that, with a stoic expression and monotone voice but she's not. She's cheerful with someone else.

"Is it fine with you if we visit The Garden together?"

Dealla remained silent.

"You know, after our first mission," Peter added.

Again, she didn't answer right away. She looked at him with mixed emotions. She respected him as a commander of 3rdBatch and she loved him as a friend.

"I would love to take a rest after our mission. Spending time with you in The Garden is not a bad idea." and she did it again. She kept on giving him a false hope that they'll become more than friends.

Peter jumped with delight. He hugged her for a few seconds.

"Thank you, Deal," he said, smiling.

A lot of NPUs praised the 3rdBatch because they have varieties of flairs. They were very confident that they will succeed, but then, they failed.

Dealla and Peter weren't able to visit The Garden. The 3rdBatch wasn't able to come back in Seacrest. Maybe they were, but without a pulse or with shattered bodies. 

"I was the only one who survived. No, I killed them. I killed them all."

The daggers fell to the floor. Amnisty and the others were catching their breaths while Peony was crying.

"I thought you just wanted to talk, Amnisty." a man standing in the doorway spoke, it was Mauvais.

Mauvais scanned the ClandesTeam unit, his unit. Everything was messed. Their plates and other utensils were broken. His members were injured. 

Mauvais gaze stopped in Peony's direction. He made his way towards her. He held her arms tightly.

He frowned when he saw the wet eyes of Peony. It made him more pissed.

"You're playing the victim now," he said but Peony didn't make any response, even a blink.

Mauvais released Peony, causing her to stumble. Amnisty came close to Peony. She held her gently.

Mauvais sat on the chair while observing Amnisty. The rest of the ClandesTeam treated their wounds. 

"You and the queen were blinded with that girl," Mauvais spoke, about Amnisty.

Amnisty ignored him. She continued guiding Peony who was struggling to sit. 

"The queen is already dumb. I wasn't surprised that she declared this girl as an official Bulwarkian." Mauvais said, pointing Peony with his sword.

He lowered his sword and his expression became more serious and dark.

"Amnisty." he lowered his gaze, avoiding Amnisty's eyes.

"Clandes is no longer in human form. She's protecting us. She's The Shield." 

"Are those words for me or it was for yourself?" Amnisty responded while fixing the hair of Peony.

The room went silent. 

They became alarmed again when all the things in the room floated.

"I can't!" Peony screamed. Her body was trembling.

Tears fell from Peony's eyes. Her eyes were wide shut and her fists were clenching. She was restraining her emotions.

"We need to get out from here," Mauvais said. He grabbed Amnisty but she insisted to stay.

"You will get hurt."

Amnisty didn't respond. Mauvais cursed and stayed by Amnisty and Peony's side. The others went out, they followed the order of Mauvais.

"I don't want to." Peony cried again.

"Samantha, I can't! I don't want to!" Peony's voice became more desperate.

Peony let out a loud cry before she opened her eyes. She was breathing deeply and fast. She looked around and she was surprised to see Mauvais and Amnisty. She was expecting different faces.

"What happened?"

"We should be the ones asking you that?" Mauvais replied to Peony.

Peony shook her head. She was looking at the ground, trying to analyze if those were her memories or not.

"My head hurts," she said in a hoarse voice.

Peony had no plans on telling anyone about her memories, even with Amnisty. It would be better if she kept it to herself.

"We'll go home, then," Amnisty said softly.

"You'll go home. Peony is staying." Mauvais corrected her.

Amnisty was frowning when she turned to Mauvais but the man just raised an eyebrow at her with a smirk on his face.

"She's my member and I'm his master. I'm officially declaring it today, I, Mauvais Monde, the leader and the one and only master of ClandesTeam, has five members." he turned to Peony with a mocking smile.

"Peony Soledad, I welcome you as my member. It's my pleasure if you'll call me master, Master Mauvais."

Peony became an official ClandesTeam member. It helped her to gain Bulwarkian’s trust. She helped the team in eliminating monsters or any dangerous creatures straying near The Shield.

She adapted the ClandesTeam routine. She was assigned in preparing the meals of Mauvais. Carol and Gavin were assigned to cooking while the twins were assigned to cleaning.

“It’s our rest day,” Mauvais announced.

“Let’s go to the sea and catch some fish, master,” Carol suggested cheerfully. Her hands were clasped together while waiting for the response of Mauvais.

“Nah, Carol. You’re making your skin darker.” Gavin commented.

“You’re just insecure. How about I’ll teach you how to swim?” it wasn’t a suggestion, it was a tease.

Gavin rolled his eyes that made Carol chuckled. Gavin is shorter than Carol. His dark brown hair has curly tips and his face has freckles. He’s playful with everyone but most of the time, he teases Carol. He was from Fermaclan, a place of farmers.

Carol’s height is the same as Peony but she’s a year younger than her. Her face shape is square and she has light-skin. Her hair became frizzy because she was from Mareclan. Mareclan is a place near the sea.

Audenzia and Audenzio are the twin siblings of Queen Sheele. Since they were young, Audenzia wanted to become a warrior. Her twin just came along with her, especially that they don’t have parents anymore and their elder sister has a big responsibility. Both of them have green eyes but Audenzia’s eyes were way more round and bigger.

Mauvais was from Padureclan, a place for hunters. His father was the leader of the Padureclan. They were the ones who supplied meat to the palace. His mother was the chief of the palace. She died together with the former king and queen. Mauvais looked grumpy. His eyebrows position is close with his eyes, the gap between his eyebrows and eyes is narrower than most of us. He has long legs, broad shoulders, and a slender body.

“Let’s Peony decide, master,” Audenzio said.

Peony raised her eyebrows when all their gazes turned to her. She gulped.

“Ahm, how about we’ll visit every clan,” she said hesitantly.

“You haven’t visited the whole Bulwark yet?” Gavin asked as if what he found out was surprising. He gasped when Peony shook her head.

“That’s sad.”

“Okay, then.” Mauvais agreed with Peony.

**

The ClandesTeam unit was located in between the Mareclan and Padureclan. The first place they went through was Padureclan. The people of Padureclan are called Vanator. Mauvais’s uncle is the current leader of the Vanator. They all bowed when the ClandesTeam passed.

“Master, can’t you smell it?” Gavin asked jokingly.

The Vanator's were having a feast and they invited the ClandesTeam but Mauvais refused.

Carol quickened her horse’s pace to keep up with Gavin. She pulled him and whispered.

“Don’t be stupid. Don’t you remember? Master don’t eat meat.”

Gavin stiffened when he turned to Carol but she just smiled teasingly. He rolled his eyes at her.

The next place they went through was Piata. Piata is the main market of the Bulwark. The ClandesTeam didn’t bother to but anything.

They immediately arrived in the Regal, the place where the palace is located. Most of the authorities were living in the Regal. It is the mini-city of Bulwark.

“We’re almost in the Fermaclan. Gavin, buy vegetables and fruits.” Mauvais commanded.

“Master, how about we’ll visit my family.”

The whole ClandesTeam went silent. Carol swallowed hard while grasping the handle of her sword.

“We already passed by the cemetery, Gavin,” Audenzio said weakly.

Their chest tightened when Gavin forced a laugh.

“Right, I forgot,” he said with a falsified laugh.

The last place was Mareclan. Carol, Peony, and Audenzio bathed while the others were watching them.

“You’re a good swimmer, Peony.”

“Thanks.” Peony answered sparingly.

“Let’s go back to the unit.”

**

Three Vanators were waiting in the ClandesTeam unit. All of them were anticipating seeing the ClandesTeam.

“Mauvais, an intruder was spotted in the Padureclan. She defeated Amnisty and the Padureclan’s warriors.” the man said while catching his breath.

“Intruder? That’s impossible-” Mauvais didn’t finished his sentence when he saw Peony.

They immediately went to the Padureclan. They were in the middle of the forest when they stopped. All of their weapons floated, and it turned to ashes.

“Seacrestian,” Peony whispered.

The ClandesTeam looked at Peony. Peony was kind of nervous and excited. She has not fought someone with a flair for a long time.

“I’ll take care of this,” she said but Mauvais just stared at her.

She gave him and the rest of ClandesTeam a reassuring look.

“I got this. Just rescue Amnisty and our fellow Bulwarkians,” she emphasized the last word.

The ClandesTeam nodded.

“We’ll wait, Peony. Bring that intruder.” Mauvais said before leaving.

Peony heightened her senses. She felt an unfamiliar presence. She smelled a feminine scent with a small mixture of manly scent.

“That’s familiar,” she whispered, about the manly scent.

“The intruder is a girl and maybe she’s with someone. She’s with a man.”

Strong pressure was coming in Peony’s direction. She found the source of the pressure before it reached her. A girl, younger than her, was standing not far from her.

Peony protected herself using her smoke. She was not hurt by the pressure.

Only the metals floated. She can only manipulate the metals. Peony thought.

“Come out. I’m not going to hurt you.” Peony shouted.

Something moved in the bushes, it was the girl.

Recognition appeared in her eyes a while ago. She knows who I am.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to come near. Just answer my questions.”

The girl made a small movement. She was hesitating.

“How did you managed to enter here?”

There was no response.

“What do you need from here? Bulwark is just nothing compared to Sea-”

“I was finding someone. You particularly, Dealla.”

Peony stiffened. Memories played in her head. She didn’t saw the girl’s face before.

“Who sent you?”

A long silent moment passed before the girl answered.

“No one sent me. I just came along with him.”

Him?

“I am with someone. Someone special for you, NPU Dealla.”

A strange feeling flowed through Peony’s veins. She felt her body slightly trembled. NPU Dealla was like an odd name for her.

“We were separated when the Bulwarkians attacked us. Believe me, NPU Dealla, Bulwarkians were the ones who attacked first.”

“I know. No one will show hospitality towards intruders.”

The girl did not speak again.

“I’m sorry, eliminating foreign species is my job. I have to do it, even right now.”

Peony released a huge amount of smoke. It attacked the intruder. It was choking the girl. She was about to do her final blow when she sensed someone’s presence, a more powerful presence than the girl.

“The scent was from him.”

Peony’s system was filled with a nostalgic feeling. Her smoke that attacked the girl intruder weakened.

“Zachary.” she blurted out of nowhere.

🌸

Note:

The adjectives I used during describing the appearances of the characters were not meant for any kind of criticism. I appreciate our diversity.