Chapter 17 - Savage (2/2)
”My name is…” Lydis wasn't sure whether to use her real name or make one up. What if they find out something about her that causes them to aim to kill her? Or worse, they're searching for someone by the name Lydis? She decided to use a fake one. ”…Krim.”
”Did your parent's name you after your hair color?” At the mention of the word parents Lydis couldn't help but flinch a little. She was sure that the soft voice in the darkness had been her mother but in the small fragments she managed to assemble in her mind so far it seemed like she was dead. Seeing this Valeri internally cursed herself. Amongst all this carnage a lone child is found. Who wouldn't associate it with the fact that their parents were among the dead?
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything bad by it. I-” Valeri felt that she was just digging her hole deeper and deeper.
”It's fine ma'am. I'm just… tired.” Lydis really did feel tired. Her small unused body had walked through dense forests for hours and she had fought the pack leader of the blood wolves.
”It's ok. Rest now Krim, you're safe.” Valeri picked up Lydis in a princess carry and hushed her silently as Valeri joined her squad members. As if cradling a baby Valeri was very gentle with Lydis. Soon Lydis found herself falling asleep, unable to keep her heavy eyelids open. Seeing as Krim was struggling to stay awake but losing, Valeri chuckled to herself.
”Who's the kid boss?” The private from earlier was walking around Valeri trying to look at Lydis in her arms.
”A child I found over there. Now, what are the results of the area sweep?”
”There are multiple body burning piles, a broken weapons pile, the cargo cars are all empty, the train fuel, oddly enough, is untouched. The train's metal and gears are all here, nothing's been scavenged or taken besides the cargo. What was in the cargo?” The private stood in front of Valeri making her stop. ”I mean, it has to be something so important that they would only take it and nothing else besides it. My bigger question though, is who did it? Why? Where did they all go? How many was there, and what did they use to stop the train? Were they already on the train?” His questions were shooting out left and right, his curiosity showing on his face as he tried theorizing on how and who did it.
”Jones, I don't want you to get into trouble so I'll only say this.” Jones looked at her patiently, keeping his excitement in check. ”I…” He nodded. ”Do…” He urged her to keep talking with his hands. ”…Not know. I don't have that kind of authority. I'm just a scouting squad leader.” Valeri chuckled to herself again. Jones had his hopes up. He had forgotten how his squad leader was and how she loved to tease all of them.
”Yes ma'am.” He saluted solemnly. ”But, who's the kid?”
”Ah ha. This one's name is Krim. She looks like she's been through a lot but what's more interesting is her arsenal.”
”Huh?” Jones was very confused.
”Look.” Valeri slipped the dagger from Lydis's grip and held it out towards Jones. ”The blade looks older than me and yet it's still very sharp. Go, try cutting that part of the train but don't reinforce it.” Jones gave Valeri a suspicious look. He wasn't sure f she was messing with him again or if she was being serious. Sighing he decided to try it out.
”Oh well, when she wakes up and sees her broken blade, I hope it's not something important to her.” Jones turned around and swung the blade against the train without reinforcing it with slyphir. Like soft butter the blade cut through the train like nothing. ”Holy ****! How?!” Jones was excited. His squad leader hadn't been kidding this time. The train had slyphir embedded into it automatically so a normal unreinforced blade shouldn't have been able to cut through it but the jagged blade had.
”I'm not sure how this little child managed to get this weapon but that's not all. Look at this.” Valeri held out Lydis's C-47 pistol.
”I-is that what I think it is? AAhhhh! A C-47 pistol!” By this time the other squad members had already seen or heard the commotion and were looking at Jones and Valeri. ”I can't believe such a treasure is still working. How? May I?” Jones held out his hands for the gun, his giddiness causing his arms to tremble slightly.
”Hahaha! Aren't you acting like a child yourself? Sure you can.” She tossed the pistol at him and he caught it carefully, like it could shatter at any second.
”I can die happy now.” He was literally crying as he held the pistol in his hands. Jones being a gun and mechanic maniac seeing a C-47 pistol was the same as having all the riches in the world. C-47 pistols were the harbingers of death in the last Great War. Their power combined with their small size and automatic slyphir collection function made them very versatile for all fighters. Even more so was that they couldn't run out of ammo as it's slyphir collection function took in slyphir from the surroundings to use as ammo. As soon as they were introduced into battle the tides would change drastically. But, soon the production and introduction of C-47 pistols stopped. No one knew where they came from or how they were made. If one tried to take it apart it would self-destruct on its own.
Jones was caressing and stroking the pistol gently and softly cooing at it. Suddenly turning serious Jones turned and aimed it at a tree. He pulled the trigger and when it didn't fire he became a bit flustered but he regained his composure. Once again, he pulled the trigger and it fired a strong bullet beam that pierced through the trees like they weren't there. Jones couldn't tell where the bullet beam ended since the bullet's of a C-47 pistol varied on the surrounding slyphir. Though the only thought that stayed with Jones was that the power of a C-47 pistol was incredible.