Heart of a Monster

“Yeesh, what took you two so long? You see this line we’re gonna have to wait in now? You can’t blame me for not being able to save you your muffin this time, Rana,” Vidor complained as Rana and Aridean finally caught up to him. Like every other structure in this underground city, the mess hall was a building made entirely of smooth stone with the engraving “Mess Hall” carved above the doorway. A short line leading into the building was forming by the front door. Aridean took a mental note that the line was filled by mostly minotaurs, but there were dwarves and humans scattered throughout.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, but we were stopped by some kids. Hamuln mentioned something about you teaching him how to shoot a crossbow,” Rana said, slowly crossing her arms over her chest. She also gave Vidor a rather menacing look which seemed to have him a bit worried. Aridean knew she was glad that she was not the one on the receiving end of Rana’s terrifying gaze.

“Oh… uh… well, what’s the big deal? He wants to learn how to shoot and I offered to teach him,” Vidor responded, sounding a bit unsure of himself.

“Vidor, he’s six. He doesn’t need to be running around with anything dangerous. Keeping him and the other kids away from weapons is part of why we joined up, remember? We want to help them and giving them as normal a life as possible is the best we can manage right now. You agreed to that, or have you changed your mind? Maybe you think we can’t handle things anymore? Do you want to see children fighting battles now? You absolutely will not be teaching anyone how to shoot a crossbow, are we clear?” Rana scolded with authority in her voice. Aridean noticed that Rana’s voice carried the same scary tone it had when she confronted her about having run away from home. It seemed that the effect on Vidor was similar to what Aridean experienced. Actually, even though the scolding was not directed toward her, Aridean too felt guilty and a bit scared of Rana as she continued disciplining her brother.

“I-I’m sorry. I won’t teach them how to shoot,” Vidor said, avoiding eye contact with his sister. His ears had fallen flat against his head in submission. Rana maintained her stern look on Vidor for just another moment before heaving a sigh. Vidor was visibly relieved hearing Rana sigh, it seemed to mark the end of her lecturing.

“I’m sorry too; perhaps that was a bit much. Let’s just drop this for now and go eat. Aridean, what were you thinking about having? Vidor always gets a sausage-stuffed omelet and I usually settle on scrambled eggs and a muffin,” Rana said, going back to her sweet tone again. Aridean could not help but notice how it was like a light switch how quickly Rana could switch between scary and kind. As Rana was speaking, she led both Vidor and Aridean to the back of the line leading to the mess hall.

“They don’t usually have much apart from eggs and sausage, but they do know how to make them taste real good,” Vidor chimed in with childish enthusiasm.

“I’ll… just decide on what to have once we’re inside,” Aridean replied. Truth be told, eating a nice breakfast was the last thing on Aridean’s mind. Although it was readily apparent she was not in any immediate danger, she did not feel comfortable in the least bit knowing that she was brought to the rebellion’s underground headquarters. If anything, she could not decide on whether she was in more danger now than she was running from wolves in the forest.

The trio of minotaurs stood at the back of the line leading into the mess hall. There were at least twelve patrons between them and the front door. Soon enough, people were lining up behind the group. Aridean’s eyes darted around nervously, from her front to her back. Everyone around her were strangers, rebels, and of various races. The line slowly moved forward and Aridean followed Vidor and Rana closely as they inched closer to the door of the mess hall. She could feel the hair on her tail standing on end and she was focusing all of her willpower into keeping her body from shaking with anxiety. But she almost immediately crumbled under stress when she heard someone behind her begin to speak.

“Hey, I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new here?” Spoke the voice. Aridean’s body trembled and she feared she may fall over. Slowly, she turned to see a human woman. The woman wore a simple white dress and had short, blonde hair. Upon registering the visible distress in Aridean’s eyes, the woman added, “Oh, are you alright? You look a bit on edge.”

“Morning Jess. Yeah, she’s new. Found her out in the Konarch Forest running from wolves. She’s not exactly talkative, I’m guessing she’s not good with new faces,” Vidor said, stepping in for Aridean who could not find it in herself to speak.

“Oh dear, is that where that lump on your head came from? Well, I see that you’re with the Stonehooves so I can assure you that you’re in good hands,” the woman named Jess responded. “My name is Jessabelle Smithson, but everyone just calls me Jess. If you’re with Vidor and Rana, then I guess you’ve met my husband, Bryn. Let me know if you need anything and I’ll do my best to help get you settled in.”

“Th-thank you,” Aridean replied nervously. Jessabelle slowly raised a hand for a handshake but was surprised to see Aridean flinch as her hand came up. Aridean, after collecting herself, looked back at the woman with apprehension and embarrassment. Both Rana and Vidor had noticed Aridean’s reaction and looked to one another with a bit of confusion over what they had witnessed.

“I-I’m sorry,” Aridean said as Jessabelle lowered her hand back to her side.

“Oh, no need to be sorry dear. But like I said, if you need anything then don’t hesitate to ask,” Jessabelle repeated with a kind smile. Unfortunately, Aridean did not notice Jessabelle’s smile as she was trying to actively avoid eye contact and had unconsciously chosen to simply look down at her hooves.

“Come on you two, we’re next to get inside,” Rana said, ushering both Vidor and Aridean into the mess hall. Aridean felt a wave of relief wash over her as she left Jessabelle outside. However, the relief only lasted for a few seconds.

“Oh, before you go, do you mind if I get your name, dear?” Jessabelle asked as Aridean stood in the doorway to the mess hall. Her body had visibly tensed up again and all she could wonder was why on earth this complete stranger would want to know her name.

“My name… is…” Aridean stuttered as she tried to speak. She looked to Rana and Vidor. Rana looked back to her with a smile on her face as though encouraging her to speak up a bit. Vidor, however, took note of Aridean’s hesitation.

“Her name’s Aridean Gray,” Vidor finally spoke in place of Aridean herself. Aridean’s hung her head low upon hearing Vidor speak. Why was it so difficult for her to just tell someone as friendly as this Jessabelle her name?

“Gray? That’s an interesting name for a minotaur. Strangely familiar, too,” Jessabelle said with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“Captain said the same thing,” Vidor told Jessabelle with a laugh. Seemingly satisfied now, Jessabelle waved the group goodbye as the three minotaurs finally entered the mess hall.

Within the stone building, Aridean found herself in a large dining room densely populated with citizens of the underground city. Laughter and idle chatter could be heard throughout the room from the patrons. A short line was formed by the right wall where people were being served their meals from the kitchen staff. The door to the kitchen itself was located near the back of the room; off to the side were the bathrooms. The dining room itself was furnished with many small wooden tables, surrounded on each side by a few wooden chairs. Some of the chairs had cushions in the seats, but they had obviously seen better days as most of them were torn and the packing was bleeding out of the tears. Walls were painted a light tan color and pictures of people Aridean did not know were hung on these painted walls. Although uncertain, Aridean assumed the people in the pictures were members of the rebellion. What Aridean found most confusing about the scene was the wooden flooring; the building itself was made of stone but used a wooden floor.

Wooden floor, pictures on painted walls, and homely furniture. Is the aesthetic supposed to make everyone feel at home here? I wouldn’t expect an atmosphere like this from a rebel organization. Even so, this place… it actually kind of reminds me of Mutt’s… well, if Mutt’s were cleaner, Aridean thought to herself after finishing her analysis of the mess hall. Vidor ushered her to the line to be served breakfast. Aridean stood behind Rana and Vidor in the line and watched as the people ahead of them made their orders and were almost immediately served. Aridean wondered if the food they were served was prepared in advance or continuously being cooked in the kitchen. She knew that George always preferred serving his customers fresh and hot meals but thought that if he could keep pace like this then Mutt’s would see more business.

“Morning Rana, morning Vidor; you two just want your usuals today?” spoke a member of the serving staff from behind the counter. The staff member was a human man wearing an apron over his normal clothes.

“Good morning, Sven. Yes, the usual for me please,” Rana responded.

“Morning, can I get extra onion in my omelet today? Please?” Vidor asked with enthusiasm and a goofy smile on his face. Sven rolled his eyes with a short chuckle after hearing Vidor’s request.

“Maybe I’ll just wrap a full, un-chopped onion in your omelet,” Sven joked as he turned to grab Rana’s breakfast. When he turned back around, he took notice of Aridean who was standing a full foot behind Vidor’s back and was watching him work. Sven handed Rana a plate with scrambled eggs and a large blueberry muffin before asking in a teasing manner, “Don’t think I’ve ever seen her around before. You finally work up the nerve to talk to a woman that ain’t your sister, V?”

“What? What are you-- oh, you mean Aridean. No, we’re not… well, yes I can… ugh! No fair, Sven! We brought her in after she had a bit of an incident and we’re showing her around after breakfast,” Vidor explained with a bit of annoyance in his voice. Rana could not help but laugh a little as Vidor fumbled over his words. Aridean stood behind Vidor still, a bit confused by the peculiar exchange unfolding before her.

“Ha, ha, cool yourself, V. I’m just pickin’ with you. Bettin’ she could do better anyhow,” Sven continued to joke while calling to another kitchen staff member to get Vidor an extra-onion stuffed omelet.

“Okay, well that one just hurts,” Vidor said, clearly not offended, but still obviously annoyed with Sven’s teasing.

“Alright, well, Aridean, right? What will it be today? You name it, we’ll make it,” Sven said with a cheerful smile on his face. Aridean was a bit confused; she had not even seen a menu. Surely, he was exaggerating when he said they would prepare anything for her, but she had hoped for some options. Aridean turned to look at Rana and Vidor and realized she had available options.

“I-I’ll just have… what Vidor’s having, please,” Aridean answered meekly. Rana looked at Aridean in surprise but shrugged and took her plate to a nearby, empty table. Vidor on the other hand looked to Aridean with the same goofy looking smile he had when he asked Sven for extra onions.

“Huh, guess you’ve got more game than I thought, V,” Sven teased before calling out to someone in the kitchen, “Hey! That extra-onion omelet? I need two of those!”

“Seriously Sven, stop. C’mon, Aridean, they’ll bring us ours when they’re done,” Vidor said while directing Aridean to the table that Rana had claimed for the group. Aridean did as she was told and followed Vidor to their table but rather than sit in one of the chairs, Aridean simply stood by the table.

“Uh… Aridean? You gonna sit down or what? Oh, do you need to use the restroom? They’re over by the back wall there,” Vidor said as he observed Aridean not joining him and Rana at their table.

“N-no, I just, uh…” Aridean replied. She was hurriedly trying to think of an explanation regarding her behavior but failed to think of something. Hesitantly, she reached for her chair that sat her beside Rana and across from Vidor. She slowly pulled it back and began to sit. As she scooted her chair up to the table, she nervously looked around the room and then to the kitchen door.

I haven’t been allowed to eat in a place like this since I was little… Even then, it was just that one time with Simon and all the other customers had avoided any tables near ours. Is it really okay for me to be sitting here? Sir would be upset with me if I were to sit at a table in the dining room of the tavern, Aridean thought to herself about how unusual the treatment was in this mess hall. Years had passed since her first, and only, time eating out with Simon. In truth, while she loved getting to spend time with Simon, the entire experience had made her incredibly uncomfortable.

“Calm down, you’re not a waitress here. Just relax and your breakfast will be out shortly,” Rana told Aridean as she reached into her bag for a book. Rana then proceeded to open said book to a page that had been folded over at the top right corner and began reading. Aridean thought that was odd as Rana had her breakfast already.

“Are you not going to eat?” Aridean asked Rana.

“It’s rude to start eating before everyone is served,” Rana answered, her gaze never having left her book. Aridean thought about insisting that Rana eat her eggs before they grew cold but refrained from doing so thinking that Rana would not change her mind.

“So, Aridean, why don’t you tell us about yourself? Now’s a good a time as any to start learning about each other, right?” Vidor inquired with a smile on his face. Upon hearing the question, Rana’s eyes quickly darted from her book to Vidor before moving to look at Aridean. Despite not having said a word, it seemed that Rana also was interested in hearing Aridean.

“A-about me? Rana already told me just about everything there is to me. She probably did a better job describing me than I could do myself. A-actually, now that I think about it: Rana said you told her about me. How did you find out everything about me?” Aridean asked, looking down to her hands that covered her lap. Vidor let loose a loud sigh and leaned back in his chair.

“So, you mentioned we already know the short version, Rana? Well, the truth is, we didn’t initially know about you. We were just passing by Thellia on the way home. I was walking through the village looking for someplace to get something to eat when some guy came up to me and started asking all about me. Uhm… what was his name again? John? Anyways, he’s the reason I knew so much about you and where to find you that day. Gonna be honest, it felt a bit awkward, but I’m glad that guy got me to speak with you in that restaurant you worked in,” Vidor explained with a wide smile on his face.

“Jean…” Aridean quietly whispered to herself. That made sense, Jean was the only person she could think of that would not only know so much about her off the top of his head but would also be so friendly to a stranger and a minotaur no less. It was only now that Aridean recalled that on the same day of Jean’s incident, he mentioned having met someone interesting.

That’s right! When he found me at the marketplace, he said he had met someone he wanted to introduce me to. He must have been referring to Vidor… I still remember him asking if I felt lonely because I had never met another minotaur before… You’ve always looked out for me… but now I’ve gone and… Aridean contemplated as her throat began to tighten. She could not finish her thought lest it may cause her to burst into tears there in the middle of the mess hall. Instead, Aridean pushed the guilt from her mind and decided to focus on her discussion with Vidor. Perhaps she could get him to talk about a means of leaving the rebel base.

“Perhaps we should tell her a bit more about ourselves seeing as we are still strangers that picked her up in the forest. She doesn’t know much beyond our names, after all,” Rana suggested, having closed her book. Vidor leaned back in his chair as Rana slipped her book back into her pack. It seemed that Vidor was contemplating his next thought carefully.

“I suppose you’re right, but where do we begin? You already figured out that we’re members of the rebellion. Uhm… I guess we’ll tell you a bit about some of the adventures we’ve had. So, we both joined the rebellion about four years ago after some intense training. This last trip out with the captain was our twenty-fourth mission, just some simple reconnaissance in a town further west of your hometown. Things go well on a few more and Rana might just be recommended for a captain position herself,” Vidor began. Aridean remained quiet throughout, but she could not help but think back to the massive weapons stores the group had in their wagon. Aridean was certain that to be that well equipped, the group must have suspected some sort of trouble despite their mission being ‘simple reconnaissance’. Even so, she did not feel comfortable asking anything and feared the sight of how well armed a combat unit for the rebellion must be.

As Vidor finished his explanation, a member of the mess hall’s kitchen staff approached the group with two plates and a single, large glass of milk. Each plate held a fluffy looking omelet, which had Vidor licking his lips as it was placed on the table before him. The kitchen staff placed both Aridean’s meal and the milk before her on the table.

“Uhm… is Vidor not having anything to drink?” Aridean asked.

“Just trust me on this,” the kitchen staff responded with a wink before turning to return to the kitchen. Aridean, a tad bit confused, shrugged as her new companions picked up their forks and began to enjoy breakfast.

“I know there’s a lot you could ask us about, being in the rebellion and all, but I really want to hear about you. What was it like living in a human village all your life and under a human’s roof? I never got the chance, but Rana’s always told me that humans outside our base here can be rude to us minotaurs,” Vidor asked with a smile and a mouth filled with a large piece of his omelet. Aridean could tell that Vidor did not exactly share the same table manners as his sister.

“Well… I guess the best way to describe it was… unpleasant. L-living in a human village, not under one’s roof. Simon is a very generous man and I owe him so much for putting up with me over the years. That’s… part of why I decided to run away from Thellia,” Aridean answered. “The villagers were scary, and I was so afraid of leaving the farm knowing what they were like. There were days where Simon had to walk me to school when I was little because I was so frightened by the other kids.”

“Scary? What made them so scary? Surely not all of them were bad to you though, right?” Vidor further probed, having already finished half of his meal. Rana had finished her eggs and was happily taking the first bite out of her muffin that she had hyped up so much. Aridean could see an uncharacteristically ecstatic smile spread across Rana’s face as she chewed the muffin. She could not help but think maybe she should have asked for one as well.

“Well, there were two humans from the village that I actually liked to see. One was the town watch’s captain, Mr. Watson, who was friends with Simon during their time in the military. The other was Jean, my best friend and classmate, who told you everything about me,” Aridean said as she reflected on the nature of her friendship with Jean. He had always been a wonderful and reliable person in her life, but as to why she just could not fathom. Whenever she thought about why Jean treated her the way he did, she just became further baffled. He had no reason to make friends with the minotaur in a human-dominated village and Aridean knew people had been talking behind his back for it, too. But whenever she asked Jean why he put up with her, his answer served to confuse Aridean even further.

Why were we friends, Jean? ‘Ari, it hurts you’re asking me that! We’re friends because we want to be, isn’t that enough?’ But why did you want to be? You knew people talked badly about us, about you. I can’t thank you enough, but I can’t understand you either. Hopefully, everyone will stop talking about you now that I’m gone. Aridean thought to herself. She really wished he was here with her now; thinking about how she missed Jean filled her with a sense of dread. Although she was trying to hide her discomfort, Rana seemed to notice Aridean tense up. Rana finished the bite of muffin in her mouth before speaking.

“Vidor, let her eat first. Asking about her life can wait until after breakfast,” Rana told Vidor in an effort to get him to ease up on Aridean. Aridean turned to look at Rana, who returned a simple smile as she picked up her nearly finished muffin again.

“Oh, right, sorry. Anyways, I’m sure you’ll love the food here, Aridean. You can get so many different flavors added to these things and they taste so good,” Vidor responded. Aridean slowly grabbed her fork from its place beside her plate and cut off a bite of her omelet. She stabbed into the cut piece and lifted it to her mouth. Only one word came to mind when she finally bit down into the food: incredible. Normally, Aridean preferred just simple scrambled eggs with some bacon, but this meal was something she had never imagined. The crunch of onion, juicy bits of sausage, and fluffy eggs combined into an absolutely incredible breakfast. However, there was another flavor that she could not quite place as she continued to chew.

“It’s pretty good, right? I just love these things,” Vidor commented, finishing his breakfast. Aridean herself had begun to slow down as she began to realize what the last flavor in her omelet was.

“Uh oh,” Aridean spoke, while covering her mouth. Her mouth had grown incredibly warm and she had a sneaking suspicion as to what the unmentioned flavor may have been. Not only had her mouth and throat grown increasingly warm, but she could also feel warmth enveloping her entire face. With one hand, Aridean began fanning her face and grabbed the glass of milk she had been served with the other. Ice cold and refreshing milk slid down her throat to relieve her of the spicy surprise. The display elicited laughter from Rana while Vidor looked on with astonishment.

“Oh… I guess you don’t really like spicy food,” Vidor remarked. “Uh… did I forget to mention I get lots of freshly diced peppers in my food? Sorry about that, Aridean.”

“Ahahahaha, oh, I’m sorry, too. When you asked for Vidor’s meal, I assumed he had told you what that would come with and I thought you could take the heat,” Rana joined in as her laughter was beginning to die down. Aridean finished her glass and set it down on the table while trying to catch her breath. She never could take spicy food and this omelet before her was probably the most intense experience she had ever had.

“Uhm… maybe I’ll just go get you something else. Let me go see if I can get you one of Rana’s muffins,” Vidor said, getting up from his chair and walking back toward the kitchen counter line. The burning sensation in Aridean’s mouth and throat had subsided, but she needed a napkin to wipe her nose after her ordeal. Despite the consequence, Aridean did in fact really enjoy the omelet she was served but would make certain to not have any peppers added if she were to have it again. Rana had finally ceased chuckling and finished her muffin before retrieving her book from her bag. Aridean had no idea what Rana was reading as the cover was blank. She did not seem to be studying any magic spell tome as there were no glyphs on the spine. Although making conversation was not her strength, Aridean thought that if she were going to be with them for much longer, she may as well try and play nice with Rana and Vidor.

“W-what are you reading?” Aridean asked nervously.

“This? It’s just some silly romance story about a dwarven couple whose separate peoples are at war over territory in the mountains. This one isn’t an especially interesting read, but I like to finish what I start. If you like, we can stop by the library and pick you up a book later,” Rana replied, her eyes never having left the page she was reading. Aridean could not help but admire the focus Rana exhibited as she continued through her book and answered Aridean’s question at the same time.

It was a few moments later that Vidor returned with a muffin and a second glass of milk. He set both down in front of Aridean before returning to his seat. Aridean, grateful for some extra milk and a non-spicy breakfast, thanked Vidor who returned a friendly smile. Aridean grabbed the muffin she was given and went to take a bite. Just as she bit down into the moist and sweet treat, the doors to the mess hall opened to reveal Bryn and three male minotaurs. Two of the minotaurs were dressed in full armor and armed with large blades. But the last one seemed for all the world like a simple, old minotaur; graying fur around his face and wrinkled skin by his eyes showed age. He held a walking staff in his left hand and was dressed in some fine clothes. Upon taking a closer look, Aridean noticed he wore an eyepatch over his left eye and had a large scar running down the length of his right arm. Simply by the way this minotaur conducted himself with his entourage, Aridean could tell that he must have considerable status around here. But what stood out most about him was that he was just like both Rana and Vidor. This minotaur was mostly black, save the graying fur, with a white patch of fur over his snout.

Bryn pointed towards Aridean and the other two minotaurs; his lips also moved, but she could not make out what it was he was saying. As Bryn lowered his hand, the trio of minotaurs and Bryn made their way toward Aridean’s table. One could hear the commotion and morning chatter throughout the mess hall die down as the patrons took notice of the group moving through the room. Aridean was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable, something about the trio headed her way made her fur stand on ends. When the trio reached the table, Vidor, who was facing away from the door, finally noticed the group that had approached them, if only because Aridean had frozen up again.

“G-general,” Vidor stuttered, so startled by the appearance of the older minotaur that he nearly fell out of his chair. He scrambled up from his seat and gave a salute to the old minotaur. Rana had followed suit, albeit with less nervousness and more tact. Aridean, however, could feel her blood run cold upon hearing Vidor; she thought that Rana and Vidor were to meet with this ‘General’ later in the morning. Nervously, Aridean swallowed the bit of muffin in her mouth. She was in no way mentally prepared for this encounter, and it certainly showed on her anxiety-filled face.

“Ghos nion Vidor, ghos nion Rana. Malai ri tou?” Spoke the old minotaur. Aridean was so stunned by the sudden appearance and by how both her hosts were behaving in this minotaur’s presence. Even so, she quickly translated what was asked of Rana and Vidor in her head: May I join you?

“Plur,” Rana and Vidor responded in unison. Despite being fluent in the Minoran language, English was Aridean’s first learned and more comfortable language. That said, Aridean again had mentally converted the spoken Minoran into English: Please. Having been invited to the group’s table, the old minotaur pulled back the only remaining seat at the table which sat between Aridean and Vidor. Both Rana and Vidor returned to their seats as the old minotaur waved his guards away. Bryn had pulled up a spare chair and sat just behind the General. Slowly, the other patrons began to return to conversing with one another or eating their breakfasts, but it was still noticeably quieter now. Without a word, the General turned to Aridean and used his one good eye to thoroughly inspect the young minotaur before him. During this, Aridean had stiffened her entire body; her arms were firmly pressed to her sides and her back was perfectly straight. She had no idea what to expect next but was starting to feel too afraid to make any move. It seemed that now would be a bad time to excuse herself to the restroom.

“You are the child Captain Smithson has told me about, yes? Aridean Gray, correct?” The old minotaur asked Aridean with a deep and commanding voice. Slowly, he reached his hand toward Aridean who jerked back somewhat. The old minotaur put a hand to Aridean’s head despite her unwillingness and took a deep breath. As the minotaur exhaled, a bright green light began to glow from his fingers atop Aridean’s head. He held his hand on Aridean’s head for just a moment after which, the green glow faded. As the minotaur took back his hand, Aridean reached to her head. She ran her hand across her horned dome and was surprised to find that it was normal. The minotaur had used some sort of magic to accelerate the healing of the lump on her head.

That light… he uses magic like Rana, Aridean thought to herself. She had been fighting a slight headache all morning, but not after her magical treatment. It was only now that Aridean’s body became a little less tense. Although she was able to physically calm herself, Aridean was internally panicking and questioning why the General of the rebellion was speaking with her.

“Bryn, you have not eaten yet, have you? Go get yourself something,” the old minotaur ordered. Bryn stood from his seat behind the General and gave a salute before heading toward the kitchen counter. Both Rana and Vidor sat with their full attention given to the General.

“Uhm… uh, p-pla, yoh Aridean,” Aridean barely managed to answer through anxiety. She had resorted to answering the General in Minoran as she was now surrounded by three other minotaurs. Having heard her speak in their own language, both Rana and Vidor looked to Aridean with amazement. Even the General had raised an eyebrow to show slight surprise, if only slight as the rest of the expression on his face was that of grave seriousness.

“Hmm? Quite a surprise to hear you speak in our tongue, child. Having grown in an Empire village, I suspected you would know only English. Speak the tongue you are more comfortable with,” the General said. Aridean was a bit surprised by the response; she thought the conversation was going to take place in Minoran.

“I was beginning to think she didn’t know Minoran,” Vidor whispered to Rana, who was quick to shush him. His side comment had not been whispered quietly enough and the old minotaur turned to look at Vidor with mild annoyance. Vidor’s expression quickly shifted into one of submission, similar to the look he had after Rana scolded him just outside the mess hall.

“I am Mikali; everyone refers to me as the General. Aridean, you come from the village of Thellia, yes? Captain Bryn has told me all he knows about you and what he told me has piqued my interest. I was hoping to ask you about yourself, are you alright with that?” the General asked, but it sounded more as though Aridean did not have a choice in the matter. It was at times like this that Aridean wished she knew some sort of magic capable of making her invisible, but given that was not an option, Aridean slowly lowered her muffin back down onto her plate.

“Y-yes, sir,” Aridean nervously responded. She had become so frightened that she could hear her heart beating within her chest. With each thump, Aridean felt her entire body jolt.

“Be at ease, child. I’ve not come with intentions of harming you,” Mikali spoke, but it did little to soothe Aridean’s nerves. “I’m quite interested in hearing your story: you’ve lived in Thellia, an Empire loyalist village, all your life. How did this come to pass?”

“W-well, sir, even I don’t know the details… my real parents died before I could even speak; I don’t know anything about them or even what tribe I’m from. Luckily, I was found and adopted by a very kind and generous man who raised me from when I was a baby,” Aridean explained, all the while, she could not make eye contact with any of the other three minotaurs surrounding her. Instead, she just focused on her hands that were nervously rubbing together over her lap. As she finished her statement, Aridean heard a low grunt come from Mikali. Hearing his grunt, Aridean looked up but saw his expression had not changed and that Bryn had returned with his breakfast. Perhaps she had just imagined the grunting sound?

“You cannot recall your mother nor father nor even your own tribe? Such a lonely life you must have led thus far,” Mikali commented, leaning back in his seat. He rested his walking staff over his lap and folded his arms over his chest. Aridean herself kept quiet now, unsure on how to respond to Mikali. Although the majority of Thellia reviled her, she was happy with Simon. ‘Lonely’ was not necessarily a term she would have used to describe her situation back home.

“But you weren’t alone, were you, Aridean? You had John, right?” Vidor chimed in, apparently still as curious to hear about Aridean’s life.

“She said her friend’s name was Jean,” Rana quickly corrected her brother before returning her attention to Aridean.

“Y-yes, most… almost all of the humans in Thellia were horrifying in some regard. But I still had Jean and Simon. I don’t know what I would have done without them… well, I suppose I wouldn’t even be here if not for the both of them,” Aridean said. She took a moment to think about how she was where she was because of those two. Simon took her in and saved her life when she was an orphaned baby. If it weren’t for Jean, who told Vidor about her, she would have died in the Konarch Forest as dinner for wolves.

“Simon Gray, correct? What exactly is the nature of your relationship with that man?” Mikali asked, his deep voice sounded intrigued.

“Simon is my fa… was my caretaker after whatever incident left me an orphan. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived with him on a modest sheep farm. We’ve lived there together for almost seventeen years now. He was the one to give me my name,” Aridean answered, still unable to look Mikali in the eye.

“I must admit to being curious: where did he come up with the name Aridean?” Rana inquired, having jumped in before Vidor or Mikali could.

“Well… it was the day I met Vidor that he… apologized for it. Aridean was his daughter’s name. I’ve asked him about his daughter before, but he never liked to talk about that. I’m really not sure what compelled him to give me the same name, but it’s the name I’ve always known,” Aridean replied. In her mind, she could visualize the first time she asked about her name. Aridean could vividly recall her six-year-old self, sitting in front of the fire in the living room. Little Aridean turned to Simon and asked the question: ‘Why did you decide to name me Aridean?’ Aridean’s memory of Simon drew in a breath and let it out before answering: ‘Because I think of you as my daughter.’ Obviously, the next thing to come out of little Aridean’s mouth next was: ‘But what about your real daughter?’ Aridean recalled the scene with such vivid detail that she almost felt as though it were happening again. Despite always thinking of the farmhouse as a warm and inviting sanctuary, at that time it felt as though the whole house had frozen over in the dead of winter. Aridean remembered that the warm atmosphere within her personal castle had turned frigid and it seemed as if time itself stood still as Simon considered his answer.

‘Let’s not think about that right now.’ That was his answer after what felt like an eternity of silence. I never meant to offend you, Simon. I’m so sorry for being so inconsiderate, Aridean finished reviewing the memory in her head. Feeling a bit guilty over something that she asked ten years ago, Aridean needed a moment to compose herself. She took a deep breath before looking back up to the three minotaurs.

“This Simon gave you the name of his deceased daughter? What do you make of his decision, child?” Mikali asked, his one eye trained on Aridean. She could almost feel the old minotaur’s gaze upon her as he spoke.

“I-I… I don’t know if I understand the question,” Aridean stuttered.

“This man has taken you, a minotaur child, into his home and given you the name of his late daughter. How does that make you feel?” Mikali clarified, though Aridean was fully aware that that was the question he was asking. Aridean’s hands were planted on her lap and she slowly ran them up and down her legs as she contemplated an honest response.

“After everything Simon has done for me… I wouldn’t even be alive today if it weren’t for him… so, I guess I feel… guilty. Guilty and remorseful that I’ve cast everything to the winds. There’s so much I want to tell him; about who I want to become because of him and to apologize for wasting everything he’s done for me,” Aridean slowly monologued, her voice began to crack up. The more she told Mikali, the closer she drew to breaking down into tears.

“Waste? What do you mean? Does it have anything to do with why you left Thellia?” Vidor asked, clearly unaware that Aridean was quickly falling apart.

“Nearly seventeen years together and I just leave in the dead of night with nothing more than a note that basically told him that we were never cut out to be… a family. No matter how much I wished it to be true, I can’t be his daughter and he can’t be my father. I’ll never forgive myself for it, but I keep telling myself that it is for the better. Now he’s safe to live a normal life as a retired military man in a village that revered him as a hero, but loathed his decision to take me in,” Aridean managed to answer despite being on the verge of tears. Rana had fallen silent; even Vidor seemed to understand that this was becoming a delicate subject for Aridean as he refrained from prying further. Mikali, on the other hand, had let out another stifled grunting noise. This time, however, Aridean was certain that he had grunted during her explanation, and she noticed a bit of a scowl across his face.

“Did Simon ever tell you what had befallen your mother and father?” Mikali asked, his facial expression still had a hint of disdain on it.

“N-no, I never knew my real mother or father, just Simon. I asked once and he told me that they were wonderful people. He said that it was a shame I nev--,” Aridean was cut off abruptly.

“Would you like to know what became of them?” Mikali inquired. His expression had softened somewhat, but Aridean thought he still looked prepared to throw a fist if someone so much as looked at him the wrong way.

“What?” Aridean asked with disbelief. Her eyes had grown wide, and she was finally looking Mikali in his one good eye. From just his stone-cold gaze, Aridean could tell that the old minotaur was gravely serious about what he was offering.

This minotaur knew my real parents?! But I don’t even know what tribe I’m from, how could he? Aridean’s mind was a buzz at the startling revelation. Although she knew nothing about them and had come to grips with the idea that she may never learn anything about her real parents, Aridean’s curiosity began to exponentially grow after hearing that Mikali may be able to tell her about her birth parents.

“Let us head back to my home and I will explain everything there,” Mikali spoke, rising from his seat at the table. “Bryn, Rana, Vidor, please join us.”

With the General’s invitation, everyone began to rise from the mess hall table they were seated at. Aridean, however, was much more hesitant and anxious about going along with the General. Something about the way he conducted himself was unnerving. Upon noticing the General moving from the table, the rest of the mess hall diners had gone near silent again. Aridean could hear some whispers from the patrons.

“Who’s that the General’s talking to?” Came one voice.

“Is she new? I’ve never seen her around here before,” commented another voice.

“Is General Mikali giving that new recruit some special treatment? What about her caught his attention?” a third voice asked.

“You think Vidor’s already made a move on her? ‘Cause if he hasn’t, I might see if I got a shot with her; she is kind of cute,” a final whisper was heard saying. A tad bit embarrassed, Aridean felt she was not entirely meant to hear that one.

Bryn, Rana, and Mikali were already on their way out the front door of the mess hall while Aridean remained sitting at the table. Vidor turned as he reached the door and noticed that Aridean’s shock was still plastered across her face. Vidor returned to the table and reached out to Aridean, giving her shoulder a gentle shake.

“Aridean? You okay? Let’s get going,” Vidor spoke gently. Aridean could hear a hint of concern and patience in his voice.

“R-right, I’m coming, sorry,” Aridean replied, standing from her seat. After pushing her seat back under the table, she turned to see Vidor looking directly at her. Vidor, in turn, simply gave Aridean a friendly smile.

It’s like he’s trying to tell me not to worry, everything’s going to be okay. Even so… I don’t know if I like where this is going, Aridean analyzed, not entirely convinced that now was a time for smiling. Vidor motioned for her to join him in chasing the others, to which she nodded and followed. On their way out the mess hall, Aridean could still hear some whispers about the scene that had unfolded. She reconsidered the homely atmosphere the mess hall gave off upon having first entered the building. She could not help but feel more like she was walking through the streets of Thellia with all the whispering.

The interior to the General’s home was not exactly what Aridean had expected. Plain living room furniture and more smoothed stone walls, sparsely decorated with a few picture frames and banners. Aridean briefly glanced at the pictures to see that most depicted some of the General’s rebel forces. One did stand out with the General and two young minotaurs at his sides. Having the title of General, Aridean thought he would own a more extravagant estate in this underground city. But upon reflection, perhaps this would be extravagant given the location and circumstances for the resident. Aridean could not help but notice that the coffee table in the center of the living room was almost identical to the one Simon had at home. The coffee table itself sat on a nice floral pattern rug which seemed out of place given who owned it. On both sides of the table were two couches and on the end opposite the fireplace was a large, cushioned chair. The arrangement of seating within the room seemed fitting for a strategy meeting, but Aridean guessed that actual rebellion affairs were conducted elsewhere.

Apart from the living space, Mikali’s home also seemed to have a standard kitchen and dining room. Nothing especially stood out in either of these rooms save just how extraordinarily tidy and clean they seemed to be. Within the kitchen was a wood burning stove, but no wood around to be used for fuel. Either Mikali did not do much cooking or he utilized fire magics to heat his meals. The dining room had a fair-sized dinner table with enough space to comfortably seat at least six. Aridean could not imagine having so many guests at once herself, however. There also seemed to be a few rooms down a hallway in the back of the living room, at least one must have been the house’s bathroom. Aridean assumed the other rooms might be a study or Mikali’s bedroom.

Something that did strike Aridean as exceptionally unordinary was the futon set out in the corner of the living room. Although the sleeping space was kept in neat fashion, the location seemed entirely out of place. That in mind, Aridean wondered why there would be a futon in the living room when the bedroom must be just down the hall. What was truly unsettling about the sleeping space in the living room was the large, spiked mace leaning against the wall by the futon.

“Welcome to my home; please take a seat,” Mikali instructed, gesturing Aridean toward the chair at the head of the table. Aridean quietly sat down in the chair she was offered. To her left, Rana and Vidor sat together on one couch. To her right, Mikali sat by himself on the other couch. Bryn had moved into the kitchen and could be heard pouring water. Aridean was not certain how this discussion was going to play out but decided for once that she would be the one to take the initiative.

“Sir… General Mikali, sir, you mentioned that you know what happened to my parents. Do you mind telling me what you know?” Aridean asked, using all of her willpower to look Mikali in his one, good eye.

“Hmph, Bryn said you were quite the meek child in the wagon. But I like the initiative. Before I tell you what became of your tribe, I must ask one thing of you so that I might be certain of something,” Mikali began as he rested his walking staff on the ground in front of his hooves. “I need you to show me your back.”

“Uh… I’m sorry, but my back? W-what?” Aridean asked, both confused and embarrassed by the General’s request. Vidor’s eyes went wide as he looked to the General upon hearing what he had asked of Aridean. Rana, however, looked to her brother with an annoyed yet serious expression that non-verbally conveyed to him ‘No, you are not looking’.

“Bryn mentioned that Rana performed first aid on you when they picked you up. She had mentioned seeing an unfamiliar pattern on your back as she was patching you up. I would like to see the mark you bear for myself,” Mikali clarified. Despite his explanation for the request, it did little to relieve the discomfort Aridean was currently experiencing. Although the General’s face remained stern, Aridean’s face conveyed clear unwillingness and uneasiness.

“I… well, uhm… I don’t know if— it’s just that I--,” Aridean stuttered, entirely unable to properly finish any thought in her head. Whether it was from embarrassment or confusion, she could not quite tell.

“Child, calm yourself. If it makes you more comfortable, Rana will simply up on your shirt while I examine this pattern on your back. We won’t take more than a moment,” Mikali spoke. He seemed to be taking a patient approach in trying to coax Aridean into a more comfortable state as his tone sounded somewhat considerate. Aridean surmised that he was being honest in that he did not mean any harm nor was he trying to make her uncomfortable, but that did little in the way of easing her nerves.

“We’ll make this quick, Aridean. Just turn around and I’ll hold your shirt,” Rana instructed as she got up and approached Aridean. “And Vidor, why don’t you go help Bryn prepare some tea?”

“Uh… r-right, the tea,” Vidor commented, seemingly snapping out of a trance. His eyes only just left Aridean as he stood from his place on the couch and moved out of the living room and toward the kitchen. Loud hoof clops could be heard all throughout the house as Vidor left the living room.

Aridean still was not sure about this whole ordeal but took a deep breath. She exhaled and looked to Rana, who gave a gentle smile of assurance. Slowly, she stood from her chair and turned her back to Rana and Mikali. She felt Rana’s fingers as they reached under her shirt and brushed her lower back. Rana had quickly pulled the back of her shirt up to her shoulders; the front of her shirt had ridden up her stomach and was caught under her chest.

“Just one second, Aridean, I need to cut these bandages off,” Rana said, still holding Aridean’s shirt up with one hand. Her other hand had reached for her razor knuckles that she had clipped onto her belt. With one swift motion, Rana used the odd instrument to slice through all of the bandages covering Aridean’s back and torso.

“Hmm…” Mikali hummed as the bandages that had been wrapped around Aridean fell to the ground. “What was it again? Wolves? They really tore into you, child. Rana, you may release her now.”

Just as Mikali had ordered, Rana lowered Aridean’s shirt. Aridean took a moment to readjust the shirt for comfort as she turned back around. As she was sitting back down into her chair, Vidor and Bryn emerged from the kitchen with cups and a kettle of tea. Vidor distributed cups to everyone in the room as Bryn followed and poured piping hot tea into each cup.

“So, what exactly did her back tell you?” Vidor asked the General; he had completely dropped any sort of respect for the chain of authority. Strangely enough, Mikali did not seem to mind Vidor’s ignorance as he leaned back on the couch he was seated on and drank some of the tea Bryn had prepared. After having a taste of the beverage, Mikali set the cup back down on the table.

“There is no easy way of delivering such grave news, so I shall just come out and say it,” Mikali began, focusing his stern gaze toward Aridean. “Child, you are of a tribe that was thought to have been completely wiped out before the rebellion began. I’m afraid that there are no more of your tribe walking this earth alongside you. Poor child, your being here with us is nothing short of a miracle.”

Aridean was stunned by the news. Although she had come to terms with the fact that she might never know her real parents, she had not expected to hear something with such finality to it. Her eyes slowly lowered to where she was just looking into her hot cup of tea that she held with both hands. Not only was she left speechless, Aridean could not even fully process the news she had received.

“You were able to discern all of that just by the fur on her back?” Bryn asked Mikali as he sat beside the General.

“The pattern on her back is a symbolic mark born by the Ithlaum tribe of minotaurs. In Minoran, Ithlaum means ‘illuminated hunter’. It is unfortunate, but her tribe was the first to be targeted for extermination prior to minotaur rebellions,” Mikali explained.

“Damn…,” Vidor said incredulously whilst leaning forward in his seat.

“Ithlaum tribe? I’ve never heard of that tribe. Why have you not told us about them before?” Rana asked Mikali directly.

“It is unfortunate, but the entire tribe had been wiped out. At least, all but this child it would seem. The Ithlaum were a strange tribe that kept to themselves for the most part,” Mikali answered with a stern tone. Rana seemed to be a bit upset by the answer but shook her head with sigh as it seemed Mikali was not going to elaborate further.

“Well… do you know what happened to Aridean’s mom and dad? I mean, you already thought the tribe was gone, but here she is. Maybe they--,” Vidor began to ask.

“What good would that do?” Aridean interrupted with a grim tone, her head held over her tea as it began to grow cold. “I never knew them to begin with and knowing exactly how they died won’t bring me any comfort.”

“While that may be the case, you still need to know what happened to your people, child. As I said, your tribe was the first to be attacked. It was the Empire’s doing; those dogs invaded your tribe’s territory and slaughtered everyone,” Mikali explained with a particularly agitated tone. Although she was not interested in hearing his account of her tribe’s massacre, Aridean still listened with an apathetic expression spread across her face.

“Do you know why the Empire attacked this particular tribe?” Bryn asked.

“That is something that has eluded me to this day. Many years ago, the minotaur tribes lived in harmony with the human empire. While no one would say the minotaurs and humans were strictly allies, there was no bad blood between the races either. The sudden hostility of the humans toward us minotaurs just came out of nowhere one day nearly seventeen years ago. Rumors spread that it had something to do with a supposed minotaur, deranged he was, having slaughtered most of a human town almost a year before the Ithlaum attack. However, there is no way of knowing for certain that that was the spark for the human attack,” Mikali answered.

A deranged minotaur attacking a human town? Could that be the minotaur that killed Simon’s family? I don’t know if I even want to know, Aridean thought to herself. Despite Mikali having caught her attention, the apathy on her face remained.

“All of that in mind, child, you need to be aware of who was guiding the attack on your tribe. It was none other than the man you refer to as your family: Crusade Captain Simon Gray,” Mikali finished. Upon hearing Simon’s name spoken, Aridean’s eyes grew wide and her jaw began to drop. Both Rana and Vidor’s surprise was also prevalent on their faces as well. Even Bryn had raised his eyebrows but resorted to drinking his tea to mask his own amazement.

N-no, that’s not possible… Simon? Simon would never do such a thing… This old man is just telling me a lie at this point; it’s not like he knows Simon or anything, Aridean thought as she tried rationalizing what she had just heard.

“You can’t be serious… S-Simon? No, he couldn’t do that. Simon would never commit such an atrocity,” Aridean retorted. Despite her protests, she considered the possibilities. Simon was a man of high rank in the military and had just lost his family to a deranged minotaur. If anyone were to have the necessary resources and desire revenge for what had happened to him, surely it would have been Simon. But at the same time, Aridean had never known Simon to exhibit any sort of malice or cruelty. Even when he chased off foxes or wolves that hunted the sheep, he made sure not to cause any severe injury to the creatures that threatened his livelihood. The idea that the Simon she knew, even if he had been Crusade Captain for the Empire, was capable of genocide was as foreign as night was to day.

“I understand that you do not wish to acknowledge it, child, but it is the truth. Shortly after the Ithlaum attack, Simon had vanished. Only now do I have an see why he disappeared: for whatever reason, he had left the military and kept you. Perhaps this was a madman’s idea of keeping a trophy over the minotaur people,” Mikali suggested. His stern face told Aridean that he held no compassion for Simon nor her feelings toward the man who had raised her.

Aridean had slumped back into her chair, eyes still wide and focused on the floor in front of her hooves. She felt like she was unable to breath properly and slowly shook her head back and forth in disbelief. Mikali’s suggestion rang in her head, but in her own voice as she recalled three days prior when she made the same insult to Simon herself. Her heart felt like it was shattering in her chest. All the while, Rana, Vidor, and Bryn remained silent throughout the exchange; it seemed they did not want to intervene during such a delicate subject.

“Aridean, child, now that you know the truth behind both your family and Simon Gray, what do you plan to do?” Mikali finally asked, his voice softened a bit. Aridean was unable to answer as she was still having a hard time trying to process what Mikali had told her.

“If you’ve no plans for your future, allow me to ask you one thing. Now that the truth has been revealed to you, surely you now desire justice for what has befallen you since before you could even stand on your own hooves. I ask that you join our cause; our mission to return the Empire to days of peace by overthrowing those who have disturbed the balance between the races,” Mikali announced. Bryn crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on the couch, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. Both Rana and Vidor looked to Mikali with shock on their faces. As soon as they realized that Mikali was gravely serious about his proposition, the two turned to Aridean in anticipation of her answer.

“I… I can’t do that,” Aridean responded, her apathetic expression returned to her fuzzy face.

“Are you sure? After the life you have been born to struggle through? Do you not desire a brighter future, not just for yourself, but all minotaurs around you? Reconsider your decision, child,” Mikali said, the softness in his voice was slowly fading and replaced by a more stern tone.

“I… can’t,” Aridean answered.

“I see… well that is your decision to make,” Mikali spoke, he turned to Bryn seemingly finished with Aridean. “Captain Smithson, arrest Aridean.”

“W-what?” Aridean asked shocked and confused. All the while, Bryn stood from the couch and approached Aridean, pulling a rope from his bag.

“Arrest her?!” Vidor repeated, standing from his seat.

“You can’t be serious! Grandfather, please!” Rana begged.

Grandfather?! Aridean was shocked by the sudden reveal before looking closely at the pictures on the wall again. Oh… I see, that picture is of Mikali and young Rana and Vidor. Now I see it, how did I miss it before? The female in the image has the same white crescents around her eyes as Rana.

“I am serious, Rana. Should she desire to leave, she would be a liability to our safety. Furthermore, I refuse to allow the sole child of a dead tribe to endanger herself by venturing out into the Empire alone. That in mind, we do not know what she may be capable of should she be given free rein in our home. Until such a time that she is deemed not a threat, she is to be kept under guard,” Mikali reasoned with his stern tone. As he did, Bryn had begun tying Aridean’s hands together with his rope. Aridean herself was still in shock and unable to withdraw her hands or resist.

“She may be just the leverage we need should Simon ever decide to return to the Empire’s military,” Bryn off-handedly commented as he finished binding Aridean’s wrists.

“Hmm… perhaps, she did speak fondly of Gray. Perhaps he would be hesitant to find out we have liberated his trophy,” Mikali remarked after considering Bryn’s suggestion.

What?! No! I won’t let you use me to hurt Simon! I don’t care if he’s the reason my entire tribe is gone, he’s raised me like his own since he found me! Aridean shouted in her mind, but barely managed to open her mouth.

“Aridean! C’mon! You can’t really be okay with all this, can you? Speak up! Say something already,” Vidor snapped. Aridean looked to him to find that anger was beginning to fill his face. She internally questioned why he seemed so invested in this ordeal that did not concern him or his own wellbeing. Aridean held her head low again and took her hands back from Bryn with a forceful tug. Bryn looked to her in surprise by the sudden and unexpected act of resistance.

“F-fine… I’ll join your organization,” Aridean muttered. “Maybe he was the reason my tribe is gone, but Simon raised me since I was a baby. I’m not going to be used to hurt him.”

“Hmm? It would seem that his influence over you is stronger than I initially believed. I confess that your devotion to him does have me somewhat concerned. Regardless, so long as you pledge your allegiance to our cause, you will be allowed entry into our ranks. It will be easier to keep watchful eyes on you this way as we work to earn one another’s trust. I am certain that in time, you will begin to see that this is best path for you. Although we may have experienced an uneasy beginning, let us work together to fulfill our mission,” Mikali replied. Apathy once again washed over Aridean’s face, but she did manage to give Mikali a rather defeated nod to confirm her new, reluctant decision. Vidor’s angered expression softened, but it did not shift into one of content. Slowly, he sat back down beside Rana as Bryn began removing the rope around Aridean’s wrists.

“Well, now that that excitement is over with, I suppose we need to start getting you settled in,” Bryn said to Aridean as he put his rope back into his bag. “We can save all the training and exercises for later. For today, let’s find you a bunk to rest on in the barracks.”

“Do you believe she will be alright in the barracks, Captain? You also noticed how restless she was on the ride home with just the three of us. Perhaps there is somewhere more private she may stay, at least until she becomes a bit more comfortable around others,” Rana mentioned, voicing concern for Aridean’s sake. Aridean seemed to ignore any attempt to include her in the conversation.

“Why not let her stay here for a few nights? She could just stay in my room; I mean, we’ve already slept together after all,” Vidor suggested nonchalantly.

“Excuse me?” Mikali asked, looking to his grandson with stunned concern. Although her own defeated and depressed expression did not change in anyway, Aridean was surprised to see that the General knew how to express emotions other than grave seriousness.

“What he meant to say was that they were resting in the wagon at the same time on the way home, grandfather. Vidor, please choose your words more delicately next time,” Rana both clarified and scolded.

“What? All I said was… oh… uh, yeah, I can see why that may have been taken out of context now. Sorry, grandpa,” Vidor replied as he began to understand how his previous statement was not interpreted as he would have preferred. “Sorry if I made you feel awkward too, Aridean. Damn, I just cannot stop making myself look weirder and weirder today…”

“Thank you, but it’s fine; I’ll just take a bunk in the barracks,” Aridean said aloud with a depressed tone in her voice. “May we go to the barracks, Captain Smithson? If it’s alright with everyone and if we are done here, I think I’d like to lie down for a little while.”

“Aridean…” Vidor moaned, but no response came from Aridean. Instead, Mikali nodded to Bryn who gestured Aridean toward the door. Both Aridean and Bryn left the Stonehoof family in their living room and made their way for the rebellion’s barracks.

Just the same as all the other buildings in this underground city, the barracks was made entirely of smooth stone. A simple foyer decorated with only a few rebellion banners and flags separated the men’s barracks from the women’s barracks. There was an old carpet on the stone floor, but it was covered in dust and dirt from where people had clearly not wiped their shoes or hooves. A filthy carpet like that seemed a touch out of place as the rest of the building was kept neat and clean, but Aridean was not in the mood for thinking about such trivial matters.

“We’ll find you a bunk and I’ll leave you to clear your head, sound good?” Bryn asked with a friendly smile. Aridean did not reply, merely followed closely behind Bryn as he opened the door to the women’s barracks. Inside, the room was furnished with many bunks lined up against the walls and forming neat rows in the middle of the room. Only a small group of patrons were present, a few female minotaurs and a human woman. These other residents did not seem to give much attention to Aridean and Bryn as they made their way through the room. Although, one of the minotaurs did give a friendly wave to Bryn as the pair were moving about halfway through the room.

“How about this one? It’s close to the showers and you can just turn over to face the wall if you don’t want anyone to bother you,” Bryn said as the pair reached the opposite end of the room. He had picked a bed in the corner of the barracks just a few meters from another door that was labeled ‘Showers’. Again, Aridean refused to respond, but did nod in agreement that this bed would suffice. Her unresponsiveness was met with a disappointed sigh from Bryn.

“Look, Aridean, I don’t know how hard this must be for you, but you gotta understand that General Mikali does want what is best for the minotaur people, you included. Not just your race, he’s also working hard to restore the peace between humans and minotaurs. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t always agree with the man, but sometimes it takes doing the hard thing to do the right thing. Just give it some time,” Bryn said, trying to assure Aridean that she is making the right choice to have joined the rebels.

“I understand, Captain. This is just so sudden. I’m just going to need a little while,” Aridean said, her eyes listlessly falling to the ground around her new bed.

I’m not here for him or you or even the whole damn minotaur race. I’m only here to keep you guys from using me to hurt Simon, Aridean thought to herself. She did not want to hear anything about Mikali’s intentions nor anything regarding what the rebellion was planning. All she could think about was how she really wanted to run back home as fast as she could. But even if she were not stuck in an underground city, she was still wanted in Thellia for a crime she had not committed.

“Well… alright then,” Bryn hesitantly replied. “Anyway, as I said back at the General’s house: today we’re just getting you settled in. Here is your bunk, the showers are through there, and you know your way back to the mess hall. Tomorrow, we’ll see about finding you a group for your training. For now, that will be all. If you have any questions, someone here will be able to answer for you. I have some matters that I must attend to. Don’t worry, you’re gonna be fine here.”

Aridean watched with empty eyes as Bryn walked back across the barracks and left the room. While not entirely alone, Aridean felt that she was being allowed the most privacy she would be getting in her new home.

Home… this is no home. I might not be behind bars, but I still feel like I’m in prison. It’s not entirely unlike living in Thellia. I’ve just traded one cell for another. Except… this cell doesn’t have Simon or Jean. What have I done? Aridean’s mind stirred, and she could feel tears welling in her eyes. She turned back toward her new bed and allowed her bag to slip off of her shoulders and onto the stone ground beneath her hooves. The bag hit the ground with a soft thud. Aridean took a moment before climbing onto the bed she had been assigned. She sat on top of the sheets, rested her head on the pillow, and ran her right arm under her pillow and head. Aridean had chosen to face the wall that her bed was seated against, her tail drooped off the free side of the bunk. She did not feel like going to sleep now but did not have the motivation or energy to do anything. Lying in bed for the rest of the day and perhaps even longer was all Aridean wanted. A hopeless and hollow feeling had gripped her, and it was not unfamiliar to her.

“‘How long before you just go off and join that stupid rebellion, cowgirl?’ You asked me that three days ago, Reil… well, look at me now…. What the hell have I gone and gotten myself into now?” Aridean muttered to herself, tears streaming down her fuzzy cheeks. “I’m so sorry Jean. You got hurt defending me from some stupid insult like that and then I go and do this? I’m so sorry Simon. I’m just not worth it, I never was.”