CH16

“Right this way” The receptionist said, guiding Furi to the back of the bathhouse where a steel trapdoor was installed.

With a creak, the receptionist opened it, waving Furi in.

They both descended, and the trapdoor shut behind them.

A tunnel loomed ahead, supported by pieces of worn timber, and lit by torches lining the wall.

“Where is this?” Furi asked

“I’ll explain later” The receptionist replied, walking ahead “For now, just follow me”

They passed multiple junctions, the receptionist taking turns with absolute certainty.

“Why are there so many tunnels?” Furi asked.

“Secrecy. Escape routes,” the receptionist answered.

They walked and encountered these junctions a couple more times, until finally they arrived at a steel door.

The reception knocks, a cold voice sound from the other side.

“May you face the calm sea”

“And the storm blesses your voyage” The receptionist replied smoothly.

A pause

The voice spoke once more “Come in”

The steel door creaks open; the speaker stands beside the door, his eyes glint in blue “The tides welcome you” he said.

The receptionist walked in, signaling for Furi to follow.

Stepping inside, she is blown away by the sight.

A massive cavern, lit up by lights from mana crystal, big and small, giving the area a blue hue. A few tents can be seen littered around, some have tears, some look old.

Water flowed from a crack, pooling in a hole. Many people huddling over, drinking from it.

“Welcome to the St. Paul, a sanctuary where those like you can rest”

The receptionist turned to look at Furi, who was still in awe. She taps Furi’s shoulder, breaking her awing trance.

“Follow me” The receptionist guide Furi to a corner.

There, a big tent was present, illuminated by a mana crystal hanging from the ceiling.

Two men stand guard at the entrance. Their weapons preventing entry.

As the receptionist approaches, the men lift their weapons, providing entry. They also salute with diligence.

The tent is cluttered, rows of rusting cabinets filled with papers and files, weapons, repurposed ready for action. In the middle, A desk is present, a chair is also at the desk with it’s back facing the desk.

“Miss Lisa, I’ve brought her here” The receptionist said.

“Thank you, Celia, you may leave” A female voice sounded from the chair.

“Yes, madam” The receptionist then left, leaving Furi and the person sitting on the chair alone.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The chair spun around slowly, revealing a woman in nun’s robes, black hair tied back, piercing blue eyes like sapphires.

But there is something more that caught Furi’s attention. It was her ears, black, soft and pointed, and a tail swaying behind her.

Furi blinked, she stood there staring at the beastmen.

“What, you’ve never seen a beastmen?” The woman said.

“Not really.” Furi replied

“Welp it’s your lucky day” The beastmen invites Furi to sit down, “Have a seat, don’t be shy”

Furi sat down on the worn-out stool. The woman speak immediately

“Welcome to The Veteran Coalition, based here in this cavern” The woman spread her arms. “My name is Lisa Rifter, the Co-leader of the Coalition with my stepsister, Claudia Rifter, you’ve already met her, she’s the receptionist you talked to when using the bath house.”

Lisa taps the table. “Questions?”

“Well…Uh…What exactly is this place, what do you do?” Furi asked

Lisa’s face dropped, the mood got serious. “When the Scourge came, Claudia, a friend, and I escaped the Nightingale Sisterhood. We joined the defense force. We fought. We bled. We helped hold the barrier when it was in danger. I naively though that when we came back, we would be greeted with red carpets and flowers”

“But NO!” Lisa’s voice cracked, her fist slammed the table. Her Fist clenched “The people turned on us, called us witches! Warmongers!” Her fist clenched “They dragged our friend onto the streets, stripped her down, spat on her humanity, beat her up till death. She bled for this land… and they left her to die on a dirty road. But still, before she died…she warned us.”

Lisa looked up at Furi, tears started to spill from her eyes

“That was the time I almost lose faith in God! My mind was filled with heresy, but I quickly got up on my feet, I realized they were the ones lost, poisoned by liars who saw peace for silver and gold.”

Lisa got up and turned, her fist clenched behind her back. Her voice regains composure

“That’s why I created this place, in an abandon mana crystal mine. A place where those so called ‘witches’ and ‘Warmonger’ that fought to defend these assholes can rest and those determined can help to unravel this big lie together.”

Lisa turns around “Sorry, my language was a bit extreme”

Clearing her throats “So, will you be joining us?”

Furi blinked again “Well…I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

Lisa chuckled and offered her hand. “I thought so”

“Out these, you’ve got none. In here? You’ve got one”

Furi stood up, raising her hand, unsure of the gesture. Lisa winked, and so Furi hesitated to answer with a firm handshake.

“Great! So, I’ve heard you’re from Caprico, right?”

“Yes”

“You must have some great combat skills, right? We can really use you”

“I guess I can hold my own.”

“Awesome! I’ll tell you the others! You can explore this place in the meantime!”

Furi steps out of the tent, but before she fully left a question pops up in her mind. She turns to ask it.

“Hey, did you create the fog that helped me earlier? I want to thank you for that”

“Hm? Nope”

“Then who is it”

“He’s around here, you’ll meet him eventually”

Furi then left the tent, but the question is still left unanswered.

She heads for the water hole, feeling a bit dehydrated, there, many people huddling over to drink, their faces mangled, some with burnt faces, some with slashes, some without limbs.

Furi approaches them, “Heh…Hey, gentlemen, can I have some”

The men turn to face her, her face without a scratch, as smooth as a baby. Although they moved to the side a bit, she felt like an odd one out.

Furi also felt this, when everything else is broken, A normal one feel like a black sheep.

After taking her sip, Furi quickly left the area, turning a corner, she suddenly bumped into someone

“Ow!” “Ouch!” Both sides exclaim, both falling to the ground

Furi opened her eyes, to see a blonde man, sharp green eyes, clutching his head

He raises his finger pointing at Furi “Hey! Watch where you’re going!” He screamed out.

“Sorry…” Furi said

The man got up, and start to brush his shirt, “You got my cloth all dirty! How are you going to fix this? Huh?” He said frustratingly

“Sorry…”

“Can you not say something else that isn’t ‘sorry’?”

“Sorry” Furi said getting up.

She looked up at the man, when they were on the ground she didn’t notice.

But he is tall, very tall and very big.

The man facepalmed “What, do you have one word in that brain of your, you midget” he said, with a smirked.

Something deep inside Furi awaken, she will tolerate everything but that…that will not pass.

“Hey! Who are you calling a midget! Then what are you? A wall of flesh?”

The man stumbled back, he collapses on the ground, clutching his chest. His pride hurt, blood poured out of his mouth. Like he was shot with a cannon.

This is all his imagination, however.

The man stumbled to his feet “Such… such degeneracy! I won’t let this insult pass!” He pointed dramatically “I challenge you to a duel!”

“Huh?” Furi uttered