Nico stepped out of his integration room guarded by two soldiers and into the mana-lamps-lit corridor, following the two dazed men.
Rolling his shoulders and rubbing at his wrists where the cuffs had been, he spoke, "Sorry, I never asked… But who exactly did I just confess my life story to?"
The two men walked ahead of him in silence.
After a beat, the man in samurai-style armor spoke without stopping.
"Major Aldren Kale," he said. "Northern Border Defense, Shinkōtsu."
The wolf-eared man spoke next.
"Lieutenant Colonel Aoyama Shigure," he said calmly. "Shinkōtsu Border Defense."
Nico blinked before slowing half a step.
"…Wait," he said, looking at the wolf-eared man. "You're the senior one?"
Shigure glanced back once with a faint smile.
"Handle the rest," he said to Major Kale as he turned away. "I'll forward the report to the capital."
And then he was gone.
Major Kale turned to the guard standing by the door of the interrogation room and said, "Let the ladies out."
To which the guard replied with a salute and began jogging towards the end of the corridor, and disappeared down the stairs.
"You're not gonna question them?" Nico asked tilting his head.
"No need, we have all we need…" Major Kale replied as he began walking and continued, "Follow me."
Nico followed behind before asking, "So, what now?"
"Now," he replied without turning back, "You all rest for the night…You must be exhausted. By morning, we should have orders regarding you all."
Nodding, Nico followed the man down the stairs.
Now that all was said and done, and all that was left to do was wait, he finally let his mind ease and paid attention to his surroundings.
They were brought to a garrison, stationed ten kilometres outside the city, for just one purpose: to keep an eye on the monsters they have in the forest that surrounds the mainland.
[Architecture here is a mix of traditional Japanese and Medieval Western…]
Nico thought as he walked down the wooden floors, white-lit by lamps studded on the walls.
And as he looked out the windows going by, he saw soldiers wearing a blend of Samurai armor and Western armor.
[And their names… Shigure and Aldren Kale…] Nico thought as he descended down the stars, which opened up to a large hall.
And there stood a pouting Nom-Nom, and Peko glaring coldly at the guard who was sweating profusely under her gaze.
"What happened, Nom?" Nico quickly asked, assuming the worst.
"Nobody came to talk to me," she replied before her voice trailed off, "I was so excited…"
Nico looked at her, speechless, and just as he was about to speak, the guard finally broke under Peko's gaze as he stiffly approached Nom-Nom.
It is common knowledge that Dragons are beings of great power and even greater arrogance.
Wiping sweat off his forehead, he gathered every ounce of courage and spoke to the Greater Dragon, "H-Hello, M'Lady… C-can I talk to you for a moment? See, my mother used to tell me stories about dragons… and it is my first time seeing one."
Nom-Nom instantly beamed, "Oh, I'm Nom-Nom, and I'm a Greater Dragon!"
Satisfied, Peko finally peeled her gaze away from the poor guard, letting him entertain Nom-Nom before turning towards Nico and the stupefied Major, " So…?"
"First off…" Nico replied, barely hiding the small curve on his lips, as he extended a hand towards the Major, "This is Major Aldren Kale… We'll be in his care for the night."
Snapping out of it, Major Kale, extending a curt nod towards Peko as he spoke, "We will have orders from the capital regarding you all by morning… so until then, rest up. I'll have rooms prepared and some food sent to them."
Major Kale turned on his heel and motioned for the guards to move, including the sweat-drenched guard keeping Nom-Nom entertained.
Two soldiers immediately split off, one heading toward the barracks, the other toward the mess hall at the fastest pace his trembling legs allowed.
"You'll be housed in the east wing," Kale continued as he led them outside. "Separate rooms."
Nom-Nom perked up. "Do I get a bed?"
"Yes," Kale answered without hesitation.
"Big?"
"…Yes... For your human form."
She nodded in satisfaction.
They walked for another minute in silence under the pale moonlight before Kale stopped in front of a wide wooden door and pushed it open.
Inside was a long corridor lit by mana-stone lamps and lined with simple doors.
"This will be yours," Kale said, pointing to the first door. "Your sister's is the one next to it. And Lady… Nom-Nom's quarters are next to that."
"I'll post guards," Kale added, "Not to cage you… But to keep idiots away. Good night, food will be delivered to your rooms shortly."
"Appreciated," Nico replied.
Kale paused mid-turn before he spoke, quieter this time as he stared Nico in the eye, "Nico, I want you to know beyond any shadow of doubt that I sympathize… Truly. But I will follow the orders tomorrow will bring."
Nico met his gaze. "Yeah. I figured."
With that, the Major turned and left, boots echoing down the corridor.
The moment he was gone, Nico leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he looked at Peko with a sly smirk.
"Saw what you did back there… with the guard."
"I don't know what you're talking about. And I don't like this name… Peko," She replied flatly before pushing the gate to her room open and disappearing inside without another glance while Nom-Nom watched with a tilted neck.
"Don't look at me, look at Nom… I wanted to go with Giggles," Nico called out as he watched her 'flee'.
"Peko is a nice name… It also matches yours," Nom-Nom said as she looked at Nico with utmost sincerity.
"I know. It's an awesome name," Nico chuckled as he turned towards Nom-Nom, "There's pistachio ice cream in the inventory if you want any… But only take it out after they have delivered the food to your room."
"Yay!" Nom-Nom smiled as she too turned toward her room.
And so did Nico. But as he turned, the smile on his face slowly faded.
[Either my plan spectacularly worked… or spectacularly failed. There's nothing in between… Here's hoping.]