At this point, we had descended to lower levels underground, and I began to wonder how far this building went. The more we walked, the more it transformed, living spaces, training rooms, doors on top of doors. This place is so cool.
On the lower levels, there wasn't much, at least from here; it was just a straight path to a door. This place had no paintings whatsoever, the only place in the entire building that had no decor at all. Just a path to the door.
Maya had been dropped off elsewhere on our way, so it was just me, surrounded. Yuna at the front and Remen and Siri at my back.
We all walked in silence. I can be killed so easily right now, for my decision to join them. Looks like very stupid right now.
I won't think, though, I will let it be. Too late now.
As we approached the door i could finally see it in full view. It's a simple door, but it has one symbol at its center: a lion. This, too i know nothing about.
Yuna knocked three times, then an immediate response came, "enter"
She opened the door, and we entered to find an old man relaxed on his seat like a throne. In front of him was a wooden table. The rest of the room was oddly blue; the walls were, anyway.
With only one light bulb placed on the wall behind the man, illuminating the room.
The old geezer had short hair and a beard which had become pure white. He stared at me with pure disinterest.
"Come, young one," he called for me.
And I stepped forward. I glanced at my back to see the others line up across the room, looking at me. I gulped.
"What is your name?"
"Nero"
"Yuna, who is this thief?"
"Thief!! H-how??" I don't think I am a thief, but he does have a point.
"Not denying it i see, two nights here would send your head flying," the old man said.
"He helped us retrieve Maya with no issue and requested to join us," Yuna said with a small bow. "I thought he would be a great addition to our cause."
The old man receded further into his seat and said, "I see, well, welcome to our faction. Nero"
"That's it?"
"I have nothing more to say to you…oh wait."
This man has shown zero interest since I walked into this room. His face seems like it's serious, although his demeanour isn't, but what sold it for me is his eyes. It doesn't seem like he is looking at me.
He stood up from his seat and walked over to me. In front of me i could finally see him properly. For someone so old, he stood tall and firm; he wore a robe, with one arm resting inside.
He looked into my eyes and reached out his hand to me.
For some reason, I couldn't look away. For some reason i couldn't move.
Before I knew it i was stuck in place. What is this? Why is this happening? Why all of a sudden? Fear gripped me as i starred into the abyss of his deep blue eyes.
As his hand moved closer to me, it appeared in slow motion at the corner of my eyes. I began to sweat profusely.
In that moment before touching me, his eyes glared at me, and at that moment i was free and immediately reached for my sword. But as his hand finally landed on my shoulder, I was calm again.
What just happened? I breathed out nonstop, trying to catch my breath.
"Take your time, everyone has to go through this," he said, smiling warmly at me. "I see, those eyes of yours are like his," he muttered.
"L-like who?"
"Someone special," he closed his eyes and smiled at me, but that smile was short-lived. A serious expression came over, and his voice ever so slightly changed.
"I am Evander Alaric. I am the founder of this faction. We are nameless."
"Nameless?"
"In the literal sense and metaphoric sense, yes. Although I made no real name for this faction, calling it nameless fits because most of us here have no name other than the one given to us, so in a sense we are nameless."
Come to think of it, no one here mentioned a last name. I just thought they didn't want to tell me, but I was wrong.
Evander continued, "Although I said all of that while carrying my name, that is our purpose. This faction was created to one day take back the Britannica Kingdom, a coup de etat."
Huh? Isn't that one of the world's powers? How does this faction want to compete with that? It's impossible.
"Although you doubt us, you will understand with time. However, not everyone shares my dream; as a leader, I understand this. What dreams do you have nero?"
"....a good life," this is the answer. It is the only answer.
"Everyone wants a good life, Nero. That is not an answer."
Not an answer, how? What more do I need to wish for?
"It's no matter, you will grasp it eventually." At this point, he sat on the edge of his table and continued to talk with the same disinterested face. "There are others here like you. Until you find your dream, you will be with others who share your struggles."
"What do you know about my struggles?" I said, clinching my fist. Why does he acts like he understands.
"Those lonely nights ended because of your dragon friend. Keep her close, okay?"
What? How does he know about that? How does he know I even have Bella? Yuna mentioned nothing about that. There are no windows to see outside either.
This man, he makes me feel uncomfortable.
"If you still choose to fight for me after finding your dream. I will carry you by my side forever," he said as he left for his seat.
"You're welcome, Nero. Make yourself at home, and the others will tell you all else you need to know. You're dismissed."
And like that, I had joined. I didn't need to explain to him, convince him, or even beg. He looked through me, literally and metaphorically and accepted me.
I am glad, my mind is at ease, but that man. Our leader, Evander Alaric, I don't trust him.