Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

MEMOIRS OF HAVAS [14]

(THE DAY HAVAS IS BREACHED)

'Dare to question the extraordinary. Roll the dice of the unknown and chance discovery or ruin. Great men are only great because they took the risk— take your place among them.'

-An extract from traditional Havasian scriptures.

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MEMOIRS OF HAVAS

14

Wall Maria, North Region, Havas, The Krüger Tunnels

Two years had passed.

It had been two years since the siege had failed— two years since the last soldier left the tunnels, two years since Warren had last seen Lorelai.

The transports sat empty; the weapons were laid to rest, the great metal corridors empty beneath the earth. His life's work had been erased from Havas' consciousness as quickly as it had appeared.

But something had kept him from leaving.

Warren had always liked the quiet. He'd always sought out that particular type of silence that surrounded you when deep underground.

It reminded him of his childhood. It made him remember all those days he'd spent on his hands and knees, scrounging around in the mines of O'Haen.

Back then, gold had seemed like a luxury, like salvation. Now, it meant little more to him than pocket change.

War was a profitable business; Warren could tell you that much.

He'd been living in the Krüger Tunnels for near two years. It was a quiet, lonely existence, filled mainly with ongoing work and muttered conversations to his AI, Hephaestus.

On the surface, Warren's name was shrouded in disgrace. The failure of the siege had made him rather unpopular. But nonetheless, he remained the leader of Havas in Lorelai's stead.

He might have thought to return to high-society, start over, try to fix things— he'd always been good at that.

But, high society didn't feel the same without her. It had lost the shiny glow that had brought him here in the first place.

He thought about her often. It was hard to stop.

Warren still left Lorelai voice notes— saved to Hephaestus' memory bank and hidden away, never to be sent.

It was a stupid habit, the last surviving remanents of a better time. But, as they say, old habits die hard.

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"Hephaestus, new voice note," Warren said, spinning in his desk chair. "Mark as... December 12th, Year 843."

"Yes, sir." A faint beep sounded over the speakers.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly. What was he doing?

"Lorelai..." Warren cleared his throat. "Lorelai, Lorelai. Why am I recording this? Look..."

He trailed off.

"I have no expectations, zip, nada. Alright? But, I'll be in O'Haen tomorrow. I'm not there to see you, don't panic; your disdain for me is loud and clear. I'm there on business." He tried to cease his rambling. "I thought perhaps... I don't know what I thought."

Warren sighed. This was stupid, even by his standards.

"Delete recording."

"Recording deleted."