Welcome To My Dark Side

Chapter 8 Snow, Sweat and Splinters

The next morning, Lyria came across  Fractureverse Azura standing outside with her hands on her hips. Lyria had forgotten all about Azura's warning after the drama last night. "Lyria, give me the key." Fractureverse Azura said bluntly. Lyria was annoyed with herself that she had allowed herself to get into the same position she had been yesterday. "But my s.." Lyria tried to say but was interrupted before she could finish. "Don't argue! We had an agreement. Chores for key. Now who's going to do all that work? These are your responsibilities not mine." Fractureverse Azura snapped. Reluctantly Lyria took out the key seeing that she had a point. Fractureverse Azura snatched the key and marched towards the barracks presumably to make sure that Lyria was now locked out of her room again.

"Captain Lyria I have heard you haven't done any of your work lately." Fractureverse Hilda screeched as she saw Lyria standing around. "Good morning Commander. I did try to explain to you that I needed to do my..." Lyria started to say. "You shouldn't need to talk to me." Snapped the commander. "But Commander I couldn't do my jobs if I was with you all afternoon and I was with Officer Vimir..." she replied but was once again interrupted. "Then you should think about your priorities more. Right now I need you to chop some firewood for the tavern." Fractureverse Hilda shouted crossly. "But that's not my job. I have more important responsibilities to attend to." Lyria argued. "And it's not my responsibility to have to babysit you!" Yelled Fractureverse Hilda in response. Lyria was angry that she had been referred to as a baby again, however she did not say anything because she did not want to cause herself more problems.

She had begun walking towards the log shed when she noticed that Commander Hilda was following her. "Commander, why are you following me?" She asked. "Because you cannot be trusted." Replied Fractureverse Hilda. Lyria remained silent for a moment as they continued walking. "Would it not be better if I was to help with the construction of another airship rather than just chopping firewood?" She suggested. "And what would we need another airship for? We have plenty as it is and what use do we have for them in the Nether?" Fractureverse Hilda said, slightly amused by what was to her an insane suggestion. She opened the doors to the woodshed, which was located behind the tavern. Fractureverse Hilda motioned for Lyria to go inside.

Lyria went inside and remembered what Azura had told her yesterday and decided not to question the commander's strange response. "I expect all this to be finished unlike the rest of your work." Fractureverse Hilda told her as she showed her the huge amount of logs that needed doing. Lyria was horrified by the huge pile. She was exhausted after yesterday and desperately wanted an excuse to get out of this. "Commander if I am to do all this then who's going to do my backdated work because when I ordered my squadron to help they refused and were completely disrespectful." She explained to Commander Hilda. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll have a word with them and in the meantime you'd better start chopping because I want all this done when I come back to check on you." Fractureverse Hilda said sternly. "Yes Commander." Lyria said sadly. At least Commander Hilda would talk to her troops even if she was going to be very hard on them but Lyria still had not managed to get out of this dreadful chore.

Try as she might, Lyria could not even leave a mark on a log she had been repeatedly hitting with the axe. "Break you stupid log!" She yelled in frustration. No matter how hard she swung the axe the log still remained in one piece. "Argh... is there some sort of technique or something?" She asked herself, slamming the axe into the log again. The log stayed exactly how it was which only irritated Lyria more. She looked over at the overwhelming numbers of logs and saw a mallet resting at the edge of the pile. 'Hmm what if I can hit the axe with the mallet the same way I can hit a nail with a hammer?' She thought as she went over to pick the mallet up.

Striking the mallet down onto the axe she had managed to wedge the axe into the log, however the log still did not split. Lyria tried to pull the axe out to try again but found that it was stuck. The only thing she could do was to keep hammering the axe into the log in the hope that it would split. Finally after a few more attempts the log broke into two. Despite Lyria's new method, she was no closer to fully tackling the endless pile to her right. She had been at it for hours with only a small pile of chopped logs to show for it. Commander Hilda had not yet returned but Lyria already felt the commander was not going to be impressed with her efforts. Lyria's hands were covered in blisters which added to the pain she was in from the previous day's injuries.

"What have you been doing this whole time?" Fractureverse Hilda demanded as she entered the shed causing Lyria to jump and almost dropped the axe she was holding. "I have sorted out your troops but when I come back I find out that you've bearly even started." Added the commander while she motioned to the small pile of smaller logs which Lyria had managed to chop. "Commander I can't do anymore. I'm exhausted and I've been struggling to split them as I'm not strong enough." Lyria panted. "Well in that case I will find someone more suitable and you can help me with another task." Fractureverse Hilda smiled. Although Lyria was very grateful that she would not have to continue chopping firewood, she was not happy about the fact that she would be assigned to another task rather than being allowed to rest.

Fractureverse Hilda had given Lyria clear instructions to meet her by the blacksmiths and wait for her. 'I wonder what Commander Hilda wants me to help with.' Lyria thought standing outside the blacksmiths. She did not have long to wait before Fractureverse Hilda came into view. For some reason she was carrying a spade with her. "Why have you shovel Commander?" Asked Lyria was much confused. "I need you to come and dig something for me." Fractureverse Hilda said calmly. Lyria was still puzzled but agreed to follow the commander without further questioning. "Here you can carry it." Fractureverse Hilda said passing her the spade. She took the spade and followed behind until they ended up near the same place in the forest they had been yesterday.

Lyria carried the spade all the way up until this point where she was now letting it drag along the floor because she was so tied. "Don't drag that on the floor! You'll damage it!" Commander Hilda yelled at her. She groaned lifting it off the floor. "How much further Commander?" She whined. Fractureverse Hilda stopped for a moment and scanned her surroundings. "Here. You can start digging here." She exclaimed. Lyria did as she was told and began digging. She had learnt to keep quiet now and not to ask questions or talk back.

The hole Lyria had dug was now very deep but it had taken her hours. She was beyond exhausted. Fractureverse Hilda had supervised the whole time and paid no attention to Lyria's pleads. Not once had the commander allowed her to rest. "Commander please can I stop. I'm starving, tired and I'm frozen." Lyria begged. Fractureverse Hilda did not say anything and ignored her. "Why do you need this hole dug in the first place?" She asked. "You'll learn." Was the response she got from her. Lyria sighed. She was sitting down inside the hole, which was by now deep enough for her to stand up in without being able to see over the top.

Any ounce of energy she had left was rapidly decreasing. "Commander please let me come out of the hole." She tried begging the commander again. "Keep digging Captain Lyria because that's the only way out." Was the unusual and illogical response Lyria got. In thinking that Commander Hilda would let her out if she dug just a little bit more, Lyria got up and grabbed the shovel. She forced the spade into the ground but she collapsed completely burnt out. Seeing what had happened Fractureverse Hilda finally granted Lyria permission to come out of the hole but she would not help her get out. Lyria grasped the ledge with her hands and tried to scrabble out but she had no strength left. The edge of hole kept crumbling away each time she tried to climb out.

It seemed to Lyria like she was never going to get out. She was getting more and more desperate. Eventually she was able to haul half of her body out but her muscles had given in by then. She looked up at Fractureverse Hilda who continued to watch her struggle with no intention of helping. Lyria was angry that she had been forced to dig for no apparent reason and now she was left to suffer. If she hadn't been so burnt out she would have said exactly what she thought of this horrible and pointless task. She could feel herself going numb and she was scared that she would get hypothermia.

Eventually Fractureverse Hilda got bored of waiting for Lyria to haul herself out. Fractureverse Hilda chose to grab her by the arms and pulled her to her feet. Lyria felt like she was on the verge of unconscious as she was failing to stand up straight. She stumbled into the commander, who had to catch her to prevent her from falling. While Lyria remained conscious, Fractureverse Hilda had to help her walk back. Given her terrible state, Fractureverse Hilda ought to have carried her but instead Lyria had to half walk and be half dragged to the town.