Researcher's Journal: A Journey Across Pyrrhia

Chapter 22: Captured Once Again, Interrogation

A/N: If I had a nickel for every time Hornbill was knocked out or fell unconscious and then woke up in a cell, I'd have three nickels. Which is not a lot, but it's funny that it happened on three separate occasions.

A/N No.2: Sorry, this chapter is shorter than usual. Had to take college entrance exams, so I had no time for writing. Had to make this chapter quickly, so it might be a bit worse in quality. Might edit it later.

A/N No.3: *Reading the interrogation part* Uhh... well that was a lot darker than expected. I didn't mean to, it just happened.

Anyway, on with the story!

(Day 11) 6:30 pm, SeaWing Military Outpost north of Diamond Spray Delta

As the sun dipped below the horizon, it cast an amber glow across the landscape, Hornbill observed Laguna advancing toward the clearing in front of the massive gate of the SeaWing camp. Positioned in a crouched stance a distance behind her, he concealed himself amidst the dense foliage of the surrounding forest.

The SeaWing military camp was bathed in the diminishing sunlight. Despite the approaching dusk, vigilant guards patrolled the area, their presence coincided with Laguna's earlier comment on the camp's possible heightened security. Minutes earlier, as they approached the camp, the duo had to navigate past patrols, narrowly avoiding detection.

Surveying the camp's defenses, Hornbill noted it had all the basic fortifications. A formidable wall, constructed from towering logs, encircled the compound. Examining them closer, he noticed perfectly spaced pins dotting the wood. "Possibly reinforced with pins attached to massive boulders behind it, creating a facade of a weak wooden wall," his mind whispered, finding their design and approach to defenses interesting. His gaze wandered along the wall's surface, scrutinizing the tops of the structures within.

During this inspection, his keen eyes picked up on distinctive scorch marks and signs of damage scattered across the wooden barrier, some resembling the aftermath of explosive devices. The hallmark patterns of an explosion were evident, with a distinct fanned-out arrangement around the detonation point. Yet, what truly seized his attention was the aftermath etched onto the wall – blackened and embedded into the wood were hundreds of needles.

Besides that, sections of the wall and the gate exhibited a newer or lighter shade of wood, suggesting recent replacements. As his attention shifted to other structures within the camp, a pattern emerged—each building bore the same marks of burn damage. "Just like what Laguna said. SkyWings attacked months ago, but the reports never mentioned they had bombs." He thought while sifting through his mental archives of weaponry reports. "But the marks don't look like black powder, they should have more soot and grime. But those needles... maybe a type of nail bomb? No, that's a war crime." He thought before pausing and shrugging. "If their queen is willing to break international laws on war for entertainment, I wouldn't be surprised if they did the same when trying to win a battle."

Returning his focus to the towering walls, he identified the silhouettes of SeaWings traversing walkways atop them. Patrols, always in pairs, wielded tridents, one equipped with an additional shield. Towering watchtowers dotted the compound strategically, affording a comprehensive vantage point with two lookouts each.

His examination of the camp was cut short when he noticed Laguna lighting up her bioluminescent scales in the darkening light, essentially making her a spotlight easily seen by their lookouts. Her move proved to have its desired effect as Hornbill heard shouts and flashes of light from the watchtowers. At the same time, he noticed higher activity from the SeaWings in the compound. A few seconds later, the whole camp was on full alert as more shouts and flashes of commands erupted from inside. On the walls, multiple silhouettes moved quickly as they went to their stations behind parapets on top of the walls, ready for a possible attack.