Forgotten-ENG

5. A military management

Ori was still in shock from the situation. It must be said that it was not an ordinary day. While watching the procession parade, he had encountered a strange man who turned out to have blown up a barracks. Ori tried to pursue him before being knocked out by the explosion of a portal. He then woke up in the royal palace and attended an audience with the king, Matriarch Lola, Champion Drakus, and a hybrid animagi. Quite a surprising day; he would have to tell Hana about it! She must be so worried.

Ori was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed he had just interrupted a discussion among his fellow audience members. They were walking down a palace corridor, accompanied by a young girl, apparently the king's granddaughter named Flore, and followed by a guard. Night was falling, and the moons reflected their light on Flore's bluish cape. She, at the front of the group, had stopped in the glow of a stained glass window. In fact, everyone had stopped and was looking at Ori a few steps behind. Flore smiled at him and asked,

"Who is Hana? Is she with you at the orphanage?"

Ori, embarrassed to have interrupted everyone (or perhaps for thinking so much about Hana), blushed and lowered his head, hoping his long hair would hide his rosy cheeks.

"Yes, she's a friend. Sorry, did I interrupt you? What were you saying?"

They waited for Ori to join them before continuing to walk. Ylva, with a smirk, put her arm around Ori's shoulders.

"It's nothing, don't worry. We were just discussing that we might not agree with the king's decision. As for me, I got permission to go after that man and stop him, even if it requires the use of force."

General Kuwanger raised surprised eyebrows.

"And when did you get that permission exactly?"

"During the audience, Mother communicated her concerns to me. We have other ways of communicating than speaking. It saves us from opening our mouths to say nonsense... like provoking our own leader, for example."

Nochi raised his hand.

"Ah! I think they're talking about me. Sorry, but it was too tempting. And I was frustrated by the other fugitive. I don't like being left unsatisfied."

Ylva shook her head, visibly exasperated.

"More misplaced male pride..."

"You know, pride is a human trait," Kuwanger replied. "You're proud to be a Valkyrie, to protect your 'mother' at the risk of your life..."

"Of course! I dedicate my life to the queen mother. I'm ready to die for her."

"Well, not everyone is capable of that. So keep being proud. But let our poor brainless comrade be proud of his big muscles. Anyway, it won't be very useful to him."

Ori noticed a hint of sadness in the general's gaze. But the group then took a spiral staircase, and the general, leading with Flore, lowered his head and moved forward. Once at the bottom of the stairs, they entered a small room with walls filled with shelves and wardrobes. Some were empty, others filled with personal belongings and clothes, and others with uniforms. Before any questions, Flore explained,

"These are the employees' changing rooms. We'll exit through a back door to avoid being seen."

"Good idea," said Kuwanger. "But before we go out, we should decide on our next steps."

"What do you mean?" asked Ozan.

"Well, Ylva seems determined to go hunt down our man. As for me, I'm retired, so I have nothing better to do..."

Nochi cut in, "I'm not letting him get away either. I have a brawl to finish with him."

"Thanks for cutting me off for the third time today, small head, but yes. That's the point I wanted to address. I don't know about you, Ozan, or even Ori, but we might as well join forces to search for him, even if I'm not thrilled about traveling with a village idiot."