𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

52.. (start) a new home

As the group entered the base, they were guided further into the heart of the Iron Lion's operations.

The building resembled a hybrid of a modernized castle and a military base. The walls were made of sturdy, grey bricks that gave the place an impenetrable look.

Thick, oak wood doors and tall, arched windows adorned the structure, adding a touch of grandeur to the overall design. The floors were lined with dark granite that echoed with every footstep.

Flickering torches illuminated the interior, casting shadows along the walls.

Large, imposing tapestries depicting the history of the Iron Lion hung on the walls, each one a testament to their past struggles and triumphs.

They wheeled the stretcher on which little Prim laid, into one of the medical rooms. The room itself was fairly well lit, and equipped with all the necessary medical facilities.

An old man, the base's doctor, entered the room, followed by a few nurses.

Bea stepped forward, "Is she gonna be alright?"

The doctor nodded, reassuringly. "Yes, she's a strong little one. We'll do our best to treat her kidney infection. It might take some time, but she'll recover."

Then, the head nurse, a stern but caring woman, added, "We'll need you kids to wait outside while the doctor examines her. We'll call you back in once we're done."

Vincent, who held Vivian's hand with a tight grip, spoke up, "Is it alright if just one of us stay with her?"

The head nurse eyed Bea. "Are you her mother?"

Bea shook her head. "No, I'm her older sister."

The nurse nodded, and then turned to Vincent, "And who are you to her, if you don't mind me asking?"

Vincent swallowed, "I'm not related to her, but I've taken care of her for a while now. She's like a daughter to me."

The head nurse softened, understanding. "I see. Well, considering the circumstances, I think it won't be a problem if you stay. But we can't take anyone else, understood?"

Vincent nodded, "Thank you." He was about to enter the room when he stopped and turned to the rest. "You guys can wait for me in the communal area, alright? I'll be with you in a bit."

Bea embraced his middle, "Okay. But call for us immediately once it is done, please."

Vincent hugged Bea back, a reassuring smile on his lips. "I will, I promise. And don't worry too much, she's in good hands here."

As the group of young ones left the medical room, Matt, Luke, and Hugo took the initiative to lead the others through the Iron Lion base. They were clearly excited to show off their old home.

Matt led the group, pointing out various areas of the base.

"That there, the training room, that's where we spent most of our time... and over here," he gestured to a large open area, "is the Mess Hall. That's where we used to gather after training sessions for our meals."

Luke chimed in, "And don't forget the armory, it's just down the hall. That's where we trained with weapons and stuff."

Hugo added eagerly, "Oh, and the recreation room! We used to play games and relax in there."

"This looks like Hogwarts 2.0." Aris smiled from besides Luke.

Matt chuckled, "Ha, never heard it compared to Hogwarts before, but I suppose there's a resemblance."

Luke chimed in, "Yeah, instead of magic wands, we had guns, knives, and fists."

Hugo joked, "And instead of the sorting hat, we had Janson."