"What the hell? Are you reading?".
Ace sits up and closes her book and the looks to the doorway and as expected it was Asher. Surprisingly he wasn't too upset about how long she's been gone, hell, he didn't even notice for the first full day because Kor was too busy making him 'pay' for leaving after he came back when Ace told him to leave before she ventured out.
"Why yes, I am.", Ace says sitting the books and journals down and gets up to walk out with Asher, "damn, that lady found out so much, she keeps mentioning a different civilization that's further out. Human of course but they are fucked up.". It was true, when she got back to the top level she spent all her time reading and analyzing Kaths research. All this stuff about other people, is so, interesting.
"Like it says that these "people" are basically building an army it seems like, it keeps mentioning something about building warriors." Ace says while walking side-by-side with Asher who doesn't seem to believe a single thing she's saying. Ace continues to tell everything she learned about this so called army in the making. About how they supposedly take in other people against their will and basically warp them into creatures who go by their command. The disturbing part is not only do they warp these victims mentally, but physically too. Replacing body parts with something more mechanical.
"Do you really believe that shit?", Asher says while playfully pushing her to the side.
"Well, yeah actually I do.", she says in a serious tone. Of course she believes it, what's not to believe? The world is so fucked up as it is it wouldn't be surprising if this new cult is a thing.
"Whatever, I'm just glad we don't have to do anything that deals with the faction right now, man, Kor really fucking kicked my ass the other day. God combat training is such a bitch.", Asher complains as he gently rubs his still sore shoulder. Ace gives a small laugh as she remembers back to when she was new, although her training wasn't as exhausting as Ashers, he goes with a sword which needs a lot more strength unlike Ace and her bow.
"So what happened to that lady you were talking about?", he asks curiously.
The both stop at one of the some view points that look over the entire place. Ace almost forgot about Kath.
"Oh yeah when I got her in she wouldn't stop following me and I couldn't have that you know? So I convinced her to stay and hopefully find something to do in her free time since I took her things, but the only way that she'll stay is if I gave her the stupid bird I shot down.", she says, missing the bird, the thing was actually pretty cool.
"You saw a bird!", Asher loudly says in disbelief
"Yeah but it wasn't normal. It was all corrupted looking.", after saying that Ace realized what the bird actually was. It was one of the creatures that must've belonged to the people who are further out! She remembers reading about them in one of the books. How did I not realize this sooner? The reason that bird wasn't normal was because they basically made their own creatures, for a kind of testing. The same testing that they supposedly use on their human soldiers, the same method that forces/controls those soldiers.
Shit, shit, shit I have to find Kath. She has to know something about this right? Hell, she wrote the damn book.
---
Ace quickly excuses herself from Ashers presence, he of course doesn't care. She runs quickly to the lower levels were she last let her live for herself. She could be anywhere by now. She wonders around for a while, occasionally asking people she passes asking if they seen someone who resembled her features. But as expected either the citizens didn't know or just pretended that she wants there to avoid having to stop. Deep in frustration, Ace slides down against a building wall and let's out a sigh. Listening to the noises from inside the building she recognizes that it's something similar to a bar, people shouting, the sound of game chips hitting the table followed by either cheers or groans. Due to boredom Ace decides to walk inside, it's getting cold out anyways and a warm place would be a nice place to think.
