Stick War: Inamorta and beyond

Chapter 55: Gone

16th April, 8.00am

Mark's POV

My vision blurred as I woke up from my slumber. I sit up and looked around the tent. Ace's stuff is gone, his bag, sword and clothes. What? Could it be that we're leaving already?!

I got up quickly and rushed outside the tent. In front of me stood Kim, Elizabeth and Grace. But Ace is missing and they all had a sad expression. What could have happened?

"Hey, where's Ace?" I asked.

They looked at me and shook their heads.

"Ace left a while ago. He went back to the Order Empire alone." Grace replied.

"What?!" I exclaimed. "Why?!"

"It is his decision to leave and I approve of it." Kim said.

"Why did you approve that crazy decision?!" I shouted.

"It's Ace's decision and we all should respect it. I'll let the higher ups know of this." Kim ordered.

"Well, can you at least tell me why he left?" I asked.

Kim looked down and turned away. "Sorry, but he told me to keep it a secret from all of you."

"What?! Kim Ackerman, you got to be kidding me!" I retorted and stomped towards him.

"Enough Mark! I'm sure Ace told Kim a reason that was reasonable!" Grace shouted.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. I turned back and headed towards my tent.

"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm gonna find him." I said.

"Don't bother. Ace told me to stop any of you if any of you tired to find him." Kim said. "Mark, cool your head. I'm sure he'll return to us soon."

After hearing those words, I cooled myself down and turned back to them.

"Sorry Kim, I guess I lost myself there. I just couldn't let one of my teammates disappear for no reason." I said.

"Never mind Mark, I as well tried to stop him." Kim said.

"Alright, I guess we'll just have to wait till my rival come back to us." I sighed and smiled.

They then smiled as well. Elizabeth came over and patted my shoulder.

"Yeah, and when he's back you can beat him and tell him what an idiot he is." She joked.

"Yeah. Haha." I laughed and the rest followed.

Out of POV

Kim's POV

Ace... Good luck out there.

A few minutes ago

I woke up and crawled out of my sleeping bag. I saw Mark snoring away while Ace is packing up his stuff.

"Ace? We're not moving out so soon." I said.

"Kim, no, captain, I have something important to tell you." Ace said in a serious tone.

When he uses 'captain' instead of my name, I realised that he has something important to tell me.

"Alright Lieutenant Ace, we'll speak outside." I replied.

He nodded and went out with his bags. I followed him. Outside I saw that Grace and Elizabeth are already up cooking breakfast.

"Good morning you two." Grace greeted while Elizabeth nodded.