Brokenly, Restored

Chapter #12

(Pete's POV)

     The Liblicen, or more commonly called The Sorcerer kingdom, port city gets closer and closer in the afternoon of the next day. I didn't sleep very much, but Choco clonked out in the bow of the ship from yesterday's lack of sleep. Matt just turned himself off as usual. He asked us if we were afraid last night. I feel terrible if that's what he thinks. Matt would never hurt us, and I'm not afraid of him at all.

     With a signed 'goodbye' to Captain Zephra, we're the first ones off the ship. Choco has made sure that Matt has his black cloak back on. I've gotten use to seeing hybrids from the island, but now it's weird to see so few humans. The Sorcerer kingdom's castle rises up in the distance. The capitol and port are part of the same massive city unlike GoldenEye. On the other hand, both ports seem just as busy. Nobody even spares a glance at us after we get off the ship and join the crowd.

     "Wow. I think even Matt could walk around in this crowd unnoticed", Choco says, noting how nobody is looking at us.

     "Did you see the castle? It's smaller then the one in GoldenEye, but a lot taller. How do you think all those towers stay up?", I can't help but keep stealing glances at the looming structure in the distance.

     We walk down the wooden dock and past all the anchored ships. There's a lot more ships that are sitting empty than being used. Matt walks behind us, but tells us which way to turn at the dock's intersections. He's still dead-set on getting to those coordinates. What's so important that we had to come all this way? I don't think he even knows. Choco's worried about a second lab, but I don't think Matt would ever let that happen, even if he doesn't care now.

     There's three different spots that the docks end in the city. Matt directs us to a the farthest one on the left. It leads to a part of the city away from the castle. As we get closer, I can't help but notice the two soldiers standing on either side of the dock. Both of them carry spears, and they wear light chainmail armor. They watch us approach with wary expressions. One of them is another Zemrlt. His eyes are a dead give away. The other one has a pair of brown, feathered wings that come through slits in his armor. A Caelum? Captain Zephra thought Choco was a Caelum with his feathers......

     "Rank and Number", the Caelum steps in front of us at the dock's end. He looks at us, waiting for someone to speak up.

     "Rank?", Choco looks at them in confusion. The two guards exchange looks before the Caelum speaks again. Both of them are holding their spears a little more tightly.

     "Your hybrid Rank and Number?", he looks us all up and down, "All of the Sorcerer kingdom's people have Ranks and Numbers so we can document who leaves and returns".

     "What if you're from another continent? How can we get in then?". Choco asks them. Both guards are confused about how a hybrid could be not be from the Sorcerer kingdom originally. The Zemrlt speaks up after a moment.

     "Y-You would ha-have to buy a vis-visitor's pass. You can g-get one at the main g-gate", he explains, pointing across the the water to the middle dock. Choco grimaces at the word buy, remembering how little money we've brought with us. Now I feel back for asking for chocolate yesterday. We might not even be let into the city.

     "Unacceptable", the guards don't register Matt's words until he reaches out and effortlessly snatches both of their spears from their hands. I jump a little, and Choco can't even protest before Matt snaps both of the spears in half. He drops them, and the four pieces roll a little at his feet.

     "Well now you've done it.......", Choco mumbles. Both the guards stare, frozen while Matt walks past them without a backwards glance. I follow after him a little hesitantly, Choco creeping with me. The Caelum finally gets a hold of himself and blows on a shrill whistle hanging around his neck.

     As if summoned from thin air, three more soldiers come running from around a building with their own spears held aloft. Matt braces his feet and lifts his metal arm to unlock his cannon. Choco freaks out, grabbing onto him and trying to get him to run. I grab onto his other arm, and it takes both of us shouting at him before he'll move. Matt could start a massacre if he fights these guards. They don't stand a chance against his strength, and he doesn't know any better to stop.

      Choco runs ahead with one hand pulling Matt, who only runs fast enough to match the pace. He doesn't care about escaping. I'm panting and running behind them. I can hear the guards yelling behind us. My heartbeat is in my ears, and all I can do is to try and focus on running. We dart through some allies, but none of us have any idea where a good spot to hide is.

     "Over here!", I almost don't hear the girl's voice yelling at me, but I turn my head to see her waving from a side ally. I don't know who she is or if she's actually trying to help, but something in me immediately trusts her.

     "Choco, come this way!", I skid to a stop and Choco looks back at me in confusion. There's no time to explain, but I run the other way and join the girl in the ally. Choco looks back at the guards before he runs over with Matt in tow. Then we're ruining again, this time with a complete stranger as our guide.