Steel boots clanked against steel floors.
Kaiden walked in silence, letting his steps echo against the sterile walls of the underground facility he was escorted to. Harsh white lights buzzed overhead, strip-lining the corridors in an endless procession of illumination that gave no warmth. The air was unnervingly cold, scrubbed clean of even the faintest scent of life.
On either side, armed guards marched in perfect rhythm with helmets hiding their faces and weapons at the ready. A serious lack of firearms could mean only one thing: these were not soldiers of old age, but awakened combatants. However, they were an extremely disciplined bunch, not the chaotic ones often found in guilds.
No, these ones have been serving their countries even before the mana apocalypse hit Earth. Every move of theirs spoke of rigid protocol, the kind that left no room for jokes, comfort, or humanity.
Guards are trusted with the protection of something very important.
