Cato's POV
It has been around 2 weeks since I had settled into this life. I had good friends in Lance and Winsley and had made some enemies like Joyce.
Surprisingly I was mostly accepted by the other people here. I even got to talk more with Yuro who apologised for what had happened when we first met
Currently I was just sitting outside on the grass at the courtyard of the fort with Winsley who was quietly reading as I trained my dew sensing
Dew sensing was where you feel the intricacies in the dew of the surroundings and read them. Feeling dew in the environment and most of all, people.
A valuable ability that also prevents us from getting ambushed.
It's hard to maintain it 24/7 but sudden changes in dew are noticeable for sure
"You are doing quite well, I'd say in terms of control you are growing very fast. I envy your talent." Winsley commented fleetingly as she turned another page
"What can I say, I want to catch up with you as fast as possible" I say with a small smile at which nods and continues to read
Winsley still didn't show much if any expression but even then, the air around her is a lot lighter, it feels brighter
I feel like I have made an actual genuine friend
"Yo yo~ how are the two of you loners doin~" Lance said, popping out from the tree that me and Winsley were sitting in as I flinch from his sudden appearance
"Lance I swear to god someday I will KICK YOU" I say with anger at which Lance just laughs
"Oh my~ So flustered at being caught alone with Winsley I see?~" Lance said with a smirk as I send a small Kura his way which he dodges easily
"Oh it's time for me to leave~ can't disturb the two of you lovebirds now can I~" Lance said, walking away and waving at us
"I am gonna get him someday…" I grumble to myself as Winsley looked at the situation with amusement
"Geez…. I can never see him coming no matter what.." I said with a sweat drop at which Winsley sighed
"Truth be told, I can't either. He is far too good at sneaking" Winsley said formally at which I nodded my head as if it was a matter of fact
The topic soon shifted and we just chatted about dew and other things as eventually the night came
Everyone fell asleep under the moonlight but I found myself waking up, my throat feeling incredibly parched
I got my hands on the pitcher but it was empty. I slam it down in frustration as I get up and dragged myself to the kitchen
It was around 2 am, the the corridors empty
I moved down the fort, the hallway's eerily quiet
I moved down slowly, my footsteps being the only sound I heard.
It was weird to walk around so late, the place felt empty to the point it was unnerving.
I arrive at the kitchen where I take a glass of water from the tank and drink it, letting myself feel the cool water go down my throat
Stepping out of the kitchen I felt a shiver down my spine.
Something…. Something was incredibly wrong. It was as if the dew in the air itself was telling me to be cautious.
My legs shaken as I felt my gaze linger at certain spots longer, feeling that…. Someone or something was there moments prior
I dragged my feet on the tiles as I held my breath, quietly moving around as I spotted a shadowy figure.
A person in a robe moving….. Entering the girls' side of the quarters.
What…. Was that…
I couldn't ask questions, I began trailing the person as quietly as possible. Suppressing my dew in case they could sense it.
Suppressing my dew was helpful to hide against someone who could sense it but…. It also meant I couldn't use it even remotely without exposing myself
The figure was much farther than me as I slowly followed into the girls quarters and saw the robed figure picking the lock of…. Winsley's room.
The name plate… was Winsley Gelum.
What could that person possibly want with Winsley?
I take a deep breath, desperately trying to calm my currently out of control heart as I call out
"HEY, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" I yell out, trying to awake the whole girl's quarters as the perpetrator looked at me in shock
"LUVA KEROSA" I speak out loud as try to take a hold of them by the foot but they just cut my water rope with a knife
"EVERYONE WAKE UP, THERE'S AN INTRUDER!!!" I yelled out as 3 girls walked out immediately, at least the 3 trainees living in this part of the quarters
Winsley, Yuro and another one whose name is Orsie
"What the…." Orsie said as the cloaked person lunged toward her with their knife pointed out to stab them but….
"Igleya." Winsley said as the cloaked figure quickly changed directions and began cutting the hurls of ice shards Winsley sent their way
"LUVA KEROSA!"I tried to bind them again as I worldlessly used a Kura from behind them which they were able to dodge with ease.
They dodged my rope in addition to that as they immediately rushed toward Winsley at blinding speeds, faster than even Yuro at her top speed but Winsley reacted faster.
"Igleya asfosas" As the perpetrator was captured in ice, completely encased as their momentum was reduced to 0, only their head visible which was hidden by their hood
"Who are you?" Winsley asked him as the other 2 girls finally got their stuff together and also approached the cloaked person
The cloaked person refused to speak as Winsley just took off his hood as we see…..
"Joyce!?" The girls and I spoke in surprise as Winsley just narrowed her eyes and stared quietly.
Seeing his face exposed, Joyce quickly yet quietly broke through the ice and ran away, me and Winsley looked at the place he was going and sent a few spells his way but to no avail
He was able to escape easily, leaving the grounds of Crydwell fort.
"Wow…. I knew he disliked you but I never thought he'd go for straight murder…." Yuro said as Orsie just shyly nodded
I looked at Winsley and she knew what I was thinking
"That most likely wasn't Joyce." I said firmly as Winsley nodded
"What? We clearly saw it was Joyce though!" Yuro said, almost scared of what the case was as I shook my head
"Joyce is a prime suspect but…. I don't think he could have done that, physically speaking. Either he is hiding his real strength and that weapon… or we have a person who took Joyce's face knowing that Joyce has disdain for Winsley." I explained at which Winsley nodded, continuing for me
"In addition to that, it means that the suspect is within us. Someone inside the academy must've either hired someone or been that….. Assassin. Meaning it's a high chance that someone amongst the trainees is plotting to kill me." Winsley commented as I just shook my head in disbelief
A….. attempted murder? From someone I have been training with for 2 weeks?
"W-wait, h-how do you know i-its one of the Trainees!?" Orsie asked, exasperated at the accusation
"The feud between me and Joyce is only known amongst the trainees and Sergeant Horven. I don't believe that matters such as squabbles within the trainees are much of a gossip." she explains as I slowly nod, still in disbelief at the situation.
We…. we have to deal with an assassin. That wasn't right. I feel scared. What if they kill me for messing with their plans?
"Cato, thank you." Winsley said, my face snapping toward her in surprise
"H-huh?" I asked as she blinked
"For… saving my life? If you hadn't awoken us, there is a big chance I would have been killed in my sleep. How'd you wake up exactly when the cloaked person would strike?" Winsley said as I just shook my head
"I don't know….. I felt my throat was dry and pitcher was empty so I went to the kitchen to get water and saw the assassin…" I explained myself as Winsley nodded
"Let's call it God's will and immediately report to the sergeant." Winsley said as I nodded
We walked up the floors, my legs shaking a little from the encounter as we made it to Sergeant Horven's quarters, the air still eerie as we knock
"Sergeant Horven, we must report something of upmost importance." Winsley said while knocking on his door loudly.
One knock
Two knock
Three knock
….
After a minute of knocking, I started to feel sick.
He was a military man, he would've been awake before the second knock
Winsley opened the door as the sight made our bloods run cold.
The room was painted in red as the scent of blood entered our nose as soon as we opened the door.
Sergeant Horven's body mangled and bloodied. Left completely in waste as he was made into a skewered mess.
His body filled with stabs, I doubt he even defended himself.
If he even could.
Orsie had fainted at the sight, Yuro looked very uncomfortable and Winsley just had her eyes widened.
"We need to find the Major. He is the highest posting stationed at the Fort. The rest of the high ranking personnel are at the front lines." Winsley said, her eyes not leaving the bloody mess in front of us as I just tried to catch my breath.
My heart was trying to beat it's way out of my body
What the fuck….
What is happening in this fort?