Shaking Off the Shadow (2)
The moment they exchanged a few words, the sound of footsteps raced toward the door. Vivian quickly pulled away from the door. The door slammed open just in time, and Felipe slipped past with a sleeve pressed to her eyes. Cloud stared at her retreating back for a moment, stunned, then grabbed the handle of the door swinging wildly and pulled it shut. He scanned the room and locked eyes with the figure seated at the desk. “Why?” “Ah, no.” Vivian stepped inside and closed the door as if nothing had happened, her inner panic hidden behind a calm mask. She kept glancing at Cloud as she spoke. “Um…” “You were listening in, weren’t you?” “W-what? What are you talking about?” “What you said to Felipe.” “N-no, I didn’t hear a thing. Nothing at all from outside.” She tried to play it off, but Cloud’s knowing smile made it clear he already knew. “A secretary with a heavy mouth is the best kind. I want to share secrets with my boss, so you must never breathe a word of what you heard to anyone. Do you understand?” “O-of course! Do you think I’m some lightweight? I’m incredibly heavy-mouthed!” Vivian’s voice rose in a desperate attempt to sound convincing. Cloud chuckled softly. “I heard you yell ‘Cloud, you worthless trash!’ right in front of that inn a few months ago.” “W-what?!” Vivian’s eyes widened in shock and she clamped both hands over her mouth. “You weren’t supposed to hear that. I just said it because I was tired, hungry, or had too much to drink, or needed to keep my mouth shut. You know that, right?” She nodded vigorously as if she had the answer. “But… Felipe seemed really agitated. Should we really let her go like that? I’ve never seen her like that before. She’s always so icy cold.” “She’ll calm down later. Just soothe her gently. When you really get to know her, she’s actually a warm woman. She’ll understand everything even if she’s angry right now.” Cloud spoke casually, then asked, “So why did you come here? I didn’t order anything.” “Commander Vurmir called for you urgently.” “Urgently?” Cloud immediately headed to Vurmir’s office. “You summoned me, sir?” “You’re here.” Vurmir handed Cloud a thin folder as he approached the desk. “Read this.” Cloud flipped it open and his brow furrowed instantly. Familiar faces he hadn’t seen in ages appeared on the pages. Vurmir gazed out the window and continued. “There’s been a major uproar in the capital over irregularities in the academy admissions process. The professors and brokers involved, the parents who bribed for entry, and even the children and their spouses have been implicated under the principle of collective punishment. A royal decree has been issued to eliminate them all.” Vurmir turned back to Cloud. “As listed here, a group of those involved in the bribery has been spotted in our region as well.” “Alois Cotton, Margaret Cotton, Adelio Cotton, Em…” Cloud swallowed hard and barely managed to force out the name. “Emilia Cotton…” “Alois and Margaret aren’t aware of this yet. They’re probably still in Wes Village. But Adelio Cotton and his wife vanished the moment the capital investigation began. They couldn’t have gone far, though. They might already be somewhere nearby. Most fugitives, once they run out of money, rely on family, relatives, or friends to keep moving until they can safely return home. They may have already arrived.” Vurmir offered a faint smile. “You’re from Wes Village, aren’t you?” “Yes, sir.” “I’d like to recommend you to His Lordship. Lead your soldiers straight to Wes Village, arrest Alois and Margaret, then track down Adelio and his wife, bring them back here.” Cloud’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, eyes trembling. “…I’ll handle it. I’ll track them to the ends of the earth and bring them in no matter what.” Vurmir patted Cloud’s shoulder with a pleased grin. “You’re our hope, Cloud. This case is being watched closely even in the capital, so capture every last one without fail and raise the reputation of our Valua Army. If you succeed this time, His Lordship will be delighted, and you’ll be promoted again.” “Yes, sir!” Cloud clenched his teeth tight. *** “Listen up! All of you, get your gear on!” The 3rd Regiment’s advance toward a long journey left everyone in disarray. Besides the soldiers packing their own kits, Vivian busied herself arranging Cloud’s supplies and her own belongings. The next morning, Cloud, Tor, Tess, Lucy, Hilder, and a handful of soldiers set out from Valua at dawn. Speed was everything in a fugitive hunt. Cloud, who knew the route perfectly, led from the front, riding without rest for the entire day. As the sun dipped, he chose a suitable campsite and set up the tents. He ordered three soldiers to prepare a quick meal of sixty portions for Vivian. Evening fell. Cloud stood from the table after taking only a bite of bread and soup. The other officers exchanged puzzled glances at the untouched food. “He’s been quieter than usual today.” Tor, chewing his bread in the dark, muttered while watching Cloud’s retreating back. “I thought the same. Any idea what’s wrong with Tor?” Tor laughed with a mouthful of bread. “I have a guess.” “What?” “This place we’re heading is his brother’s hometown. That’s why.” “Hometown?” “Cloud is from Wes Village?” Tess rubbed his chin with a pitying look. “So the wanted list might include people Cloud knows…” “You’re worried?” “Don’t be. Brother isn’t soft-hearted at all. He’ll handle it perfectly once he gets there.” Tor finished speaking and glanced quietly at Hilder, who was still eating among the older soldiers. “How do you feel about your first combat mission? Exciting?” “Y-yes, it’s… fine.” She forced a smile, but her face was tense. “Ever killed anyone?” “No…” “Tsk, oh well. This mission will be rough on you. As a wanted-man hunt, you might have to kill. Be ready.” “If you slip up, you could die.” Lucy added a warning to Hilder. Then distant howls echoed through the night. “Uoooooooooo!” The soldiers looked toward the sound with sudden tension, but soon returned to eating as if nothing had happened. They were used to this. The alert was routine; the fear was absent. “I brought tea.” Vivian approached Cloud, who was alone in the distance staring at the moon. Cloud accepted the tray with a puzzled expression. “You’ve eaten, right?” “Yes.” “Then don’t stay up. No need for tea.” “I thought this tea would be perfect for the commander right now.” “This tea? What is it?” She walked around Cloud, carrying her own pack. “It’s chamomile tea. It helps when you can’t sleep because of worries at night. The gentle scent calms the mind and allows deep rest.” Cloud smiled faintly. “The tea doctor has arrived.” “I studied because I wanted to do my duty better.” “I’ll drink it.” Cloud sipped the steaming cup carefully, then took a deep breath and exhaled. “Ah, perfect. I feel strangely calm and at ease.” “See? It helps, right?” Vivian beamed. Cloud gazed at the moonlight with a grateful look. “If our lives could flow this peacefully…” “You’re right. Life without worries would be wonderful.” The next morning brought overcast skies and light drizzle from the start. A misty veil hung over the narrow path where the rain settled. Cloud’s group rode through the eerie drizzle without fear, as if demons might burst from the fog at any moment. At noon, while seeking shelter from the rain for their meal, they encountered a group of merchants approaching over the hill. At first they looked like ordinary peddlers hopping between villages. But as the group drew near, Cloud’s eyes sharpened. These were no ordinary travelers. He signaled Tor with a glance. Tor’s relaxed posture stiffened, lips pressing into a hard line. Tor then sent the same signal to Lucy and Tess. Cloud rode forward to the apparent leader of the merchants. The man wore a hooded cloak over a sea-leopard pelt. “Where are you coming from?” “From nearby Purau Village. We bought dried fish there.” Cloud glanced at the three wagons behind him. One merchant lifted a tarp to show the cargo inside. Large barrels filled each wagon. Cloud gestured behind him, and Lucy galloped ahead to inspect the barrels. She nodded silently, confirming they contained dried fish. “Do you know the way to Wes Village?” “Wes Village? If you mean—” While Cloud questioned the merchants, Tor and Tess whispered behind him. “See the guy over there in the brown tunic? He’s hiding something behind his back. Looks like a crossbow to me. His other arm is pulling the string.” “No, I think it’s a weapon like a smoke grenade. His empty hand is positioning for a throw.” “True. The one with the thicker build and mustache—hand in the wagon. What do you think he’s hiding?” “The narrow gap between barrels suggests a thin weapon. Probably a dagger or spear.” The two officers traded quick observations while Cloud suddenly shouted at the merchants. “Wanted criminals are hiding in this area! Prepare for a search! Everyone, line up along the roadside in a single file!”