A collection of disjointed rooms occupied the second floor. Healers and apothecaries tended to the few sick and injured Enforcers. In an empty nursery, Elyas lay unconscious on a white bed. He wasn't alone, surrounding him were dozens of blue curtains, hiding a row of beds just like his.
The building's electricity wasn't supplied by generators, it was easier to use Artifacts or hire Dreamers with electrical powers to do it. They powered the fluorescent lights of the ceiling giving off their sickly yellow light. The lights weren't pleasing to the eye, causing Elyas to wake up early.
He glanced around as he wiped the sleep off of his eyes. All he saw were crude wooden furniture and vases filled with dead flowers. There was no nurse to direct his questions at. All he remembered was how the test went and Julius's last words.
Despite all that had happened, Elyas was fine. Actually, he hadn't felt this good and energetic in months. Surprised by this, he lifted his pale blue shirt to check himself. His body had healed. The cuts and bruises on his arms and face were gone, as if they never even existed. But the deeper wounds like the one on his shoulders and dislocated arm had left ugly scars. He also noticed something else. His skinny frame had shrunk even more, like he had been starved for days.
"Damn I'm hungry…" As he said that he couldn't help but sneer at his circumstances.
"How many times has it been? Two? First In front of Noah and now Julius… Am I bound to act like a damsel in distress in front of stoic people?"
Thinking about how many times he fainted made him chuckle out loud. But then he remembered something. That kid Cid…There's something he is hiding. First his caution near me in the class and now his speed… I don't have a good feeling about this.
Elyas, despite not having the same knowledge as instructor Julius, came to the same conclusion: Cid had been a Dreamer for some time and had been hiding it.
Maybe the kid just wants to keep his neck. After all, the easiest way to kill a dreamer is to get to them before even they can understand their powers.
Elyas was not as knowledgeable as the teachers of the D.E.B, but he had lived in the apocalypse for some time. Even if just for a half a year, he knew that there were a lot of people who targeted weak Dreamers. After all, the Artifacts people sold had to get their powers from somewhere.
...The more I think about it, the more I lean towards this being the case. If he was a criminal, then why risk exposing yourself in front of your whole class and mentor? Why save me?
Maybe he's just young and arrogant, not able to keep himself from showing off… Regardless of his motivations, I owe the kid my thanks. Although Julius was rushing to his aid after seeing him collapse, who knows how long it would have taken for him to reach Elyas. In his critical state, every second counted.
The sound of footsteps and the soft scrape of curtains pulled him from his thoughts. A hand brushed the blue curtains aside, revealing two familiar faces standing above him.
Noah, with his dark hair and matching attire, tried to keep his cool next to the giant standing beside him. But as he saw Elyas without even a scratch, he couldn't keep it in. "Elyas you're fine!" He exclaimed in excitement, rushing over to examine him properly.
Julius let out a laugh. "What did you expect from my wife, cap? She's the best healer—"
"Best healer this shithole of a city has. Yes we know, no need to boast about it every chance you get." Noah interrupted, rolling his eyes as he finished the giant's sentence for him.
"Cap?" Elyas voiced his confusion, causing Julius to look at him and then at Noah. Without wasting a moment, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahah…uhhh" He wiped away tears before speaking. "Don't tell me you were too embarrassed and didn't tell your new friend." he asked Noah with a teasing tone, giggling the whole way through.
Noah turned red as he answered. It was hard to tell if the cause was anger or embarrassment. "What was I supposed to say?! Hi! My name is Noah, the former captain of the Protectors of Mistwood?!"
Elyas remained silent as he watched the two men fight and mock each other like children. He was sure some of his classmates acted more like adults. It hasn't been three minutes since I created the image of stoic, imposing figures for you two...
Sounds of footsteps entered the room again, getting closer before someone came into view. Julius and Noah were too busy bickering to notice her. The lady had fair skin and delicate blond hair… That was where her femininity ended. In front of Elyas was a woman almost as tall as the giant standing beside her.
Unlike him, she had a much lighter skin complexion. Yet, she couldn't, and didn't hide her light tan. It was more prominent with her white robe inlaid with gold. Her build was nearly as meaty as the trainer, and much like him, her attire did little to hide her inhuman physique.
"Good to see you're still kicking." Stating plainly, she shot a glance at Elyas. Although it wasn't the best way to phrase it, her gentle and motherly voice made her choice of words comforting none the less.
The lady, noticing his stupified expression aimed at the two men, stopped them with a few words. "We aren't kids anymore. Stop acting like them." Her stern look pierced the two, making them stop immediately. She then turned towards Elyas and said with her usual tone, now giving him a professional smile.
"My name is Angelica. I'm the head of the nursing group of the Protection Protocol. You've already met my husband Julius, although a bit paranoid and rough around the edges, he's a good hearted man."
Angelica introduced, giving a briefing on the situation. "I overheard you two talking. Your friend Noah was the former captain of the Protectors. That's all to say about the subject. Also you're free to go now. Make sure to eat a few days worth of food and water, healing magic has its downsides."
She turned to leave, but then remembered something. "Oh, and before I forget, I need to check a few things, do you mind?" She gave Elyas the formalities. After seeing him agree with a nod, she asked, "Do you feel any lingering pain in your abdomen, arms, shoulders or head?"
Elyas shook his head to most of her questions. With that and a few physical tests, she left the room. Angelica closed the door while shaking her head at Julius.
Noah and the giant stared at each other for a while before they turned towards Elyas. "Wanna go get something to eat?" Both said at the same time. Elyas stared, his mouth slightly agape. ...That's all you two have to say? What he actually said was: "I think I'll eat later."
"Suit yourself."
"You do you."
Noah gave the giant a look, causing Julius to nod. "Hey Elyas," The giant said with some hesitation before adding, "It seems my suspicions on you were… wrong." Although not the best way to apologize, it still showed his sincerity. Considering his now friendly and reserved manner of speech compared to before.
"No problem. You only tried to protect your students. I would have done the same if I were in your place." Elyas added after some deliberation, "...Why do you suddenly believe me?"
Noah answered instead. "Oh he doesn't. He probably wouldn't believe a word you'd say right now… But he told me about what happened today when we were on the seventh floor. After realizing that I was your affiliate in the Protocol, his suspicions of you being a spy or a Heartbreaker shattered immediately. That's how I'm here."
"So that's how it is… Mr. Julius, can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, go on. Also just call me Julius."
"What happened—No, where is Cid right now?"
As if having flipped a switch, Julius's friendly and inviting demeanor shifted entirety after hearing the name. Returning to his usual, serious and professionally distant attitude, he spoke. "He's being investigated by a few Protectors and Enforcers down in the fourth floor. Why?"
"I owe him."
"...I understand, but you can't see him before the Protocol is done with its process. If he's clean, you two can have your talk."
"The kid just hid his powers and the fact that he was a Dreamer. Isn't that what we all do to some extent?" Elyas argued in place of Cid.
Noah shook his head, "it's more than that. It's the fate of the city—" Elyas jumped in, not letting him finish, "But he's just a child what can he do—"
"He could have turned into a Nightmare." Seeing Elyas' silence after hearing him, Noah continued, "We can't risk letting something as powerful as that exist near, or inside the city walls. Not again." He paused, looking at Elyas with a hint of pity.
"I forgot you didn't know. But that's how Vernis fell." At that moment, both Noah and Elyas, although for different reasons, shared a single thought.
A child in a city of Nightmares..
Elyas contemplated for a while, creating an awkward silence. After a bit, he managed to ask one of the questions he tried so desperately to run from: "…What exactly happened to the City of Fog?"