"Christ in heaven- A secret door."
Bonner's words were the first to hit the airwaves as the grating sounds of moving bricks concluded. Standing before the three of us was a new doorway. Its appearance had cut me off from my statement, but I would argue that this now took precedence over what I was going to say next.
Was this a product of magic, or perhaps this was some otherworldly contraption? Either way, Claire made her way over toward the dark door-shaped void in the wall. I could tell by the forming smirk on her face that she found some pleasure in surprising me like that, but I saw no need to pursue that avenue.
She explained, "This is our secret entrance to our base of operations. This doorway leads to a tunnel, which connects to our residence."
This was quite a convoluted set, but I suppose that, knowing little of their situation, a person as clever as Claire probably saw the need to have this. Honestly, this setup raised a lot of questions about its construction, but I bet this could be addressed at a later time.
Instead, my party followed the smaller elf woman into the relatively dim doorway, one by one. The sound of our footsteps seemed to echo for a great distance. However, upon the entrance of our final member, the doorway closed seemingly by itself, much like the door of the bar.
Our vision became significantly darker than before, but sensing that Claire had traveled this path quite regularly, it would have been wiser to follow her lead again.
"You mentioned that this pathway leads to our residence. Why not just lead us to the residence itself from the beginning?" Q questions Claire.
"As you may know. I am in a rather precarious situation. As we were leaving, I detected that we were being tailed, so-"
"You called an audible?" I asked, finishing her statement.
"Sure- I suppose. However, your phrasing is quite strange. I decided to change our path back here. Normally, this path is used for emergencies. I would call that situation an emergency."
The time required to traverse this walkway was far longer than I had anticipated. It became more evident that we were reaching someplace, and the further we went into the tunnel, the more light crept into sight.
The shadows around us became more elongated, and the damp scent of water-soaked air filled the area. In mere seconds, Claire's small figure was revealed once again, and her flowing blonde hair stood out in stark contrast to the melancholic atmosphere in which we found ourselves.
To pass the time more effectively, I decided to use this opportunity to gather more information about Mordred and Percival, alongside the two Arch Captains. The four of them will likely be attending Percival's banquet later today.
If we were to stumble into the viper's den, it would be best that we at least have some base of information on the key players participating. From our earlier encounters with them, I could gather a rough profile, but there is likely more to these individuals that I am unaware of.
"These individuals that you picked up… Do you have some ideas on who sent them to tail us?" I inquired.
"If I am being honest with you…no," she responds.
"No?" Bonner questions dryly. "Shouldn't you know anything by now? It has been weeks since your supposed disappearance."
The harsh, scolding tone of the elven male pinged throughout the tunnel. His deep voice enveloped the airwaves like the darkness that once dominated our eyesight. In comparison, her lighter, more feminine voice, like Claire's, resembles the light that now graces us.
Glancing around, I noticed the sturdy stone archway that formed the tunnel, with various lanterns hoisted high upon the walls. Those lanterns granted us the much-needed light. I had no idea why the lanterns didn't line the walls of the whole tunnel, but I could only assume that Claire could not afford it at the moment.
"Well, Mr. Bonner, I assure you that I have not just been twiddling my thumbs for weeks. It took me a few weeks to establish myself in this residence and secure a place within the higher echelon of Astana as Clarice. I am working under the assumption that those with significantly more influence than myself are attempting to keep an eye on me and my movements. Mordred may have stated that the disappearance of my mother and me is a secret, but I do not believe that is the case."
"Ya think Mordred is lyin' about that?" Q asks.
Assuming that his question was directed at me rather than Claire, I took the opportunity to reveal something that I had withheld due to circumstances.
"I am not fully convinced of his openness, but I do have something to tell you guys. It is… strange, to say the least," I begin.
"Something strange? And what might that be?" Claire asks.
"Well- How do I say this? Mordred had this… strange…smell… about him?"
I could feel their eyes land on me after my statement, but I couldn't blame them. The notion of someone having a strange smell is quite a peculiar thing to mention.
"Strange smell? The hell do you mean by that?" Bonner questioned harshly.
"I can't… really explain it, but I know that his scent is completely different from everyone else's. I can only work with what I know, but considering my race, it should be possible. All elves like you have your enhanced hearing, whilst all members of my race, like myself, should have incredible senses of smell."
"Not all," Claire says immediately.
My eyes traced to the female. I found myself curious about what she meant by that. Her footsteps had ceased, and the aquamarine irises of the woman in blue lay upon us.
"I find it strange that you believe that all elves possess such a rare trait. Not all elves possess the skill of Echo Hearing. Some individuals are born with the trait, and, to my knowledge, it cannot be learned. If Bonner here possesses Elven Echo Hearing, then he is actually in the minority within our race," she explains.
Echo Hearing? Nah- That term did not exist either, but if the trait is a rarity amongst elves now, then things have changed significantly. Advanced hearing was a skill that any race within Infinity Unleashed could acquire during our playing experience. Elves, Kitsunes, and certain Beastmen were born with it. Naturally, some races had an easier time obtaining it than others, but even humans could acquire it if they followed the steps and met the strict requirements. Even amateurs knew about that.
Learning that the once-basic skill was diluted to only a select few made me question what had happened to it. Though thinking about it, there could also be another explanation for it. I would look to Bonner and Q, respectively, and they seemed to reach a similar conclusion to mine.
"This ain't the same place as we thought," Q mentions.
"Nope. Different. Totally different, yet similar."
I nodded in agreement with the men's statements, but I could sense that Claire was confused by what we were discussing.
I start by saying, "If we are going to work together, then I see no point in keeping such a secret from her."
I began contemplating the risks of exposing to our new ally the very fact that we are not from this world. This will likely be a massive revelation to her, but it might also sound as ludicrous as all the other lies that we spouted beforehand. That is often how the truth operates. Accepting the absurdity of a situation allows one to move forward in life without hesitation.
I can't begin to understand how we ended up here from our world, but one must come to accept reality for what it is.
"I'm not so sure, Mark. We may be on positive terms, but there is no need to toss out our most sensitive information willingly. We can't trust her just like that. We merely met a few hours ago," Q states.
"That is correct, but if we are to gain a better footing in this world, then we must do something out of the ordinary. To gain trust, one must also be willing to trust others. Information for information. Secret for secret. Only in that way can a partnership between strangers blossom into something fruitful for both parties," I explained to them.
With all eyes on me again, I opted to continue our march forward as we spoke. I was getting more fired up by the second. My long strides soon overtook Claire's position, effectively leading the group towards wherever this tunnel ended. That was the role that I gave to myself.
"Though Claire, you must take what we say to you to the grave. Not a single soul should know without prior confirmation."
"And what would that be?" she asked me.
"Gaze upon my wonderful stature. What is it that you think that you see?"
After a moment of contemplation, the woman would answer briefly, "You are obviously a fox beastkin-"
"Incorrect. Try again. Really gaze at my color. My orange fur. This color. Is it not beautiful?"
I pointed towards the fox-like ears that rested above my head. Their golden, magnificent orange base and white furry tips twitched upon my command. Unlike a human, my new ears now reside a few inches above what they usually would be. My tail swayed as well, proudly accepting the attention that its master bestowed upon it. To keep the three people behind me from stepping on it like Q did in the cave, I kept it swaying much higher off the ground.
It would also remain clean like that, and I would rather not use my new limb as a broom to sweep up the potential dirt on the tunnel's floor. A tail as beautiful as mine would not be utilized in such a disrespectful manner. I am a man of culture, after all.
"I suppose orange is quite an exotic and rare color for a foxel, but I can not see what else that you could be. A wolfel?"
"The hell is a 'Wolfel?' Who the hell named them that?-" Bonner comments, but I quickly interrupt him.
"More importantly, you may have to expand your knowledge as well. I am a noble Kitsune. Graceful and valiant as a knight underneath the starry sky. Though I am significantly more of a badass."
My words were met with a swift crack in Claire's demeanor. The woman soon cracked a smile, which devolved into a fit of chuckling and transformed into laughter. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow at her reaction. Perhaps she had found my metaphor to be some form of a joke, but something told me that was not it.
I stopped my progression, but since her eyes were full of tears from her laughter, Claire didn't realize that I had stopped. Her more petite frame bumped into my own, but I didn't budge in the slightest. I tilted my head, allowing my glasses to slide down the bridge of my nose. I looked at her with a piercing gaze, aiming to scold her with my eyes alone.
"Apologies. I didn't know you were having an identity crisis. Either that or you are a jokester of the highest order."
"I'm not joking when I say that. I am a Kitsune. I am a full-blooded Kitsune. For some reason, I merely take on the appearance of a beastkin. I have my theories, of course, but I do recommend that I take my words seriously."
Hearing my serious tone seemed to have made her understand that I was not joking. She dried her tears as she looked up at me and stared into my eyes.
"I see… Considering that you are sharing this with me, I humbly apologize for any disrespect I may have caused you in that manner. I will make a recommendation for you as well."
"What would that be?-"
"Do not tell anyone else that…"
I looked at her in a state of confusion and intrigue once again. Her expression had quickly shifted to match my seriousness. Based on the tone of her voice, I could feel the legitness in her warning.
"Is there a reason that he should not tell others? I am curious about that, too."
Q seemed to have beaten me to the question. It was one that lingered in the air and drew in all the participants of the conversation. Even the aloof Bonner seemed drawn to her explanation: Why shouldn't I tell others about my actual race?
"Kitsunes are the same as demons…"