As night fell, the farm land was bathed in a soft, lunar glow. The trainees had long since finished their jog, and the old model tractor had been parked in its usual spot. But the tension between Crook and Scott still lingered, a palpable force that seemed to crackle with electricity.
Crook, seated in Julius's office, was seething with anger. His eyes were fixed on Scott, who stood calmly in front of him, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Without warning, Crook launched a straight punch at Scott's face, his ability making it almost unnoticeable. But Scott, it seemed, had underestimated him. With a swift movement, Scott avoided the punch, his eyes never leaving Crook's face.
"That's the reason you're sloppy," Scott taunted, his voice low and even. "You had either let your emotions get the better of you or refused to out in enough rationality about the whole situation which's why your team was caught on by the soldiers."
Crook's face darkened, his anger boiling over. But before he could react, Julius walked into the office, his presence quelling the tensed situation.
"Enough," Julius said, his voice firm. "We can't afford to have you two fighting now. We have more pressing matters to attend to."
Crook's anger slowly dissipated, replaced by a calculating look. Scott, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, his smile still playing on his lips.
Meanwhile, the siblings Rein and Claire had found temporary refuge in a small shop, where they had been offered jobs. Ryan, who had been recovering from his injuries, had also been offered a job at the restaurant as a server, and the three of them had settled into a comfortable routine.
For the next month, they were free to live their lives as they saw fit. But as the second month approached, the soldiers began to take a deeper look around the city. The siblings and Ryan knew that they couldn't stay hidden forever, and they began to prepare for the worst.
As the days passed, the tension in the city grew. The soldiers were getting closer, and the siblings, rein Claire and Ryan knew that they had to be careful. But for now, they were safe, and they were determined to make the most of the time they had.
The night air was filled with the sounds of crickets and the distant hum of cars. The trainees had been jeep watch on their moves and made sure they didn't do anything to out of the ordinary knowing that if the soldiers would find them, and they would have to face the consequences.
Ryan, now recovered enough, was working at the restaurant, his limp still noticeable but improving with each passing day.
The next day dawned bright and clear, the sun rising over the city like a fire in the sky. The streets began to bustle with activity, people going about their daily routines. The new day was a day which was dedicated to celebrate the day of harvest in which was the tradition passed down since ages and amidst the normalcy, a sense of unease hung in the air.
The soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes, were out in full force, mingling with the crowds and trying to gather information.
Few had noticed their unusual movements since their arrival, considering the way they seemed to be probing and questioning people in hushed tones. Some shopkeepers exchanged nervous glances, sensing that something was off. The soldiers' attempts to blend in were not as seamless as they thought, and whispers began to spread through the city about the strange men asking questions.
Rein and Claire worked quietly at the shop, their eyes darting towards the soldiers whenever they passed by. Ryan, serving customers at the restaurant, kept a watchful eye on the soldiers who came in, trying to gauge their intentions.
As the day wore on, the soldiers' presence became more pronounced, their movements more brazen. It was clear that they were closing in, and the siblings knew that their time was running out. They would have to be prepared to move soon, to find a new hiding spot and evade the soldiers' grasp.
The city was alive with tension, the air thick with anticipation. The soldiers were getting closer, and word reached Julius as the natives were very much discomforted by their recent movements. But for now, he decided that he would continue to keep silence not uttering a word if comfort or assurance to their complains.
Just as one of the towns representative left, Julius called Yunli, Triston, Oscar, and Holly into his office. The air was thick with anticipation as they gathered around him, their faces set with determination.
"What's the latest on the soldiers' schemes?" Julius asked, his voice low and even.
Yunli spoke up first, her eyes narrowing as she recounted her observations. "They're moving in a pattern, sir. They visit the market, the ranches, and even the blacksmith areas. They seem to be gathering information, trying to get a sense of the city's layout and its people."
Holly nodded in agreement, her voice barely above a whisper. "I overheard some of their conversations. They're planning to use force to threaten the townsfolk, claiming it's under your permission. They're going to try to intimidate people into revealing information about new faces in town ...us."
Julius's face darkened, his frown deepening. "That's bold," he muttered. "They seem more brazen to take action soon."
Triston and Oscar reported their findings on the external movements outside the town. "We've been patrolling the outskirts with Scott and Crook," Triston said. "We haven't noticed anything unusual, but we can't rule out the possibility that they're hiding something."
Julius nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. "Keep a close eye on the soldiers," he instructed. "We need to know their next move before they make it."
The office was excused by the three leaving only Julius alone in the office to sort out his thoughts. Luckily, the had sent his two daughters to a trusted family just in cases of having to result to taking out the troubles in a not so friendly way.
He phones Scott informing him to be on the look out the recent place of interest according to the Intel he had just gotten.