Adaceus watched out the open compartment, witnessing the terrain change around him. When they had left the city, it was the start of the day, and after this machine had traveled a considerable amount of time, it had become early in the night, the moons settling to take the suns space. He looked to his arms, within each cradled a girl, sleeping in his chest.
He carefully let them down, gently placing them on the wall, before standing up, walking toward the open compartment. He witnessed the landscape, mountains spanning across the wide horizons, and the night sky sparkled with the stars.
"What, are you gawking at over there, lad?"
A voice suddenly chimed in, interrupting his observation. He quickly turned, startled, and looked toward where the sound came from. At the other corner of the compartment, leaning on the wall with a calm posture, a man, sitting across him. Adaceus then quickly drew his blade in quick movements, and pointed it at this figure with his two hands all held out.
"Nice blade, looks fancy, but a bit out of place in your hands. The things bigger than you."
"Who are you?" Adaceus said coldly to him, a slight shake in his hands.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" He replied nonchalantly.
Adaceus then moved his blade in a driving motion closer to his chest.
"I ask again, who are you? How are you here?"
The man raised his brow, "Aye, aye, calm down and put that sword away."
Adaceus didn't relent, still placing the blade at him, disregarding what he said.
"Stubborn, aren't you? But I'm not going to say anything to you, unless you hold down you weapon. I want to talk, but not with that knife at my chest." He then gestured his hand, as if to say hurry up.
Adaceus firmly gripped his sword, steadying and re-adjusting them, "What's stopping me from just, driving this sword in you right now? What is stopping me from killing you?" He said.
"Then you wouldn't get your answers, plus, you're not capable enough to do it, not at that level."
The man then opened his eyes, a glint of crimson escaping his eyelids, which sent a powerful force toward Adaceus. His body shook violently at the glare this man gave him, a viscous seriousness that assailed his body with a shockwave so intense that he felt he was getting cut in half. And it was suddenly gone, so fast he doubted if he ever felt it, and it sent shivers throughout his body.
This man was strong, stronger than he was at his current level, and it was dangerous to provoke him further.
Adaceus, stunned by the pressure that stare gave him, reluctantly let down his weapon, sheathing it on his back where he fastened the rope that held it in place.
"Sit," the man said.
And Adaceus sat, near the open compartment, where he leaned his back on the wall, and observed the man across him. He wore a white robe, his hands were covered with gauntlets, and in his back was an impressive looking sword. He's face was aged, tan skin, white hair that was long and kept up by a headband, his face with wrinkles and a large scar across his nose.
"You settled down now?"
Adaceus nodded.
"Well, good," he said, before closing his eyes.
A couple of seconds of silence went by, and Adaceus asked the first question.
"Who are you?"
The man coughed before answering him, "I am this trains guard you could say."
"What... do you mean?"
"Its simple, I am the one designated to guard this compartment," he replied, knocking on the wood wall behind him, "specifically to guard the packages that're placed here."
"A guard?"
"Pretty much, mostly I just sit around here, swatting away any critter or thief that might come to pass." The man said, lazily.
"Do you know what is inside these containers?"
"Don't know, I was just assigned to guard em."
"Assigned? Does that mean you're part of them?" Adaceus asked cautiously.
"Part of what?"
"Those zealots, those robed figures chanting those anthems on the base of the stairs, ushering the pale figures into those compartments."
The man then opened his eyes slightly, and raised his brow.
"You talk funny, lad, real sophisticated aye?," He gave a light chuckle, "But if you're talkin about those cultist bastards? Sorry but I'm not part of them, I'm only just here cus of the money they paid me, I am a mercenary, a hand in hire, you see."
"They hired you to guard this?"
"Yes, I am a vagabond, lad, I take work wherever I can get it, money's hard to come by for someone like me and it just so happens that the higher ups of that cult wanted a guard, so they came across me!"
Adaceus tightened his eyes, squinting at the man for what his hollow sockets could manage.
"Okay, then." Adaceus said, putt off by the mans jolly.
There was a sudden pause in the conversation, Adaceus re-positioning himself from his sitting on the wall, his legs were quite cramped from being in a crossed position for so long, and as relief came to his legs, he asked another question.
"How come I never noticed you until now?" He asked with genuine curiosity.
"It's cus I was always here, ya just didn't see me when you climbed up in a panic," he gave a slight chuckle. "In fact, I was just perched up there," and he pointed his finger on the roof, to one of the corners. Adaceus looked toward where he was pointing, only to see a platform, just above a couple of storage boxes, and it was filled to the brim with straw and covered by cloth.
A bed, it seemed.
"Then why," Adaceus was slow to ask, "why are you still keeping us here?"
The man placed his fingers on his thin haired chin, "Ahh, you asking why all of ya's still riding here? Well, I'm giving you a chance."
"A... chance?" Adaceus asked dubiously.
"Aye, its rare for anyone to survive that place, and rarely ever they escape. In fact I was shocked when I first laid eyes on you all, and the fact that literal children escaped that country astounded me!"
Adaceus recoiled at the sudden exclamation, putt off by the sudden eagerness to show his respect.
"And that's why," he's tone had suddenly become serious, like a sudden resolve came to him, "I am giving you a chance to run from here."
"May I ask why?" Adaceus asked.
"Because if they know your here they will kill you. In fact I should have killed you by know, but I've decided not to."
"Why? I ask."
"Well, call it having mercy, I don't owe the cultist bastards anything beside the task they had given me, and plus I like yer grit. The fact that you drew your sword against me was something unexpected."
"Why would I trust what you? Why would I trust what you say? I doubt you would let us leave with just that."
"Trust me or not, I don't care, but I warn you; If you are still here by the time this train arrives at its destination, you will die. My advise, you better be gone by the time I wake up, or I'll do it myself."
"Where would we go?"
"Don't know, but I know this, you have to leave, quick."
The man then stretched his hands up, yawning, turning his head to the open compartment. "Anyway, Its becoming really late, best I get some rest before sunrise," he then pointed his finger to Adaceus, "remember what I said, lad."
As a couple of minutes went by, the man finally slept, leaving Adaceus bewildered at the conversation they just had. The old man then snored very loudly, even managing to startle Adaceus.
What the hell, that was fast.
Adaceus sprang his head toward the little girls sleeping in the walls, and carefully picked them up, cautious to wake them. He walked to the open compartment, looking at the horizon one more time, before jumping off to the compartment.