As the sun began to set, I left the camp behind and headed down a worn path through the woods. The air grew colder as I walked, and I could feel it on my face. The noise of the camp faded into the distance. There was one person I knew I could turn to for clarity, especially when my thoughts were muddled.
The professor's tent came into view. The tent itself was patched and reinforced with ingenuity. Around it were things and objects from an earlier time: a rusty helmet, a broken rifle on a shelf, and what looked like the fragments of an old drone.
I pulled the tent cover back and stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of leaves and gun oil—a strangely comforting combination. Inside were books, maps, and charts that spoke to the mind of a man who lived for knowledge.
"Roy! I wondered when you'd show up. Where's Andrew? You came alone?" His gruff voice came before I even stepped inside.
Professor Charles Lorac, the only person besides Andrew with whom I feel completely comfortable, turned from his workbench where he was fiddling with a broken compass. He had silver hair combed back, a relaxed but alert posture, and a neat white mustache that gave him a charming, wise appearance. His sharp gray eyes met mine with familiarity.
"I came alone." I nodded.
"Is there something on your mind or are you just here to admire my collection?" he asked, pointing to a display of World War III artifacts neatly hung on the walls.
I closed the cover behind me. "Both, maybe," I said. "I just need to clear my mind."
Charles nodded and said, "Let me guess. A riddle you can't solve, or a battle you can't win?"
"It's more complicated than that," I admitted, and I sat on a nearby chair. "We got a princess as a prisoner. There's something, I can't put my finger on it."
The professor rubbed his chin. "Ah, the complexities of human communication. Emotions intervene and the mind stops, Roy. Sometimes the toughest battles aren't fought with swords but with words and choices. What exactly is bothering you?"
I hesitated before answering. "When I saw her, I felt like she was a piece of my past, and what confirmed it, when she heard my name, she changed. She knows something that I don't."
Charles smiled. "If she has a secret and she refuses to tell you, it's either because she doesn't trust you yet, or because she's afraid of something. Either way, the only way forward is patience. Trust is built, not forced."
"What if she's just playing around? And how do I know exactly who she is?" I replied.
"You've been through a lot." he replied. "So, now you know when someone is lying and when they are in pain, trust yourself my boy. And take this advice from me, DON'T RUSH."
I remained silent. Then the professor stood up and went to the corner of the room. "I'll make some tea. I'd really like to hear what's going on in your camp besides the princess."
I smiled a little. "There's already a lot happening..."
He prepared the tea, and we had a light conversation. He listened gently to everything I said and gave me advice on how to keep teaming up with others to move forward.
After a while, I nodded, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Then, I said, "Thanks," and stood up to leave.
"Roy," Charles said as I reached the door. "Don't forget, you're human, too. It's okay to have mixed feelings."
He glanced toward a small table near the corner where a steaming cup of tea sat beside an assortment of strange jewelry. "Next time you come with Andrew, we'll sit and have tea with you both. I've got a few new treasures to show you, and I believe they're worth a story or two." His voice carried a warm, hopeful tone, and a soft smile formed beneath his white mustache.
I paused, nodding again with a little smile drawn in my face and said "Sure thing…" then stepped out. With Charles's advice, I knew what I needed to do next. I headed toward the cell to face the princess once more.
The return to camp was quieter than usual, and the professor's words were still on my mind. The path winded through the outskirts, as the trees began to thin, and the faint hum of camp activity reached my ears.
As I stepped onto the main grounds, a strange sight caught my eye near the training ground. Andrew and Sophia were training, not with their usual weapons, but in unarmed training. Andrew's heavy steps were in sharp contrast to Sophia's graceful, precise movements. She slipped under his sweeping punches, wrapping her arm around his arm and flipping him onto his back in one smooth motion.
Andrew looked up into the sky. "Well, I admit it, you're scary without a spear too."
Sophia smiled and extended her hand to help him stand. "It's not the weapon, it's the skill. Maybe you'll catch up with me one day."
Andrew smiled. "Maybe, or I will always let you win."
"Sure," she replied softly.
I really like how Andrew is being too gentle with Sophia. I stepped closer, crossing my arms. "Are we training or flirting here?"
Andrew smiled. "Why not both? We need to keep things interesting."
Sophia gave him a sharp look, but her cheeks blushed. "We're just training. I thought we'd work on some hand-to-hand combat techniques for a change."
"Looks like you're the one who needs training," I said teasing Andrew.
"Oh, my little brother is in a good mood," he replied. "Next time, it'll be your turn on the floor."
"Sure," I said. "I'll let you dream."
I turned to let them continue their training. And not so far from the training area, I found Yuri standing near a tent, talking to one of the soldiers. When he saw me, he dismissed the soldier with a nod and walked off.
"How are you?" Yuri asked me.
"I'm totally fine," I admitted. "I'm going to see the princess."
Yuri studied me for a moment, then said, "We tried talking to her, but she doesn't respond to anyone. She doesn't even look at us."
I shook my head. "It doesn't matter if she isn't speaking now. She's here to be exchanged for our soldiers."
Yuri nodded. "Exactly." He stepped aside and said, "You can go now. By the way, stage three has been announced. I thought you would want to know."
Stage three?! Things are moving too fast. "I think I'll check the announcement first," I said.
After that, I went to the hallway to see the announcement.