Parallel Memory

I nodded silently and stepped into the fortress, unaware of what waited for me inside.As I entered, one of the guards approached and began to lead the way. Everyone here wore a waist-length, light green cape bearing the military insignia, followed by the word Omega. At the front of the cape, where a button fastened it around the neck, each individual displayed a medal indicating their rank in the army.The buildings within the base were utilitarian—simple, plain designs built with mana-reinforced bricks, making them far more durable than they appeared. The lower-ranked soldiers shared rooms in groups of six, while higher-ranking officers were granted private quarters. The outpost itself looked more like a prison than a military base, with its fortress-like walls and cold exterior. Yet the sheer size of it was impressive—it spanned nearly half the area of Star City, almost like a town, as there were folks who found it safer inside than in the nearby villages.As the guard led me deeper into the base, I noticed how tense everyone looked. Soldiers moved briskly, faces grim, voices low. The recent fall of Delta outpost must've shaken them badly. And now, with Omega being the southernmost line of defense, the pressure was mounting.After a few long minutes of silent walking, the guard finally turned to me and said, "We were expecting you earlier. The captain had notified us... but not this early." He gave me a once-over, scanning me from head to toe, then added, "We just finished our routine patrol. She's inside," before walking off, leaving me alone in the dim hallway.I stood in front of a steel-reinforced door.I knocked once.No response.I waited a few seconds, then knocked again. The only sound that met my ears was the muffled voice of the station's news broadcast echoing faintly through the hallway speakers.Still no response.I sighed, hesitating for a moment, then placed my hand on the handle and gently pushed the door open. It wasn't locked."She is inside," I reminded myself as I stepped in cautiously.The room wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Spartan walls. A single desk stacked with files and maps. A mana-lantern hanging from the ceiling. There was a coat in the corner, barely used. The scent of paper, ink, and metal filled the air.Everything about the space screamed efficiency—no luxury, no warmth.I must have dozed off. The stiff wooden chair under me wasn't exactly made for comfort, but exhaustion had a way of overpowering discomfort. The rhythmic hum of the station's mana generators echoed faintly through the walls, blending with the occasional static from the news broadcast that still played overhead.I blinked slowly awake, rubbing my eyes. The room was dim now—somewhere between evening and nightfall, and I had no clue how long I'd been asleep. Stretching out my arms, I looked toward the door just as the handle turned with a soft click.Eleanore stepped in, brushing dust off her black combat cloak, her silver hair tied in a tight braid swinging behind her like a whip. Her stern violet eyes locked onto me the moment she entered."You're sleeping in someone's room that belongs to a lady," she said flatly, setting her gloves on the desk with a loud thump."I knocked… not once, but twice," I muttered, rising from the chair and trying to stifle a yawn. "You weren't here. I waited, then sat, and yeah, I may have passed out.""And you are a human gorilla, not a lady," I added."You slept here," she emphasized while gesturing with her hand. "Like this is your personal breakroom."She narrowed her eyes and walked past me, pouring herself a glass of cold water from a metal flask. "Still a pervert, I see."I choked on air. "What?! Again with that? That was an accident! How should I explain it to you?""That's what all perverts say," she replied without missing a beat, taking a slow sip of her water. I sighed and slumped back into the chair.She finally let out a faint smirk and leaned against the wall. "You're lucky I didn't kill you back then.""Oh, I'm eternally grateful," I replied sarcastically, although she could have really killed me. Back then it was different.A beat of silence passed before her posture shifted, becoming more serious. She crossed her arms and looked at me with a gaze devoid of sarcasm this time."Let's get to the point. You're here because of something serious."Her tone alone made me straighten up."A week ago, during a routine patrol outside the southern ridge forest, one of our scouts picked up traces of unusual mana fluctuations. I thought it might be a devil contractor or worse, but I got closer anyway…"She paused, rubbing her temples as if the memory gave her a headache."…It was Lilith. Unconscious. And she was injured. Burn marks, shattered bones, deep cut marks on her back like she'd fought something—or someone—far beyond her level."My breath caught. "Lilith? Are you sure it was her?""I know what I saw," she replied curtly. "I will not forget that face. I couldn't believe it myself. When I saw her face on Twitflick during the devil's attack on Ace Academy…"Everyone in our neighborhood, including myself, thought she was dead—along with my friends that day. But she showed up, all grown up and looking like a devil. It was hard, but I finally understood her true identity at the Tower of Obelisk."So where is she now?""She is safe in my care, but not for long.""In the camp, I panicked a bit,"Because a captain of the army—of all people—shielding a devil is considered a grave crime, as devils were mortal enemies of other races. They fed on negative energy and used dark magic, always causing destruction and wreaking havoc in their path."Yes. I brought her here secretly," Eleanore replied. "I couldn't trust the others. Not with what I saw. If word got out that a devil was found inside the camp, everyone's lives would be in danger—hence I called you."Phew, I sighed."I moved her to one of the old training dorms on the eastern ridge. The place's been unused for years, too unstable due to cracked ley lines."I was still wrapping my head around it. "You did all this alone?"Eleanore gave me a glance that was surprisingly tired."Not that I can't trust anyone, but most of the outpost tower has gone erratic since the fall of Delta Tower. Everyone's on edge, and any sign of instability or mystery gets squashed before questions are even asked."I was quiet for a moment. She'd taken a huge risk. Even for someone like Eleanore—tough, commanding, a known prodigy of the military—this was not protocol. It was personal."You've changed," I said, surprising even myself.She raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?""Back then, you were all about power—all brawn. Now you're… making decisions after thinking," I sincerely meant it as a compliment.She sneered, "And you haven't changed a bit, Mr. Pervert," with a raised eyebrow."Anyways, let's go and check on Lilith," I said, changing the topic, as she was not going to accept that it was a genuine mistake anyway."I can't," she replied. "Not right now. I have to submit the patrol report to the commander. I'll give you a map. You may go and look after her. I will be there tomorrow."After she gave me the map, I left to look for Lilith.