ECHOES OF THE PAST

Wilhelm's eyes met Thorne's, a flicker of recognition passing between them. "Well, this is quite a surprise, Mr. Thorne," Wilhelm remarked, his voice carrying a note of unexpected familiarity.

Thorne, taking a moment to place the face from his past, suddenly recalled the man before him. " Captain Wilhelm...!, i didn't knew you were in charge of Brasswick city! " he greeted with respect, inclining his head slightly. Wilhelm's smile widened, pleased that a man of Thorne's stature still remembered him.

" It's been a long time, Mr throne. What brings you here? "

Wilhem greeted back.

Thorne's eyes suddenly flicked to the fallen robbers, their wounds fresh and bleeding, two soldiers came and apprehend them and returning the stolen properties to the rightful owners . After seeing blood on Wilhelm's sword It dawned on him that it was Captain Wilhelm who had dispatched them with such swift precision amidst the mist. Turning back to Wilhelm, Thorne asked ignoring Wilhelm's question , "Was it really necessary to cut them down? You could have apprehended them without causing such injuries."

Captain Wilhelm met Thorne's gaze, a hint of incredulity in his eyes. "Really, Mr Thorne? When have you become this soft? You think I had a choice here ?" He shook his head, his voice steady but firm. "Making an example out of them was necessary. The citizens and newcomers to Brasswick need to understand the consequences of defiance and these robbers aren't just petty thieves either —they're part of the resistance group in Brasswick against the government laws ".

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the fallen men. "Their skills are impressive, but they're being wasted on this foolish rebellion. If only they'd use their talents for something more constructive."

Wilhelm sighed, his frustration evident as he ran a gloved hand through his hair. "Why can't they follow the rules and avoid trouble? It seems there's always a group of ungrateful souls like them in every city and country, thinking they can actually somehow undermine order."

Thorne listened to Wilhelm, but memories of the wars—both with neighboring countries and the recent civil conflict—flashed through his mind. While Wilhelm's words held some truth, Thorne couldn't fully agree. Since the wars, the country had become greedy and corrupt. The king had grown hard-hearted, and it was no surprise that a civil war had erupted in many states three years ago. Many, including Thorne himself, had yet to fully recover from it.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Thorne replied, his voice tinged with disagreement. "I do understand your point, captain Wilhelm, but things aren't as black and white as you make them out to be. "

Thorne continued, his gaze steady on Wilhelm. "It seems you relied on the pact to achieve that incredible speed and using the pact demands a price, which is once the pact is invoked, blood must be shed to balance the power. So you used that opportunity to use the pact, to feel it's power didn't you? "

Wilhelm frowned at Thorne's response.

" Huh! so what? You do know that the government has granted us the authority to use the pact on criminals according to our laws . It's not just for soldiers —any citizen can invoke it in self-defense. And I'll admit, it's been a while since I last used this power but I seized the opportunity here to remind everyone of the consequences of breaking the law as well. "

Wilhelm suddenly paused, a sneer curling at his lips. "Oh, don't tell me, Thorne—did you quit using the pact along with your job? Have you decided to become a saint all of a sudden hmph! I noticed that You haven't bring your sword either"

Thorne replied with a sigh, " Oh i wish..., if only things were that simple. To left it all behind just like that ."

Wilhelm, intrigued, pressed on, "Then why haven't you use your pact? You were reacting like a normal human when you could have caught them in an instant. It's quite the shame for a state-level ex- commander to rely on a city officer like me." He sneered with a smile, but Thorne remained calm, not rising to the bait. Thorne smiled simply and replied, " Pardon me, i didn't meant to disrespect you, things have become more complicated these days. Anyway, thanks for the help Capitan ."

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Thorne said calmly, continuing his walk. But Wilhelm's words struck a chord again. "I'm glad at least you chose the peaceful way after all, unlike your dear friend and ex-comrade," Wilhelm continued, his tone mocking. " I hope you heard the fact that he's gone mad. He destroyed the military prison last week and freed the prisoners, but sadly his team is outnumbered now. We've already caught most of his men. Soon, they'll find him too. How pathetic. "

Thorne's calm demeanor changed at the mention of his ex-comrade. He turned back to Wilhelm, staring at him silently, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and guilt .

Suddenly Wilhelm's assistants approached him with urgent news, his expression turned serious. After a brief exchange, Wilhelm nodded at Thorne.

"Well, it's time to go," Wilhelm said calmly. "The last guest is arriving soon. I'll see you around, Mr. Thorne." With that, he walked away, soldiers escorting him through the respectful crowd.

Thorne watched them go, troubled by the mention of his ex-comrade. He sighed heavily, the weight of memories and present uncertainties heavy on his mind as he continued his walk.

Meanwhile the old man is driving the horse carriage back through the forest. He is cautious and attentive, knowing the threat of bandits in the area. As he continues his journey, he notices a bright light emanating from a distance in the middle of the forest, accompanied by a warm breeze blowing from that direction. The old man squints, trying to make out what it could be.

"Is it a forest fire? No, it can't be," he mutters to himself, intrigued by the unusual sight. Curiosity getting the better of him, he decides to steer the carriage towards the source of the light.

The old man reached the site and was shocked by what he saw. Someone had completely burned down the bandits' hideout. The houses were engulfed in flames, but what was even more shocking was the sight of all the bandit members—more than fifteen people—hanged on the surrounding trees, lifeless. The symbol of the military legions was drawn on the trees in blood, marking the grim scene.

Suddenly, screams pierced the air. People who had been hiding in the burning buildings stumbled out, their bodies engulfed in flames. Two men, screaming for help, ran towards the old man. He was terrified but also filled with pity as he watched them suffer. With a heavy heart, he pulled out his gun and ended their agony with swift, merciful shots.

"Oh Lord, have mercy on me and these poor souls " he muttered, shaken by what he had to do. He knew there was no saving them from such torment.

The old man knew it was done by soldiers, but when? He hadn't heard any sounds of battle or weapons, which meant the battle had to be an instant slaughter . It was no ordinary soldiers then, someone very powerful with authority . As he approached the site, he could sense the residue of heavy pact usage of power lingering in the air, sending chills down his spine.

Feeling helpless and disturbed, the old man resumed his journey, haunted by the evidence of such ruthless power.

Thorne walked through the city, the buildings looming over him in their grandeur. The mist, now thinning, revealed the city hall in all its architectural glory, bathed in the glow of various colored lights. The streets were bustling with people going about their business, and as he approached the city hall, he heard the distant sound of cheering and clapping.

Curious but focused on his task, Thorne entered the city hall to register for the event. The interior was as impressive as its exterior, with high ceilings and intricate details that spoke of a city with a rich history. The hall was filled with people, some in official uniforms and others in more casual attire, all waiting patiently for their turn. Thorne noticed the officials aren't from government. This is more like a private organized team by someone, but everyone seems polite and professional.

Thorne approached the registration desk, where a Lady clerk greeted him with a polite nod. "Here to register for the Ascension event?" the clerk asked, handing him a form.

"Yes," Thorne replied, filling out the form with his details. The form mostly asked some psychological and moral questions. Some few financial status questions too. As he finished, he glanced towards the entrance of the hall where the conversations were getting louder.

A crowd had gathered, cheering and clapping enthusiastically and moving towards a certain direction, clearly excited about something. Thorne observed for a moment, then turned back to the registration desk to submit his form.

"Good luck," the lady clerk said with a smile as he took Thorne's form. Thorne nodded in thanks and headed towards the direction of the cheers, eager to see what awaited him in this new city.

Victor Thorne made his way to the main road, drawn by the sound of the crowd's enthusiastic cheers. As he reached the edge of the crowd, he peered over the heads of those in front of him, catching sight of a grand royal carriage. Escorted by other two carriages by ten high-ranked soldiers, the main carriage was a magnificent sight, adorned with intricate golden dragon designs against a rich red backdrop.

Thorne's eyes widened in recognition. There was no mistaking the figure inside. It was the national military commander, the second highest-ranking officer in the national army. The crowd's cheers grew louder, some even bowing and worshipping as the procession passed. Thorne's eyes met the commander shadow through the window, and he could feel the powerful aura of pact energy radiating from the soldiers through carriage. They had used it recently, indicating their authority.

The commander's presence, along with his elite guard, puzzled Thorne. Such formidable forces in a city like this hinted at something significant happening. Thorne realised all the rumors he read in the letter were actually true.

The thought unsettled him. He knew the commander's capabilities and understood that his high-class soldiers were more than enough to handle any threat in the country.

"Why are they even here?" Thorne muttered to himself. The last thing he wanted was to draw their attention. He carefully maneuvered through the crowd, slipping away from the main road and heading to the quieter parts of the city. As he moved, he pondered the implications of the commander's visit, his mind racing with possibilities.

As Thorne walked through the quieter parts of the city, he could hear the sounds of factory machines humming, horses' hooves clattering on the cobblestones, and distant melodious music filled the air. Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind, "Mr. Thorne."

He turned, surprised to see a soldier approaching him. "Oh, what is it again?" he whispered to himself in annoyance.

"Here he is," the soldier said, stepping aside to reveal a young man emerging from behind him. "Mr. Thorne, here you are finally. I thought you wouldn't come."

The newcomer was a dark-skinned young man in his twenties, younger than Thorne. He wore a dark brown classic suit, a Gothic topper hat that contrasted with his long curly hair, and had a clean-shaven face adorned with an innocent smile.

"Marcus, it's good to see you again," Thorne said, shaking hands with him.

"Thank you, sir, for the help," Marcus said to the soldier who had assisted him in finding Thorne. The soldier, one of Wilhelm's assistants, nodded and returned to his duties.

As the soldier departed, Victor and Marcus shifted their tone. "Why are you late Mr. Thorne?" Marcus asked. "The last guest just arrived, and they've closed the city gates. No one can enter or leave until the Ascension event is over now. You had me worried for a while," Marcus said with concern.

Thorne replied, "Well, I got caught up in a commotion with some criminals.. twice...It was bad luck from the beginning." He gave a tired smile and continued, "I never thought the last guest would be the commander himself in a city like this. What's really happening here?"

Marcus glanced around before speaking. "There's a lot to talk about," he replied. "But did you find the man, Marcus? The one who wrote me the letter about the Ascension event?" Thorne asked.

"It was difficult, but I found the hotel where he's staying. We'll be staying there tonight," Marcus said with a reassuring smile.

Thorne nodded. "Good. All i need is a good sleep for now."

As they ventured deeper into the city, the atmosphere grew darker and more eerie. The buildings became older and more congested. The bright lights and heat of steam have gone. It's just cold and silent.

"Here's the hotel," Marcus pointed out.

Thorne observed the building. It was a tall, tarnished structure with many rooms, yet it retained a certain aesthetic charm. They entered and approached the reception desk. A young woman with short hair and tattoos covering her visible skin sat there, lighting a cigarette, looking sleepy.

Marcus cleared his throat. "We'd like to check in."

The receptionist glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Name?"

"Marcus Cade and Victor Thorne," Marcus replied.

She nodded, taking a long drag from her cigarette, and began to check the register.

"Here's the key," she said, handing it over. "The room costs 450 Bronze Cogs."

Thorne handed her 5 Gold Cogs. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the gold. "Thank you," she said, smiling.

Thorne grinned back, " I'll need the change."

Her smile faded. " Oh... Please wait."

Marcus leaned in and asked quietly, "Do you know which room a man named Steven Steele is in?"

She replied in a dull voice, "I don't remember. And even if I did, I can't share that information."

Thorne stepped in, locking eyes with her and smiling. "Well, you may keep the change, young lady. In return can you show me the record book? "

She blushed, then sighed and handed them the record book. "Here, find it yourself."

"Thank you," Marcus said, thumbing through the list. Suddenly, a drunk man in his early thirties approached. He wore a long black coat and had brown-blonde hair and a weary short beard. He was a litte taller than Thorne and marcus, but thinner. His eyes were dull from too much alcohol.

He tossed some money to the receptionist. "I'll be staying here one more night."

He then turned to Marcus, "Who are you looking for?"

" Someone named Steven Steele," Marcus replied politely.

The man laughed. "Check number 16."

Marcus found Steven Steele's details in the list. Both he and Thorne were taken aback. Marcus thanked the man and asked, "How do you know Mr. Steven Steele?"

The man chuckled, "I know myself very well, you fools. What kind of stupid question is that?"

He kept laughing and staggered towards the stairs. Thorne and Marcus watched him in silence. Suddenly, the man froze for a few seconds, then started running up the stairs.

Marcus looked to Thorne, confused. "What should we do?"

Thorne sighed, "Chase him. I'll be around."

Marcus nodded and started going after him. Thorne turned to the receptionist with a smile. " Hey there, can you tell me where the lift is?".

To be continued.