6 What Once Was

That night, I recalled a memory of Master on his writing desk. It was right before bedtime when I sat beside him as he penned a letter to a friend. I was fixated on the way his hand moved briskly, forming elegant letters on blank paper. As soon as he was finished, he folded the letter and slipped it inside an envelope then sealed it with his signature crimson wax seal.

I quickly asked him a question: "Master, why is the war happening?"

He paused. Although his expressions were never visibly known, I could sense a hint of sadness from him. "Ah, the true cause of the war is quite complex. People fight for several reasons: freedom, equality, religion, greed, power, or survival. Remember, Aliciel, the more people are involved in a conflict, the more complex it becomes. This civil war is more than just mere rebels fighting against the king. We are still at the very beginning of a series of unavoidable events that are about to transpire. In time, you will understand."

In time.

***

Adrian gave up hope of finding a carriage that would take us to Byrd that morning. All of them declined because of the ongoing battle between the king's army and the rebels taking place at the site. Even trains refused to stop at the Byrd station for that same reason.

"It looks like we won't be able to go to Byrd today, Aliciel," Adrian finally said, disappointed that he was forced to give up.

"Byrd? Are you two going to Byrd?" A bearded man who dressed like a merchant couldn't help but approach us. He had been loitering at a fruit stand where he watched us search for some mode of transportation to Byrd. He appeared harmless, carrying no visible weapons with him.

Adrian turned around to face him. "Why yes. We're looking for someone who could take us there."

"Well, you're in luck. I'll be heading there to deliver supplies for the military. You two can hitch a ride if you don't mind the cramped space on the wagon."

Adrian smiled. "Thank you very much! We'll be glad to."

The man examined us both. "I can't imagine what sort of business you and this little lady might have there. The whole town is in ruins. I'd strongly advise you to avoid Byrd like everybody else."

"Thank you for the warning, but my companion and I need to meet a certain man."

The merchant said nothing in reply and led us to his wagon. Adrian and I found a place inside the merchant's wagon where we could rest comfortably. For about two hours, we endured the jolts and bumps the rocky terrain had to offer. We spoke of nothing beyond inquiring about each other's comfort. All of us were deeply concentrated on our own thoughts.

Soon, what seemed to be black smoke rising high into the air about a mile away hinted that our destination was close by. Adrian gazed fixedly at it, his face more grave than the merchant's. Every person was aware that we were treading on dangerous grounds.

"Here we are," said the merchant when the wagon came to a stop at the ruins of a once beautiful town.

"This is Byrd?" I asked.

"This is Byrd, or what was once Byrd." The merchant gazed pitifully at the sorry state of the town.

Houses had been razed to the ground, along with their occupants. The charred remains produced a foul scent that lingered throughout the area. This scent, along with the stench of decaying bodies scattered on the streets, composed the prominent smell of death which at that moment burned permanently into my memory.

Adrian was visibly disturbed by the sight. He covered his nose with his gloved hand.

"I often sell and deliver supplies to the military. It is always disheartening to see once lively towns fall to ruin," said the merchant while shaking his head sideways. "Byrd was a lovely place, I tell you. It's a shame that you have to see it in this state."

"Indeed it is horrific to see the fall of towns," replied Adrian, whose head turned restlessly to view his surroundings.

"This is where we must separate. Stay far away from that area up north if you are able to avoid it. That is where the fight is and where I must go to conduct business. Should you need a ride back to Eriden, wait for me here before the clock strikes two."

We bid the merchant goodbye as he left toward the northern portion of the town. I silently wished for his protection.

"Come Aliciel, let us hurry and search for the mechanic's house." Adrian led the way.

Miss Clementine wrote an address along with the name, but streets became unrecognizable because of the degree of destruction the flames caused.

I still failed to understand how allowing civilians to perish was necessary in the attainment of their cause. Who were they really fighting for? What kind of future were they trying to achieve? The traces of death and suffering they left on their trail presented only a pessimistic answer.

"It should be this street." Adrian was quick to notice little clues that might have been overlooked by most people.

Through his wit and deduction skills, he found the exact residence of the high-rank mechanic. The wooden house surprisingly stood intact, although partially burnt. It was hard to believe that anyone would have continued living there.

We walked to the door and knocked out of customary politeness. The door swung open with an eerie creak, revealing the dreary interior that seemed a century old. All the curtains were left undrawn, making the room dim, but it was easy to make out the various mahogany furniture and ceramic decorations that filled the limited space.

We stepped inside, noting the heavy dust that covered the wooden floorboards.

"Mr. Culvert?" Adrian called out the mechanic's name.

No answer came.

The detective approached the curtains and drew them, illuminating the room with bright sunlight. At that moment, I saw the lifeless figure of a man sitting on a chair. His throat had been slit, spilling blood all over his white dress shirt and black trousers.

"Adrian, look over there." I pointed.

He turned his head. His face became ghastly pale when he saw the bloody murder scene before him. For a detective supposedly accustomed to the sight of dead bodies, he had such strong reactions.

"Goodness! He is dead!" Adrian exclaimed. "We arrived too late. May his soul rest in peace."

I walked over to the body to examine it closely. "The corpse is fresh."

"Unbelievable, Aliciel! How does a young girl like you remain calm and unperturbed by such a gruesome sight?" Adrian was unable to fathom my lack of reaction.

"I am unperturbed by most things because I've lost the ability to feel when I became a half-machine."

"He may have been murdered just a few hours ago. The culprit might still be in the vicinity. We must stay vigilant." Adrian was quick to return to the matter at hand. "There is nothing left for us to do here. It's best that we leave."

When we turned to face the doorway, a tall man wearing the recognizable uniform of the King's Royal Military blocked the way. He appeared taciturn and unrelenting, features common among men of authority in the kingdom. His was the face of a man who had seen and lived through the horrors of human cruelty.

"Mr. Latrell, I did not expect to see you here." He glanced calmly at the dead body. "And seeing you with a fresh corpse too. You are certainly in a suspicious position. I assume you are on duty?"

Adrian recognized the man and smiled in relief. "Captain Dietrich! It is a surprise seeing you here as well. I am assisting this girl. She is half-machine and badly needs a high-rank mechanic to sustain her biological functions. Unfortunately, we just lost our chances of meeting one."

"Half-machine, you say? Could she be that girl during the train incident?" Captain Dietrich was intrigued by the information he gathered.

Adrian glanced at me before replying, "The very same girl."

"I've read the reports. My men have been sent to investigate her after she mysteriously vanished right after the incident. To think she was directly associated with you!"

"I was on board the train during that incident."

"I am well aware. There is no other fearless detective who would fight off hostage-takers using a suitcase." He turned around. "My men will handle the rest here. I hope both of you fancy a night's stay at the military headquarters because you need to be taken in for questioning regarding this and the train incident."

"What more is there to learn about the train incident? Were the rebels not captured?"

The captain warily gazed at me as he replied, "There is more to it. You will soon understand."