Friends?

Today I woke up with the same routine, the knight that attended me towards the lower level was different. I guess it was only Hackmann by chance the first time, but I hope that he'll be the next one to attend me next time. I just wanted to make things right between us.

Especially since we're going to be working with each other sometime soon although it may be too early to say that; but there was one thing that I couldn't stop thinking about.

"Where the heck did my necklace go?" I muttered to myself.

"What?! Did you say something?"

The knight escorting me heard my voice, I accidentally blurted it out.

"N-Nothing, It's nothing," I said.

"Hmph."

He scoffed as we made our way towards the Chow Hall. I don't remember anyone taking my necklace, it might've fallen somewhere and the chances are it was the time that I ran away or did training outside. Although I did meet a lot of people yesterday so they might know about it. Since I'm already on the way to the Chow Hall, I might as well ask the people I met there and take a look...

I could already smell the freshly baked bread, the palate-quenching smell of the soup, and the sizzling smell of roasted beef from the Great Hall.

*Grumble* *Grumble*

I forgot that I didn't eat much yesterday and my stomach was growling like crazy. I could already imagine the food melting inside my mouth, the salivating of my tongue made it apparent how hungry I am. I couldn't focus on what I had intended to do.

Hopefully, that big man, I mean woman at the front would forgive me if I made amends with her. If she's there manning the front bar then I won't be able to eat anything.

Soon I found myself inside the Chow Hall while the Knight left me for his daily duties apart from escorting me. I bid farewell to the knight although he was a bit indifferent towards me.

The Chow Hall was packed and bustling, same as always, I was thinking of ways of how I could apologize to such a woman. Now that I thought of it, it was Hackman's fault why that happened yesterday.

"He didn't even warn me," I mumbled to myself.

Maybe, that's why he left in such a hurry yesterday. I could already imagine his angry-looking face smirking out of spite.

*Sigh*

I shook the idea then took a deep gaze at the bar, trying to find the said woman. There wasn't a trace of her to be found anywhere. Besides, I don't think I'll miss her big size from afar. Looks like I got lucky today, I'm going to have to deal with her next time--But I wonder what happened to her.

Walking through the crowds of men and women, I casually went to the bar where many took to the line while waiting for their grub. As a fellow hungry citizen of the Fortress, I took my time, and couldn't help but notice the constant complaints from the nearby chattering people.

"Ugh, this food is nasty..."

"Ye' I even I can't stomach this down."

"Do y'all know where Bertha is?"

"Dunno' They sayin' she sick ever since yesterday"

"I wonder why?"

"Without her, the food here always tastes bad."

"The Roast beef is chewy as bark!"

I knew why and it was probably not because she was sick. She was probably somewhere holed up crying. I felt guilty... Maybe that's the reason why the line today is shorter than yesterday. Soon enough It was my turn to ask for an order.

My eyes flew towards the crude menu: Creamy wild mushroom soup, Freshly baked bread, Porridge, Shredded Roast Beef, Mixed Vegetables, and Fruit...

*Gulp*

Everything on the menu was appetizing that I didn't know where to start. The smell seeping from the kitchen behind the bar was adding to my hunger.

"Can I help you?"

"U-Uh..."

"Don't know what to start with?"

As I averted my eyes away from the menu to respectfully face the person I'm conversing with, only to see that it was the same man from yesterday. He still had that same "Kiss the Cook" titled apron.

"Hey aren't cha' the kid from yesterday?!" He voiced out.

It took the attention of the nearby crowd. I could hear the faint gossiping rumors from around us.

"Y-Yes can I get some porridge please."

Without any hesitation, I ordered something on a whim because I felt their uncomfortable gaze. I didn't like the attention, any attention that I grabbed always ended horribly.

"ONE BOWL OF PORRIDGE!" He shouted towards the viewing window.

As the bowl came out in a jiffy, he immediately sprinkled some add-ons on my bowl. Then promptly served it in front of me, on top of a wooden tray. The efficiency and skill he had to serve were impeccable.

"Enjoy!" He presented.

I went to grab the bowl without any further delay just to avoid the conversation at hand. Despite being awe-struck of his culinary ability.

"Hey! You didn't really know that Bertha was a girl?" He questioned.

"Y-yeah," I replied lowly.

Just before he was going to utter another word, I went turned away then hurriedly but ultimately stopped in my tracks. He might know where my necklace was, even though I only had it for a while, it still felt valuable to me.

I went back to face the man again while carrying my tray.

"Excuse me," I asked the man occupying the front.

I didn't know how to open the conversation as my awkwardness was eating up my throat.

"B-bertha..." I mumbled.

He looked at me with a perplexed expression, eyebrow raised and dazed. Until he clapped both of his hands in realization.

"You mean Bertha?"

I nodded.

"Oh, she's fine! She'll be back soon enough," He said enthusiastically.

"But! who knows! sometimes she takes weeks or maybe even months!"

"Can I ask something--"

"She's a real softy despite how big she is! Let me tell ya! one time there was this--"

He was really chatty, it was hard to get through and ask anything. He blabbed on and on about something that I couldn't quite catch. I still kept wondering if he knows where my necklace is.

"U-Uhm can I ask something..."

"And that's how people came to be terrified of her," As his face grew weary at the thought of his sentence.

"Anyways! The name's Joule! I take charge here when Big Bertha is not around! What's yours!?"

As he abruptly threw his hand towards my direction. I stared at his oddly refined bowl-cut hairstyle that had bangs, slightly covering his eyes. He donned a simple white shirt underneath his apron.

"Uh, I'm Knoxx, Knoxx Abbot."

I reached to shake his hand, to my surprise he shook it without any hesitation. His face brightened as I felt his bony-fingers against mine.

"WOW?! ARE YOU REALLY?!"

He kept shaking my hand with both of his hands in joy. What was it that made him so happy, I was curious. Despite all the horrible things I've done, he was the first to ever look at me with sincerity.

"SO YOU'RE 'THE' KNOXX ABBOT?!"

"Aren't you supposed to be disappointed?"

"WHY WOULD I?! You're famous!"

"B-But I killed--"

"Yes! that might be true! but you've saved some of them too, because of that day a lot of them got freed."

"The people got so distracted that everyone took to save themselves! I'm grateful because of you my family got to escape that wretched place!"

"They've been trapped, working in that place for years! I only got out by sheer luck and ever since I wanted to free them."

"And That's why I'm here..."

As he smiled warmly that showed a great amount of gratitude and sincerity, that I couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Me? Saving people? No, I couldn't believe it and I can't. Ever since that day, I never realized that I could have saved people as well. Everyone that knew of my existence here always had contempt towards me.

Even if they don't show it, I could still see it deep within their eyes. As if looking at a living monster, a monster that they were forced to settle with. I could hear the voices inside their head each time I saw their eyes.

"Die, please, die."

"What's this monster doing here."

"Disgusting."

It always made me feel distant no matter what happened. I wanted to kill myself then. I didn't even know what I was doing, how could they look at me like that.

I always thought, "I wish I was the monster you think I am". Each time, It reminded me of how much it hurt to be forced into something you're not.

If only I could undo everything that I did, I would.

"Hey! I really appreciate it and it might sound selfish, but I'm glad you were there."

"Thank you," He said solemnly.

As I felt my eyes started to well up in tears. It was the first time that I've heard someone thanking me for something that I've done. It was so hard to live under the eyes of those that despised you. Every day I was trapped in their cage, I couldn't be myself that felt like I was dying inside each second. I was so afraid of doing anything.

The first time, after a long time, I felt the lock to my cage had finally loosened...

He smiled at me neatly from beyond the counter, he placed his hand on top of my shoulder. I knew he was trying to comfort me in his own way.

"If you ever need anything, I'll be here!"

He raised his thumb that reassured me.

"HEY!" A voice interrupted.

I turned to the right and saw the group of men coming from the line. They all seemed agitated.

"Why you getting all emotional for?! you murderer!" One of them said.

They were listening to our conversation.

"Hey! you can't talk to him like that!" Said Joule.

"Shut up you fuckin' cook!" said another man coming from behind the one who talked before.

Joule couldn't say anything right after since a man took a knife to his neck. He could only bite his lip in retaliation.

"You think you did some noble deed?! Yeah! you might've saved some, but that still doesn't change anything!"

"You're still a killer, a cold-blooded killer!" He continued.

"Don't you ever feel fine after what you did! all those lives you carry on your shoulders!"

"Savior?! Hell, no! You're a God damn monster!" Another man blurted.

I knew I was just being hopeful. No matter what happened, I still killed a lot of people. They were right, I am a monster. That so-called cage of mine was never open, not even in the slightest, I lied to myself that maybe there was something redeemable from what I did.

Something that I could hold against myself and that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't such a horrible character. Even I right now, I'm still living in my own horrible lie just to fulfill my late father's wish.

"What do you have to say! huh! you freak!"

"You shouldn't even be here!"

"You don't belong here, you murderer!"

I couldn't muster up any words, I just wanted to leave right then and there. I left the tray on the counter as I hurriedly tried moving past them. One of them caught me with both hands, stopping me in my tracks.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

As the said man pushed me onto the floor, allowing me to land on my rear. I couldn't even muster up the courage to fight back.

"Excuse me! Please excuse this awful friend of mine."

I heard a familiar voice, but I couldn't tell who it was because my hair fell, covering my face with the messy strands. As a result, blurring my vision, but I cleared my face to see this person.

It was that same friendly face from yesterday, despite having known that we had exchanged names; I couldn't remember his. I felt awkward and guilty.

He stood the same height as I did and had straight dirty-blonde colored hair. He had soft features that it was hard to turn away from despite having such shabby clothes.

"Who are you?!"

"A friend," He said softly.

"A-A friend?" I said muttering to myself.

We were friends? but we only met yesterday? It's not like we had a history spent together that made it hardly believable that we are.

"You friends with this prick?!" The man said angrily.

"Now, now, no need to get feisty," He replied.

As I tried to stand another time they just pushed me again, yet this time I didn't fall and caught myself staggering slightly away.

"Where do you think you're going?! What?! you got balls now?!" Said, my oppressor.

In this predicament, I saw my so-called "friend" leaning into the group leader's ear... His victim slowly walked away right after that, the fellow men along with him shortly followed right after leaving threatening remarks.

They were probably worried about their comrade as he was non-responsive and had eyes like a dead fish. What did he do? and more importantly, why did he helped me? He was indifferent since yesterday.