Area 22

The convoy stopped at area 22. Cadets poured out of the vehicles. Moans and groans filled the atmosphere as they stretched and relieved themselves of any discomfort they had built up while in transit.

Area 22 was a large encampment that was centred at the edge of the central province plains. The military base was the same shape as a siege capital and its high walls were several metres thick. Area 22 was a massive and impressive military base deep within the remote plains. The fortified citadel had been constructed to the highest specifications that their current infrastructure could manage, ensuring that its occupants were safe from potential sieges.

Its enormous size and strength made it a formidable opponent to abyssal creatures that sought to breach its walls and disrupts operations within. At first glance, the structure of area 22 was imposing, its thick walls constructed from high-grade steel and several impenetrable layers of concrete. They hadn't been able to witness the exterior of the mighty citadel but if he had to make a guess he imagined they'd be a deep Moat filled with vile liquids made from hideous alchemic and arcane processes that would slow down even abyssal creatures.

From the inside the security seemed almost impossible to breach and there was even an underground tunnel system which would allow for quick evacuation of important personnel should the unlikely occur. Within its well-crafted walls were a lot of hustle and bustle of military personnel, all engaged in their various duties. Soldiers marched through corridors and in open paths, each of their faces painted with determination and purpose. Their commanding officers had already made their way towards the armoury as the cadets stood by their respective vehicles.

There was a lot of activity at the centre of the base which Casimir assumed would be the command centre. A large building although not nearly as tall as the walls that protected it, stood proudly in the centre of the encampment. The military campus also boasted several amenities for its personnel. That was a first for even Casimir i. although h not as prominent as its more military features he had noticed a library and the gym just east of the main command building. The large signs that read library and gym only further confirmed is conclusions were correct.

Area 22, the formidable military base had set a precedent for any base that Casimir would visit in Future. The possibility that they were creatures that could possibly topple this base scared Casimir.

Even worse than that was another large city close to the ether mines that run underground. Koba was an economic capital of sorts because of its location. It had been established in between two mines. One was an ether mind and the other was an iron mine. Koba was not too far from the canal as well and had a port established along the great river for trade. Anything that would be imported into the great city usually came through the Sherith canal as well.

Look back to the military vehicle and there with several people loading boxes into the storage compartments of the vehicle. He looked around in search of his officers but he couldn't see them so he assumed they were at the head office. However, Lieutenant Banks was around which didn't make sense considering she was the one ultimately in charge of the convoy. The overdramatic woman was someone who Casimir saw not very often and seldom had the chance to speak to.

At the moment she was conversing with a few of the cadets from the third vehicle. There was laughter and smiles… maybe a bit too much laughter possibly the cadets trying to curry favour with their domineering Lieutenant.

"Casimir."

He looked back after he heard a voice he was not so familiar to, call his name. It was Matilda, the blonde group leader. She stood in front of him her eyes looking into his intensely. She was definitely weird, and Casimir thought he had seen it all but clearly, there was still more to life and a lot more to see.

"Matilda, how can I help you?"

"You do not like speaking to others, do you? Or is it that no one likes speaking to you?"

"A little bit of both."

He said and followed up quickly with another retort.

"I'm a little too old to be playing those little social games I did not mean to be rude but if you genuinely do not have anything of interest I'd rather we stop talking."

She continued to stare at him unfazed by his statement which was the first for Casimir. The rude approach usually worked but like he said there was always a first time for everything.

"What is wrong with your group?"

"Excuse me."

"What is wrong with your group?"

"No, see I heard that what I mean is what are you trying to get at."

"They are Disingenuous."

"There's some… tension."

She did not say anything after his statement but silently looked at him. Casimir returned the stare, unfazed by her blatant attempt to make him uncomfortable.

"Be careful then… it's my origin that's why I asked."

She said the last part and turned on her heel and made a beeline for the vehicle. They were boarding now and that interaction seemed like she had fabricated it to prevent him from quizzing her further. He clenched his fist in frustration but smiled in acknowledgement of her brilliance whether or not it was intended.

"Great another one of those cognitive ability freaks for me to worry about. Why don't you just shove the rest of stick up my rear while you're at huh?"

The last bit of that statement was directed towards the imaginary force he considered to be the arbiter of his fate. Usually cussing at a higher power was a bad idea and there have been several examples where that was the case. But even for someone like Casimir, it couldn't get any worse than it already was… right?