Section 45: Boundaries Limits

When the night falls I decided to make my report to Vladimir who's still in his room. He doesn't seem to like the fact that we stalled our times in the recon mission. Perhaps, if I explained things clearly, there would be no misunderstanding. I asked Kallen about his room, he showed me the way toward Vladimir's room in the center of the building.

From the looks of it, it's a principal office. Kallen looked at me, anxiety seeped into his eyes.

"Aria? Are you sure about this? Dad seems pissed" Kallen gulped. "Dad pissed cause you came back empty-handed".

"I don't mind being hit by that gorilla, I'm already used to it thanks to our intensive training" I grinned mockingly. "If he hit me, I'll hit him back".

"Aria! Sheesh!" Kallen groaned.

"What?" I raised my brows challengingly.

"If you're making a fuss with my dad, it'll get worse soon" he groaned. "Listen here, sir Vladimir is a dangerous person and I don't recommend you going against him".

"I'm not doing anything Kallen, relax" I scoffed as I boldly knocked on the door toward Vladimir's office.

There's no response from the other side, is Vladimir out?

"Sir Vladimir, dad!" Kallen called out. "It's me".

"Come in," Vladimir answered short.

I followed Kallen from behind, his footsteps are tiny and nervous. Vladimir immediately shifted his gaze to mine. He walked closer, his eyes pierced through my mental defense. I could only smirk at his demeaning aura around him.

"What is it that you want Aria Schneider?" he asked me with intimidating eyes.

"I want to discuss the plan," I added.

"You have failed me, you came in empty-handed! There's nothing to discuss" Vladimir glared.

"Pssh, I'm not" I raised my voice. "I'm here to take Kallen with me".

"You're what?" he slowly raised his voice in anger.

He doesn't seem like the fact that I'm taking Kallen with me in this recon mission for some reason. He must have had a reason, but not that I know what's his reason

"Sir Vladimir needs me in here so-".

"Kallen will be essential for the mission to progress" I cut Kallen off.

I set the map in front of Vladimir and point at the enemy base.

"Going out there with no preparation is a suicide, and the reason I'm here is to tell you our plan" I scowled. "If you're getting in our way, there's a little chance of this mission to go on".

As soon as I dropped my ultimatum, he slammed his hand on the table. His eyes cannot hide his hidden fury he kept so long.

"Are you stalling for time so that our camp-".

"Are you crazy? No, why would I do that?" I cut him off. "First off, I need this Brave Frontier to stay alive".

Vladimir grabbed my collar and hit my forehead with his, pretty hard actually. I fell on the floor, bloodied and shocked by the sudden violence from Vladimir. Then again, this is not surprising at all. Considering how he usually rolls above all. However, he seems to lose his composure about the fact I came back from the recon empty-handed.

Kallen told me that he hates failures, perhaps I am poking at his exploding mine.

"You lost your temper? That's not cool" I gasped as I try to stand up and regain my composure.

"Aria! Stop taunting Sir Vladimir!" Kallen scolded me.

I hold onto my head, still bloody and painful from the sudden impact of his forehead.

"Well, why don't you go with us? Instead of staying in this old office", I grinned cynically. "Or is it that you're too scared to go with us?".

Vladimir pulled back from me, he rubbed his temple in a circular motion. He closed his eyes as if he's in deep thought.

"He's thinking about something?" I thought to myself as I looked at Vladimir's uncertainty.

"What is that you're planning? Aria Schneider" he grumbled. "You've been disobeying me and disappointed me".

"What are you talking about, old man? I just want to say about our plan to infiltrate their base through the underground sewer" I shrugged.

Vladimir looked at the map carefully, he looked at me with a brightened expression.

"I see, interesting plan Aria Schneider" he grinned. "I can depend on you, just like how it used to be".

I raised my brows to his commentary.

"Like how it used to be?" I scratched my head.

"Perfect choice, Kallen is a street urchin" he shifted his eagle eyes to Kallen. "You made the right choice to include him in the recon mission".

The words street urchin triggered me, this somewhat made Kallen jolted as well. What did he mean by street urchin? Does that mean before this chaos even starts, he lives on the street? There are so many unanswered questions in regards to Kallen's background story. However, what I know is that Kallen is an extraordinary child.

He's far beyond ordinary people and has the ability to adapt to any situation. At such a young age, to be able to learn about self-defense techniques is something else.

"Sir, I mean dad" Kallen lowered his gaze, embarrassed. "Why did you tell Aria about me?".

The expression of disappointment flashed on his lonely amber eyes. He clenched his fist, trying to contain his hidden emotions, hidden disappointment from Vladimir.

"Why? Because you're useful in the team when it comes to the hidden routes" Vladimir praised the young boy. "You're used to playing cat and mouse with other people, right?".

Not holding his statements, he keeps blabbering Kallen's insecurities with ease. Kallen sweated profoundly, his expression shows that he's ashamed of the statements Vladimir uttered.

"Listen, I'm here to talk about the plan" I snarled. "I have time to listen to your monologue".

I cut Vladimir's words with mine, in hope that he's distracted by the topic I presented.

"The underground sewer is the only way to get in, we need to split into two teams" I explained. "So that we can cover lots of things".

Vladimir nodded, he looks impressed by the way I explained my strategy with ease.

"Okay, what if the enemy strikes from below?".

"Huh?" That question came like a UFO from Vladimir's mouth.

"Then you will willingly sacrifice your teammates because of your failure?" his words pierced my insecurities, stung my heart like a bee.

"That is none of your concern" I growled back in hostility.

Vladimir dismissed me and Kallen, as he returned to his desk. Kallen and I exited the room, with mixed expressions on our faces. Kallen looks ashamed and scared, while my mind is engulfed in anxiety because of what he said.

"What if my friends die because of me?" I repeated those words inside my mind.

Kallen walked away slowly as he said his goodbye to me, tomorrow is going to be a hectic day. I need to visit someone before I completely set out for tomorrow's recon.

* * *

Ender asleep on the bed, when I saw him on the bed with a lot of external and internal injuries. My heart started to ache, I couldn't protect him. He's lying on the bed because I wasn't there for him, I wish I could protect him. It doesn't matter what people said about whether he's stronger than me. Ender is Ender, in the end, he's like any other human being.

He could fall down, collapse, and die in any second if I'm not paying attention. I sit next to the sleeping Ender, I grab his cold hands. I engulfed his hands with mine, hoping that he can stay warm. Not long after, I felt a tap on my shoulder, it turns out to be Joel.

He placed a cup of hot chocolate on the nightstand.

"Here, it's a hot chocolate" he smiled kindly at me.

"Thanks, Joel" I replied with a bitter smile.

Joel borrowed a seat from the outside, he sits calmly next to me.

"You're worried about him?" he asked.

"Well, not really" I answered, hesitated with my answer. "I know Ender can survive, he's strong".

At this point, I only wanted to convince myself that Ender will be okay.

"I see, he must be a very important person to you" Joel chuckled. "I never had anyone I consider important".

"Oh, really?" I asked the geek next to me, who still had this melancholic face.

"Used to, but I'm not really sure how I feel right now" Joel shrugged. "I mean I like her, used to but I don't know now".

"Your feelings disappeared?" I inquired about his hesitation.

"Yeah, I guess it's kinda like that" he answered awkwardly. "But it does not completely disappear, it's just traces of the past".

I picked the cup of hot chocolate from the nightstand, I sipped it and was somewhat amazed at the taste. Joel seems to know what I like to eat and drink lately, living with him in that strange love hotel makes me aware that he paid attention to every tiny detail I left.

Like the fact that I dislike sweets and are more prone to spicy food. The hot chocolate he gave me tasted delicious and savory, and the level of sweetness doesn't go overboard for my tongue.

"Huh? It's not that sweet, but it's really good" I smiled as I tasted the hot chocolate.

"Wow, thanks for the compliment" he answered with a blush. "I made it less sugary for you since you dislike sugar".

"You know what I like, don't you?" I chuckled at Joel's attentiveness.

"It's nothing like that" he stuttered shyly. "Anyway, I hope Ender gets better soon!".

I nodded in agreement.

"I do hope that tomorrow doesn't end in a failure" my anxiety arises.