Chapter XXIII: The first crewmate

The worn, grey walls of the long corridor on the ground floor of the Guild bore witness to the cautious steps of a tall, sickly figure navigating through the veil of night.

Following the map provided by the System's tab, Gino had finally memorised the paths and passages. He had faced numerous consequences for his nocturnal escapades after encounters with guards and servitors.

However, the physical punishment they inflicted soon became a minor concern for Gino, who noticed his reactions to pain diminishing over time. Perhaps it was a result of his mental faculties declining after several days without proper rest, compounded by poor nutrition and other factors adversely affecting his psyche and body.

Regardless, Gino used those precious hours of sleep to learn the layout of the main building of the Guild. His ultimate goal was to uncover every room where those in his situation were kept. He discovered that men were housed in one wing of several rooms along a corridor, while women were kept in another wing on the opposite side of the building.

Both sides contained the same number of rooms, twelve in total, where around eighty individuals were crammed in, monitored by guards on two-hour rotations. Most guards didn't put in much effort; aside from Gino and the occasional others, the majority used their free hours to rest or wallow in despair.

Thus, Gino found himself walking towards the last room in the women's wing, deducing that Beatrix must be there. He eliminated each room one by one, having failed to find her small figure among those lying in metal beds, uncovered by sheets or blankets.

Straining his eyes to see through the dim lighting that reached this place, Gino began to move between the beds, inspecting each figure sleeping upon them. His bare feet made no sound, and he kept his hands as still as possible to avoid any movement that might cause him to grunt in pain and wake anyone nearby.

Finally, on the left side against the wall, in the fourth bed, Gino recognised the curled-up figure of Beatrix, who appeared to lie motionless. As he approached her with hesitant steps, he wanted to extend his hand, but hesitated upon seeing the metallic body it had become, for where his hand used to be was now a bionic implant. The cold touch it would offer was alien and strange to both of them, filling Gino with rage.

He decided to lean closer and whisper in her ear, preparing to place a leg on Beatrix's bed.

"What do you want?" However, Beatrix immediately turned and asked with an apathetic gaze and tone directed at Gino's darkened figure. But as soon as her brain recognised his features and physique, her voice faltered, and she extended her trembling hand, whispering, "G-Gi-Gino, is it you?"

In that moment, even with the darkness hindering their vision, their eyes met—ones filled with fury, rage, resentment, and helplessness gazing into others filled with pain, anguish, sorrow, and affection.

Throwing herself into his arms, Beatrix wrapped her arms around Gino's neck as she began to cry once more, murmuring through her sobs, "I'm sorry for being a burden. It's my fault. It's my fault..." She clutched at his clothes, trying to press her body against him, seeking solace in the immense sorrow she felt and the pain of uttering those words.

Closing his own eyes and embracing her in a hug filled with uncertainty—largely due to not knowing what to do with his hands—Gino felt Beatrix's warmth. A tremendous relief washed over his mind as his body seemed to find comfort and rest in her small frame, letting out a sigh.

The closeness and familiarity that Beatrix radiated made his body resonate with joy, as he felt himself melting into the warmth that promised to ease the fatigue, pain, rage, and myriad of emotions swirling within him—a tempest that could break free at any moment.

In Beatrix's warmth, Gino wanted to cry. To release all the anger and frustration he had bottled up while his heart felt lighter being with the only person who mattered to him in Vandalor. The only friend he had in the misery of this world and in the present he endured.

'I can't cry... I can't afford to let my emotions out now...' he told himself, biting his own tongue to force a steady voice instead of a trembling one while comforting Beatrix. "It's alright, Bea. You're not to blame for anything. Don't say that about yourself, alright? The idiot and fool was me."

Beatrix began to shake her head from side to side, denying Gino's words. However, due to her uncontrolled sobbing, which was almost muffled in their tight embrace, she couldn't say anything. Like a child, she clung to him, trying to cry out her emotions and seek forgiveness in the firmness of Gino's chest.

'Aaahh... I suppose the best thing to do is lie down with her and wait for her to be able to speak...' Feeling that his words wouldn't console Beatrix or change her mind easily, Gino let out a pained sigh as he settled onto the metallic bed, with Beatrix sprawled against his chest, holding onto his neck with a fierce grip, unwilling to let him go for anything in the world.

Minutes passed until Beatrix finally stopped sobbing and was able to lift her face from Gino's chest. At that point, her hands began to caress his face, as if trying to burn the memory of his touch into her mind.

Gino, for his part, let out sighs from time to time. The emotions threatening to bubble up inside him were held back by sheer will as he recognised he no longer had the luxury to complain or cry. All he wanted was the comfort of knowing Beatrix was safe and that he had her in his arms.

The suffocating weight in his chest lessened as time went on, and he enjoyed Beatrix's silent caresses, which seemed to convey a myriad of unspoken emotions. Her eyes sparkled with feelings unsaid, with countless words caught in her throat, yearning to come out all at once, but knowing that the moment she tried, only more tears would follow.

However, it was when Beatrix felt the hard, cold hands finally brush her hair that she seemed to break the spell she was under and looked fixedly at Gino's face. Soon, her gaze shifted to his bionic implant, and she felt her stomach drop as a gasp of horror escaped her lips.

Quickly, she reached out to touch the implant, nearly breaking into tears as she whispered to Gino in a defeated voice, "Gino... these implants... I'm sorry I couldn't do anything... I couldn't prevent it."

Hearing Beatrix's almost broken whisper, Gino merely grimaced, longing to feel the warmth of her hands caressing the implants. "I've already told you, you're not to blame for anything, and you have no reason to apologise." Breathing heavily, he paused before continuing to whisper to her, "If anything, I'm the one who should apologise. My stupidity has put us both in this situation..."

Beatrix released his implants and quickly placed both hands delicately on either side of Gino's face, murmuring to him in a firm tone, "Don't say that. You know very well that we're partners; your problems are mine, and mine are yours. I failed you as a partner by not being able to help you get out of this. To do the right thing..."

In Beatrix's eyes, Gino saw a flame ignite as he recognised he couldn't simply shrug off her words. The weight of her gaze was heavy with emotions that couldn't find words but longed to be felt and understood.

He merely nodded at her words as Beatrix asked, "...what happened, Gino? Tell me what you did and why you didn't ask for my help." There was genuine doubt in her tone, mingled with hurt.

Letting out a long sigh and recognising there was much to say and little to explain, Gino began to murmur to her, "First, do you know if they have any way of listening to everything we say?"

Taken aback by where he was starting, she took a moment to clarify his question before responding, "I know they monitor everything that happens in the building, but I'm not sure if they can hear everything we say..."

Letting out a grunt, Gino continued, "Damn... Well, before I explain what happened and why I did what I did, you need to know something first." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts on what to reveal next to Beatrix, considering how much he should say given their precarious situation regarding privacy.

"You know about witches, right?" He saw her nodding her head, " Well, these individuals are also known as psykers in the Imperium; they are beings with many abilities, and among them, they can read thoughts, see memories, and force ideas, emotions, and actions." Beatrix stared at Gino, her eyes wide open as her mind struggled to process and comprehend his revealing words, a shiver coursing through her body.

"What I mean to say is that anyone with access to these abilities who can capture us might know everything I told you, which could get us into much worse trouble than we're already in, alright? It's not that I don't trust you; it's just that there's nothing you can do to prevent that from happening." Looking at her firmly, Gino saw Beatrix open and close her mouth, slowly nodding with a resigned expression.

"B-but, what do you know or what did you do to keep that in mind?" she asked after lifting her head.

"That's where I was heading. With all that I told you, it's until we both find someone who can teach you to defend your memories and thoughts that I can't reveal certain important details. I just want you to know that because I need resources, I had to steal from a shop on level 61."

His words only seemed to confuse Beatrix further as she asked, "But why didn't you tell me you were going to steal? I'm sure at least you could have told me that."

Gino nodded his head while replying, "And if I had told you that, wouldn't you want to know why I wanted to do it?" Beatrix appeared lost at his question and responded uncertainly, "Uh, no? Remember what we do for a living? Stealing from a merchant is something we'd eventually do together."

Gino sighed, nodding his head as he said, "You're right about that, but I wouldn't be able to hide what happened with what we stole, something that would lead you to ask a lot of questions, and that could condemn me."

"Oh, okay, I understand. Well, I suppose that also answers my question about where you left what you stole, right?" Beatrix asked, having grasped Gino's point to some extent.

Nodding his head, Gino replied, "That's right; it's not something I can tell you. I just ask that you trust me, okay?" Seeing Beatrix nodding in response as she nestled her face against his neck, Gino continued, "Well, planning the robbery poorly is what led to all this. Now do you understand why I'm saying it wasn't your fault?"

Beatrix shook her head as she murmured from the comfort of Gino's body, "No, I could have taught you much more and told you something when I noticed you acting so strangely..." This made Gino lift his implant and tremble as he caressed her hair, letting out only a deep breath.

"It doesn't matter anymore, Beatrix. Thinking about everything that happened without learning from it will be in vain. It's better if you try to think with me about how to get out of this, alright?" Lifting her head from the warmth of his bionic implant, Beatrix raised her face and looked closely at Gino.

Seeing that he had her attention, Gino made a slight grimace as his gaze softened. He lifted his trembling bionic implant, swallowing the pain as he traced the contour of Beatrix's cheek with a finger, whispering, "The first thing I need you to help me with, Bea, is to promise me that from now on, you'll follow me and stay by my side, through thick and thin, until one of us dies first?"

Upon hearing his question, Beatrix gave a shaky smile as her red eyes filled with tears while she reproached him, "Y-you idiot, don't you think it's a bit late to ask me that? Of course, I'll be with you no matter what happens from now on. Okay?"

DING

The system notification chimed in Gino's mind, alongside her words; however, it was the latter that brought a smile to his face as his eyes met Beatrix's.

----------<• >----------

[• Attention! <1 > individual has sworn loyalty to you and joined your crew. Welcome your new crewmate, for a glorious fate awaits them.]

[• Your follower has begun to receive the blessing and protection of the trait <Incorruptible >.]

[• As a result of affecting the fate of <1 > individual, you have gained <1 > experience. Total experience <33 100>]

---

Embracing Beatrix with joy and relief, Gino closed his eyes as he felt her hands caress his hair while she returned the hug, feeling her breath against his neck.

They both remained in the peace and tranquility that the closeness provided, while Gino organized his mind and thoughts to continue their conversation.

'Although I'm not in a position to make Bea my confidante, it would be foolish of me not to seek her help in my future plans, especially when I need her knowledge and skills.' Gino was aware that there wasn't much he could reveal, for until they both learned how to build mental defenses against psykers, it would be reckless to put them in such danger.

Still, there were things he could share and seek Beatrix's help and opinion on for future plans, such as his urgent need to gain followers, credits, and opportunities to escape the Guild in the future.

After finishing his internal contemplation, Gino kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling of the place, a fire burning in his eyes as his stare was imbued with resentment and absolute coldness. Whispering at a tone only she could hear, Gino said, "Bea, you know I can't tell you the details, but from now on, I need you to help me, whether here in the Guild or outside, to find people. People who can be loyal to me."

And although Beatrix let out a guttural sound of affirmation in response to his words, she immediately asked, "How do you plan to do that? It's not something you can achieve just by asking..." There were many questions she wanted to ask, along with the doubts looming in her mind about Gino.

However, Beatrix had already promised to follow Gino in whatever they embarked on from here on out. She just needed to wait for the right opportunity to ask everything she longed to know, while they both thought of a way out of their current situation.

"I know words won't be enough. We'll need credits, power, and weapons if we want to carry this out. That's why I need you to listen carefully, okay? Now I'm going to explain what we're going to start doing." Still not looking at Beatrix, Gino whispered to her as darkness clouded his gaze, a hint of resentment and rage coloring his voice.

In the darkness of the night, with curious ears unable to grasp what was being planned, Gino revealed his next moves to Beatrix. With both their warmth easing the pains of their souls and clarifying their minds, they began to conspire against the fate imposed upon them.

They were both aware that the path ahead would not be easy, and that what they would need most was patience. The horrors were not going to end, and sacrifices would be required.

Thus, in the dawn of Vandalor, after a month and six days since he had arrived and opened his eyes to the dark universe of Warhammer, Gino recognized his first loyal companion acknowledged by [The Forge System].

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