Chapter 2: The Empire's New Ally

On the way to the empire's border, Mibreg took the necessary time to explain how I should behave in front of the empress. Despite many formalities being impractical due to my gigantic body, I thought there must have been a reason behind his explanation. Mibreg provided details on how to address the empress and how to move around her. However, after all that was mentioned, he assured that she herself would handle everything, and I wouldn't have to do anything.

The officers listened to Mibreg in silence, and although some seemed to want to say something, they remained quiet. Perhaps it was out of respect for their superior officer or out of fear, but none uttered a word, not even Elora, who was by my side. Once the conversation about the empress ended, Mibreg shifted his focus to me, this time in a more probing manner.

"I need your word, or at least a promise that you won't do anything to harm our empress. Do you promise?" He observed my reaction keenly, awaiting my response.

My previous experience with her and the cigarette had taught me that nodding up and down didn't mean a yes, but a no. So, this time, I chose not to shake my head from side to side, as I didn't want to leave room for misunderstandings. Besides, who knows what nodding from left to right could signify in this world.

Impatience began to show among the officers and non-commissioned officers due to my lack of response. However, both Elora and Mibreg remained unruffled, with inscrutable expressions. Yet, it was evident I couldn't keep them waiting any longer, especially if this question aimed to ensure their monarch's safety.

"The question is straightforward; we need your answer to be affirmative. We won't accept a no for an answer," the walrus-mustached man with dark gray hair almost shouted at me.

I was grateful to him for providing the key I needed: the gesture of nodding from left to right to indicate a yes—thank goodness. If I had a mirror, I'd probably be smiling at the discovery. Mibreg, who seemed on the verge of reprimanding the mustached man, paused before addressing me again.

"I appreciate your cooperation," she said with a smile as she pulled out a cigarette and brought it to her lips. "Oops, sorry, I forgot you don't like it."

When she was about to put it away, I shook my head. Her face lit up when she saw an opportunity to smoke and asked, "May I smoke?"

I replied affirmatively, nodding from right to left. She thanked me and proceeded to light it, expressing her happiness, "I needed this, really needed it."

She took a deep drag and seemed to have smoked half of the cigarette in one breath, despite having smoked on land. It seemed as if she hadn't smoked in years.

The subsequent conversation turned rather mundane. It seemed like everyone had grown accustomed to my presence and only occasionally glanced at me to remind themselves not to let their guard down. I, however, remained on the sidelines, looking out of the small window at the sky and the clouds, remembering that not long ago, I had been there.

The conversation revolved around rewards, reception, and family. Although my stay in the empire was mentioned more than once, Mibreg hushed them, arguing that the decision should rest with the empress. In contrast, Elora remained silent, gazing thoughtfully out of the window.

The lieutenant general approached from behind and spoke to Elora in a low voice, as if she thought I couldn't hear them. For the first time, I decided not to pay attention to their conversation and turned to listen to the officers. Perhaps I could learn more about this world, considering they had access to privileged information.

"The lieutenant general always pays attention to Elora, but she's nothing more than a mere lieutenant," commented the mustached man, clearly displeased. "She may have accumulated several impressive achievements, but reaching an officer rank is sheer luck. She shouldn't even be part of the army; she's just a mix of blood. It disgusts me to think about it."

"Major Bigud, you shouldn't say that; you know this mission couldn't have been carried out without Lieutenant Elora," said a young man with glasses and black hair like my scales.

"You're not going to bed her, Nauter," responded a forty-year-old woman with a penetrating gaze, short dark hair exuding confidence and self-assuredness.

Everyone began laughing at the young man, who turned red and seemed to shrink. A rather burly man with a fatherly attitude placed a hand on the bespectacled man's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, remember that in this world, there are as many women as stars in the night sky." He squeezed his shoulder and gave a mischievous smile.

"You're not referring to brothels, are you?" asked the smallest of them all, resembling a bookish teenager. With two large eye bags and two marks from glasses on the bridge of his nose, his face gave the impression of someone devoted to reading.

"Why, you want to come along?" the muscular man burst into laughter, his long shiny hair swaying with his laughter. The way he seemed to care for his hair indicated he cared a lot about what others thought of him.

"Can you stop being so noisy? You're drawing Mr. Drakontos's attention," commented a tall, young woman who hadn't parted with her rifle since we boarded. In fact, she was caressing it as if it were a pet. Her rather unkempt appearance, along with her unusual behavior, was the antithesis of the muscular man; she seemed unconcerned about others' opinions.

The officers turned to me, and the atmosphere of laughter and fun that had prevailed earlier transformed into a deathly silence. Their expressions reflected fear and submission, and some even apologized for the previous noise. In contrast, the mustached man clicked his tongue disdainfully and distanced himself from the group, showing his clear displeasure. The rest of the officers grouped into small conversations according to the members' ages. This left the tall woman, rifle enthusiast, who continued to watch me, and the angry man alone. Meanwhile, the forty-year-old woman began to flirt with the muscular man with long hair, who lost interest in both. On the other hand, the group of adolescents speculated about the reception they would receive upon arrival, which didn't catch my attention much.

From all they discussed, I could only gather with certainty the names of two of them and Bigud's evident aversion towards Elora and her origins. However, what caught my attention the most was the pair of officers who shared similar facial features. One had long red hair, makeup, and a feminine figure, while the other sported short blue hair and a more muscular build. Both seemed absorbed in their own world, focused on reading the same book. The woman held the book while the man flipped through the pages, giving the impression of perfect synchronization. I was mesmerized watching how they laughed and marveled together. Although only the young woman laughed out loud, the young man remained silent.

At some point, Mibreg also concluded her conversation with Elora and left her there, lost in thought by the window. She approached the pair of twins, and immediately, I turned my attention to their conversation, eager to learn more about these strange siblings. Both rose in unison and raised their left hand in a closed fist. Could this be the typical military salute in this world or at least in the Empire?

"At ease," Mibreg said to them.

Both lowered their arms, and the young woman spoke, "At your command, Lieutenant General Mibreg."

"No need to be so formal. Sometimes, I wish you were as quiet as your other half. I just want to ask you a favor."

"I don't understand. What do you mean? Are these orders?"

"Forget it," she replied, giving up on the matter, and continued, "I would like that..." She lowered her voice. "If something were to go wrong and the empress were to be in danger, I want you to gather and do what you have to do."

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?" asked the young woman.

"Everything is allowed for the good of the empire," she responded with an aggressive tone.

"I understand," said the young man solemnly.

Then, Mibreg walked away from the group, lit a cigarette, and stood in a corner, watching it slowly burn away. "I just want to be..."

The words I had just heard only heightened my unease. Was I being led into a deadly trap? I felt an increasing sense of being manipulated and suspected that nothing good would come of all this. I longed to have the ability to speak, as when I had been human, to ask for help.