Chapter 17: Cold Halls


    Sky was led out of the office by the same greasy-haired soldier as earlier. They crossed the lobby once again, but this time, instead of heading down into the tunnel, they took a right turn, passing through a set of guarded doors.


    After a brief walk outdoors, they reached yet another guarded entrance. Compared to the headquarters, the scenery of this new building changed drastically. Gone were any signs of luxury or opulence, replaced by cold utilitarian halls.


    Sky walked down what seemed to be a central hallway; slightly smaller halls branched to the left and right, and the signs above told of the reason for each.


    Many of the words were foreign to Sky, and he could not understand their meetings. However, some stood out, such as the burn ward, letting him guess at the rest.


    The walk was silent, almost eerily, so until suddenly, the doors behind them flung open, and two men rushed down the hal,l yelling for a healer.


    They carried a stretcher between them, and as they ran past, Sky’s eyes widened in horror. The human laying on the stretcher was melting before his eyes. The left arm was nothing more than a puddle of goo, missing all traces of a human limb. The rest of the body was warped like candle wax, slowly dripping.


    Even after all the bloodshed the previous night, Sky was repulsed and felt his stomach turn, threatening to rise up in his throat, forcefully repressing the urge to vomit. He turned to the soldier beside him.


    “what the hell happened to him?” he asked.


    The soldier turned to look at Sky with eyes hardened like steel.


    “That,” the soldier told him, “ is what’s left after an encounter with the shapeless.”


    The shapeless, mindless masses of melted slime wandered just beyond the protected farming zone outside the city.


    Although these creatures were classified as ruin beasts that wasn’t technically true, much like the undead legions in the north, they had an ability to grow their numbers using living beings.


    Although they presented themselves as rolling masses of flesh, they were as their name declared, shapeless; the primary form of attack from these monsters was to shoot forth spiked protrusions, and after piercing their prey, they would inject biomass, causing the body of the prey to devolve into a shapeless slowly.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The information Sky knew about them was common knowledge that had been spread by the church after a terrible outbreak two years ago in the city.


    Shuddering at the memory of it and remembering the purge that burned everything just a few blocks away, Sky could still taste the smoke in the air and hear the screams.


    “ in here, you have 20 minutes”


    The voice of his escort snapped Sky’s mind back into reality. Before him stood a simple door. Pushing it open, he entered the room.


    The inside was simple: a small bed rested on the left side of the room. Its feet pointed towards the door on the right side, and a small desk and chair sat abandoned.


    As he entered, a lump shifted under the covers, and two black eyes poked out from the top, the light cast by the small gas lamp on the wall reflecting in them.


    As soon as Evan saw who it was, he sat up, revealing his bruised face and bandaged left arm.


    “Hey,” he said with a dejected voice. “Long time no see.”


    Upon seeing Evan and that he was safe, multiple thoughts rushed through Sky''s brain.


    ‘ what were you thinking trying to steal an authority? If not for dumb luck, I’d be bringing your fucking body back. How would I explain that to Lily and Deviln?’


    However, before the words could escape his lips, Sky thought about how terrified Evan had been and still likely was. At this, his face softened along with his words.


    “How are you holding up?” Sky asked.


    “I’m doing the best I can in this situation,” Evan replied, holding up his arm. He continued. “ they even sent a healer in to fix my broken arm. Have they told you the plan yet?”


    Sky nodded his head and then tentatively asked.


    “ I get why they wouldn’t just execute you like the others. I did them plenty of favours, but I was expecting you to be imprisoned; why would they go this far to help us?”


    Hearing Sky’s question Even slumped back down into the bed, letting out a long sigh.


    “ it’s because I’m compatible with that old man’s authority.” He said, “Even though people like him live longer. He’s already unable to join in on missions. Pretty soon, he won’t be able to produce enhancements anymore, either.”


    Hearing this, Sky''s face darkened. “ what’s your percent?”


    A few months ago, Mya went to the church to test her compatibility;; however,, she scored an abysmal 18%.


    This meant that she had an 18% chance of being able to bond with one of the rose maiden authorities, and without bonding, she would only be able to bring out around 20% of its power.


    “85%,” Evan said in reply.


    The highest possible score for a non-authority user, excluding the 100% compatibility of a manifestation.


    Although 15% was still a high risk of death, that number was more than worth it for the benefit an authority would bestow.


    Besides, even without bonding, Evan would still be able to bring out over ? of the power.


    ‘And if it’s Eve,n he’s sure to succeed’, Sky thought to himself.


    “Do your best at training, and I’ll tell the others to look forward to that new apartment,” He said aloud.


    “When I get done, we’ll throw a party and buy a real cake,” Even shot back with a smile.


    Moving in close to the bed, sky wrapped his arms around Evan, pulling his brother into a hug. “Stay safe,” he whispered.


    “You too,” Even replied “Now get going home. The others are gonna be worried.”


    Sky nodded, turning towards the door and exiting the room. Outside in the hall, his escort stood waiting.


    “All done,” the soldier replied.


    Sky just nodded his reply.