2 days had passed: Cass hadn't seen or heard anyone since Captain Stanev's murderers left. He was pretty sure he could survive without food or water for longer than a normal human. He hadn't tested that limit so he couldn't be certain by how much. Food and especially water would become a problem eventually. So far he'd been able to get snow in his mouth from time to time. Enough to quench his thirst? Definitely not. Probably enough to keep him alive, he imagined.
10 days had passed: Even fires that were started by mana attacks had gone out. At night, Cass was tossed into absolute darkness. He would have died from exposure if not for his partial blessing. He wondered if Barus had perished or simply continued fighting and abandoned the small outpost. Either way, there was still no sign of rescue.
21 days had passed: Cass's continued struggles to escape the rubble had become more and more pathetic. When he wasn't doing that, he spent his time daydreaming. Specifically, days with Misha. He would play out the scenario in his head: They'd wake up early, have a hearty breakfast, and discuss their plans for the day. They lived just outside a small town with a beautiful lake nearby. They'd spend their day alone, swimming and relaxing on the shore; nothing around to distract or interfere. Perhaps Cass could grill something. He got excited at the idea of her eating and enjoying his cooking. Afterwards, he'd take Misha into town and buy her some new clothes; she had always complained about the stuffy maid uniforms and how uncomfortable they were. She'd have to try on some new outfits…Cass had fun imagining that. Maybe a nice, quiet cafe for dinner. Then in the evening…well, it didn't feel appropriate to imagine that in the current situation. Needless to say, at the end, they'd fall asleep in each other's arms.
"Another perfect day. I wonder what we'll do tomorrow? You think I should propose now?"
Captain Stanev's eyes were dull and empty.
"Yeah, it might be too soon. I think that guy who works at the cafe might be eyeing her though…"
40 days had passed: Cass was ravenously hungry. It hadn't snowed in the last week and the little water he got from it was gone. Cass no longer daydreamed or attempted escape. Any hope of rescue was gone as well. He'd never see Misha again, and Ariayah…no, why would he think of her at a time like this? She wasn't real. Well, she had been. She likely died just as she had in the trial, just with no Cass. The fog was like a grand, cruel record of history. Yet no matter how much history you knew, it always seemed to place people in situations they were unfamiliar with. From mundane to paradigm shifting events. So what did one 4th, possibly 3rd tier demon girl matter in the grand scheme of things?
"...More than me. She'd have been out by–No, she never would've been trapped like this to begin with."
60 days had passed: Cass couldn't remember how it happened…One moment things were hazy, the next he had a mouthful of delicious meat. It was cold and chewy, but it was delicious. Almost as much as Misha's cooking. When he awoke the next morning, Captain Stanev's shoulder was missing. Had it frozen and broken loose? Had a piece of rubble fallen and knocked it off?
"I'm lucky that it missed my head."
67 days had passed: He was starting to hear things. Voices calling out to him.
"Cass!? Cass!? Is that you!?"
He wished the voices had been more soothing than the shrill holler. It kind of sounded like…Ayman? Cass's eyes lazily rolled over the landscape until he spotted the small figure.
"Are you real?"
"Hold on, Cass! Let me get some water!"
With Ayman slowly feeding him water and enough time, Cass was able to think straight again. Ayman had already started removing bits of rubble from around his body. He had also brought Cass some rations. By the afternoon, Cass was free.
"You mean there's still no rescue team?"
"No, I haven't seen anything."
"What were you doing this whole time?"
"I-I was hiding in one of the supply sheds."
"Seriously?"
There it was, looking exactly as it had before the attack. Not even a scratch.
"Unbelievable."
Inside, Ayman had a cot and space heater running along with a TV.
"I can't get anything to come in. We do have some movies you can watch though."
"Movies?"
"Yeah, they have a few classics! Check this one…"
This little scoundrel! He'd been living it up while Cass was slowly dying not 50 yards away!
Before killing Ayman, He had more pressing issues. He unfolded another cot and collapsed into a deep sleep. It took a couple of days for Cass to recover his strength. During that time, he and Ayman had dug Captain Stanev out of the rubble. Cass untangled the chains around him, cursing them as he did. They then buried his body next to the supply shed.
Vile fog. Is the trial a last man standing event?
They had decided to head to the observation facility in the north. It was the closest building, only 20 miles. The problem was most of the monsters that had been chased away by the army's activities had likely gone that same direction. That'd mean that between them and the facility was a veritable death zone. That being said, it was their only chance. The demon airship had come from the East and left towards the West; meaning where they marched in from was likely destroyed, and that the airship might have missed the observation facility…if they were lucky.
"Make sure you pack as much food and water as you can."
"Got it!"
"Alright, I'll be back. I need to check on something."
Cass arrived at the entrance of the base. One of the gates was missing and nowhere to be seen. He rounded the remaining gate, his expression unchanged. There she was, right where he'd seen her last. The House of Eisheth had come, yet she was still here. In one of the other demon's eyes, a curved, jagged blade was sticking out. Cass's frown deepened. Not 5 minutes later, Cass and Ayman were off.
The landscape was far too pleasant given the circumstances. A sun-kissed winter wonderland forest.
"Wow!"
Ayman was in awe. Normally, Cass would shush him, but if he were to get snatched up by a beast...that would make them even. After all, Ayman had left him under rubble for over 2 months…Maybe a good scare would suffice. Cass might save him if he felt like it. Actually, for the whole 5 miles they had hiked they hadn't seen a single beast. There were plenty of indicators though. Signs of skirmishes and entire sections of trees flattened.
"Whoa!?"
Cass grabbed the back of Ayman's backpack. As Ayman looked back in confusion, figures stepped out from behind different trees.
Three of them.
"They're human! Guys! We're human too!"
Cass wasn't so trusting. Having experienced the limits of his hunger and thirst made him weary of the strangers.
"It's good, Cass. They're from Leblanc's troop."
The three brought them to the shallow cave they had taken shelter in. A makeshift camp and defensive perimeter were set up. Assessing the group, Cass wondered how they'd held out for so long: 3 nurses and 4 soldiers. Seeing the stacks of bags and weapons in the back of the cave told him there had been more at the start.
"You guys are heading to the observation facility too?"
Ayman was excited to see more people. There were around 500 personnel at the base. As far as Cass knew, the 9 of them were the only survivors. Ayman couldn't wait to recount his heroic rescue of Cass to the group. He failed to mention the part where it took him over 2 months to find him when he was stone's throw away.
"God damn, Ayman. I knew you had it in you. Hell, everyone thought you wouldn't make it through basic. Look at you now!"
Ayman laughed. The de facto leader of the survivors was a clean cut blond guy named Niko. Probably a few years older than Cass. He had an air of confidence about him but was haggard from the ordeal. Just a couple days ago the leader had been a 6th tier Blessed that Cass had never heard of. Apparently they lost her in a skirmish with some beasts. They started with around 50 survivors and were down to 7 normal humans. Basically, they were as good as dead.
"Sorry we scared you two. Thought you were demons. Spotted a couple of them skulking in the woods. Hadn't seen them today, but still."
"So what's the plan? We can't stay here forever."
Ayman was too eager.
Niko laughed uncomfortably and glanced at Cass.
Does he think I didn't see that?
Looking around, Cass noticed the rest of the group taking suspicious glances at him.
Great…Now what?