"We don't really have a plan actually."
Niko chuckled.
Lies.
"Let's think of one then. We're sitting ducks-"
Cass interrupted Ayman.
"If something's bothering you, get it off your chests. I'm amazed the rest of you haven't been found and eaten yet, if your ability to sneak glances is any indication."
Everyone looked away except Niko.
"Well…Cass. With the rumors about you going around the base, you have to understand why people are on edge."
Rumors? Ah, there must have been many. Was it how he'd survived a run in with a 2nd tier Blessed and lived? Or maybe how he rescued Ayman? How he slayed a razorleg spider? Or maybe it was just his overall performance. He wasn't technically Blessed so his results as a "normal" human must have impressed them. He didn't want to be braggadocious, so he asked.
"Oh? Which rumor is that?"
Niko looked around with a confused expression.
"That you're a demon noble's personal assistant. What other one is there?"
...What?
Cass had spent a decent amount of time with Ariayah…Still…
"How long has that been going around?"
"Since your troop arrived at base. I heard it before I even saw you."
He looked around, dumbstruck.
"Where did you hear something like that?"
A nurse answered.
"I heard it from some of the men who brought the demons into holding."
Another shook her head.
"I heard it from…"
Each one had a different source. A pale, red headed soldier was the last. She raised her hand.
"I heard it from the demon herself."
Cass fixed his gaze on her. She recoiled slightly.
"I-I took her some food one day and she demanded I get her personal assistant. She named you. Well, 'demon boy' she said. 'The one with white hair'. You're the only one."
Cass pinched the bridge of his nose.
And here I was…worried I was the one easily duped.
"You believe a demon's word, just like that?"
Niko rubbed his chin.
"To be fair, you spent a lot of time with her. And you're unusually tough from what I've heard."
Cass rubbed the back of his neck. Niko glared at him with doubt.
"I'd never seen or been around a demon before. I wanted to know what it was like."
Some of the women in the group looked at him with an expression he couldn't read.
"He saved my life, guys. Cass is reliable."
He was grateful for Ayman's endorsement. The more he thought about it, he had spent more time getting to know Ariayah than he had any human at the base. That included his own troop. He didn't even know anyone's name except for Ayman and Niko. The latter only because he introduced himself not long ago. If he had taken the time to get to know people, maybe he would've been able to quell the rumor before it spread. Or at least make a joke out of it. People might've noticed he was missing after the attack as well. Maybe he would've been rescued the very same day it occurred. Or maybe they would've found him even more distasteful and shot him in the back while on patrol…You never know. Niko sighed
"We plan on making a rush for the observation facility early tomorrow. The beast activity has been unusually quiet today. Might be the work of those stray demons we've seen around. Hopefully it stays that way until we can depart."
Cass frowned.
"Why did you stop in the first place?"
Niko looked at Cass with a dour expression.
"We lost half our forces just making it here. We had to regroup. Unfortunately, the beasts did the same. We've been holed up ever since."
Cass leaned back.
"We can make it if we leave now."
"Half the day is gone and we have over 15 miles. It's doubtful, but YOU might be able to move that fast…"
Cass scowled.
"...But some of the people here can't. We'd be caught in darkness, who knows where."
Cass shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
"We'll leave first thing in the morning. That's the plan."
Niko's voice had a slight waver, but it seemed to boost the spirits of his group nonetheless.
They took turns watching the perimeter in pairs. Cass was admiring an outcropping of large rocks as he meandered aimlessly around the border of the camp. The redhead girl scoffed when she saw him sleeping against a tree not long after. When the shift was over. Cass headed for the cave.
"...that's it, understood?"
Niko was speaking with Ayman when Cass entered. Everyone looked at him in unison.
"What's for dinner?"
Niko frowned.
"A feast unlike any other. Sorry to say, Cass, everyone's portion is directly proportional to the effort they put in during their watch."
Cass laughed.
"I believe in performance based results. I made sure not a single beast broke the perimeter. What's more, I did it with my eyes closed! That should earn me seconds if you ask me."
He didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed two of the heated meals and began eating before even sitting down.
Hm…no laughs. No one here with a sense of humor. Ayman stirred his food and glanced around the cave.
"What do we do if the observation facility is destroyed?"
Niko looked up from his food.
"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes. Let's focus on getting there first."
Cass sighed.
"We'll get there no problem. Just stick with me and it'll be a breeze."
Niko smirked.
"If only arrogance was effective against beasts."
Cass shrugged and finished his food in silence. He was more worried about what he'd do when the trial ended. Cass would reappear in the same place he entered the fog. Cadeyrn had killed him in order to become stronger, and yet, Cass was still alive. Would he realize that and be waiting for him to complete the trial?
Wouldn't that be something? Survive all this nonsense to end up with the same fate.
Cass could theoretically stay in the trial forever, so long as he didn't "pass", whatever that entailed. He could go to a human town or city and live out the rest of his life in the fog's construct. But that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted Cadeyrn's life. And for that, he needed this trial to end, no matter the result. With his mind made up, Cass drifted to sleep.
The next morning, Cass awoke to the sound of wind flurrying through the empty cave. He lazily stretched and rolled over in his sleeping bag.
"Damn, Ayman."
He had thought he'd at least stay; it was unfortunate. Cass had a good idea that he was going to be abandoned. He didn't buy the "stray demons" story. It was likely used in conjunction with the rumor to sow distrust in Ayman and get him to leave Cass here. Soldiers were loyal to their own; they wanted to save Ayman. They just didn't see Cass as one of their own. Cass wasn't worried about running into any demons. It was common knowledge that they love tormenting humans, but they're strictly hierarchical. Power is everything and disobedience was not tolerated. The airship struck hard and fast then was gone in an instant. The idea that there would be stragglers hanging around over 2 months later? For a small group of humans? It seemed a bit much. At least Cass hoped so.
They took my pack. Of course.
He wondered if Ayman knew they had.
Welp. Maybe I'll find it later.
Cass walked out of the cave and over to the outcropping of large rocks. Wrapped around one of the larger rocks was a chain with a balled up mass of links on the other end. He unlocked the mana chains and unwrapped the dangling mass. Inside was the small bag of essentials he'd placed there while on watch duty. These chains had sealed Ariayah's fate and caused Cass to receive a demonic beating. Not only that, they held Captain Stanev in place and cost him his life. Hell, these wretched bits of metal had caused Cass to be in this mess in the first place! But this time, they'd saved his life.
Glad I decided to bring them.
He'd done so on the off chance they stumbled upon a powerful Blessed opponent. But a use is a use, so he was satisfied with his decision. Cass ate a light breakfast and set off to the observation facility.