Several people in armor entered the restaurant. Their hands rested on the hilts of their weapons, as if they were ready for a major battle.
The group froze at the sight of the grotesque scene, their gazes falling on the shocked Rose.
She gripped the knife tightly.
Rose was lost in her own thoughts. She didn't move, didn't speak, barely breathed...
One of the officers approached Rose and shook her, trying to wake her.
"Cadet Char Lanchan!" shouted a man who appeared to be the group's captain.
Lanchan turned abruptly toward his captain.
His body tensed.
"Y-yes, Captain."
"Idiot, can't you see she's in shock?"
The man's expression softened when he saw Rose.
"Poor girl..." he murmured, "Someone get her a good blanket!"
One of the cadets ran off, obeying the captain's order.
Rose slowly and painfully raised her gaze.
"W-where is my brother?"
Char was about to say something encouraging or reassuring when he saw the body of the man Rose had killed.
Lanchan opened his mouth and then closed it. He turned so green he looked like he was going to vomit.
"You killed him...?" he said, fear in his voice.
Rose lowered her gaze, looking at the man lying on the ground as if she were seeing him for the first time.
"Huh...?" She whispered, "I think I did..."
Her voice was flat, artificial, and mechanical, like a robot speaking.
"Joung lady... why is there blood in your mouth?"
Lanchan's question triggered a switch in Rose's mind. She let her intelligence and imagination flow, trying to craft a good, plausible story.
One of Lanchan's companions glared at him, silencing him.
Rose sighed inwardly.
She dropped the knife to the ground, pondering the best way to find her brother.
The cadet returned almost running, a crumpled thermal blanket clutched in his arms.
"Captain!"
The man took it without replying and approached Rose. He bent down carefully and placed the blanket over she shoulders, wrapping her gently. The material rustled softly as it closed around her.
"It's okay," he said, his voice firm, trained for chaos. "It's over now."
Rose didn't react. Her hands remained motionless in her lap, her fingers still tense, as if still clutching something invisible.
The captain straightened and turned his head toward the rest of the squad.
"Listen carefully," he ordered. "Search the entire restaurant. Kitchen, storeroom, restrooms. I want every corner inspected. Look for survivors and confirm there are no active threats."
"Yes, sir!"
The cadets immediately dispersed, moving cautiously through the overturned tables and the darkness. The metallic sound of their footsteps gradually faded until the place was almost silent.
Only the captain, Rose, and Lanchan remained.
Lanchan stood rigid, his back straight, his gaze fixed straight ahead, fighting to keep his eyes off the floor and the girl's face.
The captain observed him for a moment.
"Lanchan," he said quietly. "Stay. And behave like a professional."
"Y-yes, sir," he replied, swallowing hard.
The captain turned his attention back to Rose. He crouched down in front of her, at a safe distance, without touching her.
"Breathe," he instructed calmly. "That's all. Nothing more."
He inhaled slowly and exhaled clearly, setting the rhythm.
Rose hesitated, but finally mimicked him. One breath. Then another. Her shoulders stopped trembling, though her body remained tense beneath the blanket.
"Good," the captain murmured. "That's it."
Rose slowly raised her gaze.
"W-where…?" she began, but her voice broke. She blinked several times before continuing. "Where am I?"
"In a restaurant Nevue," he answered bluntly. "Our team responded to an alert. We found you here."
She nodded weakly, as if the information was taking some time to sink in.
"My brother…" she whispered.
Lanchan gritted his teeth.
The captain showed neither surprise nor impatience.
"Did you see him leave?" he asked gently. "Or did you separate earlier?"
Rose closed her eyes. Her brow furrowed, and for a moment she seemed to fight something inside her.
"I don't remember," she finally said. "Everything… became a blur."
"That's all right," the captain replied immediately. "You don't have to remember anything now."
He stood and looked around the restaurant, assessing the place with a trained eye.
"We're going to find him," he assured her. "That's the only thing that matters."
Rose lowered her gaze, clutching the blanket tightly.
On the outside, she looked like a girl in shock.
On the inside, her mind was already awake.
Rose Alexue, remembers the first lesson your brother taught you: "Never trust a stranger."
Lanchan approached cautiously when the captain gave her a brief nod.
"Come on," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll take you to the carriage."
Rose looked up at him. Her eyes were still dull, but no longer empty. She studied him for a few seconds longer, as if assessing him.
She nodded.
Lanchan offered her his arm. She hesitated for only a moment before accepting it. Her steps were slow, unsteady, and the thermal blanket slipped slightly off her shoulders with each movement.
The captain followed them to the restaurant exit.
As the door opened, the night air hit them full force. It was cold, thick, and smelled of metal and dampness. Outside, several white lights illuminated the destroyed street, casting long, distorted shadows across the wreckage.
The combat vehicle waited a few meters away.
It was a massive, angular, heavy structure of pure steel, with overlapping plates designed to withstand direct impacts. The glass was thick, almost unbreakable, slightly opaque from the outside. Runes and technical markings ran across its surface like ancient scars.
One of the agents was perched on top, sitting in an elevated position, his pistol resting against the railing, his gaze scanning the surroundings relentlessly.
Lanchan swallowed.
"We're almost there," he murmured, more to himself than to her.
Rose walked in silence. Her eyes scanned every detail of the carriage: the weapons, the agents' positions, the escape routes. It didn't seem like curiosity… but rather calculation.
When they reached the side door, Lanchan opened it carefully.
"You can sit here," he indicated.
The interior was cramped but protected. Padded metal seats, restraint belts, sealed compartments. Everything was designed to withstand a prolonged firefight.
Rose climbed in unaided.
She sat down slowly and leaned her back against the seat. The blanket fell a little lower, covering her legs. Lanchan closed the door behind her with a sharp, metallic click.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Lanchan stood in front of her, awkward, unsure what to do with his hands.
"I…" he began, but stopped. He cleared his throat. "We're going to find your brother. The captain is good at that."
Rose looked up.
"Really?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," he replied quickly. "He doesn't leave anyone behind."
She held his gaze. Then she nodded slowly.
"I hope so."
From outside, the captain gave a short order. The agents began to return one by one, climbing into the carriage or taking up positions around it. The agent on top rapped his fist twice on the roof, signaling that the perimeter was clear.
The engine roared to life.
Lanchan sat down opposite Rose, making sure to keep a certain distance. He adjusted his own seatbelt, though his eyes kept returning to her.
Rose looked down, studying her hands.
Calm.
Too calm.
Her brother's voice echoed clearly in her mind, as if he were sitting beside her.
"Don't trust a stranger."
Rose closed her fingers around the blanket.
She didn't trust Lanchan.
She didn't trust the captain.
She didn't trust the carriage, or the armor, or the reassuring voices.
But for now…
She needed them.
The war carriage began to move, leaving the restaurant and disappearing into the darkness of the city.
Lanchan blushed when he saw something about Rose.
Just seconds ago, Rose's warm blanket fell, revealing her bra.
Realizing the situation, Rose blushed too, covered herself with her arms, and looked at Lanchan with disgust.
"I, uh… I'm sorry."
"Uhm..." Rose grunted, adjusting the blanket where it should be.
"Ehm... if you want, you can behead me."
Rose was taken aback by those words.
She looked at the young Lanchan, her face saying one word: "What?"
Char noticed Rose's expression and said hesitantly,
"Um... in the Lanchan family, seeing a young lady like this is almost blasphemous."
Rose hesitated before saying,
"Really? Your family is very strange."
Char smiled.
"Yes, we're somewhat strange... what's your brother like?"
"Huh?"
Lanchan paused.
"His body, what it's like, and if he's kind to me."
Rose's eyes lit up like a lantern in the night.
"He's just like me, he has my red eyes and my beautiful black hair. He's an amazing person. The best brother! I trust him completely, because he always does what's best for his family."
Rose's voice was cheerful and excited, like a little girl talking about her favorite superhero.
But there was a problem... she ran out of breath from talking so much.
She had to breathe automatically for a whole minute.
Lanchan paled slightly at the memory of a young man with red eyes and black hair.
Rose's happy expression faltered a little.
"Right now I don't know where he is... but I know he's alive."
Rose turned her face toward the young agent.
"What's your name?"
Lanchan smiled. He composed himself and took a deep breath.
"I'm Cadet Char Lanchan, the youngest heir of the Lanchan family. And you, miss?"
Char winked at her.
"Roseus Gaspar."
Rose winked back.
"Uhm... we're here," Lanchan said.
He opened the door of the steel carriage and helped Rose out.
The interior of the barracks was even colder than the night outside.
The carriage doors slammed shut behind them, the metallic clang echoing through the wide access corridor. The walls were made of a dark, polished material, reinforced with visible plates and faint energy lines running through the structure like artificial veins.
Rose walked beside Lanchan, escorted by two more agents. Her steps were soft, almost silent, contrasting with the firm echo of military boots.
There were no windows.
Only white lights embedded in the ceiling, too clean, too uniform.
Rose frowned slightly.
"Follow me, please," Lanchan said in a professional voice, though no longer as rigid as before.
She nodded without a word.
They walked through several corridors until they stopped in front of a thick, rectangular door with a symbol carved in the center: Interrogation Room 3.
Rose read the sign.
Interrogation.
Her expression didn't change, but something inside her tensed.
Lanchan raised her hand and knocked twice on the door. A small panel lit up, and after a brief beep, the door slid to the side with a soft hiss.
The interior was simple.
A metal table bolted to the floor, two chairs facing each other, a direct light hanging from the ceiling. The walls were smooth, too smooth, designed so that nothing could be hidden on them.
Rose entered first.
She sat down without being asked.
Lanchan hesitated for a moment before following her. He closed the door behind him and sat down opposite her, deliberately leaving the table between them as a barrier.
"It's... nothing bad," he explained quickly. "It's just procedure. The captain wants to make sure you're okay."
Rose looked at him.
Her red eyes were calm. Attentive.
"Are you going to lock me up?" she asked softly.
Lanchan shook his head almost immediately.
"No. Not at all. We just need to ask you a few questions, and then you'll be taken to a medical room."
She lowered her gaze, toying with the edges of the thermal blanket.
"I understand..."
The silence stretched on.
Too much.
Lanchan cleared his throat and activated a small device on the table. It projected nothing, only emitted a dim light.
"Full name," he said, trying to sound formal.
Roseus Gaspar.
Lanchan raised an eyebrow, surprised.
"Gaspar…?" he repeated, but didn't elaborate. "Age."
"Seventeen."
He entered something on the device.
"Were you with your brother when the incident occurred?"
Rose hesitated.
Just for a second.
"Yes."
"Do you remember exactly what happened?"
She clenched her fingers under the blanket.
"No," she replied. "I remember voices… and then nothing."
It wasn't a lie.
Just incomplete.
Lanchan studied her closely, searching for cracks, contradictions. He found none. Rose looked fragile, tired, like someone who had been through too much in a single night.
"It's okay," he said finally. "We're not going to force you to remember."
Rose looked up again.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Lanchan blinked, surprised.
"Uh… yes, of course."
"Is this place safe?"
The question was simple.
Too simple.
Lanchan smiled, confident.
"Yes. This is a research facility. No one enters without authorization."
Rose nodded slowly.
"Then it's okay."
Lanchan felt a strange chill.
Not because of what he said.
But because of how he said it.
From the other side of the wall, hidden behind the one-way glass, several figures silently observed the scene.
"Do you notice anything strange about the girl?" a voice murmured.
"No," another replied. "She's in shock. Nothing out of the ordinary."
Inside the room, Rose leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
On the outside, she still looked like a scared girl.
On the inside, her mind was already memorizing exits, response times, and surveillance patterns.
If this place wasn't safe…
Then it was just another cage.
And cages, sooner or later, always broke.