Chapter 769 The Fortress Of Nature, Part 1

Lee Seng stuck the book in his Void Storage and was led back out to the city and to the rest of his companions. He met each one and told them they would be safe if they didn't do anything. He would only be gone for 'three days' and would return. Evan, Calis, Ritsuka, Olivia and Liz all gave their concerns to Lee Seng, but he made it clear he would return 'at all costs.'

The sun was starting to set when James and the guards brought Lee Seng to some sort of barracks building. It was loud and weapons were lined up on racks with an assortment of armor and gear sprawled on tables. Lee Seng followed James, taking in the sight of the barracks. The inside was old materials harvested from the buildings around them. The outside was made of new stone walls and laced with glowing stones and electricity.

"I can't help but notice you have both glowing stones and electricity. Is there a reason for that?" Lee Seng asked James. James slightly turned to acknowledge him before continuing down the hall. People saluted James and the group of guards while also staring at Lee Seng.

"The glowing stones are an odd phenomenon found in the mines. They're backup lights in case the electricity ever does run out." James explained.

"How are you guys even getting electricity in here? Is there a power plant or something?"

"Stop asking questions and follow him." Guard A barked. Guard A pushed Lee Seng forward who stumbled forward next to James.

"You ask your enemies questions?" James looked at Lee Seng. "Is that a smart thing to do?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Lee Seng smiled. "I may be a Fox, but I'm still human. I'm just a curious city boy who's been cooped up for the last couple years. Eager to know how everything works."

"Worry about yourself before you entertain your curiosity." James warned Lee Seng. They stopped near a large set of doors. Lee Seng could hear many people chatting away. James turned to Lee Seng and looked at the others. "We can't leave until tomorrow. That'll be the start of your first day. For now, you'll eat at the cafeteria and then head straight to your room for the night." Lee Seng nodded and started forward when James blocked him with his spear.

"Don't cause any problems. Do what you're told and don't even think about running away. We've already given you one favor in return for your services. Don't backstab us like last time." James warned.

"Yes, sir." Lee Seng nodded. He saluted and smiled at James. "I'm bound by contract. I can't disappoint my employer."

"A contract? You didn't sign anything." Guard C spoke up. The guards laughed. "You think this is a contract job? This is forced work. Your friends will die, and you'll become a slave if you fail your job." Guard C raised his hand and started to swing straight for Lee Seng. Lee Seng didn't even budge as the Guard hit him. James watched Lee Seng get punched by the Guard a couple of times. He didn't flinch and resolve burned in the young man's eyes.

"Stop tormenting the Fox." James ordered. He turned as the doors opened. "Find a place to sit. Fox, you come with me."

"But, sir, he might—" Guard A began to speak as James turned and glared. Guard A shut up and turned and led the rest of the guards to find a table.

"Come on." James motioned. He clicked the middle of the spear and Lee Seng watched it retract.

"Whoa, retractable spear." Lee Seng jogged up to the side of James. "It's smooth, too."

"Small talk isn't necessary." James told Lee Seng. He led the young Fox Spirit to the cafeteria line. An older woman greeted James, who picked up a tray and handed it off to Lee Seng before grabbing his own.

"Who's this young man, Sergeant?" The old woman asked.

"A mercenary. He's helping us with the affliction." James answered. The woman scooped up some food and put it on the tray.

"Ah… By the way, Sergeant, are the rumors true? Did you guys really come back with a monster?" The old woman looked at Lee Seng and noticed he was as normal as can be.

"We found some troublesome people around our territory and decided to put this one to work." James scooted down the line. Lee Seng lifted his tray up and smiled at the woman.

"Hello." Lee Seng gave a small nod. The woman smiled and gave him a scoop of food and they continued down the line. After they were done filling their trays up with an assortment of mash potatoes, a small salad with a light dressing and a piece of steak and bread, James led Lee Seng to their spot. The guards noticed them and stood up.

"You may get your food." James ordered. The guards all saluted before leaving. "You can sit next to me." James motioned to his right.

"I'm left-handed." Lee Seng moved to James' left side and took a seat. "Almost ambidextrous but still mainly left-handed."

"I didn't need to know that." James spoke. He grabbed a spoonful of mash potatoes and scooped it into his mouth. Lee Seng started with his salad and ate in silence as the other guards came back. They were rowdy and loud.

'Hot food must be nice.' Lee Seng thought. 'With friends… I wonder how the rest are doing.' Lee Seng ate his food quietly and finished before James. He took his time to look around for where the tray would go and caught eyes looking at him.

"Are you done?" James asked, wiping his mouth.

"Y-yes, sir." Lee Seng turned. James stood up and looked at him.

"Let's go, then. I'll show you where you're sleeping tonight." James led Lee Seng out the back exit. They followed the hall until they hit a four-way intersection and turned left and motioned to the door on the corner. "This is your room for tonight." James moved over and opened the door.

The room was barren with nothing but a bed and some shelves in it.

"Where's the bathroom?" Lee Seng asked. James turned and pointed down the hallway.

"Do you need to wash up?"

"Yeah."

"I assume you don't have clothes. I can have—"

"I'm good. It's all in here." Lee Seng tapped his right hand. James gave Lee Seng an odd look before leading him to the bathrooms. It was a public bathroom with urinals lined up then a couple toilets. There was a locker room in between the toilets and shower. James led Lee Seng into the locker room and opened an empty locker and started to take off his clothes.

"Go ahead and grab a towel at the end over there." James nodded to the towels sitting on the table at the end. "Pick a locker to put your clothes in and you can go into the shower room." Lee Seng opened a locker and peeled his clothes off. They reeked of sweat. He wondered if his friends would have opportunities to clean themselves off.

Lee Seng shut the locker and turned to grab a towel. James was in the middle of pulling the last bits of his clothing off as Lee Seng entered the shower and headed to farthest shower head. The entire area was open with a hook for a towel. Lee Seng hooked it and turned the water on. Cold water touched Lee seng's skin before he moved out of the way.

"Cold." Lee Seng commented.

"It won't get hot. It'll be lukewarm at best. Take advantage of it while you can." James commented. He took one of the spots closest to the exit. Lee Seng stuck his hand out and waited for the water to warm a little bit more. When it tapered off from 'ice cold' to 'almost lukewarm,' Lee Seng stepped into it and began his routine. The water felt like a godsend. It wasn't as calming as the bath outside in Daros, but at least it was something that could clean him. More men quickly filed into the bathroom, stripping themselves and getting into the shower. They chatted as they lined up and turned the water on.

Lee Seng scrubbed his hair and body with the dispensers full of see-through goop. He cleaned the last bit of soap off and wiped his face before shutting the water off. He grabbed the towel and dried himself off before covering himself and moving out of the locker room. James was already waiting for him with a towel wrapped around him with his clothes tucked in his arm.

"Ready to go?" James asked. Lee Seng nodded, and James led the way back. He watched Lee Seng enter his room before entering his (which was next door). Lee Seng shut the door and let out a sigh of relief. He didn't feel nasty and sticky. Limbo's fluctuating temperatures were crazier than Earth's. It was hot one second and cold the next. Lee Seng slicked his hair back and sat on the twin sized bed.

'Tomorrow's the day…' Lee Seng thought. 'I should try to get some rest... After I look through the Curse book, again. I need to make sure it's the right curse or else we're screwed...' Lee Seng turned and laid on the bed. The bed was firm but the sheets were better than the sleeping bag we were in for the last couple of days.

"If only someone had an account of what happens when you go into that place... A whole place turns you crazy?" Lee Seng scoffed. "That's some strong magic if a forest can do that."