District 42-Chapter 258: The culprit for Casper’s suffering
Once Casper stepped outside the cell and nothing happened, he felt like a huge pressure was dissipated. He looked to the right and faced a wall marking the end of that corridor. On the left, it extended for a few meters before getting into the stairs going up.
’It brings back memories...’ He was still trying to make his mind assimilate that he wasn’t in Halden.
Even though that prison was very different from there, the soldier couldn’t help but associate it and start to remember everything that he needed to go through when enjailed for the first time in District 42.
His face was slightly pale and he was clenching his fists. After he saw that he was safe, the relief of going out of that cell reached him and he could breathe properly.
’I still can’t forget about Halden. The scars it left on me are still to disappear.’ 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
The White warrior noticed that Javir was looking at him while he had those reactions to the environment. Focusing on his eyes, he could notice pity there.
Casper found it really strange. Until now, Javir’s expression was, indeed, calm and soft, but nonchalant as well. The guy didn’t show sadness, fear, anger, or happiness. It was a tranquil lake with no waves and no bright at all.
’Why is this guy looking at me like this? I am starting to doubt him again...’
"Halden is still affecting you, I suppose." He spoke while walking, without looking back.
Once he started it, Casper needed to stop for a while, but then began to follow him again.
"Yes. No matter how much I try, that place and the cruel moments I needed to pass there never get out of my mind..." He pondered for a while if he should say the last part of his sentence, but he decided that it was worth the risk. "By the way, how do you know about my situation in Halden?"
"Halden is an Urban legend for most of the people in District 42. Even some important Jarls don’t know about its existence. However, those who know about it are always a part of the cruelties that happen inside there. Because of it, everyone who is aware of Halden’s existence will know about you. I am no exception. After all, you are famous for the feat of destroying an important patrimony of the Royal Family while still being a commoner and staying alive after this. It’s something that even a mad man would fear to do..."
They stayed silent for some time. The old man gave the feeling that his phrase was still missing one part. For the time being, though, the White warrior could sigh in relief.
’Apparently, my worries were all unfounded. My mind can be a bit tricky someti--’
"... And I know about it particularly because it is our fault that you ended up there. Not by accident, though. We schemed everything until now, so he would be able to invade the Third Lab, discover what you discovered there, and then go to Halden."
Javir remained with his posture straightened, walking with firm and soft steps, his head was held high and there was no guilt on those blue eyes.
However, Casper stopped following him after that quote. He felt like multiple needles pierced his heart and made its pain cross all his body and paralyze him.
The soldier looked towards Javir’s back, gritting his teeth. He knew that he could not snap there. He was in an unknown place, with people in a level of power he couldn’t measure, including that old man. He needed to be careful with the moves he would take.
After a few more steps forward, the Frelsis’ leader stopped to walk as well but didn’t turn to face Casper. It didn’t seem to be difficult for him to talk about that matter, but he was being as cautious as possible not to trigger the soldier’s fury.
"When Camilla found you in that room where all the archives and data of the Third Lab was gathered and shot at the screen, activating the alarms, she wasn’t doing it out of nowhere. It all was part of our plan."
"Why?" Casper asked. His jaw was tense and that word seemed more like a threat.
The fury spread on every inch of his being, making his body shiver as he remembered all the hellish moments he needed to go through when inside that cruel prison.
All the lives lost on that escape, and even before that; the pain and weakness he needed to feel every day when in the Dark zone, his body sinking every time he went there; The anger, the sadness, the guilty, the betraying, everything crossed his mind like in flashbacks.
When facing all those scenes being reproduced on his mind, the White warrior could just think of one thing.
’All of that... I needed to pass for all of that because of these guys. They were the ones plotting everything! If not for them, I would never be enjailed in Halden!’
Javir thought for some seconds before finally answering Casper.
"Why, you ask? Because you needed to be prepared, White warrior. You needed to go through all those things to absorb some things."
"Be prepared for what!? Stop with the bullshit! Say to me a good reason to make me go through hell! That’s the minimum you should do!"
"Casper, you need to be patient on this matter. I will show you all the reasons we had to do what we did, and not just that but everything we are doing until now. But, remember what Camilla said to you before shooting. ’Soon or later, you will comprehend everything.’"
The soldier stepped toward Javir in a threatening manner with his fists clenched and a deep frown on his face. Nonetheless, the old man didn’t seem to care about it and just stood still.
"What I need to comprehend, then?"
"You need to cooperate here and come with me, so you can see. You need to comprehend the words of your friend. Those words probably confused you more than help. ’The Frelsis aren’t as bad as they say’, do you remember?"
The soldier was now flabbergasted rather than angry. That man just said the quote of his friend, Olaf, and a while ago narrated everything that happened between him and that crazy woman called Camilla.
"Since when are you spying on me like this?" He questioned again, grimly.
"We have been doing this from the start, White warrior. Since the day when you appeared out of nowhere on this district and Camilla spotted you and found you worth keeping an eye on. Since then we have watched all your steps and managed to prepare for what we need to show.
"Think well about this matter, White warrior. You are a wise person, despite your early age, you are smart enough to get rid of your feelings and coldly analyze the situation. That’s how you could overcome everything that stood in front of you until now. Think a little about the reasons that made us bring you here." Javir’s tone was still calm. His eyes had the same aspect as before, but there was energy behind his words now. He was prompting Casper, nearly begging him, to look at that situation logically.
The soldier soothed his mind for a while. He focused on controlling his breath and heartbeats. His feverish body was slowly starting to get to its normal temperature. The jaw, before tense, relaxed as the rest of his body let the stress behind.
"I know that I will gain nothing by losing my head here, but you need to be aware of the bad situations that you and your group made me go through. I will look at a neutral perspective, but you need to give me good reasons to do that. I am doing my best here to keep cooperating with you."
Javir nodded to him. After a short time of break, he began to walk calmly again and the White warrior followed him from behind.
"I need you to understand something, Casper. Since the day you started to interact more with the Princess and, consequently, be influenced by the Royal Family, we knew that a normal approach wouldn’t be enough. Also, they would not let us get near you so easily. That’s why we used those unorthodox, and even cruel, ways to get closer to you and enter your mind.
"The midwest battle, Halden, the New Organization, and now this capture, all of them are part of a slow and meticulous plan to make you absorb our perspective and understand the Frelsis when we get the chance to talk with you. This chance came now and I need you to keep calm and follow me, so I can show to you a bit more of what a Frelsi indeed is, also as telling you about the history of District 42."
That last part of his explanation got Casper’s interest.
’District 42 history, huh? I am excited about it!’
