He’d managed to sneak through their security again. Found himself a uniform that fit, albeit a little snuggly in some sections. It wasn’t a soldier’s armor and he had already been considered “big†in Garlemald. But he no longer stood out. And he could walk freely through the castrum. At least mostly. There were times an occasional patrol unit would show up and ask for him to identify his legion and information. They must have been used to incompetent soldiers as even the smallest fumbling around to create an excuse seemed to pass for bells at a time. Or perhaps it was simply due to the way he spoke. Franz ensured everything he said was in as proper speech as required. He had not wanted to lose his opportunity simply for speaking out of turn.
He lasted nearly a sennight before they caught on. He must have slipped up somewhere, or had said something out of place. Or perhaps he was simply unlucky to have been trying when they decided to take inventory of the legion and each soldier’s recruitment and assignments. Of course he had none as a person who wasn’t supposed to have been there. It hadn’t taken long until someone removed his helmet and looked at him. Franz had dispelled his glamours prior to sneaking in. It didn’t help. A quick glance at the wanted posters just down one of the halls had been enough. His face had not changed much over the years since becoming a fugitive.
The words stung more than any of the attacks. “Have him killed. He will not be re-entering our country from here. Garlemald has standards.†He had gotten so close. An airship had been set to arrive in just a few more suns’ time, headed to trade supplies with Garlemald. The mined ceruleum for restocks of ammunition. But it was for naught. He was placed into a holding cell and left to be target practice for a new magitek combat unit. Some form of auto-aimed gun. How innovative.
He was unsure how much time passed. Probably another few suns. There was a dull pain in his chest and sides, and plenty of used ammunition rounds on the floor. He couldn’t blame the magitek. It followed its orders exactly as designed, likely. It had fired every round at him, but he continued to move. To breathe. To live. He had continued to be shot at until there was nothing left to fire. The guards had likely assumed him to be dead long ago, having deserted their posts. A mistake that allowed him his chance at freedom again.
Even as he moved past it, the magitek continued to click at him in attempts to fire. In the middle of the night, he made his escape back into the desert. The castrum was ill-equipped to handle attacks from the inside. As Franz had made his way out, it seemed as if the low-ranked soldiers had become more bewildered at the sight of blood and tattered clothes. He did not hesitate to do whatever was necessary to trudge past, leaving a pile of people behind him along his path. The lucky ones would wake up later, likely to be questioned about the monster that escaped their halls.
Outside once again, he did not stop running until the steel building was out of sight. Franz collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.He would sort out his feelings on the matter another time.
He lasted nearly a sennight before they caught on. He must have slipped up somewhere, or had said something out of place. Or perhaps he was simply unlucky to have been trying when they decided to take inventory of the legion and each soldier’s recruitment and assignments. Of course he had none as a person who wasn’t supposed to have been there. It hadn’t taken long until someone removed his helmet and looked at him. Franz had dispelled his glamours prior to sneaking in. It didn’t help. A quick glance at the wanted posters just down one of the halls had been enough. His face had not changed much over the years since becoming a fugitive.
The words stung more than any of the attacks. “Have him killed. He will not be re-entering our country from here. Garlemald has standards.†He had gotten so close. An airship had been set to arrive in just a few more suns’ time, headed to trade supplies with Garlemald. The mined ceruleum for restocks of ammunition. But it was for naught. He was placed into a holding cell and left to be target practice for a new magitek combat unit. Some form of auto-aimed gun. How innovative.
He was unsure how much time passed. Probably another few suns. There was a dull pain in his chest and sides, and plenty of used ammunition rounds on the floor. He couldn’t blame the magitek. It followed its orders exactly as designed, likely. It had fired every round at him, but he continued to move. To breathe. To live. He had continued to be shot at until there was nothing left to fire. The guards had likely assumed him to be dead long ago, having deserted their posts. A mistake that allowed him his chance at freedom again.
Even as he moved past it, the magitek continued to click at him in attempts to fire. In the middle of the night, he made his escape back into the desert. The castrum was ill-equipped to handle attacks from the inside. As Franz had made his way out, it seemed as if the low-ranked soldiers had become more bewildered at the sight of blood and tattered clothes. He did not hesitate to do whatever was necessary to trudge past, leaving a pile of people behind him along his path. The lucky ones would wake up later, likely to be questioned about the monster that escaped their halls.
Outside once again, he did not stop running until the steel building was out of sight. Franz collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.He would sort out his feelings on the matter another time.
