I'm Willing to Stay
"Delicious, so delicious!" Yuqing held her mostly empty bowl, her eyes curving into crescents. A fine sheen of sweat had appeared on the tip of her nose, and a bit of glossy sweet-and-sour sauce clung to the corner of her mouth, though she hadn't noticed. She simply gave them a thumbs-up and praised them. "You're all such amazing cooks!"
"You flatter us, Miss Guide." Those picky sentinels usually complained that the cafeteria food was too crude. Now even a pampered guide said it was delicious. Were those boys more particular than a guide?
The head chef beamed, his face creasing with wrinkles, and blurted out, "As long as you like it! From now on, we'll make you the most delicious food every day, with something different each time!"
"Every day?"
Something that good was possible?!
The head of logistics felt his heart sink. He hurriedly covered the chef's mouth and forced a stiff smile, stumbling over his words as he tried to smooth things over. "Don't listen to his nonsense, Miss Guide. What we mean is... for every day you stay here, we'll do our utmost to prepare your meals."
The lively atmosphere at the table suddenly grew quieter. For someone of a guide's status, stopping to rest at the Ninth Military District for a few days was already more than they could ask for.
Ers's fingers tightened sharply around his chopsticks, his knuckles turning pale. At the thought of her leaving, of never seeing that smiling face again, of the restlessness in his mental sea returning just after it had subsided, he could no longer hold back.
Ers took a deep breath and suddenly stood, his military boots making a distinct, light click against the metal floor.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, he bent slightly and knelt on one knee beside Yuqing, bringing his eyes level with hers.
Rare tension showed on the man's hard-featured face. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was deep and solemn, with an almost imperceptible rasp. "Miss Guide, I know my request is presumptuous, but... would you be willing to stay in the Ninth Military District... for a while?"
He lowered his eyes, not daring to meet hers, and stared instead at her hand resting on the edge of the table. It was slender and fair, her fingertips still faintly pink from holding her chopsticks. He only had to move forward a little to touch it... but his hand hovered in the air, and even after a long moment, he didn't dare bring it any closer.
"Sure." The soft, clear voice fell lightly on Ers's ears, yet it exploded like thunder above his head.
Yuqing smacked her lips. She had nowhere else to go for now anyway, and she knew nothing about this world. There was nothing better than lying low here and quietly developing her strength.
"What?" Ers had actually already prepared himself for rejection. "You're really willing to stay... why?"
Yuqing tilted her head, her gaze falling on his deeply sculpted face, and her heart skipped half a beat. "Because... you few are the only people I know in the Federation. If I left you, I wouldn't be used to being on my own."
The corners of her eyes lifted slightly as she spoke, her clear gaze fixed directly on him with complete trust and reliance. Her warm breath brushed lightly across Ers's cheek as she talked, and the faint scent of jasmine guide pheromones on her made his heart skip a beat.
We're the only people she knows...
She wouldn't be used to being away from us...
The tips of Ers's ears instantly turned red, and a faint flush spread down his neck. He hurriedly looked away, his heart pounding almost out of control.
The sentinels around them also froze for a few seconds before breaking into barely restrained cries. Their eyes shone startlingly bright, but they didn't dare disturb the guide, so they could only clench their fists and exchange celebratory looks. The head of logistics was overjoyed and hurriedly waved at the chefs to note down the dishes the guide liked, so they could serve them at every meal from now on.
"But if I want to leave someday, you can't stop me." Yuqing knew she couldn't stay here forever. As long as there was even the slightest chance, she had to go find Yun Qi.
It took Ers quite a while to calm his racing heart. When he stood again, his voice was still a little strained, but more solemn than ever. "Of course. No matter what happens, we'll respect your wishes."
"All right, Ers, take Miss Guide back to rest." The head of logistics had been through this himself; how could he fail to see that the guide had definitely taken a liking to Ers? While the guide hadn't changed her mind, he had to get Ers and the others to spend more time building a relationship with her. If they could become engaged to the guide, she would have another attachment here and wouldn't leave so easily. "I'll go report to the marshal."
"All right." Ers nodded to the head of logistics, then turned to Yuqing. "This way, Miss Guide. I'll take you to see your room."
"Okay." Yuqing got up, and before leaving the cafeteria, she picked up a crispy chicken leg and continued gnawing on it.
After leaving the cafeteria, the group entered the administration building. Its exterior walls were pitch-black, but the interior made Yuqing's eyes light up. It was full of futuristic technology, with light screens everywhere. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined both sides of the corridor, offering a panoramic view outside.
"This is the administration building, right in the center of the military district. There's a connecting passage on the fiftieth floor that leads directly to the dormitory buildings. There are three dormitory buildings: the first houses the military district's seven squads, and the other two house the sentinels of the other main forces. The open space between the three buildings is a training ground, and behind the dormitories are the training grounds for mechas and cruisers." Seeing how curious Yuqing was about the buildings, Ers gave her a detailed explanation.
Yuqing walked slowly along the corridor of the administration building when the floor-to-ceiling window covering the entire wall at the end suddenly caught her eye. She hurried over and pressed herself against the cool glass.
Outside the window was Eremos's characteristic gray-purple sky. Most of the military district's buildings had the cold, hard appearance of silver-gray alloy, but a single pure black building stood alone in the southwest corner. Its walls were thick and heavy, like a solid block of cast iron, and it didn't have a single ordinary window. There were only a few narrow observation slits high in the walls, covered with welded iron bars.
Yuqing turned to Ers beside her. "What about that building over there? What is it? It looks so sturdy."
"That's... the Dark Prison. It's very dangerous, so you mustn't go near it." Ers sighed. "The sentinels locked up inside have all crossed the level-eight berserk threshold. More than half have completely lost their minds and become vicious and bloodthirsty. When their mental power goes out of control, they can smash through alloy walls half a meter thick. They can only be sealed in specially made cells and barely kept under control with powerful suppressants."
"I see." Yuqing nodded. Her ability could indeed save sentinels who had gone berserk at level eight, but it was limited, and saving Ers last time had nearly drained her dry. She would be better off staying away from that prison. She didn't want to die from being *drained.
As they talked, the two reached the private elevator at the end of the corridor.
The matte metal elevator doors slid open silently. After the top-floor button was pressed, the elevator rose smoothly and stopped only when it reached the top. With a soft ding, the doors slowly opened to either side.
"We're here. Your room is on the top floor of the administration building." Ers stepped forward and pushed open the French-style cypress door directly opposite the elevator. This room had originally been the marshal's study, and it had the best view and the longest hours of sunlight in the entire military district.
"Wow, this is my room?" Yuqing looked all around the room. Enormous floor-to-ceiling windows complemented the lavish Rococo decor, and the windowsill held many flowers she couldn't name, their petals still dotted with dew.
"Yes. The marshal's bedroom is across the hall, but the marshal is busy with official business and away all year round. Even on the occasional visit back, the marshal usually just makes do with a night in a meeting room downstairs. So, for the most part, you'll be the only one staying on this floor." Ers went into the bathroom and ran a bath for her. "You've had a hard time lately. Please rest well tonight. I'll keep watch just outside the door, so you can call me if you need anything."