Civilization

As I sit here, chained to the cold, stone wall of this dark damp cell, I can't help but long for the familiar comforts of home… The stench of mold and decay overwhelms my senses, and the sound of dripping water echoes through my chamber. Closing my eyes and trying to focus on the memories of Ian, Sylvia, Lucina, Howard, and everyone else, I whisper to myself, protecting my memories. However, fear crashes into my mind.

Flashes of iron, blood, sweat, and tears, send a violent shudder through my body. It wasn't just Casper. Two? Three? I can't even tell how many demi-humans have entered through those rickety wooden doors but… It wasn't just me here. Tugging at my chains, I feel the rough metal dig into my skin. I try and I try. But the echoing screams of others ride along these stone walls, wrapping around me like an endless tornado.

Slumping down to the ground, my eyes barely open and my lips cracking with every small movement, I look at the moldy half-eaten bread in front of me. Stretching my dry tongue out, I lick the side of the bread, covering my tongue with bitter dusty crumbs. A single beam of light filters through a crack above, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air as if showing me the way out.

Thinking back, I wished I never left on that journey. I wished I wasn't as cocky and arrogant, as I was. Why couldn't I be humble? Why couldn't I have just followed everyone else? I could have just protected everyone. Be the warrior I should have been. Yet… What was I? An arrogant fool, blinded by the small display of power that he had compared to others. And where did that arrogance lead me to? Here. Away from Sylvia's touch. Away from peace. Away from… Freedom.

Regret. Despair. Just a few words to describe it all. I wonder… What are they doing now? Fighting goblins still? Building a house? Maybe Ian and old man Hus came up with another invention? Or did Kingston go out and discovered a new monster to fight? Gobi could be right next to me, sparing lightly. I could be hearing Solar and Stellar chatter in elvish. I hate it. Myself. The Horde. Casper. I hate it.

Glancing at the door, my heart starts to race faster. Goosebumps rise. The cold sweat that stopped, starts once more. A rhythmic vibration resonates along the ground. Footsteps. One by one, edging closer. Is it one person? Is it two? Pressing my forehead to the ground, I can only pray and hope it isn't for me. Closing my eyes, I wait and wait. Bracing myself for whatever torture and punishment they had planned for me.

The door creaks open. Blinking my eyes open, while I stretch my neck slightly, I see one of the Horde's henchmen, an alligator demi-human with a sneer on his face, showcasing the rows of yellowish teeth along the side of his face. Tensing my body, as he approaches me I prepare for the worst, expecting him to strike me with the thorny whip on the side of his belt.

"W-Why are you here?" - Luke

My voice, hoarse from disuse, barely makes out an audible sentence. Smirking the demi-human, crouches beside me, grabbing onto my disheveled hair, as he lifts me slightly off the ground so that his face was right next to mine. Holding my breath, I try not to breathe in the stench of raw meat that emanates out of his mouth.

"I just came over to remind you who is in charge here. You see, after your 'escape,' the Horde hasn't been very pleased. PLUS, I'm your friend, aren't I? You and I, have shared bountiful experiences here." - ???

"Sh-Shut up, N-Nero." - Luke

"Shut up? SHUT UP?! I GUESS YOU DO NEED A REMINDER!" - Nero

Smashing my head into the ground, with a loud thud that echoes through the halls outside the door, Nero steps back while laughing haughtily, as he grabs onto his whip. Cracking it along the walls, I curse myself and my mouth, but I don't regret it. Closing my eyes, while I tense my whole body, I anticipate Nero's attacks.

A sharp sting spreads across my back, as he lashes the whip at my body. Again and again, like a drummer doing the beat to a song, while my cries of pain were the vocals. The sound of the whip cracking fills the room, louder and louder, as Nero's lashing intensifies. His laughter harmonizing with my cries, as the blood trickles down my body finding its way into the several cracks in the ground. I know these wounds will leave scars, in fact, I already have all too many of them, but what can I do? Chained here like a doll…

Eventually, he runs out of energy, luckily before I run out of blood. Finishing it off with his urine splashing all over my freshly cut body, he slams the door shut, leaving the room. Here I am. Left alone in a pool of blood and urine. Nothing but my pain and thoughts to keep me company. It would have just been better for me to have died. To have been killed. Why haven't they just killed me?

How many times do I have to be tortured like this? Why do they always stop right before I feel like the last speck of my life is about to vanish? Trapped. Alone. Helpless. Am I nothing more than just a pawn in their game? A stress outlet? Why am I even here? Why do I even exist? Was wanting to run from here, to escape, to follow Selino, Sylvia, and Nina, that big of a deal? I just… I just… Want to leave.

As the days roll on by, my spirit withers away, bit by bit. A constant reminder of my foolish mistake haunts me with each scar along my body. Oh, how I long for the day when I can be free once more. When I can see all those who were waiting for me. Who knows how many days have passed?

The only thing that marks the passage of time is the sound of the wooden door, creaking open, as one of the Horde's many subordinates comes inside and lashes out at me, sending their frustrations directly into my body. Every so often, food and water would be placed in front of me as well, directly in front of my face, so that I only need to stretch out my tongue to ingest anything.

One day, in the many days I have been here, Nero drags in a new prisoner. A young woman, barely conscious with nothing but a rag to cover her bruised body. Fear can be seen in her still-alive eyes, the opposite of my lifeless shell. I didn't know who she was but her fiery red hair reminds me of someone. Who was it? I can tell she has suffered greatly. To what extent did the Horde's henchmen torture her? Was it more than what I had experienced? Was it less?

Over the next few days, she would try to talk to me, with what little energy she had left after being beaten and raped. At first, I was surprised she even had the motivation to speak to me after what she has been through, but I didn't respond. I couldn't even if I wanted to. They were watching me. My every move. Enjoying the taste of my helplessness. Why would I increase my pain by humoring another captive?

But maybe… Just maybe it will be okay to say something. When was the last time I had a proper conversation with someone? I don't count my cries of pain and my curses at Nero and the other demi-humans' conversations. Perhaps I should try. Give it a go. It wouldn't be that hard right? Just speak. Can I even speak? What if she hits me for ignoring her all this time? I don't want more pain than what I already get. Should I… Try?

"W-what's… Y-your…name?" - Luke

"Y-y-you can speak? Oh my god, finally! I thought all this time, you were mute, and I was just speaking to myself. M-m-my name is Cil Va. I'm… A slave… What is your name?" - Cil Va

"L-luke." - Luke

"Luke? It's good to meet you, Luke. I thought I was going to be here alone, you know? Especially since you never spoke. I just-just thought there was nothing left for me here. Except for death… BUT! I found a way. We can escape!" - Cil Va

"Es… cape?" - Luke

"Yes. Yes. Escape! Run away! We can do it. I just need your help with it. I can't do it alone. Don't worry, Luke! Let me tell you the plan first. You remember Nero?" - Cil Va

"Ne… Ro… NERO! AAAAAHHHHH!!" - Luke

"No, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Don't think of him, don't worry. Don't worry. Umm… Well, he gets distracted when he comes to… see me. I'll keep him company… You. You. Just need to hit him on the back of the head, Luke. Look, look. If you can do that. We can escape. Don't worry. I know what to do about the chains that are holding us together. I-I know a bit of magic, you see. Just a bit. Watch! Mystic Palm! See? See? Fire can come out of my hands. I'll free you. Trust me. Trust Cil Va" - Cil Va

"Trust… You? O…Kay. Trust." - Luke

"Okay? Great! Come closer. Yes! Just like that. Mystic Palm! See? Now you are free. Free!" - Cil Va

"Free… Trust… Cil Va." - Luke

"Yes. That's right, Luke~ Trust me. I'll make sure you are always free." - Cil Va

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