With each movement, I could feel soreness that navigated my bones. My sleeping arrangements had been different from what was promised. I had to be thankful that there was at least a mattress between the ground and myself. But Alfonso could have brought me those extra blankets. Without Sky, though, I was never going to sleep well.

"Devin, it's show time," came a voice from the other side of the door. The person who entered was Thomas. He wore the typical green tabard with a sizeable blue willow tree ornamenting the center. This tabard was the only thing distinguishing a Hillcrest guard from the common folk.

"What happened to those extra blankets?" I asked.

"Eat your food, and I will see what I can do."

"Hey, could you swing silk sheets too?"

"Devin," Thomas replied.

"What? Cinthia told me they help your hair look better in the morning."

"No, I don't think I will ask for the silk sheets. Please just eat your food."

"Fine," I resigned and took Thomas's offered plate and water glass. "Hey, are these bagels..."

"Yeah, they're from your family's shop. You know your mom is worried sick about you?"

"Let her."

"Hey, that's no way to speak about the woman that gave birth to you."

I wanted to avoid getting into it with Thomas since he might be the only person I see for a while. Instead, I ate the eggs and bagels without speaking.

"Thank you," I said as I finished my last bite.

"Need any more food?" Thomas asked.

"No."

"Alright, I will be on the other side of this door, so yell if you need anything."

"Okay."

"Everything good?"

"Fantastic, I am only living every girl's fantasy," I replied.

"Come on, Devin. This isn't what you expect to be doing with your life. But it isn't that bad. At least you will always have a place to sleep and food in your stomach."

"Yeah, congrats to me. I don't get to starve to death like a street urchin."

Thomas sighed resignedly, took back my plate, and left me alone again in the room.

I laid back in the bed and stared at the wooden floorboards above. The boards groaned as servants from up above ran around doing various tasks. I might have looked down upon the servants living here a few years ago. But now I wished nothing more than to be an ability-less person like many others. At least that way, I would have been free.

Coming out of my stupor, I needed something to occupy my time. I may be trying to use my powers, but I didn't know where to start. Besides, did I need to learn the powers if I was a demon now? The world might be safer if I didn't use my inherited powers. But, if I was to be taken by the inquisitors, I would need to be able to defend myself sooner or later.

A quick knock came on my cell door. And the voice of Cinthia called out, "I am coming in!"

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Cinthia carried a handkerchief and a wrapped box. She looked disgusted at her surroundings as if she had just stepped in a Sky-cake. Her otherwise neat floral sun dress looked to have been sullied by the mere passage through the estate's cellar.

"You know I have never been in this part of the Manor," Cinthia said.

"Oh, I would have assumed you got the grand tour of this estate," I said.

"I did receive a tour, but only of the necessary part of the estate."

"So, the old cellar was not necessary then?"

"Quite so," Cinthia said. She gave me a small smile before continuing, "Devin, I did get you a gift to celebrate your ceremony. Even though these are not the circumstances I wanted to give it to you too, I would still ask that you accept the gift."

"You didn't plan for me to be your prisoner?"

"Just take the gift."

I took the gift and opened it. Inside it was the blue and silver dress and various types of makeup.

"I know how hard it can be to obtain those items. Especially now, given your situation. I had hoped to hire you on as a house servant. But destiny had another plan for you," Cinthia said.

"Thank you, this means a lot to me."

"Now, onto a more serious subject. And please forgive my rudeness in advance. You see, we have to be exact when dealing with the law of the land."

I gave Cinthia a nod of agreement as she pulled out a small stone disk from her pocket. She tapped it a couple times, and it began to glow a cyan blue.

"Who attacked you outside of Hillcrest?" Cinthia asked as she began her interrogation of me.

"It was Clive, the logger's son."

"And why did he attack you?"

"Because of who I am."

"You have to be a bit more specific, Devin," Cinthia said, pointing at the still-glowing stone.

I looked up at her and into her eyes. For the first time, I did not see a woman who acted like a mother figure. Instead, I saw the woman underneath the adventurer.

"Clive attacked me because of how I choose to identify and my demonic affinity."

"How do you choose to identify?"

"As a female."

"Were you born female?

"No."

"Are you open about this identity to everyone?"

"No, I mean kinda. Hillcrest is small, and I know the rumor is out."

"Did Sky attack Clive?" Cinthia asked.

"It wasn't Sky's fault! He was only protecting me. The same thing any dog would do."

"Answer the question," Cinthia said, her tone switching again into an icy presence that was unrecognizable to me.

"Yes, Sky bit Clive," I said. Tears started to form at the edges of my eyes.

"That should be all I need to know regarding that investigation," Cinthia said as she tapped the stone again, and the cyan light dissipated.

"So, what's going to happen to Sky?"

"Nothing, sweet girl. But Clive is also not going to receive any punishment."

"What! He tried to kill me!"

"I know, but the church is on his side. So, I can do nothing except ensure they don't go after Sky."

Cinthia's expression has warmed back up to her usual self. This version of Cinthia made me feel more comfortable than the one before. So, I took the time to lean on her kindness and let out some of the emotions I was holding back.

"What am I supposed to do now?" I asked as I began to cry for the first time since my capture.

"What do you mean?" Cinthia said as she reached out to me. I met her embrace as she held me close. She smelt of clementines and honey.

"With this whole demon thing."

"If I were you, I would get strong. The only person who can protect you from now on is you. Become the most powerful weapon Nucrestria has ever seen. But remember to follow orders. People quickly dispose of weapons that don't do as told," Cinthia said, using her handkerchief to wipe away a few of my renegade tears.

"So, there is no other path for me?"

"Not any kind of path I would recommend. But, there may always be an out for you at some point."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, a weapon can always be stolen."

The emotional switch that Cinthia displayed was once again drastic. This time she had the look of a scheming psychopath. I couldn't help but wonder what she did as an adventurer to get into the place she was now.

"So, how did you learn to use your powers?" I asked.

"I would recommend those," Cinthia responded while pointing at the books that Alfonso had laid out for me.

"That's it?"

"Well, no, but it will help you learn how to visualize and manifest your powers."

"Than what?"

"Train. Then train more. Then keep training until you reach a point the people are out to harm you have to think twice. But, never go against your master, whomever that may be at a given moment. After all, a weapon can not commit crimes."

"What are you saying?"

"Today, I can not help or save you from this path. But someday. Someday my family and I might be able to reach you once again. And, when that day comes, you need to be strong. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah," I said, feeling a small pit of pride grows in my chest. If I trained hard enough in the army, I might still get that dream one day. The dream where I could fight alongside Alfonso as equals.

"Good, then you have a long road in front of you," Cinthia said as she hugged me. When I finally released her from the embrace, she turned and left me alone in that dingy cellar prison.