Time went by slowly, more than eight hours in my opinion, but I could really tell since the tent was really illuminated. The only thing that lit the room was an unknown light source above me, but curiosity wasn’t really a priority especially when the fire pit under the chair sometimes acted as a second source of light.
“Congratulations, you survived the eight hours without killing yourself or telling me anything besides rude comments about my mother. Only one other person managed to complete my little sessions excluding the dark elf without going insane. I’m truly impressed.” He said sincerely.
Throughout the interrogation, I would lie and tell him that I was ready to talk, and every time he would listen Knowing what I would say. Yet, with the exception of my first insult, he would just nod his head as if I said something important then continue with his methodical torture. I could almost respect his level of professionalism. I would still kill him if given the chance, but only in a professional manner.
He sat on the stool in front of me. “Even though you didn’t tell me anything I felt I learned a lot about you. Like for instance, that you hate when my scalpel scrapes across the grooves I made down the bones in your shins.” He paused and smiled at me like he just told a funny joke and expected me to laugh.
Fuck professionalism when I kill him it’s going to feel personal for the both of us.
“Tough crowd.” He said as he shook his head.
“Where was I? Oh yes, I learn quite a bit about you. Like when your fears. During my little sessions, some people come to fear me, and some come to fear the tools that I implemented on them. I really didn’t expect to see fear from a Kalar, but I notice the fear in your eyes every time you were about to pass out. I also noticed a bit of relief as well, but nowhere as near as much relief as when the chair would wake you up.”
He was right. When I got to the end of the vision where I realised the smiling instructor drugged us, I stopped returning to that classroom when I passed out. Instead, I went to a place of nothingness. however, it wasn’t like sleep. It felt like I was present in the nothingness, submerged in it. It was palpable, it was nothingness you could feel, it was a nothingness that added pressure and made time feel irrelevant. It was the same feeling that I had during my vision of isolation. If made me feel small, nervous, and alone. It was my fear in the purest form, but ironically I feel that fear saved me. Whenever I returned from the nothingness, the pain seemed irrelevant, for a while at least, and that’s when I would return to the void. The pain gave me comfort from the void and the void protected me from the pain. It was a fucked up balance between the mind and body, and if Taoist aimed for this I knew one religion that I would stay clear from.
That bastard was still talking, but I just kind of tuned him out. “…I will help you face your fears.”
He paused waiting for a response, but I just stared at him blankly. I should feel some type a way about him. Fear, resentment, anger, but when I think of the void it all just disappears. It’s like the void is robbing me of my various emotions, which makes it even more terrifying to me.
“Do you want to know why my session was only eight hours?” he asked.
My mind automatically tuned into his question. Not because of my curiosity, but because question became a break from both the fear and pain during these past eight hours. He would have to stop torturing me to listen to my response.
“Because the enchantment on the chair only last for eight hours before it needs to recharge itself.” He quickly answered to avoid my conditioned response.
“So like it said before I will help you face your fears, and obviously whatever you see in your dreams scares you more than anything anyone could ever do to you. So in honour of you completing my session, I will give you the opportunity to face your fears without any interference from the chair.”
I started to panic. The time I spent in the void felt long enough, but I knew it couldn’t have been much more than thirty seconds yet it felt much longer. I couldn’t do it again, especially without the pain letting me know I’m alive. Granted I was still in pain, but it wasn’t enough to fight off the crippling pressure of the void. Goatee must have seen the conflict on my face because he continued.
“Unless you’re willing to give me something. We can start small like your name, what were you doing near the camp, where is your partner? I know that Kalar warriors always travel in pairs.” He questioned.
I whispered something intelligible.
“What was that?” he said with a smug grin getting closer.
“My partner is...”
“Yes?”
“In your mother’s vagina.” I laughed in his faced.
I feared the void, but I wasn’t going to give up at the finish line. Renya needed me. Besides, it was a conditioned response, it was out of my hands.
“Very well” he calmly raised the mallet to knock me unconscious but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“That will be all Clyde. Step aside and let my wife do her job, your eight hours are up.”
“Punctual as ever captain Conner, but as you can see I’m not quite done with him just yet. Least you forget that I have more value to the empire than yourself and that former slave.” He started to raise the mallet again.
“Least you forget that I am more valuable alive than you are as a corpse.” He said. I couldn’t see him, but I heard the sound of sliding steel.
Clyde sighed. “Very well Captain, but remember this moment because this will likely be the last time you defy me.” He said before leaving the tent.
Conner and his wife moved to stand in front of the chair so they could see me. His wife let out a gasp before pressing her hands to her mouth. her tanned face only showed concern as her hazel eyes scanned where to start. The brunet then tied her hair in a ponytail before squatting down a placing her hand next to my ribcage.
“You look like the undead.” Conner simply stated.
“Honey, I don’t think that’s helping any.” Said his wife.
“Well, Claire I don’t think I can hurt him anymore.”
“You can hurt my feelings. Even skeletons have feelings” I joked.
“I see your sense humour made it out better than you did. That's unfortunate, but fair warning sometimes the healing hurts just as much as the torture,” he reported and warned.
“That can’t be possible,” I said in disbelief.
I looked towards Claire and she just looked back up at me with an apologetic smile.
Fuck.
Her hands started to give off a golden glow. At first, nothing happened besides the brunette giving a confused look, but then pain flared from my sides. My skin started to stretch a regrow over my ribs. The missing bone that Clyde carved out also started to grow back, but at a slower rate than my skin. The healing felt almost identical to the torture. The only difference is that the torture was done deliberately slow, and the healing moved along faster getting less painful as I was healed.
“Done” she finally said while wiping sweat from her brow.
I was to relieve that she was done that I could even take the time to process what she had done. She just instantly healed what would have taken hours in a regen tank. I should have just assumed magic was real the moment I saw the elf. I needed to learn magic somehow, but now I was just grateful that she was done.
Connor must have sensed my relief because he spoke up. “She’s only finished with your ribs and chest.” He informed me with a smile.
I don’t what type of look I had on my face, but the captain picked up on it. “Toughen up soldier. We wouldn't want you passing out, keeping the elf waiting.”
“Don't you mean Simeon?” I asked. I knew that despite the banter, that he was only following Simeon's orders.
He was silent for a while then he looked towards his wife. She nodded then started to heal my shins.
“Back when I was younger I used to patrol Primora as my primary duty. One night I was my turn to patrol when of the richer parts of the city. The city would only send out one soldier per city block in that area since it’s a cake walk. Most guards would sleep or go to a tavern during their night shift. This just happen to be my unlucky night, because I heard screaming from the second floor of a manor I just happened to by passing on the way to the tavern. I blew my whistle that should have alerted nearby guards, but no one came. So I had to break into the manor alone just to discover most of the servants were already slaughtered. When I started investigating each room I discovered thieves looting or raping the survivors.” He stated with disgust.
He looked at his wife again before continuing. “I went throughout the rooms slaughtering the invaders until I made it to the master bedroom. When I arrived on the floor was a naked young woman crying next to the body of what I assumed were her parents, and on the bed was the source of the original scream that I heard. What I assumed to be the leader of the group was violating another woman.
Claire’s eyes were moist as she stood to begin healing my face, and Connor noticed this.
“Long story short I killed everyone in that house, but the young lady couldn’t live with what happened to her. She later ended her own life, but she left it in her will that I would receive everything. The amount of land I inherited entitled me to be a lesser noble.”
“I don’t mean to be an ass but what does that have to do with anything?”I asked.
“How do you think I killed fourteen thieves as an inexperienced young guard? Not to mention the leader was skilled enough to have a large unclaimed bounty on his head yet I was still able to kill them all.”
“Luck?” I guessed not seeing the point.
“It was the elf!” Claire intercepted. “It was my screams he heard. I was the one on the bed when he came to rescue us. I had all but given up on living, but then I heard a voice telling me that if I wanted to save the mistress or myself now was the time to scream.” Tears flowed freely down her face.
Connor walked over to embrace his wife. “There were several times that I should have got a dagger to my kidney, but I voice told me to turn around, duck, or dive forward. I never knew where it came from until I discovered that Lord Simeon own a slave that could read minds, and that one of his estates wasn’t far from the area.”
The pieces finally started to fit. “So you feel that you owe her”
“I do owe her. Without her, I wouldn’t off met my wife. I wouldn’t even be an officer if I wasn’t a noble. The only reason I volunteered for this campaign is because she would be her and there might be a small chance that I could repay her. She hasn’t asked anything of me, but if she took the risk to speak to you she must feel that you can help her. So let’s get you to the meeting.”
He looked down at his wife. “Honey go wait in my tent for my return.”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“I’m fine.” She weakly protested.
“Please Claire. I will send some men I trust to check in on you.”
She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek before turning to leave, but before she left she turned to me. “I don’t know how you’re supposed to do it, but please save her.”
“I promise that I will try my best. It’s the least I can do for the woman who glued my skin back on”
She gave me a faint smile before she followed her husband’s instructions.
Set Task as Mission Objective?
[Yes/No]
Yes.
Mission Objective
Save Elf.
Mission Time limit
No Limit
Chance of success
29%
Ways to increase chances of success.
Discover how the dark elf can assist you.
I turned to Conner. “If the elf is so powerful why doesn’t she just kill Simeon and escape?”
“Because she wears a slave collar. If you act against your master or ignore a direct command, the pain will render your body useless, and the only person that can stop the pain is the slave's master.”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t they just put a collar on me and order me to tell them what they wanted.”
“We have tried that before, but the Kalar have a small resistance which allows them to kill themselves beforehand. It’s also why you will never see a Kalar slave.”
“Yeah, but can’t they just use that small resistance to try to kill their master?”
“They could, but only the master can release a slave from their collar or stop the pain. So if the last thing you do is kill your master you will live an eternity full of nothing but pain. Although I believe she could resist the effects even longer than you can, it would be stupid for her to kill Lord Simeon herself.”
Mission Objective
Save Elf.
Chance of success
19%
Great.
“So how am I supposed to help her?” I questioned Conner.
“I don’t know, I thought she told you.” He said irritated.
“Nope” I replied with a smile.
“Let’s just get to Lord Simeon’s tent for the interrogation she might tell one of us something.”
When Conner released me from the chair, standing up was the best feeling I ever felt.
Sorry, Renya. Freedom will always be the sweetest feeling.
“Let’s go.” The captain said.
On the way to Lord Douche’s tent, Connor stopped to get me some pants. I didn’t think it was a good idea to treat me differently from other prisoners, but to protest meant giving them up, so I chose my right to remain silent.
When we finally entered the tent, lord douche was in his usual spot. With only the gorgeous dark haired women beside him.
“I see you somehow got some pants. Take a seat savage.” Douche said while pointing to the only other open chair.
Connor pushes me to the seat and stood behind me.
On the other side of the table sat the elf right below the douche’s chair with her looking at me with those enticing violet eyes. The only difference was the two fully plated guards who both held swords to her throat, yet she just looked at me like those two wasn’t even there.
I didn’t know what was going on, but I made sure to keep my features indifferent so that I gave nothing away. Especially when the elf started talking to me.
“Smart, they always do this when they are about to remove my collar, so the only problem I see is with you wearing pants. You know how much I liked your last outfit. It made it easier to try to give me the babies that I apparently asked for.” She smirked, but it held a dangerous glint to it that was increased by the guard hovering over her.
My facial facade almost cracked right there, but I recovered quickly.
I have difficulty reading body langue, and I never communicated this way. Sometimes things get lost in translation, you know how things are.
“Yes, I do. However, your desire is not lost on me. You’re like every other human male, except perhaps you aren’t scared to act on it.” She said with that same challenging smile.
I knew she was dangerous, but her smile didn’t scare me. In fact, it made me more attracted to her. What scared me is what would happen if everything worked out like I planned, and I saved Renya. If I were to do anything with her how would Renya respond, how would the elf respond?
“Yesterday you were willing to ‘touch’ me and my friend. So 'touching' one more woman should not matter. I never met a Kalar that didn't like powerful women.” She informed me with that same smile.
Lord douche interrupted the mental banter. “Savage. Captain Conner informs me that you are different than the others and that you may be willing to share some information with us. You may speak now, I would rather not use of my prized slave. I hate the risk required to remove her collar.”
“So you had me tortured for eight hours straight just so you can snobbishly ask me to tell you what you want to know? You, my good fellow, can eat a dick.”
That caused everyone in the room to stifle a laugh. Except for the elf, she openly voices hers for a second. Causing the young noble to glare at the back of her head before he focused his anger on me.
“The guards tell me that you seem to know the other savages it would be ashamed if something happened to them. Perhaps it already did.” He derided.
Panicked instantly gripped my soul, but it wasn’t his threat that got to me it was her face. I for a brief second I saw shock then sadness when she returned her gaze to me.
“I’m sorry,” she said aloud, which only increased my panic.
“What happened?”
“I tell you what happened. The dark elf thought I didn’t know about her ability to communicate mentally, even with the collar interfering, but I did. That’s why I paid someone to teach me how to control my thoughts. She thought that she could escape me with some sneaky dark elf manoeuvring, and that’s not all. Guards!”
A few moments later two more guards revealed themselves. They drew their weapons to put a blade not just my neck, but surprisingly Conner’s as well.
Mission Objective
Save Elf.
Chance of success
9%
Mission Objective
Save Renya.
Chance of success
13%
“What is the meaning of this?” Conner demanded.
“You think I didn't notice the way you would look at my prize elf when you thought I wasn’t looking, or that every time father forces me to play the soldier, that you was always there? You always wanted what was mine, didn't you? Well, today is the day of reckoning, but before you go, I want you to know that I had men waiting in your tent to kill your slave of a wife. I want you to die knowing that you sent her to her death.”
I knew what was going to happen next, this was the time for action if we were going to do anything. I turned my head slightly to look at Conner to gauge his reaction just in time to see his throat get slit. Blood sprayed everywhere as he had a look of disbelief before he dropped to one knee clutching his neck.
“Now with that out of the way that brings me to you. I just don’t understand what she could promise you. Did she promise you freedom? No that couldn’t be it. Or wasn’t it that whore that you fucked in the cage like an animal.” He sneered.
Anger flared I was about to lunge across the table, but the guard gave me a subtle reminder that he had a blade to my throat. Which also made me looked down at the captain still bleeding on the floor.
“I thought that might be it. That’s why a couple minutes after you left the cage I went there myself to tell your two savage friends that they were free to go.” He watched me for a reaction but continued when he didn’t get one.
“Of course it was a lie, but you should have seen the look on their faces when I told them that you arrange for their release. They looked so surprised, but the girl eventually started looked downright proud of her Ammon Ra. That’s why as soon as we made it to the forest I killed the man right there on the spot. They most of been close because she went berserk and managed to kill two of my men in chains before they restrained her.”
Mission Objective
Save Renya.
Chance of success
5%
I could even describe what I was feeling I knew where the conversation was going, and also knew what I would do next that would most likely end in my death, but I was going to do it anyway.
“Guards completely restrain him. I feel this next part might excite him.”
Two guards on my side of the table lifted out of the chair and slammed my face into the table, each of the held one of my arms extended behind my back.
“Yes, now where was I. After I had her restrained I started to appreciate her savage body.” He said with a sick smile.
“If you touched her I fucking swear I’ll kill you.” Tears started to run down my face.
“Me? No, I would never lower myself, but my men desperately wanted to, especially these two. So I let my men have fun with her as long as they agreed to kill her after eight hours. Now remind me how long did you endure torture for?”
Mission Objective
Save Renya.
Chance of success
0%
Mission Failed
Save Renya.
I let out a primal roar tears now falling freely down my face. Hatred filled me for the man in front of me. I started to strain against the guards who held me.
“Yes that’s it screams. I made bets on how loud I could get you to squeal. Everyone use to laugh at my combat prowess, but they ignored the cunning that could outsmart a dark elf and could even make a Kalar warrior cry. Yes scream louder!” he said with a twisted laugh.
That’s when the unexpected happened. Conner drew a dagger and started violently stabbing the guard on my right side. Everyone froze like they saw a zombie or a man with his throat slit seeking his own vengeance. With every stab, more blood flowed from his neck. With every stab, I was soaked in the blood of a man who knew exactly how I felt right now if not more. When he couldn't exert himself any longer, he turned to me. When I eyes met I had perfectly understood what he wanted me to do. His eyes said the one word he couldn’t say himself. Vengeance.
Before the bodies even dropped I responded to his request that we both desired. With one of my arms free I acted by standing straight up sacrificing my shoulder in the process. I was rewarded with a popping sound before I elbow the remaining guard in his throat with my free arm. Then while freeing his sword from his scabbard I made a lunge for Simeon using the table in front of me as stepping stone. I was expecting to have to dodge both guards that held their blades to the elf, but the only one reacted.
He moved his blade to swipe at my leg expecting me to dodge, giving him more time to regroup.
Bad move.
I jumped as high as I could lifting the other leg up higher, his blade found its target unobstructed, and I was rewarded with the familiar filling of a blade being embedded in my shin bone. He looked up at me in horror before I feed his visor my blade until it caught on something. I didn’t know if it was his skull, spine or armour, but I released the sword regardless. I hit the ground with a roll causing pain to flare in my leg, but the sword dislodged itself as then end of my roll put me right at the dais. My hand reached for his throat while he sat there in surprise and fear. Time seemed to slow down even further as the thought of killing him filled me with more adrenaline. I didn’t know if I was going to try to rip out his throat, crush it, or choke him slowly.
I was going to have my vengeance. My left arm hung useless, but my right hand was at his throat…
Mission Objective
Save Elf.
Chance of success
86%
A thought Renya came to mind, and what she must have endured after watching her brother killed by this man. How they must have destroyed her honour, her spirit, and her pride as a warrior. I felt my hand tightening. I thought of how they slit Connors' throat, and my hand tighten further. I might have heard something crack.
Then I thought of Claire and my promise to her. It was probably the one promise I would be able to keep in this life. There was no way that I could escape here alive with my injuries, they would only run me down, but the dark elf had a chance, in fiction, they were always known for stealth.
Simeon’s eyes were bulging at this point, and his skin adopted a more bluish hue.
“You will listen to very carefully. You will do everything I say. If you don’t you will die. I get a funny feeling you will die. You try to negotiate with me I will bite your fucking face off, then you die. You understand?”
He tried his best to nod. I eased my grip on his throat so he could breathe, but the moment he stopped gasping, I partial restricted his airways again.
“Free the elf of her collar,” I demanded.
“I can’t from this distance.” He gasped
“He can still verbally release all the slaves he owns, or transfer ownership to you from any distance.”
“Verbally release all the slaves you own.”
His eyes widen. I could see his mind trying to think of the way to get out of this without losing all his slaves even in this situation.
“How about I just transfer them both to you instead I’ve seen the way you look at them. I Simeon Ahmose transfer all of my slaves present to Ammon Ra.” he declared panicky.
I suddenly felt something strange happening in the back of my mind, I could now feel the presence of their collars in my subconscious. Immediately after I tighten my grip on his throat I bit into his face. I could feel his cheek tearing as I pulled, and when it finally tore free I spit the flesh onto the floor.
I warned him not to negotiate.
The girl next to me stared in shock but ignored her. I looked into Simeon’s eyes as he tried to scream, but no air could no longer get in or out of his throat. I watched calmly as the life in his eyes slowly disappeared.
“Ha ha ha ha” I started laughing once I realised something.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha” I couldn’t stop.
What is so funny?” the young woman next to me asked.
Oddly enough, until now, I used to think I wasn’t human even as I watched myself bleed for eight hours, but know I realised after calmly ending a life that I’m too fucked up to be anything other than human.”