Guards outside the room had just been hearing the sound of shackles hit the wall along with the yells of the captured man. They were commanded to overlook anything happening inside the room but hours of same turmoil tweaked their obedience of the given command.

A soldier clubbed the metal door with his hand wrapped around steel glove, "Don't make me knock your teeth off."

He doubted if Fierlo heard him or not because Fierlo was far from being silent. Not even close to calmness.

The guard looked at his fellow swordsman. Swordsman moved his head sideways. It took some time of the same gesture to change mind of the infuriated soldier.

"Be grateful he isn’t cursing us." said Swordsman. He turned his head at his left, got surprised and bowed down.

Guard also didn’t take any time to bow down at Wernh'An's counselor. None of them straightened their backs till Padraig didn’t come closer to them.

"Let me talk to him." Padraig said after blowing the burning match.

Padraig observed the illumination of his just lit lantern till the guards got in their natural posture. In the meantime, Fierlo howled like he was not a man. Rather a caged beast deprived of basic necessities.

Soldier unclipped the key from his waist and started unlocking the door. Padraig observed him opening the door as if it was the most interesting thing he had seen in Hilcastle after Wernh’An’s disappearance.

"Find something interesting to do while I talk to him." Padraig placed his lantern on the floor.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Padraig crept inside the room from quarter opened door when guards were nowhere to be seen. Even then Fierlo hadn't run out of breath to cry.

"Don't panic, Fierlo. It's me." Padraig closed the door.

"Who?" the captive asked.

"Padraig." Was the counselor's answer.

"Please let me go!" Fierlo screeched, "I can't bear this torment anymore."

"You are tormenting yourself. People do get used to of solitude."

"The doctor hurts me!"

"I told you he has left for Nastria."

It didn’t stop Fierlo from erupting into shrieks.

"Please put a torch in this room." Fierlo sobbed throughout his request, "Darkness is making me insane."

"No. The darkness is keeping you sane." Padraig opened the door open just enough for the lamp to pass.

Padraig raised his lantern infront of Fierlo's face.

Fierlo was filled with joy. He laughed like a fox being stroked on its abdomen. Sobs mixed with relief created a bizarre sound of merry. He could keep staring at the light till blindness.

Fierlo noticed a mirror about the size of his palm alongside a lantern. The reflection didn’t resemble to what he looked like.

Old man in mirror was as terrified as him.

"This must be an illusion." Fierlo didn’t trust his sight and blinked several times.

Yet the face on mirror stood unchanged.

"This can't be me!" Fierlo saw the balding man's lips synchronize with his.

"Godfreed took your youth. Not for himself but for the Metal Mage." Padraig removed the mirror, "Saer's advice can't go wrong."

Fierlo's wrinkled eyelids expanded.