“And what’s yours?” Elias asks.

“Obinai,” Obinai responds after a moment, his throat dry. “Obinai Nobunaga.” He barely manages to steady his voice.

Elias grins, but it’s not a friendly smile—it’s a knowing one. “Well, Obinai, looks like we’re stuck right now. Ain’t no pulling your way outta these chains.” He gestures with his head toward the heavy, dark metal shackles that bind them both. “These bad boys, they got a special charm to ‘em,” he continues, glancing up at his own chains. “Cut off essence, or somethin’ like that.”

Obinai’s brows furrow, confusion written across his face. “Essence?” he repeats.

Elias rolls his eyes. “You gotta be kiddin’ me,” he mutters under his breath, almost too low for Obinai to hear. Then he shakes his head, leaning forward just enough. “Didn’t you notice the pool, man? How it made ya feel all... better?” His voice drops. “That’s Essence... kinda, I think. They lump a lot of shit together. Pure and simple... sorta. Made you feel like you were born again or somethin’, right?”

Obinai stares at him. “That... that was Essence?” he asks, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I thought that was magic.”

Elias groans. “No and yes,” he grumbles, clearly irritated. “I don’t know the kinks, damn it. I just know that it does both. It’s magic, it’s... essence... whatever the hell you wanna call it, alright?” He pauses. “It’s a wonder you didn’t figure it out when you got here.”

Obinai bristles at the comment, the sarcasm setting his teeth on edge. “Excuse me for not knowing, damn,” he shoots back.

Elias chuckles at the response, the sound grating against Obinai’s nerves.

Not phased by this, Elias’s voice drops to a quieter tone. "But don’t go thinkin’ it’s all sunshine and rainbows. This place, Ellldoria..." He drags the words out. "It’s steeped in that stuff. It’s everywhere. In the air, the soil, the food... Hell, even in the damn water you’re drinkin’."

Elias leans back a little, testing the chains that hold him, but the metal rattles. He winces slightly, but he doesn’t pull away. The bitterness creeps back into his words as he continues, “But it ain’t all good. Not here, not really.” He pauses for a moment, and the weight of his words sinks in.

Elias shifts again, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveys Obinai’s expression. “The essence or magic here, it can heal, it can create... yeah. But it can also bind, torture, and destroy. That pool? That was just a little taste, man. A gentle little caress. It’s the same stuff that makes these chains, these damn chains, that stop us from doing anything.” He rattles his chains for emphasis, the sound echoing around the cold stone chamber. His voice lowers even more, like he’s sharing something too dangerous to say aloud. “These chains? They’re enchanted. Infused with somethin'. Suppresses anything you might have inside ya. Any gifts, any abilities... all gone. You’re as human as the next guy in this damn place.”

Elias locks eyes with Obinai. “That’s how they control us, Obinai," he drawls. "They lure ya in with all the shiny bullshit—the bath, the robes, the food. Looks like a damn fairy tale, don’t it?” He spits the words out, disgust thick in his tone. “But there's always a catch. They keep ya weak, keep ya controlled, and use magic to keep you in line.”

Obinai chuckles, a little too much. Elias raises an eyebrow, his expression guarded but curious.

Then Obinai stops, his laughter catching in his throat, and suddenly his face shifts. "Shittt..." he mutters.

Elias shakes his head, looking down at the floor, his posture slightly slumped.

“Yo…” Obinai calls out, his voice cracking as he gathers his composure.

Elias raises his head slowly, a flicker of curiosity passing through his eyes. “What?”

“I’ve heard your name before,” Obinai stammers, his voice shaky but with a slight edge of disbelief. “You broke out first, didn’t you? From Crowe and all those damn scientists...” His nervous chuckle follows the statement.

Elias’ lips twitch upward, just a ghost of a smile. “So I’ve become famous, huh?” he says dryly, a hint of amusement. “Damn... Guessin’ they didn’t loop you in with the others?”

Obinai nods slowly. "Figured that much," Elias mutters.

“Yeah, that’s me,” Elias continues. “And here I am.” He shifts his weight, trying to find a comfortable position in his chains, but it’s a lost cause. “Seems like I can’t even make it past level one though.” He chuckles, a bitter laugh that doesn’t reach his eyes.

A heavy silence hangs between them, and then Elias’ voice breaks through again. “ Both sides can all fuckin’ pay. But from what I learned here...” He chuckles darkly. “They deserve to die.”

Obinai raises a brow. “Who?”

Elias meets his gaze, his eyes hard. “All but the humans,” he says. “They may be cruel, but it’s controlled. There’s something comin’, a reckoning they’re supposed to be prepared for, or somethin’ like that.” He nods towards the grim room around them, the atmosphere thick with the weight of his words. “This world, man...” He takes a breath, his voice dropping a little lower, “It should be run by humans. For humans. No exceptions.”

Obinai can’t hold it in anymore. He bursts into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. “Are you serious?” he asks between breaths, the sound of his laughter echoing off the stone walls. The absurdity of it all makes him laugh harder. “You really think the world should be run by humans? After all this shit? After everything we’ve been through?” His voice shakes with both disbelief and frustration. “You’re out of your damn mind.”

Elias watches him, quiet for a moment. Finally, he sighs, a small, weary chuckle escaping his lips. “Maybe. But that’s the truth.” His eyes flicker toward Obinai, his gaze steady. “At least in here, we can hold onto that.”

Obinai’s laughter fades, but the bitterness still lingers in his chest. He lets out a long, frustrated exhale, his hands trembling slightly. “There’s no fucking truth here,” he mutters. He looks around the cold, dark chamber. “There’s damn magic here...” He gestures vaguely with his hand. "I couldn’t care less about your damn human empire. Everything’s gone back there anyway." He spits the words out. His jaw tightens, the words burning as they leave his lips.

“They tortured me, Elias,” he says. His hands ball into fists. “Cut my limbs off... watched them regrow. Did the whole process again. Ran drugs through my system...” He huffs, shaking his head in disbelief at the nightmare. His chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. “I don’t give a damn about their greater good. Look at where I fucking am.”

Obinai’s eyes sting as he blinks rapidly to stop the tears from falling. But his voice cracks again. “No goddamn orphanage... no foster home...” His words trail off as his mind drifts...to before when-

A sharp breath escapes him interrupting that thought, followed by a yell. “I’m in a fucking dungeon, damn it!” His hands ball into fists once more, his knuckles white. “I was too stupid to notice...” He shakes his head violently, frustration spilling out with every word. “I wanted to be saved, you know? I see it in anime, books, movies... shit... the pretty elf girls with big boobs are supposed to help us...” His voice falters for a moment, then his shoulders tremble with bitter laughter. It’s hollow, humorless...

His gaze shifts back to Elias, his eyes red. "How the hell did it all come to this, Elias?" he mutters, his voice quieter now.

Elias responds. “Well... can’t say I have the answer to that.”

Before Obinai can respond, the jingle of keys rattles through the silence, and the sound of footsteps grows closer.

Obinai’s heart starts to race again. The footsteps stop, and the door swings open. And there, standing in the doorway with her bright smile and cheerful steps, is Princess Eris, her demeanor unchanged.

Eris skips into the room, her movements light and carefree. She brushes her fingers across the tools laid out on the nearby table. The sound of her laughter, sharp and unnerving, fills the air as she turns toward Obinai and Elias. Her gaze flickers between the two of them, genuine smile stretches across her face.

Obinai’s heart hammers in his chest, but he gathers what little courage he has left. His voice shakes as he questions her. “Why? Why are you doing this?” His plea hangs in the heavy silence.

Eris’s smile widens, and she walks over to him with an almost playful gait, her feet light on the stone floor. She crouches beside him. Before Obinai can brace himself, her hand reaches out to caress his cheek. The warmth of her touch lingers for a moment...

“Weak, feeble humans,” she murmurs softly as she brushes a loc from his face. The sound of her words sends a shiver through him.

Obinai’s breath catches in his throat. Elias's dry chuckle breaks through his thoughts. “Yep, she's a bitch, all right,” Elias mutters in the background. “Not too bright, either.”

Eris’s smile strains just slightly at the jab, but she doesn’t falter. She turns towards Elias, but before she can respond, Obinai speaks again. “Why are you doing this?”

Eris spins back towards him, still cheerful, her eyes with an almost innocence to them. “I can’t help it...” She pauses, twirling in place, her brightly colored dress catching the light. The fabric swirls around her as she continues, “This is the best part of it all.”

Obinai watches her, stunned, as she continues. “I usually collect animals,” she says. “I used to nail them to the walls in the castle when I was little... until I found out about the woods." She giggles softly at the memory. “I loved doing it to the little ones,” she adds, her voice taking on a gleeful quality as she sways slightly, lost in the memory. "I did it to a rabbit that was oh-so-cute... and a goat just a few days ago..."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

She lingers on the details, a strange, almost euphoric smile crossing her face. “I just loved their entrails,” she says, her voice dropping. Her eyes roll back in her head for a brief second, and she grips her own arms, a shiver running through her. “Oh, I’m feeling hot,” she murmurs, her voice thickening. Then she suddenly pulls back, fixing herself with a quick, almost embarrassed gesture. “I must stop...” she says breathlessly, her face flushed.

Obinai stares at her, his mouth slightly agape. Elias looks down, but he mutters quietly, almost to himself, “Crazy too...” His voice is low, barely audible.

Obinai opens his mouth, but the words die in his throat.

She then turns and walks over to grab a nearby chair, pulling it between them. Sitting down, she crosses her legs and faces Obinai, her gaze focused and unwavering. “So,” she starts, “I’ll be prying your limbs and seeing if your entrails are any different from his.” She points at Elias, who shifts uncomfortably in his restraints.

Obinai tugs at the chains at this. “Damnit,” he mutters shakily, but Eris only giggles, her smile never fading.

“Oh, I love that,” she says, almost sweetly. “But before we do that, it's to my knowledge that you have no clue of your role in society.” Her eyes gleam.

Obinai stops struggling, his chest rising and falling as he looks at her, confused. He looks toward Elias, but the other kid just shrugs, his expression unreadable. “Go with it, man. She likes this shit,” Elias says.

Obinai stares back at Eris...

Eris leans forward, her voice taking on a more serious tone, but the cheerfulness never quite leaves it. "At the pinnacle of all are the godkin..." she says, her eyes glazing over for a moment. “Ooooh, how I wish to meet one... or be wed to one.” She sighs, her expression almost wistful. “Then the elves...” She trails off, letting the words hang in the air for a beat before continuing, “Dragons are in a separate category because they’re merely guards, so they don’t really count—but they do.”

Obinai does a small gulp at her casual words, but she doesn’t notice. Too caught up in her own little world as she continues. “Following closely are the dwarves and tieflings.”

She pauses, letting her gaze sweep over him dismissively, her eyes narrowed just slightly. “Beyond these, we have the orcs and gnomes... goblins don’t count because of their nearly nonexistent intelligence.” She waves her hand dismissively, her smile still firmly in place. “The orcs, surprisingly, are included in this, though, with their brute strength and warrior culture. They play crucial roles in our armies, while the gnomes, with their intellect and ingenuity, innovate our technologies and magics.”

Her eyes flick back to Obinai, and there’s a hint of coldness to her smile now. “Nymphs, centaurs, and faeries form the middle tier, each contributing with their natural affinities to the land and magical realms. Merfolk manage our waters, ensuring the purity and essence of our aquatic sources are maintained.”

She pauses again. Obinai feels the air grow heavier. “And then, at the very bottom, beneath all these esteemed races, are the treacherous imps and the humans.” Her lips curl slightly, and her tone grows sharper. “In Eldoria, and past... humans are lesser beings. Viewed as little more than cattle. You are no use as even workers or servants, your lives dictated by the whims of your superiors. Here, you are less than slaves, often not even afforded the dignity given to beasts of burden.”

Obinai doesn’t know how to respond to this...

Eris doesn’t wait for a response, her cheerful smile widening. She claps her hands together. “Now,” she says, her voice light and airy, “let’s see if your entrails are laced in red... like his were,” she continues, waving her hand dismissively towards Elias. “Burgundy, crimson, scarlet... maybe even a touch of ruby,” she adds with a casual flick of her wrist.

Elias sits in his chains, his eyes dull and resigned as he watches Eris.

Obinai feels a knot form in his stomach. His gaze follows Eris as she skips toward the center of the room, her brightly colored dress swirling around her, the fabric catching the dim light in flashes of vivid color. It's almost like a sick dance...

As she reaches the table in the center of the room, the gleam of various tools catches Obinai’s eye. Each one reflects the dim light in a menacing way.

Eris hums a soft tune to herself as she sets her hands on the table, running her fingers over the various implements like a child with her favorite toys. She picks up a particularly nasty-looking tool, its metal gleaming under the flickering light. “This one,” she says in a voice that’s almost sweet, “is excellent for testing pain thresholds. It’s fascinating to see the differences in tolerance across the races.” She inspects it closely, as if she’s admiring a piece of art.

Eris sets that tool down with a soft click, picking up another—this one with small needles and dials. “And this,” she continues, her tone lilting, “is for extracting essences. It’s delicate work, but oh, it’s so rewarding.” She presses a button on the device, and the needles shift ever so slightly. “The purity of pain and fear, distilled into a single vial. It’s almost poetic, don’t you think?”

Obinai clenches his fists tighter, his body starting to shake. He can feel his heart racing in his chest.

Eris moves to another tool, a set of finely crafted metal tongs with serrated edges. “These,” she says, “are for gripping and tearing. Quite useful when you need to hold onto... certain pieces of flesh that just don’t want to let go.” She demonstrates on a small scrap of cloth, the tongs squeezing it with an alarming amount of force.

Her excitement is almost too much to bear, but it’s the next tool that really catches Obinai’s attention. She picks up a long, thin probe, its tip sharp and gleaming. “This one is my personal favorite,” she says with a wicked grin. “It’s perfect for probing nerve pathways in special places, exploring what makes someone tick.” Her fingers move expertly over the delicate tool.

Obinai feels a cold sweat break out across his forehead, his pulse pounding in his ears. His eyes flick to Elias, but Elias doesn’t say a word.

Eris picks up a large, ornate hammer, its handle intricately carved. "Now, this one," she says with a gleam in her eye, "looks like a brute’s tool, but don’t be fooled. The weight and balance are designed to maximize pain without causing immediate unconsciousness.” She laughs. “It’s all about prolonging the experience, enhancing the fear.”

Obinai can barely hear her over the ringing in his ears, the blood rushing through him as his body fights against the shackles holding him in place.

Her final tool is a scalpel, its blade razor-sharp and glinting under the dim light. "Precision," she purrs, “is often underrated in our work. While tearing and breaking have their charms, the clean cut of a scalpel can elicit the most... exquisite expressions of pain." She runs a finger along the blade.

The air in the room thickens with every word she speaks, and Obinai’s vision starts to blur at the edges.

"No please...I can't take it," he thinks to himself.

His head spins, the weight of the room pressing down on him, suffocating him.

And then it happens.

His body shifts...

Elias stares as Obinai’s body morphs before his eyes. His skin on hands and forearms darkens to charcoal black, and his hair bleaches a shocking white, glowing faintly. The transformation leaves Elias stunned. “What the fuck,” he chuckles under his breath, disbelief thick in his voice. He leans back slightly, his expression one of confusion, mixed with a touch of awe. “That’s... new,” he mutters.

Obinai—or what’s now Beelzebub—snaps his eyes open, the irises a disturbing blend of pitch black and gold. His gaze turns toward Eris, whose once confident posture now falters . Beelzebub’s voice cuts through the tense air, low and filled with an irritable edge. “Cut the shit,” he says.

In one fluid motion, Beelzebub rips the enchanted chains off his wrists, the metal bending under the force with a loud crack. Eris stumbles back, her face shifting from smug confidence to palpable fear as she fumbles for control. She doesn’t hesitate for long, though. A quick shout escapes her lips. “Thalosirean!” Her voice rises in intensity as she chants, summoning a sharp blade of wind that slices through the air with deadly precision.

But Beelzebub doesn’t even flinch. He barely even moves. With a huff, he blows a single breath towards the oncoming wind blade. The force of his exhale sends the blade scattering, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

He looks down at his now freed hands, a look of disdain crossing his face. “Pathetic,” he mutters, almost to himself. He stands up, straightening his back as he glances over at Eris, who’s now visibly rattled. She steps back, searching the room desperately for another weapon, her eyes wide with panic. Beelzebub watches her movements with a bored expression. “Relax,” he says.

The door slams shut with a heavy, ominous thud. Eris freezes, her face flushing with panic, but she regains her composure quickly, her eyes darting about. Beelzebub shakes his head, a deep sigh escaping him. “If I’d known this was gonna happen,” he mutters, “I would've killed ya much sooner, dammit.” He glances at Eris, his expression sharp, his eyes narrowing with irritation. “I thought you were gonna be nice, be the one that Obinai fell for,” he says a touch of sarcasm in his voice. “Then, I was gonna kill you when the time was right.”

He clicks his teeth, the sound sharp in the still room. His gaze flicks over to Elias then back to Eris. “I could stay here and break his mind again, but that’s too easy,” Beelzebub muses aloud, his tone casual, almost bored. “He hasn’t even gone anywhere yet.”

His eyes lock onto Eris, who’s still trying to keep some semblance of control, but Beelzebub’s gaze is cold and dismissive. “You’re boring,” he declares flatly. With a lazy flick of his wrist, he waves her off, and in an instant, dark flames erupt around her, engulfing her in an intense, searing blaze.

Eris screams in agony, her body jerking violently as the flames scorch her skin. She stumbles, clawing at the air and trying to put the fire out, but it’s futile. Her cries fill the room, each one echoing in the stone chamber until, finally, they stop. The flames continue to rage, reducing her to nothing but ash.

Beelzebub watches, disinterested, his gaze flicking away. “What a waste,” he murmurs quietly. He looks back at Elias.

Elias finally speaks up, breaking the silence. “Yo, can you free me, man?” he calls out, hope flickering in his eyes.

Beelzebub strolls over to Elias, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. He crouches down in front of him, his eyes locking with Elias’s as he examines the chains holding him. “You seem like you’ll be fun,” Beelzebub says. He reaches toward the chains, then stops abruptly, sniffing the air.

Elias’s confusion deepens, but Beelzebub closes his eyes, inhaling deeply, his expression shifting to one of recognition. “Wrath,” he says, a smirk forming on his lips. He looks down at Elias, his gaze now filled with something like amusement. “How’ve you been, man?”

Elias looks at him confused...

Beelzebub stands up, stepping back and crossing his arms with a bemused look on his face. “It’s been a long time,” he says. “You probably haven’t done anything yet 'cause you’re waiting, so I’ll let you do your work,” he adds with a laugh.

Elias struggles against his bonds, his voice rising with frustration. “Get me out, damn it!” he demands, but Beelzebub is already making his way toward the door.

Beelzebub pauses, turns around with a grin that’s all teeth, and says, “Remember this face,” before slamming the door shut behind him. The sound echoes in the dungeon, leaving Elias alone.

As Beelzebub emerges from the staircase he mutters an incantation under his breath, "Kathra zenuviel darosh," and in an instant, his form shudders and dissipates into a dense, swirling black mist. The mist weaves through the shadows, a dark serpent slipping past the edges of the world. He folds into the air, silent, but unnerving, until he reappears just outside the kingdom, emerging from the shadow of a large, ancient tree standing sentinel at the outskirts.

For a moment, Beelzebub’s form is still, and then he begins to walk, his steps slow. But as he takes a few more strides, a sudden tremor runs through his legs, and they begin to shake violently beneath him. He staggers, his body buckling slightly, and a trickle of blood escapes from his nose. The crimson droplets stain the earth beneath him, and he looks down at them with detached amusement.

“This is the limit of his body,” he says with a soft chuckle. “I knew he was weak, but this? This is something else.” He wipes at his nose and laughs again. “Healing can only do so much. Stress... now that's something else,” he mutters bitterly.

The forest around him is eerily quiet, the only sound the occasional rustling of leaves in the light breeze. His laughter fades into the distance, and for a moment, Beelzebub is alone...

Just as his strength seems to abandon him, a shift in the air catches his heightened senses. A slight pause hangs in the air, and a small, knowing smile spreads across his face. “I hope this one’s better than the last,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper. His knees buckle, and he collapses onto the cool grass with a heavy exhale, his body pressed against the earth. The world spins for a brief moment before everything goes dark.

The silence that follows is thick, broken only by the soft rustling of the leaves. For a while, there’s nothing but the quiet rhythm of nature. Then, the faintest sound, deliberate footsteps approaching from behind him. The soft tread of shoes against the grass is cautious, hesitant, almost respectful.

The steps stop nearby, and a gentle, weathered voice breaks the silence.

“Well, let’s get this boy cleaned up...”