"Perfect." A tall man in a doctors coat says with a grin while pouring a clear liquid into a complex systems of glass tubes. They weave and intertwine like a modern-day highway.
He stands in a medieval looking room. The walls are lined with bookshelves and desks, it's anything but organized. Books and empty bottles are scattered on the desks and in the middle of the room stands the man, he towers over a large table that holds an intricate system of tubes.
As the man stands still, seemingly appreciating his work of art on the table, a woman walks in, she is wearing light blue scrubs. Her hands are clasped in front of her, her face is devoid of emotion.
"King Alain, we have the next batch of criminals ready. Would you like to start the process?" The woman asks while bowing slightly.
"Yes." King Alain says and waves his hand in agreement.
The woman nods and walks out the room into a long dark hallway. There, she walks for a few dozen seconds until she turns and enters a hallway filled with prison cells.
The people in the cells are malnourished, their clothes are tattered and the place absolutely reeks.
The woman pinches her nose and continues walking down the hall.
As she walks past the cells the prisoners don't look at her or speak. They stay still, staring at the walls and each other. Their will to survive -- gone.
However, as she reaches the final cell in the hall, the people look up to her like a God. With hope glimmering in their eyes.
The woman gives no response to their eyes. As they see her expressionless face, the hope in their faces fades.
The woman lets go of her nose which leads to an emotion being expressed, one of pure disgust.
"You animals are wretched."
The prisoners previously submissive behavior changed.
They all mumble amongst each other until one man stands up among the sitting crowd.
"What did you say?" His face is contorted with anger. A vein can be seen pulsing on the front of his forehead.
A wicked smile flashes on the woman's face for a small moment.
The man see's her smile despite her efforts to hide it and he stumbles back from fear. He trips on a woman behind him and falls.
"Get up." The woman commands him.
The man embarrassingly picks himself up. He's beat red but his pride doesn't allow him to obey the woman's command.
"Make me." The man says with a shaky voice.
The woman sighs then grins.
Nothing happens expect a stare down between the two of them.
Until, a sizzling sound could be heard and the man begins screaming in pain.
He stumbles to the ground, clenching his left arm and, falling on those who were not smart enough to move out of the way.
"Get up." The woman says with an empty voice.
The man keeps screaming, filling the silent hallway with the echoes of suffering.
"Filth." The woman mumbles to herself as she walks into the cell, violently grabbing the man by his hair and dragging him out of the cell.
She drops him outside the cell and closes the door.
The screams don't stop.
The woman's eyebrows furrow as she looks down at the agonized man.
She bends down to his level and looks him in the eyes. For a moment, he stops screeching.
"Shhh," she shushes him and puts her finger up to his lips.
Her fingertip glow with an orange hue and as her finger touches his lips a searing sound can be heard.
The man's screams begin again, more desperate than before.
The woman gently traces his lips, searing them shut. The screams stop and a waterfall of tears roll down the mans face as he tries to scream, to no avail.
The woman drags him back to King Alain's room, where he is sitting in a chair, reading a book.
"I sensed a noble level spirit within him. He will contribute greatly to the pool." The woman says.
"Splendid, well done Vi." King Alain says with a smile.
"My pleasure." Vi bows and walks out of the room, leaving the crying man and the King alone.
The King doesn't speak to the man immediately, instead, he takes a few moments to read a little more. Then, he shuts his book closed.
As he inspects the broken man sitting in front of him, he comes to a realization.
"Oh my! I have a celebrity in my company! You areeee...the one responsible for that grand robbery? I remember you. You were troublesome for the previous king. I'm glad I can put you to good use." The king says in a grandiose voice with a unscrupulous smile.
The fear in the man's eyes is obvious.
The king claps his hands, "Well then! Shall we get to work?" he says in an enthusiastic voice.
Down the hall, Vi is sitting in an adjacent room, in a meditating stance on the floor.
She hears a loud scream echo from the king's room, and instinctually opens her eyes.
"Can he not shut him up any faster..." She thinks to herself.