Sky's eyes widened as the nervousness disappeared for a second. "What's that?" He asked with a puzzled look.
"HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW ABOUT THE LEGENDARY FORTRESS OF THE HERO'S!!!!" She yelled suddenly, leaning forwards towards Sky.
"I-I-I-I-I..." Sky stammered before trailing off. His head drooped down in unison with his shoulders sagging, "I'm sorry." He said quickly.
She leaned back and relaxed. The child continued laughing at Sky.
Sky smiled as he stared into his lap, being reminded of his mother. His eyelids slowly grew wider and wider as he realized she was not with him. "DID A WOMEN WITH LONG WHITE HAIR AND BROWN EYES COME WITH ME!?!?!" It was his turn to lean forwards and yell.
"SHE CAN'T MOVE HER LEGS… HAVE YOU SEEN HER?!?!" He continued yelling.
The lady was leaning back, clenching her child tightly as she listened. There was a strange ferocity in her eyes as she did so. When Sky had finished she stared at him for a few seconds before responding.
"There was no one that came with you..." She said.
"THEN-"
"BUT! We did have someone new in the infirmary, and she does match the description you gave." She said.
Sky relaxed as he took a deep breath and exhaled. His head slowly drifted upwards as he thanked no one in particular silently. The fatigue and pain suddenly returned to his body as his mind started to relax.
"I-I-I'm... sorry about that… she's my mother… we were going to a place called the 'Nightmare Woods' when we were suddenly attacked by a giant…" Sky continued, his head had drifted to the ground. He picked at the stone floors as he continued talking. "I don't really remember much but suddenly there was a flash of lightning and then I woke up here..."
"Welcome!" She said after a few moments of silence.
Sky kept his head down, unable to look her in the eyes. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"You've made it…" She said catching a glimpse of Sky's puzzled face. "Legend says that the Eleven Heroes who fought the giant siblings created a fortress, a stronghold where they would live, train and plan… this stronghold was a lively place that soon blossomed into a small town... until the Eleven Heroes passed away in battle."
"Then the giants and monsters attacked and with no one to protect them the people of the stronghold fled." She said, there was a sad smile on her face. "Soon the Giants and monsters inhabited the stronghold and a dense forest grew around it… the forest earned the name The Nightmare Woods and the fortress… Hero's Stronghold." She finished.
There was chuckling around the room as Sky froze. He slowly looked up at the women, his eyes glowing as he stared emptily at her.
"You've made it… My Name is Lucy Hajj… it's a pleasure to meet you." Lucy said with a gentle smile.
"Hajj… Are you Mr. Hajj's daughter!!" Sky shot up and pointed at her.
"In Riner right? Yes, that is my father." Lucy said. "And this..." She ruffled the child's hair, "Is Matthew, my son."
Sky immediately dropped down and touched his head to the floor in front of her. "I'm so sorry for stealing the bread! And other things!" Sky apologized as Lucy watched confusingly.
"I'm Sky… My mother and I were living on the streets of Riner until today when a man named Kronos appeared… again… telling us he'll take us to the Nightmare Woods." Sky explained.
Lucy smiled. "That explains a lot, well then Sky how much do you know about this world… and about yourself?" She asked as she leaned forwards.
"MAMA, story time!" The child exclaimed.
"I… don't know..." Sky said for the first time looking at the room he was in and rubbing his hands together.
The room was giant, and very spacious with a ceiling that was almost as tall as the giant from earlier. It was split up into different parts with barriers made of metal bars, doors of the same type, leading to each section and at the end of the room was a large staircase leading up. In total there were about fifteen sections created, and each one held a few people, a few of which had chains tying them to the wall. The floor was made of a dark stone and placed unevenly. The room was lit with strange torches made of glass, giving it a dark and solitary feeling.
"It's a prison..." Lucy finally said, "It's for those who didn't come when summoned and those who randomly showed up at their door."
Sky's head turned to her, not understanding who 'they' were.
"Now then, let's start our lesson, we'll begin with geography." She clapped her hands, the child mimicked.
"The country we live in is called Harbinger, it's ruled by the Royal family who live in the Capital of Riner. But we are only a small island that sits off the coast of the country of the giants, Grimwock. " She said, "But even Grimwock is a small place when compared to the rest of the world and its wonders."
"Now, as for why you're here-" She was stopped abruptly by a loud clanging outside of their cell.
"Lucy… We'll take it from here." Said a man.