Every guard in the room watched in pure amusement as Kas continuously pressed the seething torch onto Ether's skin. It was like an never-ending torment plaguing his body and mind.
No where was safe for the once powerful hybrid. Kas found himself giddy at the thought of letting the whole Legion witness the start of the Coros lineage's collapse.
But he wanted this moment to be personal. He pressed the burning tip on Ether's neck. Melting his skin. What once was a soft body meant for comforting, became a mangled mold of itself.
Ether howled in agony, hoping his prayer would be answered. No one listened. The Nine were busy witnessing another event happening at the same time.
"Pain! That's what you put so many through," Kas taunted. "How does it feel? Huh?!? Tell me! You. Don't. Listen. SPEAK!"
He stepped back. Torch still burning bright in his hand. A bitter taste of satisfaction went down Kas' throat. This was what he was waiting for.
After Dire's death, Digon's reclamation, the loss of the coastal parts of Imbushko, the crusades against the strongholds that divided this region from Yarno. From the ruins of their alliance with Encur.
Even down to every individual warrior killed. This was the fury that acted upon Kas. His close defeat, threatened family, and conflicts between the leaders. It was all going to be repaid in full.
"You were so mighty not too long ago. Sitting beside your pretty one and talking so much nonsense. How does it feel to endure everything you put everyone through?" Kas pushed again.
With an equal amount of anger and confusion, Ether forced himself to lock eyes with Kas. There, he saw what he thought only he had: a passionate rage.
Blood oozed out of his mouth as he struggled to speak. "Y - you put ME through this... ugh... you damned animal. I - I had to ki - kill your minions just to fight YOU!"
One of the guards handed Kas a whip, in exchange, he handed him his torch. The black leather dragged across the stone floor like a murderous snake. Waiting to lash out.
"Such a disrespectful little critter..." Kas growled.
A thought turned into an action. The whip came down like a lightning strike, destroying Ether's chest. Tears erupted out of his eyes as he felt the scorched skin get ignited by a lash.
Kas whipped him again. This time striking the side of his head. Agonizing pain was all he could feel. Never ending misery and regret for his actions.
From the opposite end of the room, someone clapped. It was Talis, laughing away as his long-time rival suffered. From afar, he savored the tears. Listening to Ether's cries like sweet, sweet music.
In the moment, all Ether could think about was his partner. He couldn't imagine how Pearl was feeling, nor withstand the thought of never seeing her and Orako again.
"Bravo, bravo! You know, I feel absolutely honored to be here today. How's it been, buddy?" Talis mocked.
Kas stopped. His hand rested by his side as he waited for Ether to respond. But there was no response. Prompting Talis to get aggressive.
"I said how's it been," Talis delivered a shattering blow to the side of Ether's head. "Buddy?"
Hearing his voice mocking him felt shameful. It rubbed the hidden Zegus side, giving him short surges of adrenaline and anger. Animosity as calm. Rage as sad. It was building him up.
"That whip seems... pretty durable... agh..." Ether struggled to speak. "Do me a favor and tie it around... y - your neck and pull... as hard as you c - can."
Talis chuckled. "You heard that? He want's me to tie that whip around his neck and pull as hard as I can!"
Without a second thought, Talis yanked the whip away from Kas' hand. Then used it to begin strangling Ether with it.
But it was too soon for his death. Kas wanted it to last. Causing him to strike Talis' forehead. Catching the attacker by surprise. As a follow up, Kas struck his cheek.
Lowering Talis enough for two more blows directed towards his ribs. Both landed successfully. Staggering him for a brief period of time.
"You idiot. The punishment and duration of said punishment is what divides a torturer from a sadist. Right now, you are dealing a severe punishment for a long duration. I am not," Kas scolded Talis.
Ether feebly looked over his shoulder. "Y - you heard the man... even at injuring m - me, you suck."
Kas grabbed a nearby metal rod. With it, he struck the back of Ether's head. Something cracked after impact. On the surface, Ether's head was barely okay.
But beneath that, shards of his skull dug themselves into his brain. Causing damages. Something he instantly noticed as portions of his body began to move on their own.
With each twitch, bits and pieces of his memory began to fade away. Leaving it for whoever else was there.
"I don't know why you believe you have the right to open your damned mouth. I wasn't talking to you," Kas barked. "You're just like that disgraceful Solice and his mother. Always a lot of talk."
Time flew by quicker than anyone expected. Thousands of whippings, intense scorching, even brutalized by a metal rod. Turning his body into a monster. One too hideous to view in the daylight.
All three moons loomed over Imbushko that night. Something Ether didn't know. By now, almost everyone had left. Except for Kas. He remained inside the room with him. Just to make sure he was alive.
Pure disgust with himself twisted Ether's stomach. Making him feel like a horrible partner. Isolation continued to tell him he wasn't loved anymore. It was all his fault.
The deaths of so many just because he wanted revenge. Only to feel regretful when his opportunity to do so arrived.
"Good day, was it not?" Kas' raspy voice joked. "Are you still alive, kid?"
In response, Ether grunted. Not wanting to make any drastic movements and disrupt his healing. Right now, his body tried its best to recover before anymore beatings were dealt.
Kas nodded. "An executioner and a torturer is what I am. I put a facade of a leader, hoping to hide away who I truly am."
"Listen, kid. Ether, right? I see a little of myself in you as you are now. Beaten and bruised, probably picturing billions of ways to end my life," Kas continued. "I was in your position once."
Ether listened closer. Curious for many reasons. Why was Kas opening up to him in this manner? Were his next words even trustworthy?
"My father's death in a war? Fake. He didn't die out there. No - no, he did in here. Inside this very Legion," Kas admitted. "Do you want to know why?"
Silence. There was no reason for Ether to speak. Especially after being beaten so badly. He could feel himself losing grip on who he was by the moment. His brain continued to bleed more and more.
"That son of a bitch beat me and my mama. Didn't have happiness, no form of it. It got so bad to the point my mama tried to escape. She succeeded, but when she came back for me. He..." Kas stopped.
Instead of continuing with that specific story, he repositioned himself on the crate he sat on. "Well, n - never mind that. You see, he one day chained me up and beat me harshly. Bones shattered like that."
Ether's eyelids slowly drifted apart. Allowing Ether to see his dimly lit body. A pool of sick blood decorated his almost-naked body. Pieces of his skin melted all around.
"When he unchained me, I was submissive. Afraid for my life. Unsure if I was ever going to be anything other than picked on. Until that very same night. I was restless," Kas paused.
He stood up from the crate, carefully walking closer to Ether. "I was as restless as you."
Mercy and sympathy acted on him to help the downed Zesher. He used one hand to gently shift Ether's head up to meet his.
"I picked up his own weapon, a large axe. With it, I snuck into his room. Like flowers moving in the wind, I brought it down on his neck. His head rolled off with ease, neck spitting blood everywhere."
"Yes," Kas continued. "Yes, he was my first kill. My own father. The one who helped make me was my first victim."
Ether was too beaten to feel shocked. If anything, he felt numb. Careless of who Kas was and why he did what he did.
"I feel bad for you. I really do. But the Coros lineage has been rough recently. I have a daughter, Ether. I long for her smile every waking hour. Seeing her die is not what I want," Kas confessed.
To this, Ether lowly growled. Feeling an anger he had never experienced before in his life. All of this just because he wanted to protect his daughter.
"My first kid, she was lost in Yarno. I still hold hope for her safe return, but it has been sometime since her departure. Alise calls me crazy for believing she is still alive, and I am."
Feeling weary and drained, Kas stood up. Slowly backing away from the punished Zesher. He swallowed his spit, trying his best to keep the front of a ruthless leader.
"W - well, rest up. Because tomorrow is your death date. E - enjoy your 'me-time.'"