Elvira left the Arena to the cheers of the people. It was the first time in her long history of duels, that someone didn't surrender against her overwhelming power.
"Congratulations, my lady." A waiting maid bowed.
"On what? I was utterly overwhelmed at the end." Elvira commented as she began removing her crushed breast plate while grimacing.
"But you did win." The maid replied.
"Sera, you do know what my armor is made of yes?" Elvira questioned the maid.
"Of course, pure Mythril." The maid answered.
"One punch, and he crushed it. Look at that. Not once, has anyone even achieved scratching this armor. Yet he crushed it with brute strength alone. So I ask again, on what, do I need to be congratulated?" Elvira once again said as she left the Maid with her armor and disappeared through the tunnel.
*One week later*
Aisrin had been retrieved by the palace guards and moved to a secure location, beneath the palace itself. He was then chained inside a cell and left there. It wasn't a dungeon cell, rather a sort of Suite cell. Where he was attended while unconscious.
When he finally began to stir, he attempted to move, only to find himself restrained. This sent him into a panic and he began to flail about, trying to get free.
Being chained was a taboo for him. His thoughts immediately shifting to being on the slave ship. Unfortunately, whatever the chains were made of, refused to let him free.
"Are you quite done?" Elvira commented from a corner in the room, Aisrin barely could lift his head to look. He plopped his head back down and breathed.
"This is why I can't, fucking stand! You damn Royals. You do whatever you damn well please. Including, taking a person's basic fucking rights away." Aisrin spat hatefully.
"Oh, get over it. You lost, so I took liberty to make sure you didn't rum away. Don't like it? Get used to it. I might just leave you like this after we marry." Elvira stated as she left the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
Fear, a feeling he refused to feel, surfaced once again.
'What do I do? What can I do? Someone... help me!'
Tears flowed freely from his eyes.
(Something happened to you that involved being chained, huh? It's alright, I'll Summon Hephaestus.)
Soon Hephaestus appeared at the side of the bed and look down at Aisrin with pity.
"You really crying? Damn, it's just some chains kid." Hephaestus tried cheering Aisrin up.
"Its not just chains... If you'd ever been chained to a slab on a ship for months on end, constantly tormented with no hope of help... no hope at all. Only then would you understand the fear of being stripped of your freedom." Aisrins eyes had dulled, the feeling of hopelessness enveloping him once more.
"Damn, that's some deep trauma. Hmm, well I can pick these locks no problem. Let me get you out of here." Hephaestus set about picking the locks and freed Aisrin. Aisrin sat up and stared at his wrists. His mind played the trick of making him see his starved weakened body from his slave days and he startled back.
After blinking, the mirage was quickly dissipated. Aisrin looked for his clothes, but found that he was left naked without.
"Hah, I really didn't want to wear these." Aisrin reached into his storage pulled out the outfit he used to wear as a Hero traveling with his companions.
"Why?" Hephaestus questioned him.
"Its a reminder of my weakness. My inability to do anything. Also, I have no idea how they ended up in here. They were thrown away when I was captured. But, one day while I was practicing, I noticed that there was space used, and I found these. Neatly folded. Weird huh? Now these are my only clothes right now." Aisrin chuckled. He started with the black pants, and then the black shirt, happy they fit, yet saddened. He slid the black boots on, the belt and sheathed given by his instructor and finally the red and black coat, though it had a hood, he couldn't really call it a cloak.
Wearing it made him nostalgic. He donned the black fingerless gloves that he once recieved from James, and his look was complete.
"We, enough sad bullshit. Let's get the fuck out of here. First, Illusionary Reality." Aisrin cast another forbidden spell and a chained Aisrin lay in the bed he just escaped from, next he changed his appearance into a maid and Hephaestus into a guard.
"I hate using this." Aisrin stated as they exited the room.
"Why?" Hephaestus again questioned.
"It increases the level of my Assassin Job." Aisrin replied as they walked passed guards and maids alike, receiving and giving nods.
"Ah... Why did you choose maid?" Hephaestus stifled a laugh.
"Because once they find out I've escaped. They'll look for a male disguise." Aisrin answered easily. Hephaestus just nodded as he realized the genius. The two walked passed Elvira and bowed respectfully towards her. As soon as she was passed them Aisrin motioned to pick up the pace. A few minutes later, she sounded the alarm, Sin had escaped. By that time Aisrin and Hephaestus had entered the upstairs palace.
"If you wish to go back, then I'll see you later. There's someone I must speak to." Aisrin headed towards the kings throne room, Hephaestus following.
"I'm here now, I might as well make sure you don't get yourself killed." Hephaestus grunted. The Palace guards that normally guarded the throne room, were busy looking for Aisrin. Aisrin slammed the door open and approached the King who luckily sat upon tge throne.
"What is it? Have you found him?" The King looked up at the two.
"Of course. I'm right fucking here." Aisrin dispelled the illusion and stood firmly in front of the King. He bolted up in surprise.
"How did you?... No, I won't ask. You must have a reason to appear before me." The King sat down.
"Indeed. I lost the Duel, yet I was chained to a fucking bed, and I demand an answer as to why." Aisrin demanded.
"You demand me of an answer? It'd sime. I don't expect you to honor the Royal Decree to marry my daughter." Deramus answered.
"You know nothing of me. Perhaps I should let you know, who I am exactly." Aisrin held his arms out and looked at the king.
"Okay?" The King looked at him in confusion.
"My name is Aisrin. Former Hero. Look at my face a little closer." Aisrin confessed. The king sighed and looked. It took a moment, but soon his eyes narrowed and he leaned closer before standing up, eyes widened.
"By Askarah!" Deramus exclaimed.
"Still want me to marry your daughter? Let me tell you were I've been for six god forsaken years. After James was killed in a throne grabbing conspiracy, I was sold as a slave. I was chained to a slab on a damn ship for months!
All because of you damn fucked royal bastards! I laid on that slab, wasting away. Abused by the damn crew. I was given dirty water and moldy spoiled food as a meal, once a day if I was lucky. I've been pissed on, beaten, cut, and sometimes stabbed. All as entertainment.
If you think I'm joking..." Aisrin began to explain and then lifted his shirt and dispelled the illusion where his slave mark used to be. It was once completely gone, but a black scar in the perfect mimic of the crest was apparent on his chest.
"I'll never live it down. I'll never forget the hatred and suffering I experienced at the hands of you Royal bitches! You greedy self centered fucks. And then you chain me to a bed, nothing fucking changes. You still only self serve.
There was a girl who was chained under me. We used to talk often. A dim light in a vast darkness. Well, word got out that we were talking and being happy. So one time, I was unchained and brought down from the slab.
I was held as they mercilessly ravaged that girl in front of me. She was a beastkin, and she stared at me, the dispair in her eyes, haunts me. I couldn't do anything. Nothing. Instead of suffering that humiliation further, she chose to bite her tongue and end it there.
You sit on your throne and make royal decrees comfortably. When you don't know jack shit! You questioned my hate for Royalty, that's the reason. I hate Human Royalty. I loathe humans in general. You think yourself superior, when your just rotten to the core." Aisrin went into a rampage. A blue sword flashed to his throat and nicked his skin.
"Just say the word father, I'll end his insolence." Elvira glared at Aisrin hatefully. Aisrin looked at her with equal hate if not greater. The fire in his eyes seemed to burn through her, making her break out in a cold sweat. The torment, anguish, hatred. She staggered back slightly, never having seen darkness as deeply ingrained in a person as him.
"No. I... I had no idea. Lower your sword Elvira. Aisrin... Fargas has stood behind you, we always have. Your friend, Blackhawk, came forth with a compelling story. Of course, we had doubts in the beginning about you killing-"
"Save your fucking breath. I don't care. I only came to confirm to you why I won't marry your daughter. Especially after her shitty comment about leaving me there after marrying. I'm leaving this shit hole. Get fucked.... Oh, you want to know what that girl said to me before she bit her tongue off? 'I'm sorry.' As if she, had something to be sorry about." Aisrin turned and stormed out. Hephaestus just whistled and followed. As soon as Aisrin left, Deramus let out a long exhale and sat down hard.
"What was he talking about?" Elvira asked the King.
"A dark, unerasable stain on human history. Why would you go and tell him something so arrogant? Can't you cool your head before spouting your ignorant bullshit?" The King held his head.
"I apologize, I simply wanted to see his cocky attitude disappear into despair, just once. I had no idea he had suffered far worse." Elvira bowed her head, her face red from shame.
"Go after him. Keep him from leaving, I don't care how you do it. So long as you aren't arrogant. Don't fight him unless he attempts to step foot outside the gates!" Deramus sent his daughter after Aisrin.
"By Askarah, what did I just do to our hero?" The King shook his head shamefully.