The musty, rank smell filled Eodum's nose. The smell would have normally been quite unpleasant for anyone, but Eodum grew up in the sewers which was much worse. What was slightly more alarming was the sound of footsteps nearing Eodum, and the feeling of constraints on Eodum. Eodum's eyelids slowly rose to show Eodum the surrounding area.
There was metal and glass surrounding Eodum. A thick mesh of metal covered a small hole in the cage Eodum was in. The cage was a metal ball suspended in the air with one heavily covered hole to allow sound to pass through. A window with metal poles and another mesh revealed the outside. It was a dull stone room with a heavy metal door and a few torches.
The warm, soft light barely covered the room. As Eodum continued to look around, and it noticed its own constraints: there were 5 metal poles connecting to an Eodum shaped frame, suspending it in the air. Chains and shackles restrained Eodum's limbs, neck, and tail. Eodum continued the search of the room, but found its attention instead being drawn to the ever loudening sound of footsteps.
They slowly reached the door and stopped. A few clicks and gear turning sounds came from the door, and it swung open. What was revealed was a tough and scared lizardman with graying hair and two heavily armed guards. The trio walked through the door and shut it behind them. The lizardman knocked on the door twice and the clicks and gear turning sound repeated, indicating the locking of the door.
The lizardman pulled out a chair out of Eodum's line of sight and placed it in view of Eodum. The lizardman sat down, pulled out a cigarette, and made a small fire over his fingertip. He lifted his cigarette to the flame, and pulled it from the fire to reveal it being lit. He closed his hand into a fist, putting the fire out, and placed the cigarette into his mouth. He inhaled deeply, took out the cigarette, and puffed out a large plume of smoke.
He focused his vision onto Eodum, and began to speak, "Let's get this over with." He pulled out a folder and opened it. His eyes scanned through the files, and he closed it. His face turned back up to Eodum, and asked, "Alright, let's get to the point, what are you here for?"
"What?" Eodum asked back, confused.
The lizardman took another inhale of cigarette and puffed it out. He then replied, "What are you here for? What's your purpose for coming to Nomed?"
"… Safety." Eodum replied calmly.
"You? Safety?" The lizardman said, visibly confused, "You killed a Royal of Kraude with ease. Like hell you need safety. What the hell are you here for?"
"Wanted by two kingdoms." Eodum replied.
The lizardman didn't reply, instead his gaze wandered to below Eodum and began thinking. He faced Eodum once more and asked, "Do you mean Seelf and Sedah?"
"Yep." Eodum answered.
The lizardman looked down again and mulled over his thoughts. He continued smoking and then said, "In that case, it's understandable. The two hold quite the military might, and would definitely be after a being like you." The lizardman began smoking once more and became thoughtful. Was Eodum a threat?
First off, it was obviously a threat, but that went for any powerful being. Strong adventurers were on the empire's side, but could still be considered a threat. The question was whether Eodum harbored any ill-will towards the empire. The way it's been living would be considered peaceful: it just lived as an adventurer and lived a normal life. However, they couldn't be sure that Eodum wouldn't turn on the empire.
Anything near Eodum felt unpleasant and on-guard. The very presence of Eodum lit their instincts of fight or flight on fire. It wasn't wrong to say that anything would dislike Eodum on an instinctual level. Henry and Sheila were pretty much immune to this as they had grown quite close to Eodum. In addition, they had been in the void, so they formed a slight bond with the void. Though this also made other creatures wary of them.
The lizardman continued to sit there, and finally asked, "What do you plan to do now?"
Eodum stayed silent for a while, processing its own thoughts. Eventually it answered with its own question, "What do you plan to do to me?"
"That's entirely based on your answer." The lizard man said, taking a huff of his cigarette.
Eodum thought about this once more before saying, "As long as you don't attack me, we won't have any quarrels."
"Then that's that," the lizardman replied with a smile on his face, "Hell, you can stay all you want in the empire, I don't fucking care."
Eodum's lips curved into a smile-like expression, and it began to shape shift. Its body turned liquid like as it weaved through the grates that allowed sound to come through. The two guards that stood next to the door pulled out their spears, clearly alarmed. The lizardman put his hand up and made a wide smile, "No, no it's fine. Eodum here is a free rat once again. Get the doors open." The two guards hesitantly put their spears down and knocked on the door once.
Clicks and churning sounds came from the door as it swung inwards. The man stood up and walked with Eodum out of the door. There was a group of guards that scrambled as Eodum strutted out of the door. They went to get their weapons, but were stopped by the lizardman. The two strolled through the dungeon, walking like they owned the building. Eodum asked, "Where's Henry and Sheila?"
"Let me take you to them." The lizardman said and guided Eodum down a couple of passages. They wound up two cells, one with Sheila and the other with Henry. The three exchanged greetings and Eodum informed Sheila and Henry of their situation. The man pulled out some keys and freed Sheila and Henry.
The four walked through the halls and passages of the dungeon, went up a flight of stairs, and emerged from a large pair of heavy doors. Eodum, Henry, and Sheila inhaled a deep breath of fresh air, while the lizardman inhaled a deep breath of smoke. Freedom was great.