Some time earlier, on the plain field at the Final Floor's center.
'I remembered something rather unpleasant. About my past. It was... Well... I doubt it would interest-'
"Do tell." A being made of Flames interrupted.
'It's complicated. A bundle of hazy memories I can barely put together.'
"Then put them together."
The white-scaled Monster by its side thought for a bit.
'I remember being stuck in a room. A room filled with machinery...'
The Fire Spirit remained silent, and listened with great interest.
'White walls, white sheets. As if I was... Stuck on a bed?'
"You mean you were a prisoner of sorts?"
'No... No. It wasn't anything like that. But it did feel like a prison. Well, not like a prison per se...'
"What then?"
'Like a birdcage.'
The Fire Spirit wanted to explode with laughter but controlled himself. Getting his witty sneering out was too important for laughter to get in the way.
