Rian lay on the ground, his body battered and bruised, struggling to catch his breath. The pain pulsed through every fiber of his being, and he could feel the warmth of blood trickling down his face.
Slowly, Rian pushed himself up, using what little strength he had left. His will to live hadn't wavered, despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him. As he sat against the cold stone wall of his cell, he assessed his injuries. With great effort, Rian managed to stand, using the wall for support. His body trembled as he tried to steady himself. He took a deep breath and began to limp towards the small bucket in the corner of the cell. It was his only source of water and he knew he needed to replenish himself. With each step, he winced in pain.
Rian's vision blurred as he reached for the bucket. Rian leaned over and splashed the cool water onto his face. The sensation was refreshing and it gave him a moment of clarity. Rian's gaze shifted to the metal pipe lying nearby, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. It was going to be his makeshift weapon during the brutal confrontation that had left him battered and bruised. Despite his weakened state, he knew that he couldn't afford to leave it behind. Summoning every ounce of strength within him, Rian reached out and grasped the cold metal pipe. His hand trembled, both from exhaustion and pain, but he refused to let go. Using the wall for support, Rian slowly straightened his body. The pipe clutched tightly in his hand.
Rian scanned his surroundings, searching for a hidden spot to conceal the metal pipe. His cell was small and bare, with no obvious hiding places. However, he noticed a loose stone in the wall near the bucket. With careful determination, he pried the stone out, revealing a small cavity behind it. It was a perfect hiding spot for his makeshift weapon.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Rian carefully tucked the metal pipe into the hidden cavity. The pipe was heavy, and Rian had to use all his strength to make sure it was securely in place. He adjusted the loose stone back into place, ensuring it looked undisturbed from the outside. Satisfied with his concealment, he took a step back, leaning against the wall for support.
Rian quickly assessed his surroundings, searching for anything he could use to patch himself up.
However, there was nothing in sight that could serve the purpose.
With no other option left, Rian decided to use his shirt as a bandage. He quickly removed it from his body, tearing it into strips that he could use to wrap around his wounded arm. He made sure to be careful as he wrapped the cloth around his arm, trying to stop the bleeding as best he could. Despite the pain, Rian tightly tied the cloth strips around his arm, effectively using his shirt as a bandage. He knew that this would only be a temporary solution, but it would have to do for the time being.
With his makeshift bandage in place, Rian took a deep breath and pushed himself away from the wall. Gritting his teeth, Rian slowly made his way to his bed. His bed was nothing but a slab of concrete, but it was the only place where he could rest. Rian lowered himself onto the cold, hard surface, feeling the discomfort seep into his exhausted body. He lay there for a moment, allowing himself a brief moment from the pain that consumed him.
Despite his pain, Rian began to drift off to sleep. His body ached, every muscle crying out in protest, but the sweet release of slumber was too tempting to resist. Eventually, the pain began to fade, replaced by the gentle embrace of sleep.
However, his peaceful sleep was short-lived as he was awakened to being carried on someone's back. Rian blinked, his vision adjusting to the sudden change in surroundings. Confusion washed over him as he realized he was no longer in his cell. Rian found himself cradled against the knight who has been escorting him the whole time he was in the dungeon.
Rian mustered enough strength to speak, his voice hoarse and weak.
"Why... Why are you helping me?" Rian managed to croak, his parched throat making it difficult to form words.
The knight's deep voice rumbled with determination. "Even though it is my duty to keep you imprisoned, that doesn't mean I can stand by and watch you suffer"
Rian tried to respond, but the pain in his body overwhelmed him, and he drifted out of consciousness. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a soft surface, His head throbbed, and his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. With great effort, he managed to sit up, but the movement sent a jolt of pain through his body, and he winced.
As Rian looked around, he realizes he's somewhere in the kitchen due to the warm aroma of cooking food filled the air, and Rian's stomach growled in response.
"Oh, you're awake!, Sir Tristan! he's up!" Marx exclaimed.
Rian's scratchy voice trembled as he mustered the strength to speak. "Marx, who is Sir Tristan?"
Marx's eyes widened with surprise as he looked at Rian. "Sir Tristan is the name of the knight assigned to escort you."
Rian nodded weakly, his mind struggling to absorb the new information. "And where am I now?"
A kind smile graced Marx's face as he replied, "You're currently in a hidden room I discovered behind the kitchen. Sir Tristan brought you here after discovering you battered and bruised in your cell."
"That's right kid I didn't have a choice but to take you here since you had to come here for work. So no one could suspect anything," Sir Tristan spoke.
"Sir Tristan, Why did you go against his duty and help me. Why would he risk everything for me? I'm just a prisoner." Rian asked
Sir Tristan's expression hardened as he looked at Rian. "You may be a prisoner, but that doesn't mean you deserve to suffer."
Marx and Tristan look at each other and back at Rian.
"Rian, tell us how you got this hurt" Marx asks.
Rian took a deep breath, wincing as pain shot through his body. He recounted the events that had led to his battered state, describing the brutal confrontation he had faced in his cell. He explained how he had fought back against two knights.
"Those knights... they went too far," Sir Tristan muttered under his breath, clenching his fists.
Rian nodded, his voice filled with determination. "I won't let them get away with it. I'll make them pay for what they did to me."
Marx and Sir Tristan exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with concern. Marx spoke up, his voice gentle. "Rian, I understand your anger, but right now, your priority should be to recover. Seeking revenge won't help you in your current state."
Sir Tristan stepped forward, placing a hand on Rian's shoulder. "I understand how you feel, Rian. But revenge will only lead to more pain. Now what I need you to do is rest you still have a few hours to spare before your next job."
With a nod, Rian settled back into the soft surface, feeling a sense of security he hadn't experienced in a long time. Marx and Tristan stepped out of the room leaving Rian alone.
Rian is greeted with his quest from before
[Main Quest
Objective: Defeat/Take revenge on the two knights
Status: Failed!
Reward: 1 Skill]
Rian stared at the quest notification and sighed.
"I know I failed alright" Rian said waving his hand making the quest disappear.
As Rian lay there, his mind filled with a mix of emotions. He felt grateful for the unexpected help he had received, yet frustration lingered within him for failing to complete his quest. Despite the pain coursing through his body, he knew that seeking revenge in his current state would be unwise.
With that realization, Rian closed his eyes and focused on the present moment. He allowed himself to rest, knowing that he was in a safe place for now.