After the "disagreement" with princess Runa we were both placed on house arrest for the next week. Being stuck inside the castle felt like torture. I wasn't even allowed to go to the garden. Sir Lucian was called to a village near the capital for a mission, apparently there have been a string of bandits . The king sent groups of knights throughout the kingdom to attempt to apprehend them.
With nothing better to do I decided to explore the castle and try to gather more information. I overheard some of the maids talking about a secret passage that runs throughout the castle. So my goal today is to find it. But without any leads it's going to prove difficult.
So for several minutes I just walked aimlessly around the castle, studying everything.
While coming upon the queens room I noticed a peculiar painting that looked familiar. As if I had seen it in a dream, the colors were dark and the painting itself was very abstract. It looked like it didn't belong. Looking at the painting I feel into a daze for a split second before I tried touching it.
I could tell right away that there was something off about it so I went to pull it off the wall and as I pulled I heard a soft rumbling sound inside the wall. The painting moved and before me stood a long dark hall.
Bingo! I thought to myself. All I need to do now is go inside. For some reason I could feel a light draft coming from within, and that piqued my interest more. So without much thought I went inside and immediately the wall closed behind me, stranding me in the complete darkness.
After walking aimlessly in the dark for a few minutes my eyes began to adjust yet I still couldn't properly see my surroundings. I then noticed a subtle light peeking out in the distance and began walking faster in that direction. The closer I got the more I noticed, I could hear faint whispers, and I smelt a pungent scent that I hadn't yet smelled in my life. The scent burned in my nose yet I had to continue on. The light got brighter and the whispers became casual conversation.
"Okay we got it secured, let's go report to the king." A man said.
After making sure they had gone, I took over their positions and too my disgust I seen a creature all beaten and bloodied before me pinned up inside of a cage. It's sad groans and pleas pained my ears. It looked like the creature I seen that day I met Lucian in the woods. But why was it here? I began to investigate this new location, mainly looking for a way out in case I have to escape. I went the direction those guards went and found myself behind a wall perpendicular to the kings office. I assume that I was standing behind a painting.
With an escape route secured I decided to explore a bit more. There were several of those creatures chained up, yet they all looked different if only slightly. While walking around I stumbled upon a large white room filled with all sorts of equipment I had never seen before. Inside the room was a woman who looked to be in her early thirties. Next to her was a young woman who looked to be a child. The child looked like she had been destroyed inside and out, there was no hope or distress in her eyes. She looked almost numb to everything. There was no life in her eyes.
I guess I started too long because the girl looked in my direction. We made eye contact for what felt like an eternity, I just couldn't look away.