Leni lay bound on the cold, wooden floor of a cramped cell inside the ship. She tried to calm herself, though the situation seemed hopeless. She needed to act carefully, and for that, she required a clear mind—something she sorely lacked at the moment. The pain from the tight ropes digging deep into every inch of her body was almost unbearable, but she knew she had to endure. She had no choice.
"I must focus... I can't panic," she thought, fighting back the growing fear. "The pain is temporary; I just need to push through. But there's something that worries me—can I even use magic in this state? The blood flow is restricted because of these tight ropes... But I can't dwell on that now. I need to act! The village is about ten kilometers from here. It might take them three, or with some luck, even seven hours to find it. I doubt they'll locate it immediately. Okay, I have to try. First, wind magic—it's my specialty. I'll see if I can even manage it... No! I *must* manage it! If I succeed, I'll move on to fire magic and burn these cursed ropes."
Leni forced herself to stay composed. Ignoring the pain, she concentrated on the flow of energy within her. She attempted to channel it from her core to her hands to use magic. But in such an awkward position, it was nearly impossible. Even her wind magic, in which she excelled, seemed unresponsive to her efforts.
"This is bad... Really bad..." she thought, feeling herself begin to lose control. But she knew she couldn't give in now. If she gave up, everything would be lost.
Once more, she tried to focus. Again, she attempted to summon her magic, but it was futile. Minutes passed as she struggled against her own body and mind, but after twenty minutes, she hadn't managed even the faintest gust of wind.
"It's no use..." she thought, letting her head fall to the cold floor in exhaustion. Her body ached, and her tightly bound hands and feet, tied behind her back, felt completely numb. The lack of sensation in her limbs made the attempt to use magic even harder.
"Is this really the end? Is there truly nothing I can do?" she wondered, allowing herself a brief moment of doubt. But she wasn't the type to give up easily. She hesitated for only a moment before forcing herself into action once more.
"Come on! Just a little! If I can't use wind magic, my strongest skill, then how am I supposed to do anything with fire?!" she scolded herself internally.
Her concentration was suddenly broken by unexpected sounds. She heard footsteps above her, on the ship's deck. Her heart pounded harder, and a cold shiver ran through her body.
"It's probably one of the bandits on watch…" she tried to reassure herself, though deep down, it didn't help at all.
The footsteps grew louder, as if someone was descending the stairs toward her. Sweat dripped down her face as she realized someone was approaching the room where she was being held.
In the dim light of the cell, she could make out a vague silhouette. A man—tall and slender. That was all she could discern through the dense darkness that surrounded her.
The man lit a candle he held in his hand, casting a faint glow around the room and revealing his face. He was young, perhaps in his mid-twenties, with crimson-red hair that fell across his forehead in slightly messy strands. His facial features were gentle, almost friendly, starkly contrasting with the harshness of the setting. He wore a simple green shirt made of thick fabric, covered by a leather chest plate. Black trousers and sturdy leather boots completed his outfit, which resembled that of a mercenary more than a guard.
"So, you're the girl they captured?" he asked in a calm, almost gentle voice, which seemed completely out of place given his role. His tone caught Leni off guard; until now, she had expected nothing but brutality from the people in this place.
He placed the candle on a wooden table and sat down with a heavy sigh. A look of sorrow appeared on his face as he glanced at Leni, bound in the cell.
" Of all things, they just *had* to come up with the idea of gathering slaves... Idiots..." he muttered softly, as though speaking more to himself than to her. There was a hint of genuine regret in his eyes.
Leni didn't know what to say. She was in shock, her thoughts a tangled mess. Fear, exhaustion, and confusion robbed her of the ability to think clearly.
" I know it's not much, but I can talk with you for a moment *he said after a pause. " Nod if you want me to take that rag out of your mouth."
Hearing his offer, Leni immediately started nodding vigorously. The cloth stuffed into her mouth wasn't just pressing against her lips; it also irritated her throat, triggering near-constant vomit reflexes. Even a brief moment of relief was priceless to her now.
The man stood and took a key from his belt. He approached the cell and unlocked it carefully, as if trying to avoid making too much noise. He crouched beside Leni, who lay on the cold floor, her face contorted in pain. Gently, he began untying the rag that had been tightly secured around her head.
His gaze lingered on her body—bruised, covered in abrasions, and marked with wounds from the ropes that had been tied far too tightly.
"Did they really need to tie up one woman so tightly..."he muttered under his breath, irritated but with a touch of sympathy in his voice.
When he finally freed her mouth, the rag practically fell out on its own. Leni struggled to spit out the remaining bits, which seemed endless. As she looked at the damp pile of cloth on the floor, a wave of horror washed over her. She couldn't believe they had crammed that much into her mouth.
Finally, when she was free of it, she began gasping for air. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and tears streamed down her face. Her throat still burned, and each breath reminded her of the discomfort. But for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she could breathe freely.
The man slowly stood and stepped out of the cell, closing the bars behind him with a soft clink. He sat back at the table without saying another word. His posture was tense, as though something weighed heavily on his mind.
Leni, still breathing heavily, lifted her head and looked at him. Her gaze was cold, filled with fury, despite the relief he had just given her. In her eyes, there was hatred—she couldn't forget that this man was still part of the system that had brought her here.
" Why are you doing this?!" Leni screamed, her voice trembling with both despair and anger. Her words echoed through the dark, cold room. Tears glistened in her eyes, but there was a wild determination in her stare, as if she were fighting the entire world.
The guard standing before her looked at her, his face a mixture of exhaustion and resignation. After a moment of silence, he replied quietly:
"This wasn't how it was supposed to go…
"I don't give a shit about how it was supposed to go! Leave us alone!" Leni shouted at the top of her lungs. Her voice shook, but it carried strength and desperation. She thrashed violently, pulling against her bonds, which only intensified her pain. The ropes dug into her skin, tearing it further. Thin streams of blood trickled down her arms, but Leni didn't even notice. Her gaze remained fixed on the guard, blazing with pure hatred.
The man sighed heavily, as if her words were a burden too great for him to bear. He looked at Leni, and though his voice was calm, it carried a deep sorrow.
" You're right... I'm sorry. If only I could have done something to prevent this tragedy...
Hearing this, Leni's anger subsided, replaced by something else. She looked at the guard with a pleading expression. Her voice, now soft and full of despair, broke through the tension.
"Then untie me, please. I'll do anything you want... I beg you, help me. My family is in danger... My village... Please, help me...
The man bit his lip as if trying to summon the courage to act, but after a moment, he shook his head. His words hit her like a blow.
- I can't.
Those two words pierced Leni's heart like an arrow. She felt something inside her shatter, as if her entire world was falling apart. She whispered in a trembling voice:
" Why...? You just said... You said you'd want to stop this tragedy. So why...? "
The man lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. His voice was soft, almost inaudible.
— I'm sorry... I really can't.
Leni's heart ached again, as though a vice was tightening around her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts.
" Then... then at least loosen the ropes a bit. I'm about to lose my mind because of them... Please. I won't ask for anything else, just this. These ropes... they're driving me insane. I don't know if I can endure it much longer. Please..."
The man looked at her with pain in his eyes, but his answer was the same.
— I'm sorry... I... I can't. I'm truly sorry.
Leni felt something inside her finally break.
" You can't? YOU CAN'T?! Do you even know what it's like to lose everything all at once?! To have your situation change in an instant, turning hopeless?! Do you? DO YOU?! What could you possibly know, huh?! I wasn't bothering anyone! I was living a normal life with my family! And now what?! What did I do to deserve this? WHAT DID I DO?!"
Her voice quivered with rage and pain. Her words were like daggers, stabbing into the man.
" What could a person like you possibly understand? HUH?! You captured me, tied me up like some piece of luggage, and now you're taking me somewhere far away so I can be a slave, forced to obey the demands of some pervert for the rest of my life! You're the worst! Monsters! FUCKING BASTARDS!"
Her screams filled the room. Despite the man showing her some compassion, it was him she directed all her hatred toward. Her body trembled, blood dripped from her clenched teeth, and her eyes burned with pure, unrestrained contempt.
"I was once a slave," the man said coldly, his voice echoing through the cell.
Leni's face went pale instantly. The words hit her like a blow. She stared at the man, unable to utter a single word.
"I lived a normal life. Probably much like yours," he began, speaking in a calm yet icy tone. "I had a loving family. I loved my hometown. I even had a girlfriend. Everything seemed perfect until... until a battalion from some low-ranking noble in the Quri kingdom attacked us."
The man fell silent for a moment, as though the memories caused him inner pain, but then he continued:
"My town, nestled in the peaceful yet strong country of Rekon, was too close to the Quri border. Too close. It was only a matter of time before they attacked us. The town was looted. Children and men were slaughtered, while women and soldiers defending the town were taken captive. The noble wanted to humiliate us, to break us. I... I was one of those soldiers."
His eyes seemed to dim as he spoke further:
"I spent ten years as a slave. I performed grueling labor in the mines under that noble's control. Everything fell apart... My mother died trying to protect the children. Everyone died. My love... She, too, was taken into captivity. I still don't know where she is or if she's even alive."
Leni felt something tighten around her heart. The man continued, though his tone grew quieter, almost a whisper.
"I wonder what my father would think if he saw that I couldn't even save my family… But one day, everything changed. I was rescued. A band of mercenaries, hired by another noble who'd had a long-standing feud with my captor, attacked the mines. I was one of the few who survived. They saved me."
He paused briefly before adding with a visible weight in his voice:
"Those people took me in. They treated me like an ordinary human. I owe them a debt I can never repay. In exchange for the life they gave me, I help them with their assignments. It's not much. In fact, I'd say I do it more for my own conscience than out of obligation. For those who pulled me out of a nightmare that lasted far too long."
The man looked at Leni, and for a moment, his gaze softened.
"You need to understand something," he said firmly. "Never, ever forget what someone has done for you. The fact that this group is a bunch of unfulfilled thugs doesn't change anything for me. They saved my life. Debts must always be repaid."
Leni listened in silence, surprised but also understanding. The man, though hardened and cold, carried a burden similar to her own. His past was dark, yet he had found a way forward. But his story didn't change her current situation. She was still bound, imprisoned, and at the mercy of fate.
The man stood up, picked up the candle that illuminated the cell, and walked toward the stairs leading to the upper deck of the ship.
"For what it's worth… I'll leave your mouth untied," he said, pausing at the doorway. His voice was less cold now, almost kind. "You've suffered enough. I hope things work out for you..."
And with those words, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Leni alone.
As the man ascended the stairs, Leni was once again left alone. Silence filled the room, broken only by the distant creaking of the ship's wooden planks.
"My situation hasn't changed at all," Leni thought bitterly. "I'm still in the same hopeless position as before..."
Defeated, she began to tap her head against the cold floor. It was a pure expression of helplessness, of frustration that grew with each passing moment. She had no idea what to do. Then, her gaze fell on the damp cloth lying nearby—the same one that had been used to gag her moments earlier.
"Wait..." she thought, a spark of realization dawning on her. "Could it be... yes, this might actually be easier now! It could work!"
A glimmer of hope lit up in her eyes.
"If I can breathe freely through my mouth, and my throat isn't obstructed anymore, maybe I can finally focus better on my blood flow! The magic has to work!"
She clenched her teeth and concentrated as hard as she could. She tried to feel the energy flowing through her body, to summon even the faintest gust of air. A minute passed, then two... nothing. Not a trace of magic.
"Come on…" she whispered to herself, trying again.
Silence. No response. Her body refused to cooperate, and the energy seemed trapped deep within her.
"I need to calm down," she thought, squeezing her eyes shut.
She took a few deep breaths, ignoring the pain radiating from her arms and legs. She focused again, this time more deliberately, carefully guiding the energy through her body. And then she felt it—a faint, almost imperceptible gust of wind emanating from her bound legs.
"I did it…" she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... did it..."
She nearly broke down with joy but knew there was no time for emotion.
"Now I have to act! If I can use air magic, I need to learn fire! It's the only way to burn through these damned ropes!"
Without hesitation, she began the process again, trying to conjure even the smallest spark. She tried once, then twice, then three times. Minutes turned into hours, and still, there was no result.
"Come on! Please!" she begged herself, her determination growing stronger.
***
Three hours passed. Time stretched endlessly for Leni. Her body was exhausted, her muscles burned with pain, and her face rested limply against the cold, damp floor. She no longer had the strength to lift her head, and every movement reminded her of how trapped she was.
She had no energy left for more attempts. For hours, she had tried to summon fire magic, but to no avail. Each failed effort chipped away at her hope until there was nothing left but emptiness. The position she was in wasn't just painful—it was torture. Her limbs were numb from the tight restraints, and the coarse rope dug deep into her skin, leaving bloody marks.
"I can't give up…" she thought, though her inner voice was faint. "I have to... keep... trying…"
Her heart beat faster as images of her family filled her mind. Their smiles, their laughter, the moments they shared together. It gave her strength.
"I can't let them be killed! I refuse to be a slave!" she thought with a determination that slowly began to overshadow the pain.
With immense effort, she lifted her head. Her vision, though blurred, glimmered with a spark of hope.
"Please, it has to work..." she whispered to herself, as if her words could give her the courage she needed.
Leni closed her eyes and once again focused on the energy flowing through her body. She took a deep breath, ignoring the pain screaming from every part of her being. Her mind struggled to detach from the agony, concentrating solely on one thing—magic.
Slowly, she guided the energy from the core of her body, down through her arms, carefully heating it as it moved. She felt the warmth begin to pulse through her veins and finally gather in her hands.
"It's now or never," she thought, pushing the energy harder.
In that moment, something changed. Suddenly, faint sparks burst from her hands. For a fleeting moment, they lingered in the air before beginning to ignite the ropes.
"Yes! I did it! I can use fire magic!" she thought, tears of relief threatening to spill. But her body was too drained to express joy fully.
Her happiness, however, quickly turned to terror. The ropes didn't burn away as quickly as she had hoped. They were thick, sturdy, as if designed for the harshest conditions. The fire that was supposed to free her began to spread to her skin.
The pain that followed was indescribable.
"WHAT IS THIS PAIN?! CAN A PERSON EVEN FEEL PAIN LIKE THAT?! PLEASE! PLEASE JUST MAKE IT STOP!!! " her thoughts screamed, though she couldn't utter a single sound.
She had to suppress her screams. If the guard heard her, everything would be lost. She clenched her teeth so hard she could feel her jaw throbbing. Her body writhed in agony, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I have to endure this... I have to..."
The fire seared her body for over five minutes. It was the worst five minutes of her life. She felt as if her flesh was melting, and massive blisters were forming on her scorched skin.
Amidst the chaos of pain and fire, she suddenly felt the ropes loosening. The flames had finally gnawed through enough of the bindings for her to break free.
"Just a little more... just a bit further..." she thought, mustering the last of her strength.
She pulled her arms with all her might, and at last, the ropes snapped. Without wasting a second, she tore away the burning remnants, which had begun to scorch her clothes and skin. Her hands, though free, were covered in severe burns.
With great difficulty, she crawled as far away as she could from the flaming ropes, gasping for air. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and every breath felt like a battle for survival.
"I'm free... I did it... Damn ropes..." Leni whispered, her voice quivering, each word a struggle to speak.
Summoning her last reserves of energy, she stretched out her arms and legs, only to feel pain radiate throughout her entire body. Every muscle screamed, every wound throbbed. The darkness of the room couldn't conceal the state she was in.
She glanced down at her mangled body, and the sight nearly paralyzed her.
Her skin was covered in deep wounds and blisters, left by the tight ropes and relentless fire. Her clothing was half-burned, exposing patches of raw, scorched flesh. Blood trickled down her skin in thin streams, mingling with ash and dirt.
Looking at herself, a wave of nausea overtook her. She vomited, her weakened body shaking even more violently. She felt her remaining strength slipping away, sleep slowly but inexorably pulling her under.
"No... I can't fall asleep now…" she whispered desperately. "If I sleep, I'll die... I have to... I have to use water magic... even just a little..."
She tried to concentrate, though her thoughts were scattered by pain and exhaustion. "I'll start with my legs—if I heal them, maybe I can make it back to the village... I have to warn them."
With trembling hands, she raised her palms toward her legs. She glanced at her body one more time, and tears streamed down her cheeks. That's when she heard footsteps on the stairs.
"No... Why now?" she whispered, her voice breaking with despair.
It was the guard—the same one who had visited her earlier. Leni felt her heart race. Fear froze her mind, but she knew one thing: she couldn't let them catch her again. She'd rather die than return to that state.
"I have to act!" she thought, summoning the last fragments of her will.
She raised her hands and used earth magic to hurl a massive rock at the ceiling. The crash was deafening, and debris rained down, creating a hole leading outside.
Leni tried to stand, but her legs refused to cooperate. The pain was too intense, and her exhaustion had drained her entirely. She had no choice. Focusing on wind magic, she used her arms instead of her legs to generate a gust strong enough to propel her upward through the opening.
The burst was too powerful and uncontrollable. She shot out with immense speed, only to crash down moments later, slamming into the ground and breaking her left arm.
"AGGGH!" she screamed as pain seared through her body like a molten blade.
Despite everything, she forced herself to move quickly. She wanted to get up, but her legs still wouldn't respond.
"Come on! Move! I'm not letting myself get caught again!" she screamed in panic, desperately trying to force her body to obey.
That's when she saw him. The guard had already made it back upstairs and was now standing in front of her, staring with a mix of astonishment and anger.
"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON'T WANT THIS!" Leni screamed, scrambling backward on the floor, as if distance could somehow save her.
"I don't know how you managed to escape. I'm impressed," the man said, slowly advancing toward her. "But like I told you before, I have a debt to repay. Don't worry, I'll take care of your injuries."
He stepped closer, reaching out to subdue her. Leni's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.
"Is this really how it ends?" she thought, when suddenly, she realized something crucial.
"Demons don't use magic. They don't know I can! This is my chance!"
As the man approached, nearly touching her, Leni extended her hand and shot a shard of rock directly at his head. It struck true. The guard collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"I did it... I won..." she whispered, her voice faint, her body almost entirely limp.
Despite her victory, exhaustion clawed at her, threatening to consume her entirely. All she wanted was to lie down and sleep. But she knew that would mean death.
"I have to heal... I can't fix the broken bones... But if I can just get my legs working, maybe I'll make it..."
When she finally made it outside, the moonlight bathed the world in a cold, silver glow. Its light revealed the full extent of the damage to her body.
Tears welled in her eyes, and sobs shook her fragile frame. Even so, she began focusing her energy to heal her legs. It was her last hope. She cried, her tears mingling with the blood, dirt, and ash covering her battered body.
***
After thirty minutes of intense healing on her legs, Leni was finally able to move normally. Her body, however, was still in a dreadful state. Every step was a painful reminder of the deep wounds, burns, and her broken arm, all pulsating with unbearable agony. Yet, she had no time to rest—she needed to act quickly.
"I need to get out of here… and head toward the village… immediately," she whispered to herself, trying to muster courage. "But first, there's something I have to do..."
She crouched and focused on her newly discovered ability—fire magic. A small flame ignited from her hand, quickly catching onto nearby fragments of the ship. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the wooden beams.
"That should do it," she muttered softly, watching as the ship began to burn.
Just as she was about to leave this cursed place, she caught sight of the unconscious guard she had defeated earlier. She hesitated, torn.
"I… I can't just leave him here," she mumbled finally.
The decision wasn't easy, but Leni knew that despite everything she had endured, she couldn't stoop to the level of those who had hurt her. Gritting her teeth, she struggled to lift the man into her arms. Every movement sent waves of pain through her body, but she refused to give up. Carrying him, she jumped to the shore, landing on soft grass.
She placed the guard under a tree, in the shade, far from the burning ship. For a moment, she stared at his still figure, questioning whether she had made the right choice.
"I don't know how long I spent in that hell, but… it must've been around four hours. If I'm lucky, the bandits haven't found the village yet. Please, let that be the case…" she whispered, glancing toward the forest.
With that, Leni ran toward the village, putting as much distance as she could between herself and the ship, now a blazing inferno lighting up the night. The fire consumed the place that would forever remain in her memory as the scene of her greatest trauma and pain.