Part 2
The metallic clink of the cuffs against the iron door echoed in the small cell. Haruto stumbled slightly as the sentinel pushed him inside.
—Welcome to your new home, human —the elf said dryly before slamming the gate shut.
The cell was cold and narrow, dimly lit by a single torch at the end of the hallway. The Nulite cuffs tightened around his wrists, a constant reminder of his helplessness.
Haruto stood for a moment before letting himself fall onto the stone bench, his thoughts consuming him.
"What will happen to Olivia and Kizuna now?" he wondered, lowering his gaze to his hands. Without access to his magic, the emptiness in his mind felt even deeper.
The silence around him was deafening.
"For the first time since I arrived here... I'm truly alone," he thought, a knot tightening in his chest. Before, he might have welcomed the solitude, but now it felt unbearably heavy.
Resting his head against the cold wall, he closed his eyes, clinging to Melodía's words: "Trust me, misfit." A bitter smile crossed his lips.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
Suddenly, a soft sound broke the silence. Haruto looked up, spotting a figure moving in the shadows.
—Simo? —he whispered, surprised to see the raven hopping closer.
—It's good to see you... but why didn't you fly away? —he asked, crouching near the bars.
Simo tilted his head and, with agile movements, slipped into the cell. Haruto gently picked him up, stroking his white feathers.
—Thanks for not leaving me alone.
For the first time, Haruto felt a glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile, in a hidden dimension within Haruto…
Kizuna and Olivia observed everything through floating monitors. The room was illuminated by the glow of various screens, each displaying fragments of the outside: Haruto, the cell, Simo—each screen showing something different.
Olivia, lounging in a swivel chair, watched with a critical expression.
—Commentary! Is this supposed to be an adventure? Because it looks more like a disaster.
Beside her, Kizuna sat on the floor with a bag of chips, her gaze fixed on the screen showing Haruto and Simo.
—Don't mock him, Olivia. Haruto needs us, Kizu. —Kizuna retorted, popping open a soda can with a sharp pshhht that echoed in the virtual room, as if emphasizing her point.
Olivia sighed, standing up and crossing her arms as she stared at another screen with a thoughtful look.
—Observation! Helping him in these conditions is impossible. The Nulite cuffs block any magical channeling. We're completely tied, sister. We can only trust the master —Olivia declared in a dry tone, gesturing toward the screens.
Kizuna pressed her lips together but didn't respond. She knew Olivia was right. Her focus shifted, however, when Olivia, visibly annoyed, pointed to the bag of chips.
—Shocking commentary! Why are you in my room eating my chips and drinking my soda?
—I didn't want to be alone in my room, Kizu... —Kizuna replied in a plaintive tone, pausing to look at her.
Olivia sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.
—Apology! I understand. I'm sorry for being harsh, sister. I'm... used to working alone.
—Don't worry, sister. Next time, I'll invite you to my room, Kizu —Kizuna said with a small smile before returning to her snack as if nothing had happened.
For a moment, Olivia glanced at a third door in the virtual room, closed and nameless.
As always, it remained completely silent, but its presence was impossible to ignore. Without commenting on it, Olivia shifted her attention back to the monitors.
Outside, Haruto continued stroking Simo, unaware of what was happening inside him.
Melodía walked with determined steps through the streets of Stonehollow, ignoring the curious glances and murmurs of the elves who recognized her. Her composure was flawless; she knew that any sign of weakness would be seen as an advantage by others.
The path to Caelum Solis' residence was familiar, but this time it wasn't a social visit. Melodía needed a favor—and she needed it desperately.
The mansion, surrounded by pristine gardens, stood at the end of a cobblestone street.
The afternoon sun cast its rays on the stained-glass windows, giving the place a heavenly aura.
Melodía stopped in front of the grand door, taking a deep breath before raising her hand to knock.
Before she could, a tall, blond elf dressed in formal attire opened the door with a practiced smile.
—Miss Melodía, what an honor. How may I assist you?
—I need to speak with Lord Solis. It's urgent —she replied, her firm tone leaving no room for debate.
The butler hesitated for a moment before nodding.
—Of course. Follow me.
He led her down a hallway adorned with ancient tapestries and marble statues. At the end, in a spacious study, Caelum Solis was surrounded by documents and scrolls.
The middle-aged elf, with silvery hair and sharp eyes that gleamed with intelligence, looked up as she entered, offering a faint smile.
—Melodía Luminis. What a surprise. What urgent matter brings you here?
Melodía stepped forward with determination, stopping in front of him.
—Solis, I need your help. Haruto Kibou, the human traveling with me, has been detained.
—He's accused of infiltrating Mythara and concealing information, but it's all a misunderstanding.
Solis' smile faded, his eyes narrowing.
—A human in Mythara? That alone is unusual. —He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk—. Tell me, why should I get involved?
Melodía clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure.
—This is information reserved for high-ranking elves. I'm sharing it because, apparently, you haven't received the official communiqué yet.
Solis raised an eyebrow with interest, gesturing for the butler to leave. The doors closed softly, leaving them alone.
—Tell me, young Luminis, how does this arrest relate to that communiqué?
Melodía took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she organized her thoughts.
—That boy is an envoy of Mizuki. He possesses the special ability "Lunar Blessing" and, recently, Cherri's blessing as well.
—Only the tribe leaders know this information, but you should have received a memorandum —she stated firmly.
Solis blinked, surprised, though he maintained his composure.
—Did you corroborate this at Cherri's auditorium?
—We did. We witnessed Cherri's words ourselves —Melodía replied, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Solis leaned back in his chair, intertwining his fingers as he processed the information.
—This complicates matters. If the guards had known, it would have caused an uproar among the adventurers and discontent among our people.
Melodía opened her status panel and projected Haruto's data toward Solis.
—Here's the proof.
Solis' eyes widened as he read.
—All elemental affinities active? And the abilities "Lunar Blessing" and "Cherri's Blessing"? This is unprecedented.
After a moment of silence, Solis straightened abruptly, a shiver running through him.
—We must resolve this immediately. If Mizuki senses our inaction, the consequences would be... severe.
Melodía raised a delicate hand, stopping him.
—Wait, Lord Solis. This must be handled carefully. Haruto already knows who he is, but I don't want him to think we're acting solely out of fear.
—If he starts to believe his position puts him above everything, he could stray from Mizuki's path.
Solis studied her, reflecting for a moment.
—Understood. But if he's as special as you say, keeping him grounded will be a challenge.
—I know —admitted Melodía, lowering her gaze—. That's why we must ensure he interprets this as an act of justice, not something grander.
Solis stood, walking over to a map on the wall that displayed the borders of Mythara and Stonehollow.
—I have the authority to release him, but this decision will be questioned. Aurelius will not take kindly to anything that threatens the political balance of the forest.
Melodía stepped forward, her gaze unwavering.
—Haruto doesn't pose a threat to Mythara. But if we're not careful, others might use his presence as an excuse to sow chaos.
Solis nodded slowly, grasping the magnitude of the challenge.
—Very well. I'll prepare the documents for his release. But remember, Melodía, not everyone will see his presence as a symbol of hope. To many, he will be a threat.
Melodía pressed her lips together.
—I'll keep him under control. That's my promise.
As she left the mansion, the perfectly maintained gardens did little to ease the tension in her chest.
"What if Solis is right? Am I underestimating what could happen?" she thought as she walked.
Shaking her head, she refocused. "First, I need to get him out of that cell. I'll worry about the rest later."
At the guild, the chatter of adventurers filled the air. Glances shifted toward Yuna, who sat in a corner with her head bowed and her hands clasped together.
She looked up the moment she sensed Melodía's presence.
—What happened? —she asked immediately, her voice laced with both hope and worry.
Melodía sat beside her.
—I spoke with Solis. He's aware and will handle it. But you know how he is; he'll proceed cautiously to avoid sparking a larger political issue.
Yuna nodded slowly, the weight of waiting etched on her shoulders.
—Do you think Haruto's okay?
—He trusts us. We need to return that trust —Melodía replied, gently squeezing her hand.
The two shared a silence heavy with uncertainty. Though they tried to remain optimistic, they both knew this was far from over.