The torchlight flickered against the damp walls of the cell, casting long, wavering shadows that danced like spectres. Ryou sat slumped against the wall, the golden chains still binding him, their divine glow dim but unyielding. Every movement was met with resistance, the chains tightening just enough to remind him of his confinement.
He groaned, his body aching from the battle and the cold, hard floor. "This is the thanks I get for trying to survive? Tied up like some dog in a celestial kennel?"
A chuckle echoed from the shadows. "Well, you did blow up a chunk of the forest and try to wrestle an angel. Not exactly model citizen behavior, kid."
Ryou's head snapped toward the voice. A figure leaned casually against the bars of an adjacent cell, his face obscured by the hood of a tattered cloak. The man's voice was smooth, almost amused, as though he found the entire situation entertaining.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Ryou asked, narrowing his eyes.
The figure tilted his head, the hood slipping back just enough to reveal sharp features and a pair of mischievous, glowing amber eyes. "Name's Kieran. Fellow 'guest' of the Celestial Hold. You could say I've been here a while."
"Great," Ryou muttered. "A seasoned inmate. Just what I needed."
Kieran smirked. "You're not exactly brimming with gratitude, are you? Here I am, offering a bit of camaraderie, and you're sulking like a kicked puppy."
"Camaraderie?" Ryou shot back. "You don't look like someone who shares life advice for free. What's your angle?"
Kieran laughed, a low, genuine sound that seemed out of place in the grim surroundings. "Fair point. Let's just say I have an eye for interesting people, and you... well, you're practically glowing with potential. Quite literally, in fact."
Before Ryou could respond, the heavy iron door at the far end of the corridor creaked open. Two figures entered—one was the angel who had captured him, their radiant presence illuminating the dim hall. The other was a woman, her black-and-silver robes flowing as she walked. Her eyes glimmered with an unsettling blend of curiosity and malice, and her lips curved into a cold smile as she approached Ryou's cell.
"Well, well," she purred, her voice silky yet cutting. "The mortal who dared to wield demonic power. You've caused quite the stir."
"Great," Ryou muttered under his breath. "Another celestial with a superiority complex."
The angel's expression hardened, but the woman only laughed. "Oh, I like this one. Such defiance in the face of absolute power." She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. "Tell me, mortal, do you have any idea what you've done? What chaos you've unleashed with your little display?"
Ryou glared at her. "I didn't ask for any of this. I just wanted to survive."
The woman's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by something colder. "Survival comes at a price, boy. And your actions have set forces in motion that you can't possibly comprehend."
She straightened, her gaze shifting to the angel. "Prepare him for interrogation. The Council will want answers."
Ryou's "preparation" involved being hauled into a massive chamber, the golden chains still binding his wrists. The room was grand and imposing, its walls lined with intricate carvings of battles between angels and demons. In the center of the chamber stood a circular platform, glowing faintly with divine energy.
He was forced onto the platform, his chains locking into place with a loud click. The woman and the angel stood to the side, their gazes cold and unyielding.
"This is where we ask questions, and you answer truthfully," the woman said. "If you lie... well, let's just say the platform has a way of discouraging dishonesty."
Before Ryou could retort, the platform flared to life, and a surge of energy coursed through his body. He gasped, the sensation overwhelming but not painful.
"First question," the woman began, her voice sharp. "What is the nature of your pact with Zevran?"
"I didn't exactly sit down and sign a contract!" Ryou snapped. "He showed up, I was desperate, and he offered me power. I didn't know what I was agreeing to!"
The platform's glow intensified, and Ryou winced as the chains tightened slightly.
"Truth," the woman said, her tone neutral. "But incomplete. What did Zevran gain from this arrangement?"
Ryou hesitated, struggling to recall the demon's cryptic words. "He said something about 'watching' and 'interested outcomes.' I don't know what he meant!"
The platform hummed again, and the woman's eyes narrowed. "Curious."
Before she could ask another question, the chamber shook violently. A deafening roar echoed through the halls, followed by the sound of shattering stone. The angel immediately drew its glowing spear, while the woman's expression darkened.
"What is the meaning of this?" she hissed.
The answer came in the form of a massive, armored figure bursting through the wall. The intruder was a towering demon, its crimson skin covered in jagged black armor. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Ryou, and a wicked grin spread across its face.
"Found you, little anomaly," it growled, its voice like grinding stone.
The angel leapt into action, its spear clashing against the demon's massive sword. The chamber became a battleground, divine and demonic energies colliding with devastating force. The woman unleashed a barrage of silver magic, her attacks striking the demon with precision, but it barely seemed to notice.
Ryou struggled against the chains, his frustration boiling over. "Great. Another fight I'm stuck watching from the sidelines!"
Kieran's voice echoed in his mind. "Not necessarily, kid. Remember, power is hungry. Feed it."
Ryou's scars began to glow brighter, the energy within him responding to his desperation. The chains resisted, but cracks began to form as he focused all his strength on breaking free.
With a final burst of effort, the chains shattered, and the energy surged through him like a tidal wave. He stumbled forward, his vision tinged with green as the tendrils of power erupted from his back once more.
The demon turned to him, its grin widening. "Ah, there it is. The power I came for!"
"Not today," Ryou growled, his voice resonating with the strange, otherworldly tone.
He charged at the demon, the tendrils striking with incredible speed and force. The demon blocked them with its sword, but Ryou's relentless assault forced it to take a step back. The angel joined the fray, coordinating its attacks with Ryou's in an unspoken alliance.
The chamber became a whirlwind of light and shadow, divine and demonic energies colliding in a dazzling display of power. Ryou felt the strain on his body, but he pushed through, determined not to let himself be captured—or worse.
As the battle raged on, the woman shouted, "Fall back! The Celestial Hold is compromised!"
The angel nodded, its wings flaring as it unleashed a massive blast of light, momentarily blinding the demon. It grabbed Ryou by the arm, its grip unyielding.
"Hey, what are you—" Ryou started, but before he could finish, the angel's wings enveloped them both, and they disappeared in a flash of light.
Ryou's vision cleared, and he found himself in a completely different place—a cold, desolate wasteland under a dark, stormy sky. The angel released him, its gaze unreadable.
"You're lucky I didn't leave you behind," it said.
"Lucky?" Ryou snapped. "You just dragged me into... whatever this is!"
The angel turned away, its expression grim. "This is the Exiled Plain. If you want to survive, you'll need to prove your worth."
Before Ryou could respond, the angel vanished, leaving him alone in the desolate expanse.
Ryou sighed, looking around at the barren landscape. "Well, this just keeps getting better."