The sharp knock at the door startled Kaidan from his restless sleep. His mismatched eyes fluttered open, the dim light from the sconce barely illuminating the cramped room. For a moment, he stayed still, the weight of exhaustion pressing him down. Then the knock came again, more insistent this time.
"Get up," a familiar voice called through the door. It was the same stern servant from yesterday. "You're expected to meet the lady. Don't keep her waiting."
Kaidan sat up slowly, his muscles stiff from the unforgiving mattress. He ran a hand through his tangled hair, his mind already churning. She wants to see me today. What for? His lips pressed into a thin line as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The thought of meeting Seris again filled him with unease, but the reality of his situation left him no choice.
The Bathhouse
The servant led him to a modest bathhouse on the lower level of the mansion. The air was thick with steam, and the faint scent of lavender wafted through the room. A large basin filled with hot water sat at the center, the surface shimmering faintly in the warm light.
"Clean yourself thoroughly," the servant instructed, her tone curt. "You're meeting the lady. Appearances matter." Without another word, she turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.
Kaidan approached the basin slowly, his reflection rippling across the water. His mismatched eyes stared back at him, framed by the sharp angles of his face. The scars that crisscrossed his lean, muscular body were a reminder of the battles he had fought and survived. Yet here, in this place, he felt stripped of the strength those scars represented.
Should I even go? he thought as he dipped his hands into the water, the warmth spreading across his skin. The idea of defying Seris flickered briefly in his mind, but he pushed it aside. This was her territory. Her rules. I'm nothing more than prey here.
He began washing himself, the warm water soothing his aching muscles. His thoughts spiraled as he scrubbed away the grime. Why is she doing this? What does she want from me? Every answer he conjured only deepened his unease. By the time he finished, his body was clean, but his mind was far from settled.
The Meeting
The servant returned, her expression unreadable as she led Kaidan through the mansion's labyrinthine halls. This time, she brought him to an expansive room on the upper floor. The walls were lined with shelves of ornate books, and the floor was covered in a plush crimson carpet. At the center of the room sat Seris, her flowing gown draped elegantly over a high-backed chair. Her violet eyes locked onto Kaidan the moment he entered, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Standing on either side of her were two figures cloaked in shadow. Their presence was unnerving, their outlines flickering as though they weren't entirely solid. Kaidan's gaze lingered on them, his instincts screaming danger, but he forced himself to appear unaffected.
Flow users, he thought grimly. And powerful ones.
"You clean up well," Seris said, her voice smooth and laced with amusement. She gestured to a chair opposite her. "Sit."
Kaidan hesitated for a fraction of a second before complying. The chair was surprisingly comfortable, but the weight of Seris's gaze made it impossible to relax. The two shadowed figures remained silent, their violet eyes—identical to Seris's—watching him intently.
Seris leaned forward slightly, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "You're probably wondering why you're here," she began. "Why I've invested so much in you."
Kaidan didn't respond. He kept his expression neutral, his mismatched eyes steady as they met hers.
Seris's smile widened. "You're an enigma, Kaidan. A survivor. Someone who's already faced death and walked away stronger. That makes you valuable."
Her words sent a chill down Kaidan's spine. Valuable for what? he wondered, though he remained silent.
The Underground Ring
Seris leaned back in her chair, her violet eyes gleaming with something predatory. "I have a proposition for you," she said. "One that benefits us both."
She gestured toward the two shadowed figures beside her. "You've noticed my Flow users. They're strong, disciplined, and loyal. But strength alone isn't enough. It must be tempered by experience."
Her gaze sharpened. "That's where you come in. In five months, you'll compete in the underground fighting ring. Like the other slaves in my mansion, you'll fight for me. Each victory earns me money—but for you, it's an opportunity."
Kaidan's mismatched eyes narrowed slightly. "Opportunity?" he repeated, his voice low.
Seris's smile returned. "For every fight you win, you'll earn 500 aurals. Enough, perhaps, to buy back your freedom."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. Kaidan's mind raced. The idea of fighting in the ring was both daunting and tempting. He had fought to survive before, but this was different. This was structured, controlled. And yet, it was a chance.
Five hundred aurals per fight, he thought, calculating quickly. How many fights would it take? The number felt impossibly high, but the spark of defiance within him burned brighter. This could be his way out. His way to grow stronger.
But Seris's next words pulled him back to the moment.
"Of course," she added, her tone almost teasing, "you'll still be fighting for me. Even if you win, I take the profits. After all, this is my investment we're talking about."
Kaidan's fists clenched under the table, but he kept his expression unreadable. Of course she does. This is still her game.
The Predator's Smile
Seris stood, her movements fluid as she approached him. The two shadowed figures didn't move, their violet eyes following her silently. She stopped a few paces away, looking down at him with a mixture of amusement and authority.
"Five months," she said. "You have five months to prepare. Use that time wisely, Kaidan. Because once you step into the ring, there are no guarantees."
Kaidan met her gaze, his mismatched eyes unflinching. Inside, his mind was a storm of thoughts. She's giving me time. Time to train, to grow, to plan. The idea of the ring was daunting, but it was also an opportunity—an opportunity to test his strength, to push himself to new limits. And, perhaps, to find a way out.
Seris smirked, as though she could read his thoughts. "You may go now," she said, her tone dismissive. "The servant will show you to your training quarters."
Kaidan rose slowly, his mismatched eyes lingering on hers for a moment before he turned and followed the servant out of the room. As the heavy doors closed behind him, he couldn't shake the feeling that Seris was watching him, her violet eyes filled with secrets he had yet to uncover.
A Test of Resolve
The servant led Kaidan through another series of winding halls, each one more drab and utilitarian than the last. The opulence of the upper floors seemed a world away, replaced by cold stone walls and dim lighting. They stopped outside a heavy wooden door, which the servant unlocked with a large iron key.
"This will be your training quarters," she said, stepping aside to let Kaidan enter.
The room was larger than he expected, though far from luxurious. It was outfitted with a basic training area: a small ring marked with faded chalk, a set of weights fashioned from rough