Chương 332: Fight for Freedom

Wolf loomed over Vale with a deep, predatory grin carved across his scarred face. He said nothing at first. He simply watched, letting the silence linger, studying the broken boy as though examining an animal trapped inside a cage. His eyes wandered over the bloodstained cloth wrapped around Vale's body, over the scars that covered his skin, over the metallic arm that rested motionless beside him. Every second that passed made the prison cell feel smaller. Vale finally broke the silence.

"Speak... or leave. I don't ever want to talk to you, especially not now." Wolf answered with a low whistle, amused by the hostility.

"My, my... I didn't know someone so young could possess such an... experienced body. I must admit, I'm impressed, vessel." That word again.

'Vessel.' His heartbeat skipped. His thoughts were dragged back into the nightmare from which he had awakened only hours before, the endless ocean of blood... the five black suns... the chained man suspended above them all. That figure had spoken the exact same word.

'Do you finally remember your purpose... vessel?' Vale's expression hardened.

"You keep calling me that." His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it.

"Why?" Wolf's grin widened.

"Aren't we all vessels?" he mused, folding his arms behind his back as though giving a lecture instead of speaking to a prisoner.

"Vessels carrying existence's beauty... its will... its endless possibilities. We are nothing more than manifestations of a universe desperately trying to experience itself. Yet humanity refuses to appreciate that gift. Strange, isn't it? Why do you think that is, young Vale?" Vale's jaw clenched. Blood soaked deeper into the torn fabric in his fists as his nails dug into his palms. Every word coming from Wolf's mouth sounded less like philosophy and more like deliberate provocation.

"Answer the question." Wolf's smile faded. Only slightly. His eyes drifted toward Vale's metallic arm before returning to his face.

"Let's just say..." he said quietly, "... you are far more special than you realize." That answer only fueled Vale's anger. Without warning he lunged forward, thrusting his mechanical arm between the iron bars. His fingers stopped mere centimeters from Wolf's throat. Wolf didn't even flinch.

"My..." he chuckled.

"Was I really that offensive?" Vale growled beneath his breath before forcing himself to retreat. Every instinct screamed at him to tear the man apart, yet the bars reminded him exactly where he stood. He stepped backward, breathing heavily, refusing to give Wolf the satisfaction of seeing him lose control completely.

"Tell me what's going to happen to me," Vale said through gritted teeth.

"Or leave." That seemed to interest Wolf far more than Vale's rage had. He stepped closer. Close enough that Vale could have grabbed him again if he chose.

"Very well," Wolf replied.

"Considering the crime you've committed, the kingdom has prepared two possible punishments. The first is simple. You accept your sentence and spend the next five years, or perhaps much longer, locked away." Vale raised an eyebrow.

"And the second?" Wolf's grin slowly returned.

"The second..." he whispered, leaning forward until only the iron bars separated them, "... is far more entertaining." His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.

"You may fight for your freedom." He paused deliberately.

"A chance... your dear pet never received." Something inside Vale snapped. He exploded forward without a second thought. His metallic hand shot through the bars, seized Wolf by the collar, and slammed him violently against the prison door with enough force to shake the surrounding stone. Iron groaned beneath the impact as dust drifted from the ceiling. Vale's eyes burned with grief and murderous fury. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You dare call Illu a pet?!" he roared.

"Do you want me to rip your throat out?!" Wolf looked utterly unimpressed.

"Disappointing," he replied almost lazily.

"I expected considerably more after watching your performance at the gala. Yet it appears being a vessel is the only remarkable thing about you." Before Vale could react, Wolf's hand moved. He seized Vale's wrist. A sickening crack echoed through the prison. Bone shattered instantly beneath his grip. Pain exploded through Vale's arm like wildfire, forcing an involuntary cry from his lips as he collapsed against the bars.

His fingers went numb, his forearm twisted into an unnatural angle, and agony raced through every nerve in his body. Yet even as his breathing became ragged, he refused to look away. His hatred only deepened.

"I'll kill you..." Vale hissed between uneven breaths.

"Even if it's the last thing I ever do... I'll make damn sure I kill you, you filthy bastard." Wolf laughed.

"Oh, I know." He released Vale's ruined arm, allowing it to hang uselessly at his side.

"I know exactly which choice you'll make." His grin widened into something almost monstrous.

"So I've gone out of my way to ensure that when you fight for your freedom..." He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"... you won't survive long enough to enjoy it." A cold blade suddenly settled against the back of his neck.

"My." Wolf slowly lifted his eyes.

"I didn't expect to find you here..."

"... Vice Commander Nymia." Nym stood behind him with perfect composure, her sword pressed firmly against his throat. There was no hesitation in her expression, only quiet disgust.

"Leave," she ordered evenly.

"Now. Or this blade finds its mark." Wolf gave a theatrical whistle before slowly raising both hands.

"Very well, Commander." He stepped away with exaggerated obedience.

"You know, all you had to do was ask." His smile returned.

"No need for violence." As he walked past her, he cast one final glance toward Vale.

"I hope you enjoy these final moments together." His grin sharpened.

"They'll likely be his last." For a brief instant, Nym's grip tightened around her sword so firmly it seemed she might actually strike him down. Instead, she simply pointed the blade toward the exit.

"Leave." Wolf rolled his eyes dramatically before disappearing into the darkness of the corridor, his laughter lingering long after he had vanished. Silence reclaimed the prison. Nym slowly sheathed her sword. The tension left her posture almost immediately, replaced by a weariness that seemed to settle into every part of her body. When she finally turned toward Vale, grief had completely overtaken her face. He was already staring at her. The hatred in his eyes was unlike anything she had ever witnessed.

After all... She had killed Illu.

"I heard what happened," she whispered.

"About Illu..." She swallowed hard.

"I'm... sorry."

"If I'd known-""But you did." The words were ice. Vale didn't allow her to finish.

"You killed Illu." Nym stepped backward.

"I didn't know it was him!" she answered, her voice rising despite herself.

"I didn't know Lionheart was you! How could I possibly have known?" Vale's jaw tightened.

"Korin told you to stay home."

"You didn't."

"You ignored him."

"You went out."

"You shot us down."

"You killed Illu..." His voice became quieter.

"... and you almost killed me." Nym finally lost what little composure she had left.

"Did you even listen to what I just said?" she shouted.

"I didn't know!"

"And I don't care!" Vale stepped forward until only the iron bars separated them. His breathing had become uneven again.

"You killed him."

"He only wanted freedom."

"He was just a small raven who wanted to see the world beyond his cage..." His voice trembled beneath the weight of the memory.

"... and you killed him." His fist clenched so tightly that fresh blood trickled between his fingers.

"And for what?"

"So you could tell yourself you were protecting Irea?" A bitter laugh escaped him.

"Congratulations."

"If murder is your answer to justice..."

"... then you never should have joined the Royal Guard." Nym stood frozen. Her hands slowly curled into trembling fists as tears gathered in her eyes despite every desperate attempt to suppress them. She bit down on her lip until it nearly bled, searching for something, anything, that might reach him. Nothing came. After several long moments, she lowered her head.

"... Forget it." Her voice barely carried through the corridor.

"If you won't even consider listening..."

"... then there's nothing left to say." Without another word, she turned and walked away. The rhythm of her boots echoed through the prison until even those sounds faded into silence. Vale remained motionless. Only then did he notice something strange. The shadow beneath his feet...... was gone. His chest rose and fell violently as every emotion inside him crashed together. Then he screamed. His broken hand slammed into the stone wall with enough force to crack it. Another blow followed. Then another.

Again and again he drove his fist into the prison wall, each impact splintering the stone further while blood spread across the fractured surface. His already shattered hand tore itself apart with every strike, but the pain had become meaningless. Nothing mattered anymore. Not after Illu. Not after everything. He continued until exhaustion finally claimed him. His body collapsed onto the cold stone floor. Darkness followed.

When Vale finally opened his eyes again, soft morning light filtered through the narrow prison window. Opposite his cell sat Ares. The crimson-haired commander quietly read a thick book, turning each page with calm precision. Hearing movement, he looked up, a faint smile crossing his face before he gently closed the book.

"You're awake." He set the volume aside.

"Good."

"I assume Wolf already explained the choices available to you." Ares sighed quietly.

"And... I apologize for his visit. There are very few people capable of refusing the King's requests." Vale slowly pushed himself upright. The hatred remained. It hadn't faded during his sleep. If anything, it had settled even deeper.

"... Yeah," he answered quietly.

"He told me." Without another word, Ares reached through the bars and handed him a small glass vial filled with glowing blue liquid. Vale accepted it with his mechanical hand, uncorked the bottle, and drank. Warmth immediately spread through his body. His broken arm ignited with excruciating pain as shattered bones shifted back into place. Tendons reattached. Fractures sealed themselves with a series of audible cracks until, after several agonizing moments, the pain finally subsided. Vale slowly flexed his fingers.

His hand worked again. He stared at it in silence before finally lifting his gaze toward Ares. The grief remained. The anger remained. But beneath them, something colder had taken root. Determination.

"I've made my decision." Ares remained silent, waiting. Vale met his eyes.

"I'll fight for my freedom." He paused, not because he doubted himself, but because speaking the next words hurt more than anything else he had said since awakening.

"... Because Illu never had the chance to."