Chapter 9: The Stranger

| Shishido Noboru |

Dealing with the knights had its share of challenges, and Shido's patience was tested several times as he wouldn't say he liked being touched without permission. However, to his surprise, he managed to maintain his composure throughout, even as he endured being pushed around and berated. He couldn't help but think that, in the grand scheme of things, the treatment he received could be considered "light behavior." In hindsight, he felt grateful to Mika for coming to his aid. Without his assistance, he might have been limping to his cell rather than being unceremoniously thrown in. It made him appreciate the timely gratitude he had expressed to Mika.

Once his hands were untied, Shido reached up to remove the cloth used to blindfold him. The restoration of his sight felt like a breath of fresh air. Taking in his surroundings, he noted the cold and dimly lit room. The only source of light came from a small barred window behind him. The window was too narrow to squeeze through, allowing chilly air drafts to seep. If he were not drained, he might have been at risk of succumbing to hypothermia due to the cold. His attention shifted to the food the guards had shoved into his cell, which scarcely resembled a proper meal. Yet, it was better than most of the sustenance he had been given before meeting the kind woman, Amanda, and her child. He eagerly grabbed the bowl and consumed its contents as though it were a feast of the highest order.

Finishing the meal, Shido set the empty bowl aside, taking a deep breath and wiping his mouth. He couldn't help but reflect on how Mika had dined on much better food during the carriage ride, and he found himself appreciating it more now than he had before. Leaning against the cell's wall with his head resting, he attempted to formulate a plan that could yield results within a few days, or else he might meet his untimely end. However, his contemplation was abruptly interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.

"Hey, new guy. O-Or girl, can't see you," the voice called out. It seemed the person was tapping their knuckles against the bars of their cell to catch Shido's attention. He looked around, trying to discern the source of the voice until he heard them speak again. "Did they just call you a rebel? Like, one of those 'slit a knight's throat' types of rebels? If you are, I want to make a deal with you. It's a great one, I swear."

The nature of the deal remained unclear, and Shido couldn't gauge whether the individual could fulfill their promises. He was wary, considering he didn't even know this person, let alone see their face. Nevertheless, he decided to play along without revealing his pacifist tendencies. "A deal? It depends on what you're asking," he responded with a cold tone, which was quite distinct from how he typically conversed with Mika.

"You even sound like a no-nonsense, hardened bastard. That's perfect. You remind me of the last guy that was in your cell. He was going to help me before he got…" The voice trailed off briefly before resuming. "Anyway, listen, listen. It's simple. If you are a genuine rebel, you'd have experience taking out the High Elf's goons, yeah?"

Observing the individual's struggle with the bars, Shido noted the heavy shackles on their wrists, producing a metallic rattling with each movement. "Well, I want one of them dead. Thoroughly dead. He's part of the capital's security forces. It was already bad enough that I was caught and dragged here, but the prick nearly shocked me to death. Called it an interrogation, but I swear he just wanted to kill me," the voice explained, exuding anger and frustration.

The voice then paused to take a deep breath, attempting to regain composure. "I'm getting off-topic. All you need to know is that if you promise to help me, I'll make it worth your while when I make my grand escape. Being my gracious and compassionate man, I'll bring you with me if you're the real deal."

"I should probably mention that the guy is a high-ranking official, but that didn't stop my previous prison friend from agreeing to help. What else are you going to do? You're new, so you'll probably have a week before you get sent to the High Elf. Why waste time being stuck here if you don't have to, right?" the voice urged, attempting to convince Shido of the deal's merits.

Shido harbored deep reservations about placing his trust in the unknown individual. His mind was flooded with concerns about the potential consequences of such an agreement – betrayal, abandonment, or being used for his abilities. These were scenarios he wished to avoid. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he quietly responded, "I barely know you. I don't know your name, abilities, or why you're still here, even if your previous partner didn't make it. I have no reason to trust you and believe you won't stab me in the back later. I prefer to stick to my plan. I have no intention of dying here – not now, not later, perhaps only when I'm old." His words conveyed a firm resolve to survive.

Disappointed by his response, the voice retorted, "So cold, mister rebel. If you even are one. Whatever suits you. Don't come crying for help when I get free, and you're still locked up." With that, the individual withdrew and fell silent.

Shido furrowed his brow, particularly at the phrase "if you even are one." He was intrigued by the implication that this prison held rebels and those who had committed other transgressions. He had initially assumed this place was reserved solely for insurgents. This insight could prove valuable, for if the guards proved uncooperative, the other prisoners might assist.

The stranger ceased talking to him for the day but hardly observed any silence. As night fell, he seemed to disregard the complaints of other prisoners attempting to sleep. He hummed to himself and ignored any protests he received. The most distracting noise, however, was the clacking of his shackles. This persisted until the night guards conducted their hourly check and until it grew too late for the man to remain awake. Then, the prisoners had to endure the cacophony of his loud snoring.

At dawn, the guards arrived to unlock and open the metal door leading to the cell room. Two guards entered, with the younger one looking particularly anxious. He hesitated to enter, and the older guard had to almost drag him inside.

The younger guard appeared visibly distressed, glancing nervously between the documents and prison cells in his hands. "S-Sir, I won't have to get close to them; we should wait for the others to finish their break. They'd be better at this than me. I don't–"

"Stop being a coward," the gruff guard snapped at him, seizing and inspecting the documents. He then made his way to one of the cells situated farther down. "And stop staring at them. Weren't you briefed about the new arrival? It's untrustworthy."

"Yes, sir," the younger guard mumbled, jumping slightly, his fear evident as he finally acknowledged the presence of the cell's occupant, given its proximity to the door.

The older guard unlocked a cell and forcefully extracted one of the prisoners, kicking and shouting at him. Resistance proved futile as the guard retaliated with blows, and, with the assistance of the nervous guard, they dragged the unconscious inmate from the cell.

The stranger in the cell adjacent to Shido's couldn't resist making a snide remark, "Hey, once you guys are done with him, can you get someone to bring me food? I'm starving. What poor hospitality."

"Keep quiet. You won't need to worry about food. It's almost your time to go, too," the gruff guard chuckled, amused by the man's comment, while the nervous guard joined in hesitantly.

After the guards left, Shishido found himself consumed by thoughts of what awaited him when it was his turn to face the High Elf. Would he emerge unscathed, as Mika promised, or would he suffer a fate similar to the unfortunate inmate recently dragged away? The prospect of remaining incarcerated grew increasingly intolerable with each passing moment, fueling his desperation for a way out.

Huddled in his cell with his knees drawn close to his chest, Shishido clasped his hands together and began to rub the bridge of his nose between them. The weight of stress and frustration bore down on him, the uncertainty of the dungeon's response to his abilities plaguing his thoughts. Would they choose to keep him blinded, or worse, resort to extreme measures?

A soft sigh escaped his lips, revealing the mounting tension that had taken root within him. Finally, he decided to break the suffocating silence and called out to the stranger in the neighboring cell, hoping to gather more information and possibly build some trust. "I am a rebel... unfortunately. My name is Shishido. What's yours?" he inquired, his tone laced with a mixture of resignation and curiosity.

The more Shishido could learn about the person next to him, the more he might trust them. While he couldn't be sure if their claims were valid, they had been imprisoned longer and likely possessed valuable knowledge and insights about their situation. However, his willingness to cooperate with them depended on the nature of their requests. He was adamant that he wouldn't take another person's life, even if it facilitated their escape.

The stranger's response was far from welcoming, and Shishido questioned whether his outreach had been a mistake. "Oh, what's that? The big, tough rebel is trying to talk to me. That's weird. It sounded like you wanted nothing to do with me yesterday," the stranger taunted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His laughter that followed only added to the snarkiness of his remarks. "What, did those guards dragging that bloke away make you nervous? Now you're trying to get friendly with me."

Annoyed by his response, Shishido retorted, "I asked one question. Don't make assumptions." He mumbled the words, irritated by the mocking tone, and fell silent as the guards entered to take another prisoner away. It seemed that communication with this person would be more challenging than he had hoped.

"Running out of fodder," the stranger muttered from his cell, revealing his growing impatience. He knocked on the brick wall to catch Shishido's attention and continued, "What did you say your name was, Shi... Shiro?"

"Shido," he corrected, though the detail seemed relatively unimportant.

Arlo's plan was ambitious, and despite the risks involved, Shishido couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at the prospect of escape. The urgency in Arlo's voice resonated with him, and he understood the importance of their cooperation.

After carefully weighing the options, Shishido made his decision. "Listen, Arlo, I can help you. If you agree, we can escape together without any funny business," he stated firmly, his voice tinged with determination. He glanced warily at the cell beside his own, even though Arlo couldn't see his expression. "I can get the keys you need before the interrogation. However, I don't know what they will do to me there. Depending on the extent of physical harm, I may be useless to you anymore." The haunting images of his eyes being harmed or removed couldn't be easily brushed aside. "If I can secure the keys, you must unlock my cell. Can you make both of us invisible? That's our best chance at getting out."

Arlo's response was swift and affirmative. "Absolutely. If you can get me those keys, we'll be out of here before they know what hit them. And don't worry about the interrogation. I'll make sure you're safe," he reassured, his tone carrying a sense of conviction. "We'll stick together, Shido. We're in this together now."

With a newfound sense of purpose and determination, Shishido nodded in agreement. "Alright then, let's do this," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "I'll find a way to get those keys, and we'll make our escape. Just be ready when the time comes."

Arlo's attempt at humor did little to alleviate the tension in the air, and his impatience became increasingly palpable as the day wore on. With each passing guard visit and meager food ration, his frustration mounted, evident in his restless tapping against the cell bars. His muttered grievances about his failing plan only served to unsettle the other inmates, who shared in his growing sense of despair.

As evening fell, the two guards from earlier returned, accompanied by three more. Their arrival sent a ripple of unease through the cell block, and even Arlo's tapping ceased as they approached Shishido's cell. Another guard stood watch outside the door, his presence serving as a grim reminder of the gravity of their situation.

The younger guard, visibly trembling and hesitant, voiced his apprehension. "Is t-this necessary? I only signed up for security here because I thought it'd be hands-off," he stammered, his fear evident in his voice.

His words earned him a rough yet playful punch from one of the other guards, who mocked him for his perceived cowardice. "Stop being a pansy. Consider this your initiation," the bearded guard from earlier replied gruffly, retrieving a ring of keys. With deliberate movements, they avoided making eye contact with Shishido. "This one's meant for special treatment, so let's give it to him."

With the assistance of the other guards, they forcefully pressed Shishido against the wall, their combined weight making it impossible for him to resist. Despite his compliance, they treated him as if he were putting up a struggle. Placing a cloth blindfold over his eyes, they then bound his arms tightly behind his back with restraints, accompanied by menacing threats of dire consequences should he attempt to use his abilities.

The nervousness of the younger guard was palpable as they ushered Shishido out of the room, their footsteps echoing down the corridors of the facility. The chill of the wind against his skin hinted that they had been led outside, though the exact location remained a mystery. Abruptly, one of the guards delivered a forceful kick to the back of Shishido's leg, sending him crashing to the ground with a pained groan. A sense of foreboding washed over him as he contemplated the grim possibilities of what awaited him beyond the blindfold. Had he unwittingly stumbled into something far more sinister than a mere interrogation?