Released

"Praediti has three categories for the abilities they inherit. Elementals, Sub classes and extraordinaries-"

Chapter 7: Released

Eliana closed her eyes trying hard not to shake pretending to sleep.

The assigned guard took out the key to the human's cell. Praediti practiced separating keys from different cells since grouping them together, for convenience, was a risk if it was taken by the wrong hands. The Praediti's Security Prison had to learn it the hard way prior to an incident where a criminal managed to steal the keys. The keys were big, similar to the size of a pen. The lock was a centimeter bigger than the keys.

Once unlocked the guard pulled the bar making a loud rusty noise, metal to metal rubbed to each other echoing across the entire hallway. He stayed outside the cell eyeing the sleeping girl.

"Human." he made his voice loud to wake her, "You are released from the prison dome. This is an order from the Praediti's Council with the King's permission."

Eliana didn't even bother to pretend waking up, her eyes instantly opened wide in surprise. And here she thought she'd throw sand on the guard's eye to escape. It seems like the free pass was willingly given to her. She suddenly sat up making her bed squeak followed by a quick loud crack. The bed collapsed, Eliana's butt met the floor, thankfully the foam protected her from a nasty bruised butt.

"Oh god." She felt her cheeks heating up from embarrassment. She stood and leaped out, clumsily, from the broken bed. "Uh- I um... I'm so-"

It didn't occur to her how heavy she was for the bed to support her weight far longer. She never expected for the bed to give up just like that, she felt insulted.

"It is fine, the bed has been here even before I was born." The guard assured, he then motioned Eliana to step forward. "Come, they are expecting."

Eliana's eyebrows furrowed, who are they? The guard grabbed the metal shackles that held her wrists, pulling her to follow. He closed the bar door. Eliana cringed at the loud rusty noise it made echoing. Once closed the Guard tugged on Eliana's chained wrists. She followed obediently.

They walked through the gloomy hall passing through the cells in line with Eliana's. That was when she noticed, most cells were empty and most occupancies were asleep some awake but stayed quiet. It was very unusual- for the lack of a better word, when comparing it to prison cells in New York. Not that she's been there but it was what she expected a prison to be. She's seen too many movies.

Her observation was cut short when she stumbled on the first step of the stairs which she didn't notice. She was looking elsewhere but front, complacent to the guard tugging her. She managed to compose herself quickly, avoiding the possible embarrassment. Thankfully no one noticed.

The stairs were a long way up, but she didn't mind. Eliana was eager to leave the place. The stairs were in a box spiral climb, but were purely carved out from the ground itself. 

'It must've taken a lot of time and effort to dig this place.' She thought. 

Of course Eliana was not aware about the capabilities of this world. After a long climb, they finally arrived at the upper ground floor.

Eliana was panting from the weak stamina she had after climbing those stairs. The guard was standing calmly. He waited for Eliana to catch her breath. When she was able to breathe properly she noticed they were in an office like area. There was a desk next to the door, probably for information or so, a wooden bench on the other side. And a couple of doors on each side of the walls, she believed it was for the guards on duty.

"Come on." The guard started pulling again.

They walked towards one of the doors on the left side of the wall. She wanted to ask but she chose to stay quiet. The guard knocked four times which was returned by a single knock from the inside. Eliana raised her eyebrow in curiosity. The guard knocked once before the door was finally opened.

There must be a Code of Knocks here, she thought.

They were greeted by an office room. It looked like the typical Police Chief officer's office, she thought, only it was a renaissance version. Three people were sitting, maybe waiting, inside. The guard behind the desk must be the head of this place. The rest of the two were sitting on the couch opposite to each other.

Eliana felt her blood boiling from anger when she recognized one of the men on the couch.

"You!" She was fuming. "You despicable clown! I am not yet done with you!" She lunged forward for the man leaving everyone surprised by her wild behavior.

However the other man, who was Jury Wistal, was the first one to react followed by the guards. He held unto Eliana's shoulder to prevent her from attacking the Knight. She was stubborn and strong, possibly because she wanted to murder someone.

"Let me go!" She pounced.

The two guards held her in place, Jury Wistal had an amused look on his face.

"Child, you must calm down." He held both his hands on her shoulder. "We are here to discuss your freedom." He added.

Eliana slowly calmed down after hearing his words. Albeit she was still sporting an angry look that seemed like she would snap any minute, she faced the Jury eye to eye.

"I want to go home." Her eyes had a hint of plea, but she didn't want to look and sound weak.

Jury Wistal bowed his head shaking no. "I apologise young one, we cannot do that." He slowly said.

Eliana's frown deepened. "Why not?" She snapped.

"You are to stay in Praediti under my supervision." He added, weakly meeting the girl's eyes. He knew she'd feel bad, but it was either she lives or she dies.

Eliana couldn't hold back her tears anymore, her eyes watered. "Why can't I go home..." She buried her face in her hands and sobbed softly. She was still holding back, she felt weak, scared, helpless and lost.

All men inside the room fell into awkward silence, they were all clueless how to deal with a sobbing girl. Lord Wistal cleared his throat. The knight approached them and bowed his head to Eliana.

"Young girl," he composed himself. "I am Jester, one of the Seven Fortem Knights. I came here to apologize for handling you harshly. It was protocol. I admit my carelessness when I brought you along my journey back to Praediti. I assure you, I have no ill intentions against you. Please accept my humble and sincere apology." While he was talking Eliana had her hands lowered down so that he could see the bowing knight.

She choked uglily from crying. "I- I'm not sure if I can f-forgive you right away." She trailed between chokes. "Maybe soon. When all of this makes sense." She finished.

The knight finally lifted his head and nodded understandingly at the girl. Jury Wistal cleared his throat once again to catch their attention.

"Why don't you sit first?" He motioned for the couch.

Eliana nodded meekly approaching the couch. The two guards standing in between her.