Ch 19 Ciri

Ciri sat in a small, dimly lit room with her hands tied behind her back and a collar around her neck. She couldn't use her Qi, but her body continued to emit pheromones that affected the men who stood guard outside the door.

She had been captured by the Dragon Sky Sect, a group of powerful cultivators who had been at odds with Ciri's own, the Yinpai Sect. They were convinced that she and her master, Eos, were involved with the rebel group Firefly and demanded that she give them information. But Ciri had no knowledge of the rebels.

The door to her cell opened, and in walked an elder of the Dragon Sky Sect. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression and a cold demeanor. Ciri could feel her heart racing as he approached her.

"So, you are the disciple of Eos," he said, his voice laced with contempt. "The leader of the Yinpai Sect. And yet here you are, captured by us."

Ciri clenched her fists, trying to control her emotions. "I was captured, yes. But I am not afraid of you or your sect."

The elder laughed, a cruel sound that made Ciri's blood run cold. "You should be. We have ways of making you talk."

Ciri gritted her teeth. "I have nothing to tell you. I know nothing about Firefly."

The elder narrowed his eyes. "We shall see about that," he said, gesturing to two guards who had entered the cell behind him.

Ciri tensed, bracing herself for the worst. But then something strange happened. As the guards approached her, she felt a warm sensation spreading through her body, like a wave of energy.

Suddenly, the guards were stumbling and tripping over each other, their eyes glazed over. Ciri realized with shock that she was emitting pheromones, and they were having an effect on the men around her.

The elder scowled, his face turning red with anger. "What kind of trickery is this?" he demanded, grabbing Ciri by the arm.

Ciri tried to pull away, but she was no match for the elder's strength. "I'm not doing anything," she protested. "It's just...something that happens to me."

The elder looked at her with suspicion, but then a realization seemed to dawn on him. "I see," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can seduce us into letting you go? But I assure you, it will not work."

Ciri's face flushed with anger. "I am not trying to seduce anyone!" she spat. "It's not something I can control!"

The elder smirked. "Of course, it isn't. But that won't stop me from using it to my advantage."

With that, he gestured to the guards, and they dragged Ciri out of the cell and into a larger room. There, she saw a group of elders gathered around a large table, all of them staring at her with cold, calculating eyes.

"You have a choice," the elder who had interrogated her said. "You can tell us what you know about Firefly, or we can use more...persuasive methods to extract the information."

Ciri shook her head, feeling a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that if she gave in, it would only lead to more suffering for herself. But if she didn't, who knew what they would do to her?

The elder seemed to sense her hesitation. "I will make you a deal," he said. "You tell us what you know, and we will let you go unharmed. We will even escort you back to your sect and ensure your safety."

Ciri looked at him skeptically. She knew that the Dragon Sky Sect was not to be trusted. But at the same time, she couldn't bear the thought of being tortured or worse.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "I don't know anything about Firefly," she said, her voice firm. "But even if I did, I would not betray my sect."

The elder's face twisted with anger. "Very well," he said, gesturing to the guards. "Take her to the torture chamber. We will see how long her loyalty lasts."

Ciri felt a cold dread wash over her as she was dragged away. She knew that the coming hours and days would be filled with pain and suffering, but she refused to give in. She was a disciple of Eos, and she would rather die than betray him.

As the guards pulled Ciri down a long, dark corridor toward the torture chamber, she tried to keep her mind focused. She couldn't let herself give in to the fear and despair that threatened to overwhelm her.

But as they approached the chamber, she felt her resolve starting to crack. The sound of screams and cries echoed through the stone walls, and she could feel the chill of the air seeping into her bones.

Suddenly, one of the guards stumbled, and Ciri felt a surge of power race through her body. She realized that her pheromones were still affecting them, even if she couldn't control them.

Without thinking, she lunged at the other guard, her body moving with a speed and agility that surprised even her. She twisted his arm and snapped it in one fluid motion, causing him to cry out in pain.

Due to the necklace fastened around her neck, she was unable to employ external Qi. Nonetheless, being a cultivator of the Soul-Sea Realm, her physical prowess and agility were still far beyond that of Nascent Realm practitioners. This was particularly true if they were partially influenced by the aroma she emitted.

The other guard recovered quickly and lunged toward her, but she was ready.

The black and gold fabric of the sarong billowed out elegantly, following the line of her leg as she extended it upwards. The guard's eyes widened in shock as he saw the deadly kick coming at him, but it was too late to react.

With lightning-fast speed, Ciri's foot connected with the guard's temple, sending him reeling backward with a sickening thud. The force of the impact was enough to knock him out cold, and he crumpled to the ground like a rag doll.

As he lay there, unconscious, Ciri quickly freed herself from her bindings and grabbed the keys to the cell. Unfortunately, she could not find the key to the collar they put on her.

Heart pounding, she ran down the corridor, unsure of where she was going but desperate to escape. She could hear the sound of footsteps behind her, but she didn't dare look back.

Finally, she saw a faint light ahead and sprinted towards it, her legs burning with exertion. As she burst through the door, she found herself in a large courtyard filled with trees and bushes.

But there was no time to rest. She could hear the shouts of the guards behind her, and she knew they would soon catch up.

Thinking quickly, she climbed up one of the trees and hid among the branches. From there, she could see the guards searching the area, their eyes scanning the trees and bushes for any sign of her.

Ciri held her breath, hoping they wouldn't spot her. She knew that if she was caught, it would mean certain death.

Ciri stayed in the tree for a while longer, catching her breath and trying to steady her nerves. She knew she couldn't go back to the Yinpai Sect right away - the Dragon Sky Sect would be looking for her.

As she thought, she heard a rustling in the bushes below her. Thinking it might be one of the guards returning, she tensed, ready to defend herself. But then a figure emerged from the foliage - a young woman with long, blond hair and a fierce expression.

Ciri demanded, her voice low, "Who are you?"

The woman smiled. "My name is Melina. I'm a member of Firefly fraction."

Ciri relaxed slightly at the woman's words, recognizing the name of the rebel group known for their resistance against the oppressive government. "How did you find me?" she asked, still wary.

Melina's expression turned serious. "We've been watching the guards' movements closely," she explained. "When we saw them with a prisoner, we suspected it might be someone important. We followed them, and that's when we saw you in the tree."

Ciri nodded, impressed by Melina's resourcefulness. "What now?" she asked, eager to escape her captors and join the fight against the Dragon Sky Sect.

Melina grinned. "Now, we get you out of here."