“I know the road you’ve taken was rough. And, I can only imagine the hardships that you had overcome in order to bring glory to our Kingdom Ventus.
For the coldness of war that you suffered,... we offer you our warm welcome. Welcome our great warriors! Viva Raptors! Viva Ventus!.” the man on the podium exclaimed, raising his fist up in the air.
As a result the crowd erupted into cheers, repeating “Viva Raptors, Viva Ventus!” over and over. Their cheers were accompanied with the lively beating of drums and other percussions. The crowd is on raised seats arranged in a way likened to that of a big colosseum. Below are soldiers, most are clad in heavy armors, others in light chain mails. All waiving back at the crowd, savoring the very moment.
In the meantime, the man who had finished his speech went down from the stage and to the crowd near him. His black robe, adorned with gold linings on the edges, stands out from the bright color of the stage. Pinned on his robe is a small golden brooch shaped like an owl. The few who were lucky to meet his eye, were overjoyed and would say “Great Ibis” as a salutation followed by a bow. The crowd near him also bowed in reverence for the speaker.
The cheers of the crowd continued, only subsiding when necessary for the continuation of the program. In contrast to this festive event, is a scene unknown to the crowd.
Just below the building where the event was taking place, is a set of passages going deeper and deeper into the ground. On the first three levels below, the cheers can still be heard and at times, the ground will even shake as if it wanted to join the crowd. The passageway is walled with bricks and illuminated by torches. After the first three levels, is a series of rooms with entrances sealed shut by thick metallic doors.
In the middle of one of the rooms, is a thin man tied down. His black hair, long and untamed,sprawled on the floor. His limbs were cut-off, except for his left arm. His eyes and ears are covered with a thick wrap of white cloth. His remaining arm, bound to the floor, is fitted with a thick white glove. His mouth is sealed by a tape like patch. Thin long tubes can be seen attached to his neck. A small dome shaped apparatus was attached to his lower body.
He hears nothing.
Feels nothing.
Sees nothing.
He is fed with dissolved nutrients through the thin tubes attached to his neck. And his excrements are taken out by the small apparatus in his lower body.
He was there for less than a year; but this he did not know. For him, it already lasted an indefinite amount of time. He waited and waited for something… Anything that can be sensed. In fact, he would gladly welcome pain if given the chance. He tried to bite his tongue, but the seal that shut his mouth prevented him from doing so.
He tries to occupy himself with random thoughts. This time he is just listening to the conversation of two versions of himself.
One consoles him, saying, “This suffering that you are experiencing is nothing compared to the benefit that you have brought to our brethren; a small price to pay for the truth.”
The other chastises him saying, “Oh come on, you know deep down that what he is saying is a lie. You know that the truth you risked your life to expose, was already covered up by the Ibis”
The two bickers in his mind endlessly. Agreeing only on a few things; one of which is that; He has already done his best...
Lost in his own thoughts, he is jarred awake. Like an undisturbed pond, instantly receiving a barrage of stones. He pulls down his wandering consciousness into what just happened.
He just felt a searing pain radiate from his neck. The tube attached to his neck was removed! Surprised and overjoyed, he continued to observe.
Then he heard something. And he started seeing light creep through his still closed eyelids, as the cloth covering his eyes and ears were slowly being undone. With the cover peeled-off, he opened his eyes, ready to face whatever is ahead.
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