At once, the door opened again, revealing Rennar and, this time… a person he was familiar with despite Khael having met him once. His pale blonde hair and delicate face made him feminine-looking. Still, Hector was a man with a demeanor to be feared.

Hector walked toward Khael and told Rennar. "Mend him as much as wounds and scrapes are not discernible in every corner of his body."

"A-as you wish, Lord Hector," said Rennar. "Let me get Francis here immediately."

"And you," Hector seems to pertaining Roldan. "You are pardoned. It seems you are mistakenly implicated in this conflict. Forgive us for this trouble. We will prepare the-"

"What do you mean…," Roldan doesn't seem to restrain the outburst of his emotion. "Are you telling me that you feel sorry for me?? They… they died! These persons had died by your nonsense torture despite your false accusation!"

Hector remained silent. His pale face seemed to have no trace of sympathy or any remorse towards the few lifeless bodies in front of him. "It's not for you to decide if they are innocent," he said softly but firmly. "I was the one to proclaim that. And here I professing that you are innocent unless you oppose it."

"So tell me… do you?"

'This is the worst.' Khael thought. He knew that if Roldan decided to oppose him, he would waste the chance of getting out of this mess and meet the same fate elder Gado and the others did.

The look in Roldan's eyes was tinged with hatred and fear. It was the hatred towards what happened to elder Gado and the others because justice for them wasn't possible. And feared that he would waste a chance to see his family again if he did.

"I-I… did not. I-I am indeed innocent," said Roldan reluctantly. He did not even hide the distaste tone from his voice.

"That's good to hear," said Hector. As then, Rennar and Francis arrived. "Rennar, Francis, do as I told you to."

"Surely, Lord Hector." Both of them said in unison.

Khael looked at Roldan. He saw the guilt and regret in his eyes. Them, not being able to do anything but only obey those above them, is something he was quite familiar with. Be it in a world where there's no something like magic or some unusual occurrences. It was still the same, and the world will always be cruel.

"What are you going to do to me?" Khael asked, staring unswervingly right at Hector.

"Don't worry, you are free as well," he said. He then gazed back at Khael, having a thorough look at him. The curious gaze he gave was the first expression he showed them. "Tell me… what are you to Dessia Adhilla??"

"Huh…" Khael muttered. It took him back, and suddenly, he somewhat felt a ray of hope hearing that name.

"Bring along the kid once you're done," said Hector. He then leaves immediately, and the two of them, Rennar and Francis, hurriedly free Khael.

He struggled to stay conscious as his body and mind were in a mess. His sight was hazy as if a fog encircled his vision, but he could still make out something in his tired teared-swollen eyes.

And then, somehow, he can feel his strength recovering and the pain in his body slowly diminishing but not completely gone. Strangely, he feels a tad better all of a sudden. Then he remembered that they were ordered to treat him, though he wasn't thankful for that.

Khael can finally feel the part of his body from where precisely the steel cuff was—leaving a swollen reddish skin as a sign of being tied for so long.

"Come on, don't make Lord Hector wait," Rennar said.

Khael doesn't have much resistance from his body as he helplessly allows them to move him, despite his urge to punch the shit out of them. He turned his gaze back to Roldan, who was still in a terrible state. Probably he was just keeping himself from passing out for so long and still sitting on the ground—looking at him in relief. "Khael… go on, we can meet later or maybe… someday," said Roldan. "Don't worry about me."

A few moments had passed, and they arrived in front of a tall wooden door. The three of them entered, revealing an elegant room with a decent size enough to hold a social gathering. There are two people inside besides Hector. Khael looked into them thoroughly as he seemed to recognize one of them.

Her distinct firmament hair made her recognizable. While Khael couldn't clearly see her face, he was confident it was her. Her voice made it more apparent despite the short time they had talked during his time in the strange prison. "Khael!" Dessia Adhilla called out. "What-what they had done to you?"

The old woman was supposed to help him out if only things did not end up the way it does. Dessia pulled Khael close to her and gently embraced him with the utmost care, bringing a warm feeling.

"Why would you go such length to save that kid?" asked Hector.

"You had got what you want. We had our terms, and one of those is you won't question anything or even talk about this ever again,"

"Forgive me, that'll be the last time," Hector frowns, "but we have to cut ties between ourselves from now on."

"Of course, we won't ever bother you again, Hector," said Dessia as she took Khael and brought him over to the person with him. "Kalafu, would you mind?"

Hector inspects them expressionless for a moment and finally says. "It was my utmost honor to be raised and taught by none other than you," Hector said as he kneeled and gave the old woman his token of gratitude. "Francis, escort them on their way out."

"As you say, my Lord," Francis responded.

"That wasn't needed, Hector," said Kalafu carrying Khael in his arms that seemed effortless to him. "Unlike you, we would never get lost on our way."

Those are the last exchanged Khael had heard before finally passing out. The moment he woke up was when he met an unfamiliar ceiling for the fourth time. But this time, he wasn't cuffed or even in a cramped, dark narrow room.

Khael hastily scanned his surroundings to determine the current situation he had. And it took all of his might to prepare both his heart and mind for whatever he seemed to find out. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw an utterly ordinary bedroom.

And beside the bed where he's lying, someone was asleep with her head resting on the armrest of the wooden chair, looking tired and worn out.

Khael tries to remember something from his mind from the events that happened to him before he gave in to the hellish experienced he endured. 'Was I finally safe?' He doubted it at first because he still knew nothing about his current situation or even his whereabouts. It made him worried and anxious.

The nightmare of an experience he had taken still lingered on him. Khael was still picturing the unfortunate fate of elder Gado and others in his mind. He wondered if they would even have a proper send-off or if they were just getting rid of insignificantly. And what will happen to "Roldan? Those thoughts kept him from having peace of mind—continuing to nag him with guilt and sorrow helplessly.

Khael carefully gets off the bed to prevent a slight quiver that may cause the old woman to wake up. He chooses not to think about it at the moment, to momentarily relish what seemed to be the temporary conclusion to the sufferings he experienced.

Khael then unconsciously reached for something in his left hand that made him wonder why. 'Did I try to grab something just now?' he asked himself, but nothing came to mind no matter how hard he thought about it.