"What do you mean this isn't a prison?!"

The man in the kimono raised his hands.
"It is...
and it isn't.
Almost all the cells here are empty.
The only 'prisoners' are the ones you saw at the tables."

Finde frowned.

"They aren't real criminals" the man in the kimono continued.
"They're Feltor's political prisoners.
Along with their families."

Silence.

"What...?"
Finde was left open-mouthed. Shocked.

"Anyone who gets in Feltor's way meets a terrible fate.
He locks them up here, together with their loved ones.
Then he forces them to work as slaves."

"Sorting through rocks!...
Why?"

The man in the kimono sighed.
"Did you see the quarry on your way here?"

"Yeah.
It was enormous."

"That's where they extract Lesina,
the stone almost all of Gilaris is built from.
But then...
some time ago, they found something else...
Mitris."

Finde felt a chill run down his spine.

The man in the kimono continued.
"One of the rarest minerals in the universe. Coveted by everyone.
An energy source.
Bioactive.
Still not fully understood.
Its potential is... enormous."

Finde swallowed.

"Feltor tried to keep it a secret.
He failed.
Word reached the ears of the worst beings imaginable.
The Fhuurians."

Finde nodded slowly.
"The cruel conquerors."

"Exactly...
They haven't invaded Gilaris only because this planet is a vital hub of interstellar trade.
Not even they want an intergalactic war against a coalition of warrior houses."

The man in the kimono stared at him.
"Have you ever seen the aftermath of a war like that, kid?"

Finde shook his head.

"Good.
It's the most catastrophic artificial event imaginable.
Entire worlds destroyed.
The debris of planets and starships drifting through hyperspace for centuries."

A pause.

"So Feltor made a deal with those demons.
Mitris in exchange for immunity...
and 'protection. And..."

The man in the kimono lowered his voice.
"Every now and then... a few young girls."

Sarah's face flashed through Finde's mind.
"I saved a girl in the Badlands before coming here.
Two thugs tried to kidnap her, but they didn't seem like Fhuurians.
They were too weak."

"Those were Feltor's men.
The Mitris and the girls are delivered to the Fhuurians
far away from this planet."

"What do they do with the Mitris... and the girls?"

"No one knows."
The man in the kimono lowered his voice even further.
"They're the most mysterious race in the universe.
People say they have a caste of sorcerers capable of controlling the darkest forces.
Some even swear they entered Morvian centuries ago...
and learned secrets that transcend every known law of science."

Finde clenched his fists.
"You still haven't told me what my sword has to do with all this."

"Nefextus was officially built by Feltor as a prison.
Unofficially... it's the center of his business.
He recruited the worst criminals in Gilaris to run this place.
The Ghost of Nefextus is one of them.
An orphan from the Badlands.
Rebel Mitaris.
Thief.
Assassin.
Spy.
Oh, I almost forgot...
she's the one in charge down here."

Finde stood there, mouth hanging open.
"I thought she was a prisoner."

"Forget all the bullshit they fed you.
Javier is Rebel Mitaris's right-hand man.
To make extra money, she robs the millions of intergalactic tourists passing through Gilaris.
If she sees something rare or valuable, she steals it.
Then she sells it on the black market...
or offers it to the Fhuurians as a token of submission on Feltor's behalf.
That's where your sword is headed."

Panic.

The man in the kimono chuckled beneath his mask.
"The good news is, you now know your sword is an item of tremendous value.
But don't panic just yet.
If she stole it today, she couldn't have gotten it out of Nefextus already."

Finde's bracelet vibrated.
Teleport connection request: Gladyo. Accept?
He tapped NO.

Only then did he realize his arms were still trembling.

The man in the kimono noticed.
"You're already in burnout after using such a tiny amount of Ori?"

"What do you know about it?" Finde snapped.
"If you're a warrior, you could've helped me a lot more back there."

The man in the kimono lowered his head slightly.
"My father was.
I've always rejected war... and bloodshed."

Finde sighed.
"Sorry. I was rude.
It's just that I was born on a white planet, and it's holding me back."

"Actually, you should be proud of yourself.
It's already a miracle that you've reached..."

"...this level. Yeah, yeah."
Finde cut him off, exploding.
"I'm sick of hearing that same damn speech over and over!!"

His voice broke with rage.
"The truth is I'm not proud of a damn thing!
I've worked myself to the bone... and I'm still weak.
Too weak!
And it's driving me insane!"

Silence.

Then he continued.
"I let someone steal my weapon right under my nose like an idiot.
I can't even use Ori for two attacks without my muscles and nerves threatening to fall apart.
Everyone tells me: 'You should be proud. No white has ever been able to use Ori...'
but I can see the pity in their eyes.
I know they're thinking,
'He'll end up dying at the hands of a Gozhul sooner or later.'
And I'm sick of all of it.
Do you understand?"

The man in the kimono stared at him in silence.
Speechless.
Awkward.

Finde lowered his gaze.
"Sorry.
I took it out on you, and you had nothing to do with it."

The man in the kimono remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he said "There might be a way...
to strengthen the cells of your body.
If I'm right, you could channel as much Ori as the legendary warriors themselves."

Finde's eyes widened.
"What did you say!?".....