The Castle in the middle of nowhere.

It took two days for Cédric to return to Avalon with the prisoner. Once he transferred him into proper care, he asked for a few days off since he wanted to show Mayor Jilla the city. The poor girl was overwhelmed but at the same time couldn't wait to see it up close. So, while Cédric had some fun, I sat in front of the captured Elf who eyed me with hate. I knew that Irene and Luna were watching and could help me with their insight if needed.

"Before we start, I want to ensure that you fully realise your situation." I almost sighed. This was a huge time loss and I will be extremely surprised if it turned out otherwise. "You, most probably, counted on one of the many curses and geasa you hosted to kill you the moment I asked you a wrong question and you would, painlessly, take your knowledge to the grave. That won't happen."

I watched his face twist into a smug grin as if he wanted to taunt me to test it but, as he closed his eyes, the confirmation of my words must have been painful. He momentarily went pale.

"As you can see, you were thoroughly cleansed and we even changed your clothes. Even the slave collar you wear is new." I continued with amusement. "You are also deep underground. No one can save you. Even the beings you call gods are powerless to reach you or save you here. Or, even, kill you, they don't have any care or consideration in this place."

He glanced at me, at his cuffed hands and legs, bound together with a thin but extremely durable alloy chain.

"Don't bother with attacking anyone in an attempt to get yourself killed because that's not going to work. Now..." I snapped my fingers and a Living Armour entered the room. "You can't lie to me, I will immediately know thanks to a skill. As you should have already noticed, we are in a Dungeon. If you somehow overlooked that for any reason, then surprise. You are in a Dungeon. Being here means a few things but, most importantly, dying is not necessarily a sure way out. It's also not even remotely enough to get yourself a quick exit. If you die before I get my answers, I will haul your sorry ass to the unconsecrated grounds and bind your soul into eternal servitude."

Now, the man was completely pale and his empty stare betrayed how his carefully prepared act was rapidly crumbling.

"With that in mind, I want you to look at Sentinel." I pointed at my Living Armour scion who opened to show the highly disturbing and somehow menacing emptiness inside. "He is a Living Armour. One of the lesser-known abilities of these fascinating denizens is their ability to devour fools who believe they found magical armour. Living Armours will, then, obtain all the memories of the life of their victim. Sooo... With you now knowing that, we can start because you know there is no point in lying to me."

I gave him a few moments to stop screaming as I took a few sips of an excellent apple juice.

"Let's start with something that intrigues me on a personal level. How does it feel to be the scapegoat sent to die?"

"How..." He mumbled involuntarily.

"You can't really believe that spying on everyone is exclusive to the Ibrevellians, do you?" I chuckled in amusement and saw his utter horror as he realised what I implied. "I had a pretty good idea about Ibrevell and your little breeding project. I also have solid evidence that your king hates me so much that, had I dropped dead, he would have made a national holiday to commemorate it. However... You are here. Why?"

He sagged so much that I was afraid he was going to melt.

"You should be asking me who I worked with and why I wanted to hurt Irene Umelar-"

"Her name is Irene va'Theon. Not Umelar. I don't care about your ideas or what you consider right or wrong. From now on, you will refer to her only as Irene va'Theon." I interrupted him and he stiffly nodded. "Besides, I'm going to ask about it later. Now answer my previous question."

"Horrible..." The man winced but at least he was honest. "I wasn't expecting it."

"I'm sure you were a loyal soldier and did everything you believed was best for your country..." I mustered the remaining seriousness to, at least, sound remotely convincing. "Tell me, because I'm burning with curiosity. Was it really your idea to attack the Arcadian airships?"

"Yes." He hesitantly agreed.

"Interesting! I'll allow myself another question." I grinned wickedly as I sensed he had told me the truth. "Were the original orders you were tasked with something along the lines of forcing Aclium to war at any cost?"

His pale face paled even more as he cast another terrified and hateful gaze.

"Yes..." He whispered with absolute shock and despair.

"So, one could even argue it wasn't your idea at all," I argued and, sensing that he was absolutely honest with me so far, I decided to push him a little bit forward. "Are you doing this to protect your family?"

"I don't have a family..." He replied with hesitation. It was a lie but not a strong one.

"Your parents, perhaps?" I almost suggested and his frown was like a confirmation.

"Yes..." He slowly admitted.

"Your superiors threw you at me as a sacrifice. You were told this was the only way to protect your country and parents. But, as you probably realise now, that was a lie. In case you are still too naive to connect the dots, I will tell you a secret." I confidentially leaned forward and lowered my voice. "They sent you to die here, in one of many unimaginable ways, to cover their asses."

He chuckled bitterly but said nothing. I let him simmer in doubts and a growing sense of injustice. He was a peon. A fairly important but, ultimately, expendable peon. Frankly, killing him would be a huge waste of time. But...

"Look... What do you say about striking a deal? Hmmm?"

"A deal?" He asked weakly with a shudder.

"I would need the names of the people truly responsible for the attack and, once you give them to me, you will live... A relatively comfortable life, in some nice prison cell, with a view, three meals, and a library. You are intelligent, so you know that I can get them at any moment..." I inclined my head towards the still-open Sentinel. "But... We both know that this..." I tapped at the table between us. "This situation irks you. It's unfair. They lied to you. They shackled you in a slave collar. They betrayed you. After all those years of your faithful and dutiful service, they just send you to die..."

I saw the entire palette of emotions cross his face. I wasn't sure if my brazenly simplistic emotional manipulation was even going to work. But his eyes hardened. He came here fully prepared to die but, when I sowed the seeds of doubt in his heart, his confidence crumbled. His readiness to die waned. Because, he realised that death wasn't even remotely near nor did it end his suffering if I wished.

"Anyway!" I suddenly beamed a smile that made him shiver. "Think about it. I will give you some time... Within reason, of course."

I simply left the room, leaving his answer hanging.

"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?" Irene tilted her head, confused curiosity painted all over her.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"If I hadn't known better that it's pointless in his case, I would have guessed that you were trying to brainwash him." Luna tapped her full lips.

"I wouldn't say it's pointless, my cute Foxie." I grinned at her. "It's all about expectations. He was ready to die to protect his kingdom but he isn't really a martyr type. Dying was one thing but being bound to a Dungeon and suffering for all eternity as the tales say? That's a completely different story. Guys like him never sign up for that kind of trip."

"I can understand that but you weren't..." Irene blinked furiously and then she smiled coldly. "Oh... You weren't exactly offering him a way out, were you?"

"Exactly..." I took a deeper breath as I looked at the Elf sitting in the next room. He couldn't see or hear us but we could take a very close look at him. "He may be able to redeem himself, but I said it already... I want everyone who attacked you and Hestia dead. However... This guy here is a very skilled assassin. Nearly level ninety so he must have been an elite within Ibrevell. And yet, they tossed him away..."

"You want him to return to Ibrevell and start killing..." Luna nodded with understanding.

"Oh, no! How could I, my dear Luna? I can't just send him there alone!" I denied but the sarcasm was dripping from each letter. "I would send him with Jester..."

"That's somehow, even worse." Irene chuckled but her eyes shone coldly. "I won't say they don't deserve that."

I smiled to myself. The Elves believed they could play with me. They thought they could attack my family and get away with it. Oh, how wrong they were...

•••

Orina organised her notes from the, unmistakable, Wikipedia articles provided by Emperor Theon. She was surprised by his question about when she died back on Earth but, quickly, it became clear enough. She died in 2020, Freya in 2024, and Theon in 2080-something, he wasn't sure. However, Orina was reborn seventeen years ago, Theon just one year ago, while Freya had been around for more than three thousand years. Their death on Earth was unrelated to the time of reincarnation in Nilmerthis. Thankfully, it was simply a curiosity or a fun fact so she gladly accepted it and moved on. The last few days had gone by in a haze of activity which she, somehow, appreciated. Mostly because she had no time to think about the past few years. She wasn't over the shock of being set free when she was hit by another shock. While being escorted by the Praetorians out of the Emperor's Palace, she finally had time and a slightly clearer head to look at the city around her. It was a stunning fusion of a classical medieval fantasy with modern city elements and planning.

When she arrived in front of the huge, three-story-tall mansion, she wasn't exactly sure what she was doing there. It was quickly revealed that it was the beginning of her house-hunting trip. As it turned out, Lady Lanka had prepared seven different and equally huge mansions close to the heart of Avalon. The Nekomi also explained to Orina that no money in the world would ever buy a single house she was offered. It took them the whole first day of her stay in Avalon to look at every mansion but while she was honestly indifferent to choosing, Lanka decided that she just needed more time. That's how she ended up sleeping in Lanka's mansion. For the first time in her life, she fell asleep without fear. When she woke up, she realised that for the first time in her almost adult life in Nilmerthis, she was excited. After the incredibly delicious breakfast, she eagerly looked through the plans once again and decided, to once more, to visit two houses. She chose the smaller of the two but, with a much bigger garden and an office space on the ground floor, she imagined she could adapt it as a place where she could meet with her patients.

Things after that moved in a flash. She met a lot of people, visited many places, and she even dimly remembered visiting some stores. But, if not for the confidence of Lady Lanka, she would never have managed to do so many things at once. The extent of the new things around her nearly allowed her to forget about the recent painful past. It was there, still aching like a painful brand burned somewhere on her body but she wasn't paralysed by fear any more.

"Orina?!" Lanka's voice came from somewhere in the hall.

"I'm in the library!" Orina shouted back with a smile. Before she knew it, Lanka had become her first friend.

Well... Technically, it was a library, albeit mostly empty. It was a proper study room with rows of shelves where she could store all her books but, currently, she had just a handful of them. A professional-looking maid opened the doors and Orina smiled. At first, she was shocked by the idea of having servants but, once she was informed that they were legitimate workers who received a salary and Arcadian-enforced strict employee rights policies, she calmed down. However, in her case, the bulk of her servants were actual monsters. Noble Slimes and Death Knights disguised as maids, butlers, and soldiers were part of her security. She wasn't sure why she needed to be protected but, mindful of her past, she stayed silent. Behind her Slime Maid, Orina noticed Lanka and two more visitors.

"Hello, Orina!" Lanka smiled as usual. The Nekomi was, as always, full of energy. "I wanted to introduce you to my friend, please meet Cédric."

"Oh... Hi. I'm Orina..." She introduced herself only to notice that the man was an Elf.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dame Orina." He knightly bowed to her but she was certain that he noticed her fear.

"Cédric is one of the people who is involved in buying slaves in the southern nations." If Lanka noticed her reaction she masterfully hid it. "He also works for Empress Luna, herself, in the Imperial Inquisition Bureau."

"Oh... I'm sorry, Sir Cédric but I'm still a bit lost..." Orina relaxed. Through her skill, she knew that Cédric was an assassin but the knowledge that he was a trusted man of the Emperor was comforting.

"Don't mention it, Dame Orina. What you went through gives all justification to take everything slowly." He smiled and Orina cringed.

"Just Orina, please... I... I'm not used to such formal titles." She sighed awkwardly.

"In that case, it would be only fair if you call me just Cédric." He smiled warmly. "Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Miss Jilla, the Mayor of town Trodo. Well... Maybe not any more."

The second Nekomi was so nervous that she twitched when her name was mentioned.

"I'm always glad to meet new friends." Orina smiled meekly at Jilla.

"Likewise, Lady Orina!" Jilla curtsied nervously, barely smoothing a stutter.

"But I'm not..." She sighed and looked questioningly at Lanka.

"Well, you are now an Imperial Noble of the rank of Baroness. It's not official yet, but it's not a secret either, so I propose you should get used to it." The Nekomi in question flashed her perfect smile. "Anyway! Empress Cahrona is still gathering your future team of psychologists and, I was told, it would take at least an entire week. Unfortunately, Cédric and I have to return to our mission and I don't know when I will be able to return."

"Oh..." Orina was sad to hear it but was glad Lanka told her. "I will pray to Goddess Verka for your safety."

Orina promised with a slightly forced smile.

"Oh, we will try to visit you as often as possible; however, I would like to ask you for a favour." Lanka grinned. "You see, Jilla is a very talented person and, while Cédric initially wanted to let her just see the capital and catch up with recent events, Empress Luna noticed her talents and loyalty."

Orina smiled and nodded. She already knew that Lanka had a habit of giving fairly long explanations but she preferred it that way. Lanka looked at the very nervous woman who took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Even in my wildest dreams, I would never have seen myself speaking with someone as important as the Empress of Arcadia. Her Imperial Highness noticed my meagre talents and asked me if I would like to study at the Royal University! I couldn't believe it!" Only when Jilla finished did she open her eyes, making Orina smile.

"When Cédric told me about it and told me he would have to look for something for Jilla, I immediately thought about you, Orina!" Lanka flashed another bright smile. "I really don't want to leave you alone in Avalon so I thought that Jilla could help you to accommodate a bit. You both will need to adjust to living in the capital so I thought it would be a good idea. You would also have someone to talk to... What do you think?"

Orina looked at the meek Nekomi with pleasant surprise. "Would you really like to help me?"

"I would be glad to!" Jilla smiled.

"Then... I'll be in your care, I guess." Orina chuckled, making the Nekomi blush.

"Thank you so much, Orina. I will, of course, cover all of Jilla's expenses if she needs more money than I gave her." The Elf smiled with a slight relief, making Jilla blush curtly. "I brought her to Avalon so I feel obliged to help her."

Orina moved her gaze between them and slowly nodded with a happy smile. "I will be far more confident with someone who knows how to... Live normally, I guess."

They moved to the separate tea room where her maids had already prepared drinks and pastries. They talked for the next hour and Orina immediately realised it was for the benefit of her and Jilla. Lanka and Cédric very skillfully pushed the discussion between topics, making mostly Jilla and Orina speak. She gladly accepted that arrangement and discovered that Jilla was a very friendly and likeable person. After saying goodbye to Lanka and Cédric, who needed to return to their duties, Orina and Jilla talked until dinner. Both young women were far less nervous than just a few hours prior and were looking forward to their new lives.