The five of us stood inside the wide prison tunnel, the air still thick with dust and lingering heat. Cells lined both sides of the corridor, most of them broken or burned, their iron bars twisted from the recent battle. Ash floated gently through the space, drifting past the cracked stone floor.
Knight stood a short distance away, his sleek black form still as a shadow, crimson eyes glowing faintly as he watched the tunnel like a silent sentry.
Xin, who hadn't stopped rubbing his temples since the fight ended, finally spoke up.
"Okay. Seriously. Someone tell me what the hell is going on. Why is the Empire attacking? What day is it? Did I die in the prison and now this is some weird afterlife where I follow around a guy who freezes ninety monsters just to make a point?"
Ming sighed and crossed his arms.
"Ignore him. He gets like this after battle. But I do want to know, why is the Empire here, Billion?"
