My spine tingled with an odd internal burn at the lower end of it as I turned over, throwing Alya on my side.
I wasn't right inside the cell's roof at this moment, but just right ahead of it. There was one main reason: the stone on that part of the wall was… different? Like the stone those metallic walls were made off of my own cell.
I wasn't about to test my patience if I could break them or not, cause that cannon-like flying Sue couldn't even crack that wall. And, I thought of something better.
With a shake of my head, I elbowed the stone below.
THAMMM!
Instantly, bright lantern light pierced my [Eye of Sanguine] abused eyes.
The hallway! Made exactly the same as the one I walked on before. There wasn't a single difference I could notice.
I'd definitely be lost if I worked in this place; no wonder those guards took that long.
I chuckled, trying to ease my nerves. Sorry, but I didn't have any experience in talking to criminals.
'What if he's dangerous, or unstable? The old Lucien or even sweet little Alya, if I'd somehow gotten into their cell, wouldn't have hesitated to use me as a good meal.
An interaction with him beforehand sounds better… Can't just release an unknown, potentially dangerous threat.' I nodded to myself.
After taking a deep breath again, I jumped out alone, using [Whisker paws] to smoothen my fall, standing on all fours like a cat, in front of a giant metallic door.
After checking both ways, I sighed, getting up with a straight back.
'Architects were definitely very lazy.' Not a single difference, even in the cell design.
The grey door was surely weighing in tons at the very least.
You might even wonder how it exists in a time period with no advanced machinery, at least to my knowledge. I don't know the process of making metal doors, but it should be kinda hard to mass-produce with the same quality without cranes to carry stuff.
Surprisingly, it had only one tiny keyhole, comically small for something that size.
And that was my way in! I flashed a devious grin, growing and shortening my nails.
The captive should be cuffed up and in a bad physical shape.
"You there… Who are you?"
Huh?!
A cautious and anxious, creepingly deep voice of a man escaped from the door.
"....Lucien."
FUCKK!!
I revealed my real name. I practically screamed internally, pulling out my thick hair.
After a long minute of tense silence, I smoothed my robe as his voice, a bit less anxious, rang again. Was he less scared of me now?! I already fucked up?
"Yeah? …You are a slave too. How did you escape?" He said casually, assessing the situation in an instant. He was good.
"Ehm.. Doesn't matter. The thing is, I am your benefactor… If you want me to be, of course."
"Benefactor…" He sounded thoughtful.
"I could actually really use a benefactor right now. I am Vanitas, a former Holy Knight Captain, by the way." He said as though we were old friends. God, I hate social butterflies!
But my eyes widened as I fully registered his words. Holy? Holy? …Church! Don't tell me he's one of those bastards who killed the entire vampire race.
My face tensed as Alya's memories of burning towns, women and children with their heads hung on wooden stakes, being eaten by weird birds flashed through my brain like a slide show. My fists clenched until I felt the skin tear and warm blood spill down my palms.
"Something wrong, sir?" He asked respectfully.
"Holy Knight Captain, Vanitas."
My voice grew heavier.
"The one standing before you... is a Vampire."
"...I see."
"I would understand if you change your mind now." He said softly.
"Di—Did you also participate in them?"
"No. I have been here for the last seven years." I felt like some weight was lifted off my chest. I don't know why, maybe because of Alya's memories, or this belonging feeling in this new body, I felt hatred.
"But." He sighed heavily. "I would've. If I had the opportunity to participate, and not here because of an unfortunate sequence of events, I would've definitely." I could feel an odd sense of helplessness from his voice.
"Really?"
"It's my job. The Church's orders are absolute. This doesn't give me any pass to hurt innocent people. They didn't deserve what happened to them. I was surprised when I got the news… I would understand if you even decided to kill me now."
"But you didn't. At the end of the day, what you would've done doesn't really matter." My voice was still cold. But I wasn't about to kill him for something he had no part in, at least not someone like him. I could sense his sincerity.
He froze, then, with a dry laugh, he sighed again, "You're a good person, Lucien." He said my name for the first time.
I paused, my lips curling upwards in silence for a few seconds.
"...You too, Vanitas."
…
"So, you're trying to cause chaos by releasing all the other captives and using them as a distraction while you escape with better chances? I am up for it. I can release everyone quickly." He said confidently after hearing my plan.
"I had been looking for a chance to escape this shithole for over seven years now…" He added in a low whisper.
Perfect.
It's always nice to make a deal in which both sides profit. Then there's a low chance of betrayal or getting caught off guard. Not like Vanitas seems the type to betray anyway.
"Good.... But, could you humour my curiosity?" I asked, not sure if that would be the right thing to ask.
"Sure, go on." He said enthusiastically. Then I won't hesitate!
"How did a Holy Knight, a captain at that, end up becoming a slave in this condition…" I asked in a composed tone, trying my best not to sound judgmental.
He went completely silent, the kind of tense silence no one wants to be a part of.
"That question..." He muttered, his tone low. "It's been seven years since someone asked me that."
His chains rattled once, then twice, like he couldn't stop shaking his leg.
I felt a bit guilty. He sounded depressingly uncomfortable, his entire tone had changed.