Enigmas

Time passed, and Yoan tried many various ways to escape from the prison cell, alas, just like what Hilia had said. It was an impossible feat, and Yoan settled down beside Hilia. For the second time in his life, he felt so terribly weak and hapless.

The first time he felt this way in his life, was when his parents disappeared without a trace, along with Hilia's parents when he was at the age of ten. Hilia's grandmother gladly took Yoan in and raised the two of them to the people they were today. Yoan only knew his father was an excellent swordsman and his mother was a woman with exceptional archery skills from Hilia's grandmother, and hearing the tales about them when he was younger, made him inspired.

Travelling alongside her and Hilia to the many villages for prayers, Yoan witnessed swordsmanship from many, motivating him to take up the sword his father had left behind for him. From training his strength, stamina and agility, to practicing swordsmanship alone with a wooden dummy or with a few people from the village and observing how people sparred with one another.

Reminiscing his past memories, Yoan was brought back to reality when he felt a soft impact on his shoulder. Glancing beside him, he noticed Hilia had cuddled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Still trying to figure a way out of here?" She asked, rubbing at her arms distractedly.

"You are right," Yoan admitted begrudgingly. "There is no possible way out of here."

"I'm sorry...it's all my fault we ended up in such a difficult situation." Hilia apologised, feeling guilty.

"You just wanted to save the child, didn't you? It's not your fault."

"Maybe I shouldn't have interfered."

Yoan chuckled, "you have always interfered when someone's life is at risk."

Hilia didn't answer, only pouting to herself. Yoan allowed her to rest on his shoulder as he slowly took out his sword as the piercing ringing noise resounding across the cell. Regarding his father's sword with an unreadable look and Hilia just stared at him.

"My father...left these twin swords behind for me, both of them are identical, lightweight and outstanding." Yoan muttered out and Hilia smiled.

Among all the years of trying all the different swords he came across, nothing could ever come close to his father's twinswords. From this experience, Yoan knew whoever who had crafted this twin swords was a remarkable blacksmith.

"Your parents...I can only remember them to be unparalleled in their fighting abilities when I was younger."

Yoan smirked, "you told me that a million times, Hilia."

"It's really true! Watching them fight together, it looked like they were dancing."

"You told me that a million times too."

Yoan made a move to withdraw the other sword, when a thought occurred to him. "Hilia...don't you find something strange here?"

"Strange? What do you mean by that?"

"Do you throw the prisoner's belongings in with them, when they are in prison? Especially their weapons?"

Hilia furrowed her eyebrows, sitting straight up and Yoan reached for his backpack, rummaging through it. Even his bow had been thrown into prison with them. At that moment, Yoan spotted a familiar package and he hastily took it out, narrowing his eyes.

"That package! Mino had it with him, why is it…?" Hilia said, only to trail off as she changed her eyes. She realised there wasn't a single life force around this dungeon, or anywhere near them.

A dungeon for prisoners, shouldn't it be fully guarded? It's just like Yoan said, this is very strange.

"You are right, I don't see anyone around us."

Yoan recalled the syringe he procured from the young boy before he before he was knocked out. He wasn't surprised to find it in his pocket, since their belongings are all still with them. Handing over the syringe to Hilia, he lowered his voice.

"That child had this on his hand, and he was aiming it at that captain before you stopped him."

Hilia grabbed it, inspecting it closely, noting the transparent liquid present in the syringe. Yoan stood up, heading towards the prison bars and pushing the door open. It was locked and Yoan was half-heartedly expecting it to be unlocked, even though he tried it previously. There were no guards around them and their weapons was in their hands, in perfect condition.

"Are you not going to ask me why I did what I did, Yoan?"

"Why should I? You never do anything without a reason."

"Aren't you curious about the reason?"

"...your explanations always bore me, they are too long, Hilia."

That statement made Hilia roll her eyes, Yoan was a person who preferred simple answers and explanations. Detailed explanations bored him to no end, and he would doze off eventually, thus, Hilia's grandmother could never teach him anything related to spiritual energy and priestesses.

Hilia sighed, "listen Yoan, that young boy, his life force was black. It meant that he was being controlled by something."

"Controlled?"

Hilia nodded, still holding the syringe in her hand. "I think, there is something more to this town--or kingdom. The inspection at the front of the gates, the child being controlled and this odd circumstances we are in."

"Hilia, we are only here to get information about the people that attacked our village, not involve ourselves in the affairs of a kingdom.

"I know that, but-"

Footsteps echoed throughout the dungeon, interrupting their conversation and Yoan stood against the wall, while Hilia conjured her staff, directing her eyes towards the source of the footsteps. She noticed the life force of someone approaching them, and she knew it belonged to an adult, since a life force of a child and an adult has a significant difference.

They heard the person whistling, accompanied by the jingling of keys as the person gradually reached their cell. At that moment, Hilia swung her staff towards the steel bars, her eyes glowing brightly, getting into a defensive stance. She was taken aback when the person, that was a lean, blue-haired man, yelped in alarm, dropping his keys and ended up tripping over his own legs, and kissing the concrete pavement.

Yoan, who was preparing to unsheathe his sword, halted abruptly as he was rendered speechless by the ridiculous scene.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The young man hastily stood up a few seconds later, retrieving his keys quickly as he marched towards their cell. His charming boyish face red in embarrassment.

"Mino asked me to release the two of you, but I didn't expect such a frightening greeting!" He barked out, glaring at them with his azure eyes, shoving the keys into the lock.

Hilia lowered her staff, changing her eyes back to normal and Yoan relaxed his stance, blinking rapidly himself. The keys jingled noisily as the young man grumbled to himself, unlocking their cell.

"I'm...sorry…" Hilia murmured out and the man continued glaring at them.

"Here you go," he said, stepping back. "My job here is done, so-"

"Hey, your nose is...bleeding." Yoan pointed out to the man, and Yoan's expression was a mixture of confusion and mirth.

"Bleeding?" The man scoffed and Hilia gasped, watching the blood flow down from his nose. The man reached up to touch his nose, clearly feeling something wet on his finger and he drew back his finger, looking at it.

It was crimson in colour.

"Bleeding," the man repeated the same word, his eyes wide as he looked at his finger. "I am really bleeding."

He chuckled in disbelief, giving the two of them a pained expression, their expression mimicking his. "I can't...stand the sight of blood."

With those words, he proceeded to faint on the spot.

"Oh my god, he fainted!"

"This...this is your fault, Hilia."

"What did I do?!"

"You scared him to death and made him fall, and he hit his nose." Yoan stated, as if it was matter of fact.

"How was I supposed to know what would happen?"

"It's still your fault."

"Enough! We need to help him, hold his nose and carry him out of here!"