𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓: 𝑬𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒕 (𝑹𝑬𝑾𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬)

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏- 𝑨𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚

Sentara pointed the knife at Tygren's throat, going far enough to make a shallow cut. She reckoned that if she made the cut deeper, he'd actually back off, so she pushed the blade further. Blood dripped down the knife, gathering at the bottom of the blade and forming a droplet of scarlet liquid. Tygren's expression proved her theory wrong.

Either he was really good at masking pain or he didn't feel it whatsoever.

"What makes you think a simple cut will threaten me? I know you're not inclined to slit my throat...either you're not as much of an asshole as you present yourself as, or you still need my information for Zeris to pay you," Tygren whispered, voice low and monotone as he maintained a blank face. Sentara replied with a stern silence, grip tightening around the knife's handle.

"Ah. Now you're the tenacious one. That's fine, from what I can infer, you're too sensitive." Tygren stood up, wiping blood off of his neck. Sentara sat up, cleaning her knife and sheathing it. "I'm not sensitive, I'm sparing you." She crossed her arms. "Right, I'm sure that's true. We both know you're sensitive, so you attempt to mask it by acting like you don't care about anything."

Sentara wore a defensive expression, thinking about how she could retaliate. "I can tell you care about Apexis." She took note of his slight shift in mood. "Well, the sight amount of decency I have goes to caring about two other people who are very present in my life." Tygren sighed, ears pinning as he felt the cut on his neck.

"It's so humid out here, how do you live like this?" He complained. "It's not that hot, you're fine." She scoffed. He rolled his eyes. "Sentara!" Zeris called. She grabbed Tygren's arm and dragged him along. "Interrogation is coming to a halt for today. I'll tell you about it later."

Tygren and Azulis were back in the cellar. Attempting the obvious, Tygren tried to open the trapdoor as he did a while ago, but it was locked this time. "There has to be some other way out of here," He muttered, jumping off the ladder. Azulis was clearly thinking about something, knees up to his face as his eyes stared at the floor unblinkingly.

"Now what's on your mind?" He looked down at him. Azulis brought his knees closer to his face and said nothing. Tygren rested his head in his hands. "I assume something happened during the interrogation?" He inquired. Azulis sniffled quietly, completely hiding his face. Tygren was someone you wouldn't describe as very empathetic, so awkwardness ensued while he contemplated having human emotions.

"Azulis, pick your head up," He demanded. Was his forcefulness helping? No, not at all. Did it work? Sort of, yes. Azulis did indeed pick his head up and look at him. The first thing he noticed was that his face scar was gushing blood. "What in the shit did Zeris do?" Tygren knelt down, tilting Azulis' head up with his hand. It was still somewhat hard to see in the dark, but since the scar was right next to his eyes it was slightly illuminated.

"I refused to give him any information and at first it started as a threat, and then when the threat didn't work, he did this. He continued to cut deeper, so I had to give him some information," Azulis explained shakily. Tygren thought for a moment. "What information did you give him?" He asked, still studying the gash. At first, he was silent. "I...I told him that we had the Supporium and Mobillium Prime Songs." Azulis' eyes watered slightly.

"I'm so, so, sorry. Maybe if I was less sensitive this wouldn't be such a problem-"

"Stop crying. It makes me feel guilty. As I said before, this is not your fault. Besides, Zeris has no apparent connection to the Masters, or we would've been questioned in Northwind. He's simply an idiot wasting his time. Once we find our way out of here, we can find Apexis and resume where we left off." Tygren stopped kneeling and sat down. Azulis furrowed his eyebrows.

"So you're not mad at me?" He asked.

"Internally, perhaps, but mostly, no. Your sensitivity makes you very nonconfrontational, which can be considered a strength. My constant indifference tends to land me in more annoying situations than I'd like to admit." Tygren pointed out. "I've been meaning to ask you something, by the way."

"And what might that be?"

"Just, ever since you and Apexis went to Sendaria, you've been kind of...different? Somehow less apathetic and irritable. If it isn't too personal, what happened? All I know is that Apexis was-"

"Asking very stupid questions and attempting to comfort me. I was not having the best time, and she made it a whole lot worse by being pushy. Will I recount the situation verbatim? No, I will not, as the situation will reply itself, but instead of Apexis being injured, you'd be in her place." Tygren cut him off. Azulis nodded slightly, subconsciously touching his scar.

He flinched. "Don't touch it, you'll infect it." Tygren grabbed his wrist. Azulis' ears pinned slightly as Tygren let go of his hand.

After that, they were in that cellar for a good two more days. They were given water, of course, but no food. They were both used to not eating much food since they had very restricted supplies. Zeris entered the cellar.

"You two are coming with us to Northwind." He jumped off of the ladder, folding his arms behind his back. "Let me guess- you're going to notify the masters of our apparent progress. How do you know Azulis was telling the truth? He could have fabricated that statement so you'd stop being an asshole." Tygren glared up at him. The Kaltaris returned the glare, thinking for a moment. "Because. I can tell he isn't the kind of guy to create lies on the spot. I can tell you are. You're a quick thinker, which is probably good for you."

Tygren blinked, smiling and shaking his head. "I'm not a quick thinker. Instead, I just conjure all of the possible outcomes of a situation before it happens. Then, I find a way to make a plan that works the best- one that deals with most of those outcomes without actually knowing what will happen," He explained, folding his hands together. Zeris frowned.

Sentara climbed down into the cellar, seemingly becoming more annoyed than usual at the sight of Tygren. "Great, I have to put up with you again," She muttered. "Or, you could just let us be on our way and you won't have to deal with my annoying ass. Your choice."

"Yeah, not happening. Nice try." Sentara reached out to grab him. "Don't touch me." He slapped her hand, frowning and lurching backward. Azulis sighed quietly. "What's got you so depressed?" Sentara quipped. "The fact that I have to deal with you for another few weeks," He replied, standing up.

Sentara crossed her arms, scoffing. "Zeris, I'm not that difficult to be around, am I?"

"Ehh, well-"

"Fuck you too then, I guess."

Then they started arguing. "Azulis, use your Song," Tygren whispered. At first, he was confused and then remembered. He approached them. "Um, can we avoid arguing? It gets you nowhere." He waited until they both looked at him and then flashed his Song. "SHIT!" Sentara stumbled, rubbing her eyes. She bumped into Zeris, who tripped over something. Tygren sprung into action, hurriedly climbing up the ladder. Once he was outside, he pulled Azulis up as well.

"Wait! There's a lock on here." Azulis shouted, closing the trapdoor and locking it. "I guess they'll be stuck down there for a while," Tygren commented. It was night(and raining), so not many Ardoni were awake or outside. The select few guards did spot them. "We should hurry before the entire city is on our asses."

They were chased by this one really persistent guy. "Would you give up? You're not going to catch us!" Tygren shouted over the rain, glancing back at him. "NEVER! I SHAN'T FAIL!"

"Who the hell uses the word shan't?!" Tygren yelled, confused. "Nevermind- I don't want to hear it." He sighed.

They made it out of Ataraxia. "Is he still after us?" Azulis panted, catching his breath. Tygren, on the other hand, had much more stamina and didn't really need the break. "I think he failed. He did what he said he shan't, or something."