Oasis Champion of Death

Chapter Four: Sorrow Begins

  Oasis moved swiftly through the bustling streets of Deniz, her mind a spiral after the unnerving events at City Hall. The weight of the diplomats' papers pressed against her chest, a constant reminder that her world was shifting and there was nothing she could think to do about it. The fact that people now willingly spoke to her unsettled Oasis; their attention felt manipulative, each conversation filled to the brim with personal agendas.

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that stretched across the city. Oasis pulled her hood low, blending into the dimming twilight as she made her way toward the Union Jail where Biko was held. She kept to the less crowded paths, hoping to remain invisible as night settled over the city.

With the air charged with tension the remnants of death—the floating orbs—had started gathering around her once again the more she was alone with her thoughts. No matter how hard she tried to shake them off, they clung to her persistently, especially the orange ones. They flickered around her like grim specters, their presence a reminder of unfinished business, of things left unsaid and undone. And the choices she would have to make in the nearing future. The persistent orbs danced in the air in front of her, sometimes bumping and clinging to her clothes as she tried to push past them.

Seeing them made it hard to ignore the weight of her role as the Champion of Death. The words of the Cirden representative echoed in her mind: "Why not let her choose?" The question gnawed at her, burrowing deep into her thoughts. Could I really make my own choices? she wondered, her heart heavy with uncertainty. And if I can... what would they be?

As she neared the prison, her mood slightly improved as she drew nearer Bikos' location. The structure loomed before her, squat and foreboding, its thick stone walls rising ominously into the dark sky. Narrow barred windows allowed only slivers of light to escape, while the towering watchtowers on either side flickered with dim, wavering lanterns. The prison's front doors, heavy and reinforced with iron, stood guarded by two soldiers, their faces hidden beneath gleaming helmets.

Oasis lowered her hood as she approached. She half-expected hostility, given what had happened earlier with the guard she injured, but to her surprise, the guards simply grunted in acknowledgment and stepped aside. They gave her a wide berth, their wariness a familiar thing she could ignore. Word had clearly spread about her confrontation with the guard earlier. Fear had always moved faster than she could help it.

As she slipped between them and entered the prison, a gust of stale air rushed past her, thick with the smell of rot and neglect. The foul stench nearly made her gag. Torchlight flickered dimly against the stone walls, casting long shadows that danced as she passed them. Her footsteps echoed hollowly through the corridors adding to the creeping eeriness of the place.

She took a deep breath and steeled her heart, venturing deeper into the jail, heading to where her only friend waited. There were only a few prisoners here Oasis noticed as she passed through; the cells were mostly empty, adding to the stillness. She moved quickly through the winding corridors until she found Biko's cell.

When Oasis finally reached Biko's cell, her breath caught in her throat. She lay on a stone bed, her once vibrant red hair a dull color to match the dreariness of her state. Her frail thin body sprawled across a thin mattress, her prison garb a stained and tattered mess. Even in the dim light, Oasis could see the grime clinging to her skin, and the gaunt look of her cheeks. The closer she got to the cell door, the more pronounced Biko's malnourishment became, her once lively spirit now reduced to a shadow of itself. Oasis's heart twisted with guilt—she knew her visits put Biko in danger, but Biko had always been loyal to her. Even now.

"Biko," Oasis whispered, crouching down as she worked to unlock the cell door. Biko stirred from her sleep, a scream escaping from her as she scrambled to the far corner of her stone bed. Her arms shot up in a defensive posture, a cry of desperation breaking free from her throat. For a moment, Oasis couldn't recognize her friend. Oasis's heart shattered at the sight, knowing now that Sileins' accusations were true.