Quefaialm: In Another World With A Battleship

Chapter 23: Lira

The room was like a dungeon, its atmosphere thick with despair, and in the center stood a woman, her figure illuminated by the soft, eerie glow of the luminescent fungi.

She was hunched over, her hair hanging in disarray, and as we stepped closer, I could see the chains binding her wrists to the cold, damp walls.

As I walked closer, she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a piercing gaze that seemed to cut through the darkness.

The moment her gaze met mine, I felt a surge of energy radiating from her—a powerful presence that belied her situation.

She was not weak; rather, she exuded a strength that suggested she had been sealed here for a reason.

The chains binding her wrists to the damp stone walls looked ancient, yet I could sense that they did not contain her spirit.

Her posture, though restrained, held an undeniable defiance, as if she had been waiting for the right moment to reclaim her freedom.

"You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice soft but sharp.

Her long, white hair fell around her shoulders, looking almost glowing in the dim light. It was messy, tangled, but still seemed strange and beautiful.

Her red eyes glowed in the dark, staring at me with a strong, serious look. They were full of anger and something else I couldn't understand, making me stop for a moment.

Her face was pale, but still pretty, even though she looked tired. Her lips were pressed tight, and even though her wrists were chained to the wall, she looked strong.

If possible, she seemed to be the same age as me, at least in appearance.

Just like the other captains and admirals back at the federation, we all seemed ageless. Though, I couldn't say for sure about her.

She wasn't just a prisoner—she looked like someone waiting for the right moment to escape.

I took a step closer, trying to get a better look at her.

The chains on her wrists clinked slightly as she shifted, but she didn't seem scared.

It was as if she knew exactly what was going on, even in this dark, cold place.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice quiet but curious.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she just stared at me, her red eyes full of something I couldn't place.

It felt like she was studying me, like she was trying to decide whether I was a threat or something else.

Finally, she spoke again.

"You don't need to know," she said, her tone flat but firm.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say next.

Her red eyes were still locked on mine, and despite her chains, she didn't seem weak.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, "Maybe I can help you too."

"I don't need your help," she replied sharply, her gaze never leaving mine.

"But you're chained," I said, taking a step closer. "How can you say that?"

Her eyes flickered with something—frustration, maybe, or maybe something else.

She took a deep breath before speaking again, her voice colder this time.

"I've been chained here for a reason," she said.

I could feel the weight of her words, as if there was a deeper meaning I wasn't understanding. "A reason?" I repeated, trying to make sense of it.

"Don't you know this cave?"