Lilia's Tale

Chapter 45: Prison

"Did he actually...?" I muttered, still struggling to believe.

"I managed to have the town's captain admit to me where the information came from and what it was. The only reason he accepted was because I told him I'd try to convince you to accept the investigation if he let us know, and because you're involved anyways."

"So you basically traded my agreement on something I wasn't aware of for the information?"

He looked a little regretful, and replied with a faint "Yes."

"I don't have a choice now do I?" I added after sighing. "We're still in a pinch though. My wings aren't properly hidden, they're simply made to be very hard to see."

"You're right. I don't know what they plan on doing to you, though."

"I'm in deep shit, am I not," I continued after sighing again.

"All because of Kyo. I had worked with him a lot before and thought I could trust him, but I guess not."

"Trust really is hard to give when it comes to such important matters, isn't it?"

"That doesn't change that I ended up messing up and putting you in danger."

I could tell in his eyes a form of distress I had never seen before. He wasn't just worried about me, he was hurting. I wanted to do something for him, and took a decision I knew I could potentially regret.

"I'll just go and take care of it myself then. Just believe in me," I said as I headed out.

I didn't look back towards the house. I was ready to be ostracised or whatever could happen to me.

I thought I was, but deep inside I could feel this fear of being alone. This fear of leaving him alone.

Even as my legs shook more with every step I took towards town, I could not be anything but courageous and determined. I had to do this right. For Father.

As I arrived in front of the town, I noticed there was a guard that normally wouldn't be here. I went to him and said:

"Hello, I'm Lilia. I'm here to be arrested."

He looked at me confused.

"Excuse me, why would you be arrested?"

"I am to go under some investigation or something, I don't quite remember. I'm here to be brought wherever I'm supposed to go."

"Ah, yes, I will show you the way!" he simply said ecclesiastically as he headed in.

I followed him all the way to a large building I had never seen before. Unlike the rest of the town wooden framework, it was built out of stone bricks. This gave him a fortified look, which felt fitting for a military installation.

The soldier knocked on the door, and the man that was here earlier today opened. When he saw me, he greeted and thanked the other soldier, and dismissed him.

"Come in, girl," he simply said towards me.

I entered and took a look around. The room was relatively simple, with a few tables and chairs and a few soldiers sitting and seemingly lazing around. There additionally was one spiral staircase going both upwards and downwards.

The young soldier started going downstairs and called for me. I followed and we went down into what looked just like underground prisons.

To my surprise, it was exactly that. Long stony corridors with a singular light on the ceiling and cells on either sides. They were very small, with only a small bed and what I assumed was a toilet, and no windows. Even the frontal wall was built rather than barred, leaving only the large door for seeing what's inside.