The Crown Prince Thinks I'm a Guy

The Test of Waning: Death Incoming

<WARNING: This chapter contains triggering images of violence. Read at your own risk.>

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It didn't work out well. We did made it to the special mark on the map, but we probably won't pass the test at all.

This is reality. A group composed of Sinus Fidei can never win the game, especially not when we were as kind-hearted as we were. No, scratch that. We weren't kind. We were arrogant.

Now, we were going to be sacrificed. Them for the first time, and in my case, the second time.

"I should have done something more..." I murmured, frustrated tears gathering in my eyes.

"I-It's okay, Eleftherion," the girl with big eyes murmured. Even now, Kendra was still so polite. She should just curse me right now. Instead, she said, "They... They're not really going to... kill us... right?"

Alas, I couldn't reply. After all, I couldn't and shouldn't lie.

Thanks to some quick thinking by our older girl companion, the sacrifice was held off until the next few days, owing up to some astrological alignment or whatever nonsense Damia could come up with to give us more time.

So, the three of us have been held in an underground makeshift prison cell made from the musty, old ruins. Based on the window-like features around the dark room, I had suspicions it was actually originally a normal room aboveground, but had sunken into the ground over time. But there's no use in admiring the historical architecture. We had to think of a way to get out of here...

"It's no use," Damia murmured, all curled up in her black clothes at her corner of the room. "With all the henchmen Telken has got under him, we won't stand a chance even if we find a way to escape from here."

I huffed in annoyance. "You're an inner ring member. Prove your worth by busting us out of here."

It took a while for her to respond, slightly shaking her head. "It's all a lie."

Kendra and I exchanged glances, wondering why the girl was suddenly feeling emotional. Well, more emotional than she had been for the past couple of hours.

Damia murmured, "I only advanced into Mare Frigoris because of... the help of others. I never passed the test by my own hands and skills before. The... boys knew I was intelligent, so-"

I cursed at her. "I don't care! If you're so smart, then get us out of here now! You must know about the patrols and movement of Telken's team. Make a plan. Do something!"

Kendra flinched at all my shouting, reminding me of how pathetic I had been acting ever since we got imprisoned. Memories of my death kept haunting me, assaulting me with even worse images as hours ticked by. Time was a fickle thing. I wasn't even sure how long we've been held down here. I couldn't use the light from outside to know whether hours or days have passed. In those times of idleness and powerlessness, I realized it wasn't the feeling of the cold blade against my neck that made me terrified. It was the hands of men who violated me. It was the tickling breaths of manipulative women inside white washed temples. It was the cold gaze of my father.

For two years, I had tried my best to forget these. I tried to simply live out my life as though it had never happened. But now, as the silence trudged on, I knew I was the same girl I had been. Powerless. Weak... A mere girl.

"No!" I mumbled out to myself, probably surprising the other two, but I didn't give them mind. I began to walk around the room, feeling at the earthen walls, looking for a place to hit. But who knew if the whole room would collapse down on us if I even strike once? Who knew how deep underground we really were? The windows were our only option. We had been knocked out of consciousness before we were brought here, but I could sense that there was an entryway, a hollow tunnel down that particular window.