The iron grip of the guard’s hand around my arm was firm, almost mechanical, as he led me out of the damp, suffocating cell block. The dim torches lining the stone walls flickered ominously, their shadows dancing like ghosts on the jagged stones. The faint scent of mildew mixed with the cold air that bit at my skin.

  I was doing my best to stay calm, but it wasn’t easy. My heart hammered in my chest as I was pulled further and further away from the relative safety of the old couple and Borus.

  At least my phone and earphones are safe back at Windwards, I thought, a small and absurd comfort creeping into my mind. The idea of my belongings being confiscated and picked apart by guards made my chest tighten. If they found my phone, with its pictures of another world and its stored data from Wikipedia, what would they think?

  That device was my only real connection to home—a lifeline in this alien world. Leaving it behind when I went to the evaluation this morning had seemed inconvenient at the time, but now I was grateful.

  I tried to focus on that thought. It was better than thinking about where they were taking me.

  The guard stopped abruptly and opened a heavy wooden door reinforced with thick bands of iron. The hinges groaned as it swung inward, revealing the interrogation room.

  The space was bleak and utilitarian, with a small wooden table and two chairs set in the center. Torches on the walls cast dim light across the room, and their shadows flickered ominously. A single, narrow window high on the wall let in a sliver of gray daylight, but it did little to make the room feel less suffocating.

  Sitting at the table, waiting for me, was the captain.

  At first glance, he looked almost ordinary. The captain had a lean build, his black hair cropped short with streaks of gray that gave him an air of authority. His angular face was marked by a prominent scar that slashed diagonally across his left cheek, stopping just shy of his lips. But what struck me most were his sharp green eyes—piercing, intelligent, and faintly amused.

  “Ah, you must be Rei,” he said, his voice warm and smooth, like he was greeting an old friend.

  He gestured to the chair across from him with an open palm. “Please, sit. No need to look so tense.”

  Despite his kind tone, there was something unsettling about the way he looked at me—like he was sizing me up, calculating something.

  I sat down stiffly, trying to keep my expression neutral.

  “Captain Xavier Helkel,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “I oversee the guard here in Renxall. I apologize for the inconvenience of all this, but as I’m sure you understand, we’re dealing with a rather… unique situation.”

  His words were polite, but the way he said “inconvenience” made it clear he didn’t see me as entirely innocent.

  “I just want to clear up a few things,” he continued, folding his hands on the table. “It shouldn’t take long, provided you’re honest with me.”

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  I nodded cautiously, my throat dry.

  “So, Rei,” Xavier began, his tone still friendly. “You were at the scene when the demihuman appeared. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

  I hesitated, my thoughts racing. What do I say? How much should I tell him?

  “I… I was working in the warehouse,” I said finally. “It attacked me and my coworker, Borus.”

  “Hmm,” Xavier murmured, nodding slowly. “And this attack—it came out of nowhere? No warning at all?”

  “Yes,” I replied quickly. “I didn’t even know it was there until it charged at me.”

  He tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes studying my face. “Interesting. So you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “Yes,” I said again, trying to ignore the growing tension in my chest.

  Xavier leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “And yet, you fought it. Quite impressive, really. Not many people would have the courage—or the skill—to take on a creature like that.”

  I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “I didn’t have a choice. It was going to kill Borus.”

  “Ah, so you acted out of self-preservation. Noble,” he said with a faint smile. “But let’s not downplay what you did. You struck the creature hard enough to send it staggering. What did you use? A weapon?”

  “A plank of wood,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

  “A plank of wood,” he repeated, his tone light but laced with skepticism. “And it just happened to be enough to fend off a demihuman?”

  I nodded, trying to ignore the way his words made my stomach churn.

  Xavier’s smile widened slightly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re a very lucky young man, Rei. Or perhaps… there’s more to this story than you’re letting on.”

  My hands clenched into fists under the table. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  His gaze lingered on me for a moment, then he nodded. “Very well. But tell me, Rei—when it attacked, did it speak to you?”

  I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

  “I… I couldn’t understand it,” I admitted after a moment. “It was speaking in some strange language.”

  Xavier’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes shifted—an almost imperceptible flicker of interest.

  “Strange, indeed. And the crystals you mentioned—can you describe them for me?”

  “They were black and jagged,” I said. “Growing out of its body, like they were part of it. And they were… glowing. Pulsing, like they were alive.”

  “Fascinating,” Xavier murmured, his voice calm. “And you have no idea what they were?”

  “No,” I said, meeting his gaze.

  For a long moment, Xavier didn’t say anything. He simply watched me, his sharp green eyes boring into mine.

  Finally, he stood, his chair scraping against the floor. “Thank you for your cooperation, Rei. That will be all for now.”

  I blinked, caught off guard. “That’s it?”

  “For now,” he said with a faint smile. “You’re free to go, but I’d advise you to stay out of trouble. Renxall isn’t as safe as it used to be.”

  The guard escorted me back to the cells, where the remaining prisoners were being let out. The murmurs of relief and frustration filled the air as we were herded out into the courtyard.

  Borus spotted me immediately, striding over with a scowl. “Took you long enough,” he muttered.

  “They asked a lot of questions,” I replied.

  Outside the prison, the bystanders were buzzing with speculation.

  “I heard they’ve been sighted near the border too,” one woman whispered. “Could it be a warning?”

  “Why would the guards care so much about some crystals?” another man muttered.

  I caught snippets of conversations as we walked, each one adding to the growing sense of unease in my chest.

  As we made our way through the streets, it became clear that something was happening. Guard patrols were thicker than usual, marching in tight formations. Checkpoints were being set up at major intersections, and the air buzzed with tension.

  Borus glanced at the soldiers, his brow furrowing. “They’re preparing for something… but what?”

  I didn’t answer, my mind circling back to Captain Xavier’s words. Those crystals… what are they? Why did the captain care so much about them?

  When we finally reached Windwards Woodworks, Borus stopped and turned to me. “Listen, kid,” he said, his voice firm. “Forget about all this. We’re not involved. We don’t know anything. Just keep your head down and live your life.”

  I frowned. “You really think we can just ignore what happened?”

  “Yes,” he said flatly. “And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

  Borus went inside first, his boots thudding against the wooden floor. I paused at the door, glancing over my shoulder. The street behind us was empty, but the unease in my chest wouldn’t fade.

  'Just keep your head down'

  I locked the door behind me, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.

  Dinner was quiet, the tension between us palpable. Borus ate quickly, muttering something about an early morning before heading to bed.

  I lingered at the table, my thoughts racing. The demihuman, the crystals, Captain Xavier’s sharp gaze—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle I couldn’t solve.

  When I finally lay down, the unease still clung to me. I stared at the ceiling, my ribs aching, and my mind refusing to settle.

  This isn’t over, I thought. But for now, all I could do was wait.