Chapter 142: In Prison
Sebastian immediately put up his guard.
"Aah, don't worry. I ain't out to hurt you or anything."
The large man stretched out his hand.
"The name's Scotch."
"...Sebastian."
"I know. You're a pretty big deal with you killing your future father-in-law and all. Seen you from the posters in nearly every town I've been."
His words were devoid of tact, but at the very least, he didn't bear Sebastian any ill will or so Sebastian could tell.
"What do you want?"
"Well, you're breaking out of here, aren't you? I want to come with you."
Sebastian looked at him as if he was crazy.
"I just arrived last night and we've only met a couple of minutes ago, why would you think that I'm planning to escape and even if I was, why would I bring you?"
"Look man, I'm going to be straight with you."
Scotch moved away from the other prisoners and spoke in a hushed voice.
"I was framed. Some bigshot merchant in the city wanted my daughter but I denied him and his gifts each time. He got sick of me and somehow got a noble's help to frame me for an attempted assassination attempt at a baron's son."
Again, Sebastian looked at Scotch strangely.
"You… are you not planning to conceal anything? You don't even know me."
"Who cares? We're on death row and my daughter is going to marry some fat greedy pig of a merchant just to save me. The sooner I get out of here the better."
I've been here for three months already, he added.
"...Alright. Why don't you tell me everything I need to know?"
"Atta boy."
Scotch laughed and slapped Sebastian's back a couple of times. Without Sebastian's energy to protect him, he groaned.
If they had met outside, then Sebastian would've been able to contest him in physical strength but without energy, he was only around the strength of a senior knight.
"Well, I guess I should talk about these first."
Scotch raised his leg and showed the shackle.
"Heard that these were made of a special ore that saps energy. In Aur… each one costs around hundreds of thousands. Though in Vol, it's a million for each."
Executions were carried out monthly, and each time, over fifty people would get killed. New prisoners would also be let in around twice a month.
"There's fifteen days till the next heads on the chopping block, and I'm pretty sure our names are on that list. They prioritize the one with the worse crimes first, but in my case, it was probably that noble who paid some money to kill me faster."
"...so we only have two weeks before our heads roll?"
"Yeah, and without abilities, hope is bleak. But, I know someone that may be able to help."
"If you know someone, why'd you have to recruit me?"
"Who wouldn't want someone capable of killing a Caster? The more people the better."
After conversing with him a bit more, break time was over and Sebastian was led back to his cell. Scotch seemed to be in a different cell block as they parted ways long before they reached his cell.
As Sebastian laid down on the hay with his arms supporting the back of his head, he began thinking.
…
"Deimos, why did you do it?"
Amy looked at Deimos without much emotions in her eyes.
"..."
"Please answer me."
"...If we had caught him and brought him to you, what would you do?"
"I would end his life."
"And then you'd follow soon after?"
"..."
Deimos raised her head to match Amy's.
"Mistress, I don't want to see you get hurt anymore than this. Can't you see what has happened to you these past few years? Your mind is being worn down and your strong body is the only thing keeping you from collapsing."
"I don't care about the state of my being, I just… I just want to fulfill what my heart wants to do."
"Mistress, you loved him!"
"And what did he do in return?"
Amy was about to slam the desk but stopped herself. She could no longer look straight at Deimos as she half-clenched her fist.
"He killed my father, he didn't even try to give an explanation or prove his innocence. I let him have his way with me on the day of his departure so he would return. I waited day after day for him. If he… if he had just told me that it wasn't him, even if it wasn't the truth, do you think I'd end up like this?"
The reason that Amy had given her body to Sebastian on that day was because she wanted him to know that he had a home to return to. If he was the man she knew, then he would definitely come back for her.
"It's been four years… Sana misses him so much she can't even look at me without picturing the two of us together. I can't look at her and not think about Sebastian either. If he just came back once—or even sent a letter during his absence, wouldn't we both be satisfied?"
Her voice was agitated but she tried her best to control herself. During the past few years, she had to conceal more and more of her emotions. She had enemies in all directions who she couldn't easily get rid of.
An opening was all they needed to take her and the House of Luna down.
"But he abandoned us, he abandoned me. He doesn't intend to return at all…"
"Mistress…"
Amy was no longer thinking clearly. The love she had for Sebastian occupied her entire world. If that was the case, then what would happen if that love were to disappear? Someone's emotions couldn't disappear so easily. A married couple who don't like each other anymore would stay together for years hoping to rekindle their lost love.
"...Never do this again."
"Understood."
Though she hated him, she also loved him. And, she had confidence in his abilities. He would find a way to escape, and that was when their journey would end.
…
"Wake up."
There was a knock on Sebastian's cell door. His closed eyes shot open and he stood up quickly. The guard looked at him once then opened the door, tied his leg to a chain, then continued to do the same to the other cells.
It was the same routine as yesterday, and he was also led to the same place to do manual labor. Even without using energy consciously, his body had already been honed through its use and he was capable of strength amounting to five men. But even then, the heavy materials that he lifted took time to move.
Nearly everyone else was moving at a pace not even half that of Sebastian's pace. The ones that could move well were the ones whose bodies looked like they were tempered in the fires of a blacksmith's furnace.
Sebastian sighed. While it wasn't too tiring to work, he still had a lot to worry about. First was the reason he wanted to come to this prison in the first place, the one whose abilities allowed them to see spirits. His next problem was how to gain the cooperation of that man and if that wasn't possible, he needed to be able to replicate his abilities. But, those two depended on him being able to use his energy.
Next came the opportunity to remove his shackles, Scotch and his helper. Though they plan to escape, he doubted they would do it in the next few days and so he needed to contact them. If they find a way to remove his shackles, then he would be able to do everything he needed to come for a lot easily.
'Well, I'm not too worried about needing to escape.'
By now, Serena would've reported to Wisteria about Sebastian's capture and help would arrive by the date of the execution so strictly speaking, he could just hold still.
'Well, I'll leave that as a last resort. For now, I'll do everything I can.'
Once Sebastian relies on a member of Blue Rose for help in escaping, the connection with them can't be denied. Bringing Serena with him was already risky, but if he were to be saved by a member of Blue Rose, on top of that, it would be strange not to find a connection.
And, to breach a place as secure as this prison, then at the very least, it had to be a squad of Casters.
As Sebastian reached out to the next stack of planks that he was going to carry, a shadow loomed over him. Sebastian was taller than the average person, but even then, the shadow completely covered him.
He turned back and saw Scotch with a smooth square stone strapped to his back.
"Thought about it?"
"I'll take you guys alone but only on one condition."
"Say it."
"Help me find someone, I don't know what they look like but I know about their ability. And, if that's not possible, then I need to get these shackles off."
Scotch scratched his bald head.
"It isn't impossible but if we have to do it before the fifteen days are up…"
"Those are the only possible terms. I can escape by myself even if these shackles are on me so there's no demerit to me going alone."
"Sheesh, you're heartless, aren't ya?"
A guard frowned and was approaching them so Sebastian quickly picked up the planks and began moving. Scotch also began moving. Each step of his was so heavy that the dust on the ground rose up each time he walked.
"Between those two terms, which do you want prioritized?"
"The first one."
"Hmm… Alright. Tell me what the ability is."
Sebastian stopped, looked around, and then whispered.
"The ability to see spirits."
…
"Haaa…"
Wisteria held her head and sighed.
"I watched the House of Luna closely but I didn't think that the head's personal maid would act on her own. And, that power…"
Because of Sebastian and Serena, Blue Rose had to temporarily suspend their surveillance on Tidas. Because of that, reinforcements came late and Serena had to travel alone to the next town to contact Wisteria.
"I didn't think that Sebastian of all people would be captured."
At that moment, there was a knock on the door and another moment later, it opened.
"Wisteria, we have a problem."
Euphea immediately spoke after entering the room.
"What is it?"
"We've located Sebastian's whereabouts after he was captured. It took some time because of how many measures were done to keep it secret. It's hard to believe that a maid alone managed to slow us down that much but…"
"Is he somewhere difficult?"
"...He's in Volcania's death row prison."
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