Elena stepped forward without hesitation.
Remel followed behind her, although noticeably clinging much closer than before.
They descended…
The 'Central Prison' was split into two main sections. The upper level, or the two floors above the ground, were just 'common cells' meant to hold many mortals and common professionals. This included mass murderers, traitors, and mentally twisted people, as well as low-level alchemists, formation masters, beast tamers, and people who just needed to 'disappear'. The lower levels, those floors that were deep underground, were special cells meant for powerful practitioners that had to be treated with individual care. This included practitioners between the first and third order, poison masters, powerful beasts that possessed wisdom, and certain individuals who required extreme caution.
The lower levels of the Central Prison—
The first level still resembled a normal prison, with stone cells, barred doors, shouting inmates, and the scent of blood mixed with deep resentment. These were thieves, murderers, gang members, violent smugglers, and those too poor or too foolish to avoid getting caught.
In short, they were a mixed bunch, but all of these people were at least at the first order, making the security need to increase in response.
"The first-floor houses common criminals," the prison guard explained to Elena and Remel while walking. "Violent offenders, repeat thieves, members of local gangs, and common convicts. What makes them special is that they all have some level of cultivation, so they can't be held in normal prisons."
Remel looked at him with a slightly tilted head.
She asked, "Don't most normal prisons have the ability to lock up people at this level? Why send them to the Central Prison? Isn't that just a waste of space?"
The prison guard shook his head.
"All of these people have special identities or special connections to powerful people. If left in a normal prison, it's only a matter of time until they walk out the front door, smiling." He chuckled.
Hearing this, Elena silently nodded.
They moved on…
The second level was much quieter. Many doors were sealed rather than barred, and faint runes lined the hallways, but unlike those above, these runes were clearly much denser and originated from a higher-level rune system, likely integrating runes from different races.
Remel's face scrunched up slightly as they continued to descend.
The third level was even colder, illuminated by strange marks that had been carved into the walls, and some cells were wrapped in chains thicker than a man's torso. Several doors didn't even have a window, and the sealing spells in this space were clearly at the third order.
"The third floor is for anomalous threats that appear in the southern region. Forbidden research, practitioners corrupted by the dark element, curse masters and those afflicted, unstable creatures, and individuals requiring isolation."
Even Elena had stopped talking.
She listened closely, finding the explanation quite novel.
As for Remel, she was wondering just how many of these 'special cases' appeared in the south! Before this, one had to know that they were rarely heard of, not to mention seen! It could only be said that it was a testament to the efficiency of the otherwise thought of useless City Guard.
Her footsteps had grown small, but that didn't stop the prison guard from advancing.
Soon, they reached the final staircase.
The prison guard's lantern, brushed by an unseen wind, dimmed for a moment as they entered the fourth floor. The air felt heavier here, and each breath carried an unseen pressure that required one to exert more force. The corridor was lined with isolated cells separated by wide distances, clearly different from the rest of the prison, each built differently depending on its occupant.
As they walked down the central hall, they saw…
One room was flooded waist-deep in glowing saltwater, and another was completely mirrored. Looking from afar, a third had no visible entrance at all, but a strange light was leaking from the void, and behind another came the faint sound of laughter, yet no source could be seen. It was both mystical and ominous, both creating a sense of wonder while also giving off an ominous oppression.
"The fourth floor is reserved for 'special individuals' requiring 'special means'," the prison guard said quietly. "These are all 'people' who cannot be contained by conventional logic." He adjusted his lantern, then started to point out some of the special cases. "The one sealed in saltwater is a type of evil slug spirit that can escape using dreams. The saltwater has an almost burning effect on it, which prevents the creature from focusing enough to use its ability. As for that laughing thing, it's a type of small spider that will crawl into the bodies of living creatures, then turn them into a puppet. To contain it, we needed to cut off its connection from the outside world, so it was taken to the lowest level of the prison."
He glanced sideways at Elena with a knowing look.
"Also, if you remember the 'Mist Miser', that perverted old man from several months ago, he actually required this level of containment. His body possessed a special ethereal quality, so it was impossible to restrain him with anything under the 'fifth order!' Even when sealed inside a closed chamber, isolated from the outside world, he still found ways to appear in nearby bathhouses! He didn't even need to leave the prison! Can you imagine how bad that looked for us?"
He coughed lightly.
"Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, well, that's up for debate, but after he peeped on a certain person from the palace, we did actually end up getting the funding necessary to upgrade the prison facilities, Hehe!"
Remel muttered from the side, "Disgusting!"
The prison guard nodded solemnly.
"Quite, quite…!" Was what he said, but he didn't seem to agree…
He then straightened and added, "As for the woman you asked us to locate… she did not initially appear to qualify for this level of containment, but once captured, we discovered her peculiarity rather quickly. Including the difficulties with her initial capture and your personal recommendation, we approved the highest level of confinement for the time being."
He laughed nervously.
"To be completely frank, had we not received your warning in advance, she absolutely would have escaped that day!" Even now, as a bystander, he still couldn't believe how much power that small body could produce in such a short period of time!
Their footsteps echoed deeper into the dark hall.
He quieted down, then raised his lantern.
At the very end of the fourth floor stood a single cell placed prominently in the center of a circular dead-end chamber. Compared to the others, it looked almost ordinary.
The prison guard stopped.
Elena and Remel both looked ahead.
The prison guard frowned.
"…That's strange." He muttered, then hurried forward, his keys already in hand.
"The magic light should still be active, so why..."
He unlocked the final seal on the door, shoved it open, and looked inside, then—
He froze!
"…Impossible!"
The cell was empty!
* * *
Case Report: ID - 097-023-021
Year 1003 of the Calamity Era (Current Era)
Classification: Prison Escape | Through: (Unknown Means)
-
Prelude—
Following a private notice/request issued by the Central Regions Hero, Elena Evergreen, the individual in question was identified, located, and apprehended within the capital city of Llynun. The Initial capture required considerable manpower due to the target's unstable condition and unexpected combat ability despite signs of prolonged starvation and physical decline.
Several guards sustained injuries during the restraining process.
Upon successful containment, the target was transferred to the Central Prison and placed under enhanced confinement. Due to irregular traits observed during the capture, the prisoner was reassigned to the deepest holding levels, pending further review.
-
Incident—
Despite the use of the highest-level restrictions and layered surveillance, the target successfully escaped confinement without triggering any alarms. No signs of forced exit were discovered, and no structural damage was found within the cell. No tunnels were found, the lock was unbroken, and no compromised staff have been identified after a brief investigation.
The prisoner appears to have vanished by unknown means surpassing the Central Prison's current ability.
At this time, the method of escape is classified as Unknown / Nonstandard (Level Seven).
It is suspected that the prisoner was able to connect with an exterior force, therefor the Central Prison has begun an internal investigation into possible flaws in its isolation system.
-
Outcome—
The target is currently missing and has yet to be found.
The City Guard has initiated a city-wide sweep, prioritizing marketplaces and possible sources of food.
No confirmed sightings have been reported as of yet.
-
Recommendation—
Due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the target, standard imprisonment is no longer advised.
If re-apprehended, the target should be placed in a custom containment environment overseen by a high-ranking Array Master or 'equivalent specialist' at all times. Suppression methods should prioritize consciousness restrictions and layered sensory detection tools.
However, given the relatively limited severity of the target's currently confirmed crimes, an alternate resolution should also be considered!
The target appears responsive to specific emotional triggers and may be more manageable through controlled interpersonal leverage than force.
-
Extra Notes (Restricted)
- Target possesses a form of intangibility.
- Target has a volatile temper.
- Mention of family may cause emotional instability.
- Target is believed to be a victim of the First Calamity.
- Target has demonstrated advanced melee fire techniques linked to the Dimebeck Family. (Redacted)
- Target possesses a special identity related to information provided by the Hero. (Redacted)
-
Filed by: Central Prison - Administration, Llynun City
Forward: City Guard Headquarters
Status: OPEN CASE
* * *
Afternoon—
Later that day, the streets had become even busier.
The golden warmth of the descending sun spilled across the tiled rooftops as the city entered that lively stretch of the evening lull. Vendors shouted loudly, people moved even faster, and the smell of fried food, sweet fruit, and coal smoke drifted through the air in wild waves.
Amid the moving crowd, Elena walked with a lazy pace.
Despite her target's disappearance, she didn't seem to be bothered.
If one didn't know better, then they might almost think that she had expected it to happen!
Following half a step behind her was Appal, whose towering frame and broad shoulders made him difficult to ignore, no matter how much he tried to appear unobtrusive.
His heavy boots struck the road with a steady rhythm while his sharp eyes casually scanned the surroundings. Despite being dressed in a lighter uniform, he still looked less like a guard and more like a bear-shaped human weapon given form.
Remel, meanwhile, seemed entirely unconcerned with her surroundings.
Elena looked at these two, then continued ahead.
In one hand, she held a chilled drink packed with shaved ice and slices of lemon that were floating near the top, and in the other, she carried a neat stack of opened letters and reports that fluttered lightly in the breeze as she read while walking.
Every so often, she took a sip, then continued turning the pages without slowing down.
Her green eyes moved from line to line with interest.
Even though Elena possessed several methods of divination that could uncover many things directly, she didn't rely on them for everything. Small matters were still worth understanding through ordinary means, because facts gathered by people often revealed small details that divination ignored. Motive, habit, tone, emotions, and contradictions, these were the kinds of things that were often missed when looking at things from a macro perspective.
-
Time passed.
Remel threw his head back and laughed so loudly that a flock of pigeons burst from a nearby rooftop.
"Hahahaha! You should have seen his face back then! Only the Guard Captain!" His booming voice rocked through the afternoon streets like festival drums. Seeing the broad-shouldered man and the small girl beside him laughing so hard at some half-finished story was quite amusing.
Elena shook her head as she walked.
Just then, Remel glanced sideways at the papers in her hand.
"Hay-hay! Anything useful?" she asked with lingering joy.
Elena hummed absentmindedly as her eyes moved over the report.
Appal slapped his large thigh. "Useful? Oh, it gets better the more you read! The target has actually escaped from prison three times before this, and we only learned that a few hours ago! It seems she'd been using a different name up until now, so we didn't know!"
Remel raised an eyebrow, then looked to Elena for confirmation.
Elena nodded slowly.
Even she was unaware of this troublemaker's past.
Aside from the 'big things', she didn't know much else…
Appal grinned broadly.
"Whoever filed the old reports either didn't connect them... or didn't want to!" He pointed at a certain line in the old report, and Remel stood up on her tippytoes to take a look. There, the report clearly mentioned a bloodline connection between the one responsible for writing the report and the target.
"They're family?"
"Something like that, distant cousins I think! I already investigated it, but the writer didn't seem to have any ulterior motives, he just wanted to help out an unlucky family member in passing."
"There should be no problem with this," Elena quietly muttered.
She turned another page.
"Hm, once from staying in a locked attic—"
She took a sip of her drink.
"—Once from stealing from a merchant caravan …? Freeing a slave?"
She turned another page.
"And finally, once from getting caught in a private holding cell in one of the northern districts' small prisons. She was caught by someone too embarrassed to officially report it, but it seems as if she snuck into a prison to sleep for the night, then left at sunrise."
Appal crossed his arms while walking.
"So she's just very slippery, overly righteous, and terrible at finding a good place to hide? But why is she on the run in the first place? Doesn't she have family? Even if it's distant?"
"No," Elena said calmly. "She's hungry, and all her family has either passed away or can't take her in…"
"She's all alone, and she's quite unlucky…"
"Also, don't forget that these are just the oldest reports, it's not like she hasn't done bad things…"
Elena's words seemed to carry a strange weight, making people overthink.
Appal blinked in confusion.
Elena lowered the reports slightly.
"People become predictable when desperate. If she had food, shelter, and patience, she would be far more troublesome than she is now, but in her current state…" Elena didn't finish.
Remel considered that for a moment, then grimaced.
She suddenly felt bad for the lost little bunny…
Appal laughed! "That's good! That means we're dealing with someone very predictable this time!"
They continued down the street together, passing through two busy market streets where vendors shouted over one another. The late afternoon sunlight spilled between the roofs, while refreshing wind carried the smell of bread, roasted nuts, and hot iron from a distant forge.