Royal Prison, Capital of Vas
After the New Emperor's Visit
Why?
Why..?
He was unable to speak. He was too weak even for speaking. He was refusing to eat or drink for days. He had no idea why the chains binding every corner of his body were necessary. It was hard to breathe. His memories were faint and weak but he remembered one sentence vividly.
"Wasn't I the one who first had the right to the throne before I fell ill? I'm just taking what belongs to me back."
What belongs to him...
Why now?
Why not when he first recovered?
Why plot against him?
Why?
Then the loud creek came from the heavy iron doors of his cell. This was the second time he heard that sound today.
"Acea..." This was a gentle voice of a woman. Sophi, he thought, Jatro's wife.
"Sophi... I didn't. You know that right? I didn't do anything. I don't even know what I did... Sophi I didn't..." he didn't know where the energy for speaking came from. He just felt like he needed to speak even if his voice was hoarse and desperate. He needed someone to believe him. Even though that someone was an enemy, it hurt thinking in this way, but he needed someone… anyone to believe him.
"Acea... I know." Her voice was the kindest of all. Her voice was the only kind one from the past days.
"Uncle..." When he heard Oscen, he tried to stop his tears but there was no use. The child's voice was shaky as well.
"Oscen..." He felt Oscen's little arms wrap around his chained body. Beside chains' coldness, his nephew's hug gave him a kind of warmness he was yearning for some time.
"I am sorry." Sophi apologized to him, before taking Oscen back and slowly leaving Acea alone in the dark again. His mind was an endless abyss. Thoughts were murdering each other in the shadow of truths. He didn't know what was real and what was not. No reason came to his mind. Swirling emptiness conquered his mind until nothing left from his sanity. He stood there, chained, exactly for five days. The door creaked again, this time it was the middle of the night. A long and slender figure of someone lurked inside his cell along with the shadows. It was impossible to see this person's face since it was covered with a mask.
"Who are you?"
Acea's weak question was left unanswered. Masked person came closer to Acea while the robe they wore fluttered from the movement.
"Are you here to kill me?"
This question seemed to make the person hesitate about what they are doing. Acea's tone was shaky and silent yet heavy. It sounded like he had no wish to live anymore. This unknown somebody came closer to the chains. Acea heard the click sound. Then his breaths became more uneasy. Maybe this person was there to help him get out of this hell. But then he stopped. So what? Then what?
Chains that were restricting his body fell one by one. Blood flowed through his whole body again but he was having hard time standing up. He felt the strong grasp in his arms, the next moment he was on top of this unknown person's back, covered with some type of robes. He felt dizzy from this sudden movement. They passed the darkest corners of the prison. Every guard they came across fell asleep in a blink of an eye. They passed from dirt roads but their footsteps were nowhere to be found. When finally the sky was seen, it was not the same colour as Acea's eyes anymore. The sky was dipped in poison. A green mist even greener than the grass was loitering around.
Green Night.
It was about to begin.
Green Night of Faded Pirates.