Chapter 54: Revelations

An empty hope, that’s all it was meant to be.

"N-no."

’T-this isn’t funny.’

"No, damn it!"

He’d have been jumping for joy a week ago, but not after experiencing the throes and woes of this horrific world.

The tears came quickly, streaming down his face without regard for the gallery watching from above.

"W-who are you?!"

The nameless despot who’d not only written a message to Pax in English, but had also written about his sister. He’d said she was indeed here, within Enemies of Corruption. Within this last bastion of humanity. He’d goaded Pax to come to him; goaded Pax to continue the game.

"Who the fuck are you?! What do you know about me?!"

Thrashing around, Peace tore the IV from his arm.

The pain of the long needle being ripped out was incomparable to knowing his sister was out there, without him.

"I don’t... I don’t understand any of this?! Such is life? Is ’Such is life’ really all you have to offer?!"

’Why not come meet me yourself?! Why only leave a message?!’

Peace thought back to the first time he had woken in the body of the Night Elf.

"It was you, wasn’t it?! Why?!"

If it was him...

’How did you know to leave a message?! How’d you know?! Is it your fault I’m a monster, too? You definitely know that, don’t you? Did you plan on me waking up like this, sick fuck?! H-how— how do you know about Serene?!’

Peace tried to free his ankles, but the chains held fast, and the chair was bolted to the floor.

’And why do you know English and a French phrase?! Are you a Soul Stealer yourself?!’

If so...

’Then why are Soul Stealers being persecuted?! What the hell is your game?!’

The small, budding understanding Peace had formed of this world collapsed beneath the weight of the revelations. And the knowledge that his sister was here crushed whatever composure he had left.

In the throes of anguish, Peace continued pulling at his restraints, trying his damnedest to free himself, but getting nowhere.

He kept at it until his body felt on the verge of collapse.

Eventually, he simply hung his head and let his spiraling thoughts consume him.

"Come to you?"

’You really... want me to come to you?’

’After all you’ve done to me?’

The likely culprit who had brought him here?

’Quite the gall...’

’Quite the arrogance.’

Biting the inside of his cheek, Peace quietly rasped:

"Sure, I’ll come to you, fucker. I’ll come to you alright."

Watching his tears fall onto his thigh, he added:

"Don’t expect forgiveness."

Not long after, a few researchers and a guard rushed into the room. Within moments, he was sedated.

***

When he awoke, he found himself still in the body of the Night Elf. At least he had clothes on now, a sleek white outfit.

He had been moved out of the overbearing white room and into another within the facility.

This room also had padded walls, although these were gray, with a one-way mirror on one side and a single door. There was also a simple bed alongside a bathroom.

Naturally, the bathroom wasn’t sectioned off and was in clear view of the mirror. The reason was obvious: they didn’t want to risk allowing him to commit suicide on their watch. If he was going to die, it was much simpler for it to happen within the dungeon.

A caged animal.

That’s what he was, not even metaphorically.

Though at least they’d removed his handcuffs and ankle weights; if anything, that simply meant they’d assessed him as harmless and escape as impossible.

After being seated on the bed, a researcher came in and gave him his directives and rules. Still, not once did Peace say anything back, only solemnly nodding along with his eyes focused on the floor.

As for those directives and rules...

First, since his appearance resembled one of the Night Parade, he was to keep tabs on people’s reactions upon meeting him. He was to report anything suspicious; namely, if someone regarded him without suspicion, he was to report them as a possible Soul Stealer, since a new Soul Stealer wouldn’t know the typical traits.

Second...

Apparently, they had plans to release him back into society one day. Their goal? To use him as a public relations icon to mend the public perception of elves.

They were trying to fix their propaganda without retracting the claims they had made, all while keeping the existence of the Witch of Corruption hidden.

To that end, he was also forbidden from revealing or spreading that information. If it was discovered that he did such a thing while in the dungeon, he’d be put on trial and executed without delay.

Next...

There was quite the reason they wanted him to learn to write.

Apparently, there was an insurgency brewing under their noses, one they wanted Peace to infiltrate in the distant future.

That was still a ways away, and their plans were liable to change.

Yet, of course, Peace had exactly zero say in any of them.

They’d also prepare him for the dungeon.

They would train him to fight and give him lessons on the first floor of the dungeon.

Finally, there were the reports and testing.

While they’d come to accept that genetics were the reason for his hair and eyes, something he still questioned how they could possibly know, they’d become quite enthused about discovering whatever unknown Trait caused his presence to disappear.

Peace also all but confirmed something he had suspected: others didn’t have a status screen or any way to read stats.

Not once had they requested that he pull up such a thing and read it to them.

Eventually, the researchers left Peace alone... well, mostly alone.

One guard remained in the room with him and would cycle duty with two others, remaining there at all times for the foreseeable future.

This guard was someone he’d met before, not that he cared he had.

It was Lorkel, the nervous one from when he’d been taken to the Inspection Agency two days ago. Though he now held an odd... ferocity and anger in his gaze. He seemed not nearly as scared of Peace as he had been only a little ago...

Something Peace didn’t care to question as he lay on the bed and stared up at the light that had been dimmed, but never turned off.

’Modern tech. Psychic, nameless king. Two bodies. Vanishment.’

There was so much Peace didn’t know or understand.

And everything he learned only deepened the mystery.

With a detached expression, he wiped away the remnants of his tears and heeded the call of his monstrous body in the Corrupted Lands.