Chapter 57: Subject

Captain David narrowed his gaze at the blade he had pinched between his fingers in the blink of an eye.

"Impr—"

Suddenly, Peace let go of the sword and gripped David’s wrist, clawing at it. He’d even started bringing his head down and opening his mouth to bite him.

Despite his clearly bad mood, David didn’t start shouting in anger or annoyance at Peace’s ferocious antics. Instead, he smiled.

Moving at a pace Peace could barely process, David shook free of Peace’s grip and grabbed him by the back of his neck, spinning him around and picking him up.

Laughing lightly, David said:

"What are you... a wild beast?"

Peace kicked forward, trying to reach the wall and use it as leverage, but David took a step back, prompting him to throw blind heel kicks.

"Alright, you can stop now..."

Peace grumbled back as he tried to pry David’s fingers off his nape.

"Does a fight stop... because someone asked nicely?"

David cast his arm to the side, sending Peace skidding across the ground.

"Stop being so performative, boy. You’ve proved what you wanted to prove."

Looming over Peace as he coughed on the ground, David crossed his arms, flexing his biceps.

David continued:

"You clearly don’t need to be told the type of world we live in — the type of existence the dungeon is. And, from the little I’ve seen... you don’t seem to be the type to follow tradition. A style of fighting? I’m afraid I’ve determined I’d be a fool to teach someone as wild as you something so rigid; however, I can help you teach yourself."

’Teach myself...?’

Peace rubbed the back of his neck as he glared up at David. The man looked ambivalent — almost excited now at the prospect of being Peace’s instructor, yet still weighed down by the loss paining him.

That loss...

Keeping his expression as flat as possible, Peace asked:

"You said funeral, right? Who died?"

Clenching his jaw tightly, David breathed in through his nose.

Peace thought the Captain was about to let the question pass quietly — leaving it as a silent warning to keep his ’feigned’ curiosity to himself.

But, for one reason or another, David replied:

"My pupil... One of the brightest squires of his generation."

Peace pushed off the ground, then shuffled over and retrieved the sword. As he picked it up, he asked:

"How’d he die?"

Yet again, David answered despite having no reason to.

"He was too bright for this dying world, so it sent a demon to take his light by force."

"Soul Stealer?"

"...Correct."

Peace placed the blade in his left hand, trying to force himself to swing it. As he did, he said:

"I’m sorry for your loss."

David closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Save the hollow drivel. As if any would be foolish enough to believe you possess sympathy for us after what we’ve put your kind through." David pinned Peace with his glare. "Besides... tugging on my heartstrings won’t give you an easier time."

Walking back toward the center of the room, Captain David turned and tilted his blade toward Peace.

"As I said, I will teach you to teach yourself. Come, again. Hold nothing back."

’...’

The rest of the combat lesson was harsh... to say the least.

Unlike during his initial greeting, David didn’t flex his speed or strength, letting Peace attack him in any way he could. However, he still countered whenever Peace left himself open.

Despite David pulling his punches, a blow from someone of his caliber could have collapsed a lung if it struck in the wrong place. Naturally, he had enough control to make sure that didn’t happen.

But, it still hurt like hell.

That torment disguised as training lasted a full hour.

Afterward, a tailor came in to take his measurements, and Captain David even began giving the woman extra instructions about custom gear for Peace.

He instructed her to make light armor that sounded similar to Dita’s, alongside thin gauntlets and lightweight boots.

All of this made Peace almost feel... welcomed.

Of course, upon being escorted back to his room, he was immediately reminded that he was still a test subject.

’At least the last guard seems lax.’

Unlike Lakan and Golden Eyes, the tall guy who’d taken over the duty didn’t reach for his sword once and even took his eyes off Peace when they were alone, giving him a sense of privacy.

Only a sense of it.

As for the other tasks of the day...

They ran more tests, trying to determine the Trait he possessed, all of which were unsuccessful and went nowhere.

And, finally, Ashren returned for a check-up.

’At least she remembered my request...’

Sadly, Peace couldn’t even appreciate the blue-haired beauty in a military uniform.

His mind might have attempted to make jokes at times, laughing in the worst of situations, but there was not a single bone in his body that wanted to enjoy his current, chained life.

His heart, his soul, clamored for progression — for strength.

Not a single moment of stagnation.

Sure his mind needed breaks, but because he couldn’t take those breaks, that made lulls in life so much more overbearing.

Ashren asked him questions about how his day went, what he learned, and, again, any requests he might have.

When he claimed to have none, she left.

Once she did, all he could do was lie down and wait...

Wait for freedom. For the world to take his soul and whisk it away to the Corrupted Lands. To inhabit the body of a tiny, abominable monster.

Still, beneath the bright light above, there was one thing that crossed his mind other than Serene...

’Dita... I hope you’re okay.’

Even if she had escaped, what he told Ashren was bound to put her on their radar in some fashion, no matter how he had tried to protect her in his story.

In fact, everyone he’d met was likely to be put under scrutiny, including Lanx, Ralph, and their parties.

He had survived encounters with them. That was suspicious enough.

Eventually, the time came, and Peace found his mind drifting and drifting, until it sailed off entirely.