Eager To Fly

Some time earlier, on the plain field at the Final Floor's center.

'I remembered something rather unpleasant. About my past. It was... Well... I doubt it would interest-'

"Do tell." A being made of Flames interrupted.

'It's complicated. A bundle of hazy memories I can barely put together.'

"Then put them together."

The white-scaled Monster by its side thought for a bit.

'I remember being stuck in a room. A room filled with machinery...'

The Fire Spirit remained silent, and listened with great interest.

'White walls, white sheets. As if I was... Stuck on a bed?'

"You mean you were a prisoner of sorts?"

'No... No. It wasn't anything like that. But it did feel like a prison. Well, not like a prison per se...'

"What then?"

'Like a birdcage.'

The Fire Spirit wanted to explode with laughter but controlled himself. Getting his witty sneering out was too important for laughter to get in the way.