Dance with Deception (being edited)

[VANE'S POV]

It had been a week and the interrogation was tomorrow. I was alone, lying on the bed with no disturbances.

The window to my right let the cool breeze in, filling the room with crisp air—a luxury back in my world.

The calm ambiance spoke volumes of comfort and I buried my head further into the pillow, snuggling into the blanket, settling in comfortably.

The rays of moonlight peered into my room, dimly lighting it.

My mind calmed at the tranquility, my body limp on the quill bed, and the woolen blanket offered warmth, contrasting with the cool breeze and giving way to peaceful harmony, soothing my soul.

'I crave this serenity,' I thought, my mind clear, my desires laid bare—all I wanted was to rest peacefully after the week.

My eyelids fluttered, carrying a weight I couldn't resist and closed them, waiting for the next day.

- - - - -

I woke up to strands of morning light peeking through; it's still quite early as the orange star met the horizon.

I experienced clarity of mind that I hadn't in years—my first proper sleep after years, my body rejuvenated, and my pain and fatigue healed by time and magic.

Exciting the room along with the escorts, I began to prepare for the day.

- - - - -

I felt refreshed after a shower and changed into garments prepared for me; a blue shirt with black trousers—a contrast from the blue gown.

I was finally allowed to remove my bandages, courtesy of magic and time, and I could walk without looking a patient.

I went to inform the nurse, but she looked at me, transfixed at my sight, and her pretty face contorted into shock.

"Excuse me?" I called out, interrupting her stupor.

She jerked her head and looked back at me, averting eye contact, which came as a surprise, but I understood why;

'My charm,' it was A-rank after all, and my face; covered in bandages previously, I couldn't wash it properly, and my gown dimmed my appearance.

I fixed them today.

"I'm sorry, I-uh didn't mean to stare, you looked different today,' she admitted.

"It's alright, I'm ready for the interrogation," I informed the young nurse, who walked away hastily after my words.

Moments later, she came to inform me that the 'meeting' would be scheduled in an hour, I thanked her and waited in my room.

- - - - -

An hour later, I was escorted to a meeting room, with 6 soldiers accompanying me.

I entered the large white room, with an elevated platform raising a continuous circular wooden table with people seated around it.

Seven people were wearing military uniforms—dark blue shirts and pants—with insignias decorating them.

Another man sat near a sequestered section to the left of the main table, with a pen and a book.

I sat in the chair arranged for me, facing the man, whom I supposed was the main interrogator noting my statements and tilted to face the main officers.

I averted my gaze when I met theirs for too long, and held the fabric of my pants, with a slightly nervous pose; I faced the man.

"Mr. Vane, I assume?" he stopped writing and faced me, his piercing brown eyes faced me through his spectacles.

"Yes, sir," I replied politely and sported a smile, meeting his gaze with great effort.

"Then let's skip the pleasantries and begin the meeting, shall we?" he asked, and no one objected.

"Then please introduce yourself," he asked, his hands poised to write, while he looked at me.

"I am Vane Terrance, sir. I am from a countryside town in Eldoria and lived with my mother, Teresa Terrance, but I am a vagabond now," I replied concisely.

"Countryside of Eldoria? But it says in the report you were an unidentified individual?" he inquired in a questioning tone, gaze set on mine.

"Yes, sir, I am from a town called Caoris, but in the heat of the moment, I forgot to mention it."

"Why not?"

"I was half-dead sir, on the verge of death almost, so I told whatever I knew back then."

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at me, and I looked at the ground, unable to match his intensity.

He continued without paying much heed, "What do your parents do?"

"My mother works in a boutique shop, sir, but my father—he left us when I was a child, and um… my mother used to work different jobs when I was young," sadness seeped through my tone as I replied.

"Why did he leave you?" he looked disinterested, however, and asked away, true to his job.

"My mother said that… he just left us, and he didn't give any reason whatsoever," I replied, enunciating my words lowly, gaze downcast.

"Ok, take some time to calm down," recognising my discomfort, he suggested, but wrote away indifferently.

I nodded and inhaled deeply, and my smile returned gradually—looking at him, he probed, "Now, tell us why you decided to be a vagabond?"

"I was a vagabond because I wanted to experience the world to its fullest, sir. It was a dream of my childhood, and my mother encouraged it," I replied, slightly comforted by a familiar topic, I spoke normally.

"Even wars?" he asked, shattering the mood, my expression dropped at the approach of that topic, and my face contorted into an awkward smile.

"Obviously not, sir… I wish to make good memories, not traumatizing ones…," I replied, my smile fading.

"Alright, then why were you there at Thalasia?" he queried, uncaringly.

"I was journeying aimlessly, sir. I merely stumbled upon Thalasia by chance and got caught up in the war," I replied, my discomfort evident in my clenched fists.

"Can you describe your stay there?" he asked, and my body shivered—looking at the ground, taking comfort in the emptiness I replied;

"Yes… sir, I was traveling around, but then, suddenly, the war began, I was caught up in the middle of it… a-and… p-people were d-dying and—an-," I stumbled my words, coming out muffled at the end.

"It's alright, it's alright! You're fine now! Relax for a while, take a deep breath in and calmly let it out," an old lady suggested, and I took in deep breaths quickly, slowly calming down.

"Let him calm down for a while; he's clearly traumatized," the lady spoke out in my favor, looking at me.

"Thank you, ma'am," I responded with a smile, looking into her eyes for a moment—I saw her smile lightly.

"Get him some water," one of them said.

"No, sir, I can continue—it's alright, they're only memories after all," I responded in a nervous tone and replied without letting them insist;

"I saw them die… and I could see people k-killing each other… and… I ran, I was afraid, I-I didn't want to die… I didn't want t-to…,' my eyes welled up at the memories of death, and my quivering voice elicited empathetic gazes.

"I'm sorry, sir… but can I answer something else… please?" I earnestly requested him, my countenance; miserable.

"…Alright, we can do that, and when you're ready, tell us what happened later," the interrogator said, his voice tinged with disappointment.

I complied, taking a while to clear my eyes and taking in deep breaths, calming my mind and body, I began;

"I ran into the forest and picked up a sword to protect myself, and I kept running and running… but unfortunately, I met a hostile group,' I paused, my brows furrowed slightly.

"Oh? A group?" he narrowed his curious eyes and looked at me, urging me to continue.

"Yes, sir," I informed, unable to hold his gaze for too long I cut right.

"Go on, elaborate," he said, leaning forward.

"They were organized sir, I don't know how many were there, but they all wore leather armour, and when I fought one of them I got injured," I enunciated firmly, my brows furrowing deeply as I talked.

"Organized?"

"Yes, sir, I heard one of them shouting orders."

"Did you see the assailant when he attacked you?"

"I couldn't see them clearly, but I saw he was a young man, and I think most of them were young because they were so stupid, and gave their positions with a shout—! Oh I um- I'm sorry, sir."

"It's fine… then, tell us how you managed to survive and escape?" he looked slightly annoyed at my words but continued.

"Yes, sir, I got injured by one of them, I desperately fought back and ran, and was fortunate enough to escape."

"Alright, but how did you, a mortal stage warrior, fight back and escape?" His tone was laced with skepticism as he queried.

"As I said, sir, he was young and probably inexperienced, and I used to train quite a bit back in the days."

"Trained by?"

"A traveller, sir—he came one day and trained me for a few months he stayed, and I kept practising his teachings after he left. He was a mysterious man, sir, he lives and goes as he wished."

He looked at me for a while, "What was the time of the day when you fought?"

"I'm not sure, about the exact time sir, but I think it was almost evening back then."

"Haaa…" he sighed and shot me a glare, a serious one, insinuating my faults—my body jolted, unable to face him.

Seeing as I was cowering, he continued, albeit much more irritatedly, "Did you meet any monsters while you were coming?" he asked knowingly.

"No, sir," I curtly replied.

He shot a glare again, but seeing that I cowered; slightly this time, he gave up and questioned, "How did you withstand that much pain?"

"I felt like I couldn't feel any pain after my fight with that man sir, and I walked on, wanting to survive and see my mother. I think that's what kept me going."

"Alright, then can you tell us how you survived being heavily wounded and recovered in only 2 weeks?" his sharpened gaze did not hide his curiosity beneath.

"I'm not sure, sir, but I remember recovering very quickly when I was young, uh… other than that, I don't know anything else," my tone laden with confusion, after all, even I did not know the reasons.

He then proceeded to ask about my childhood, places I journeyed, the age at which I left, what I learned, and such, which I had answered promptly, finishing the session in half an hour.

He pondered for a while and looked at me for a while and seeing that I was still the same after a long moment of silence, he finally gave in and said;

"…Mr. Vane, we neared the end, but we require you to be here for a while; the reason for your body's constitution may help in developing our medical sector. Is that alright?" he said, or rather ordered—after all, nothing was free, and I had to be their lab rat.

"I understand sir, but how many days is it?"

"The researchers will let you know. Now you may leave," he left the date unspecified, undeterred, I pressed on;

"Sir, I sincerely request that you shorten my stay, my mother—I haven't seen her for years, and I can't bea-,"

"As I said—the researchers will let you know, now you may leave," he looked annoyed and I didn't take any chances and began to leave, before;

"You will be staying in the dormitory room till the end—is that fine?" he asked.

"Yes sir… thank you for the treatment and the hospita-,"

"Enough… the researchers may come at any time, be prepared," he urged me away, and I left the room at the boorish man's order, my gaze downcast, and fists clenched in irritation.

The escorts halted me, and some of them entered the room, informing me that only 2 escorts would be assigned to me.

They were soldiers, clad in armour, with unfriendly expressions, who followed me as I went to my room, and they stood 'guard' at the entrance.

Locking the door, I immersed myself in the bed—I had escaped immediate danger, but It seemed like my days as a lab rat would begin.

Nevertheless, I couldn't rest for long, and left the room to shower—the guards didn't question.

The cubical room had a large circular tub, made of stone, a tap to let out water into it and a drain near the corner, painted with white walls.

Stripped, and now removing my black shoes, which squelched under my foot, carefully.

"Urgh—damn," I mumbled and poured the red liquid from my shoes into the drain, after diluting it.

I disposed of a sharp metal in the drain, not before I tore it apart to make it indistinguishable from scrap metal.

The shower resembled a semi-modern aesthetic, now hopping towards the tub with hot water, available at a moment's notice, thanks to magic.

I cleansed my left foot thoroughly with the soap of this world and dressed it with clean bandages I borrowed for 'another wound'.

Speaking of bandages, most of my wounds healed, albeit with scars in deeper ones, except my left foot, which I covered with socks.

I looked at my right wrist—scarred and I felt a scar on my back as well, both; completely healed—a testament to mana's potency.

Skipping lunch, I settled for some apples, crunching under my jaw; a blend of sour and sweet, truly delicious.

I felt tired, today was a long one—no the entire week was long, after all, the preparation and planning put me at the edge;

The procedures entailed interrogations; assisted by their diagnosis magic, which helped in detecting vitals more accurately than any polygraph.

Luckily, truth potions didn't exist—the brain; too complex for them to comprehend, resulted in mind and illusion magic being very rare.

I reminisced upon my actions this week; stealing cutlery stealthily—hiding it in my underwear and bribing the attendant for reinforced shoes.

Today, I tore a spoon, lodging a small piece of metal; sharp enough to tear, but not enough to graze with mere contact.

The week was spent conditioning myself, simulating a personality; distinct from my own, to emulate the life of a normal man in place of Vane Terrance.

Meditation, rumination, experience and acting it out helped in building the character and embodying him to the smallest details.

Nevertheless, I remained, a man who contradicts the personality of Vane Terrance, and despite my efforts, I can't escape their diagnosis magic.

What better way to emulate the emotions of a distressed person than being distressed yourself? The pain was a conduit for my distress.

My heart rate was already quite high, a result of stepping on the sharp metal bits in my boots, and faced the people, nervously.

Trauma and anger, genuine emotions were required, and I integrated my experiences along with the pain; producing believable lies.

They couldn't detect the bleeding or the metal, courtesy of the reinforced shoes, which were built with metal and leather veiling my deception.

Nevertheless, I would've resorted to using the knowledge of my future to negotiate with them if all hell broke loose, but thankfully the gamble paid off.

'System,' I willed.

[Installing updates. Please wait.], the mysterious entity was still installing updates and had been since my arrival.

How long will it take? My impatience was growing, but I kept it in check, a clear mind is absolutely imperative.

I reminisced about the life of Vane Terrance, having nothing else to do; his life was pitiful, with no desires, pleasure or emotion.

Maybe that's why he was a vagabond and left home when he was young, and unfortunately got caught up in the war and died amidst the chaos—?

Then how am I here? Didn't I possess him? I assumed his life right?

I had many questions, but very less answers—only time will unveil the shroud around my transmigration and my purpose in this world.