2 The Septitans (1)

I was finally on my feet. After all these years… I was allowed to touch solid ground again.

It was a feeling I had long since cherished to experience anew but long since forgotten.

When my bruised swollen limbs grazed the ground, I couldn't sense a thing. Even as Tiff was letting me down, my skin went numb for the first time in a lifetime.

It was as if I was wearing a thick pair of boots and could not distinguish the texture of the ragged cave floor.

But enough of that already.

It was a soft breeze outside the room. To fill my lungs with such refreshing air reduced me to a state where I was in tears. Nothing spiked my emotions more than experiencing the world again, but…

"No!" I imagined myself slapping my cheeks.

I don't deserve to! These are emotions I should be distanced of and sooner taken back to my torture and daily punishments. I have stripped many of what I am currently feeling. What right had I to be enjoying them myself?

"Move along Akilaba!" Tiff pushed me, leading me through different tunnels amidst the endless peaks. "If we're late, it will be my neck on the line. Not yours."

"I wouldn't want that" I said out loud.

I thought of it and I couldn't bear the idea of making trouble with Demonic God.

He was an entity described as frightening. To anger such a being would be akin to signing my own death warrant.

I was doomed to never die in this place, but I can't say the same of my trusty torturer. After all, Tiff was but a servant of the god, easily disposable and replaced.

As I had nothing to do while being led to the hall, I could only admire the scenery of Kazalkar's majesty.

Even though it was a prison, nothing short of beautiful could describe the peaks. Their alignment was calculated, the clouds cut through them and the sun softly shone upon their rocks. Everything was made from scratch to be outstanding in terms of view.

What lied within each mountain was a different story though. Beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside.

A perfect philosophy I might add!

It was quite easy to manoeuvre through the different layers. Many bridges, stairs and other structures were elevated to ease passage for the denizens of this place.

It was like a city of some sort where all the people worshipped Demonic God and worked in his favour. So to say, torturers were not the only professions in here.

But more to that later. I haven't explored enough yet to divulge any further anyway.

I could hear screams when we passed by a few torture caves. Occasionally, I heard laughter. Whether it was emitted by the torturer or the tortured…I never knew.

"Ah, Tiff. I knew I sensed a familiar presence."

Out of one of the curved passages that led to the one we treaded upon, two individuals came about.

One was bound like me and the other pushed him around like Tiff did.

"If it isn't Wart…" Tiff looked to be searching behind it as if someone should be following closely. "Please tell me Crass is not here too."

"He's not here with me. But should be heading to Demonic God's hall too."

The person called Wart was the same as Tiff. Its job was to torture its prisoner and serve the upper echelon.

Unlike Tiff who was still wearing the face of one of my victims, the other guy was faceless.

What I could understand from Tiff's explanation some time prior, is that torturers practiced a technique which allowed them to swap faces at will. But that evidently came at the cost of losing their own.

Till date, I had never seen Tiff in its faceless form. It must be dedicated to its work so much that it always wore my victim's faces.

"Crass, too? How many of us are going to the hall anyway?" Tiff squirmed its eyes and focused on the other person being dragged along. "Is that—"

"King Belgrat Hunimo in the flesh. One of the Septitans!" Wart responded proudly as if to mean that it was entrusted the torture of an important figure.

Hunimo was a very large fellow. He was robust and bulky. Unlike me, he had not a single thread of hair on his head and no colour in his eyes either. His face was grotesque and very rough.

To summarize, he was muscular but far from good looking. It was a wonder how his body's shape was almost the same as the time he was brought in here.

But what was most distinctive about him, was the notion that he was a king, just like me.

In fact, in terms of title, Hunimo was my predecessor. It wasn't until he fell and disappeared that I rose in the ranks and later became a Septitan too.

"What are you looking so smug about? I have a king myself as well."

Hunimo and I felt like their children at this point. They were brandishing us as if some prizes and valuable trophies.

Us two kings on the other hand, were staring at each other, measuring the other's potential. I had totally forgotten what we were doing and what the two torturers were saying. I was only focused on the staring battle ensuing between us.

"Wait. If you, Crass and I are going to the hall, does that mean the others are as well?" Tiff asked, the brows upon its borrowed face frowning repulsively. "Demigod told me that Akilaba was going to be exonerated…don't tell me that Demonic God means to do so with all seven kings."

What? The seven of us are being exonerated? No way!

While I was regretting my actions and strived towards my atonement, I doubt the six other kings had the same in mind.

If they were to be released back into the world, who knows what calamity might arise — again!

If that was true, then I can't let it happen…I won't let it happen!

How was I going to go about it? I had no idea yet.

But as a first attempt, changing Demonic God's mind about our release was a start. Not sure how effective it would be and if it would be some kind of defiance in his eyes, but I have to start somewhere. I sure hope my public speaking skills have not rusted.

Amidst my endless thinking and the torturers' ramble, another voice extended to interrupt all our activities.

"Standing idle, eh?" the raspy voice from behind a curtain of water emerged. "I expected nothing less of young Tiff here, but you Wart?"

"I'm ashamed to call you my junior!" another also broke silence.

Instead of one, two individuals, just like the two torturers, walked inside the path. They wore the same clothes and walked in a similar fashion so to say. Like twins would do…

"What do you mean you expected it from me? You bloody twins always criticize me —"

(Ah, seems I was right about the twin thing.)

"— but in truth you're just jealous that someone as low ranked as me was granted the handling of a king."

The twins laughed at Tiff and walked by anyway, ignoring his ranting as if they were late for their appointment while he was not.

Many times before, I was told by Tiff, that these two specific individuals were the ones that tortured another pair of twins.

(Ironic right? Twins torturing twins! Eh? Ehhh? …okay fine I'll stop…)

Similar as before, the tortured were also considered Septitans. Kings of old!

I have never heard my handler call them by their names. They simply went with the twins.

But looking at both, they were not leading any prisoners.

In life, when you speak of the devil, it always shows its face.

Not soon after I had these thoughts brimming my mind that a group of people followed behind the twins. Four were needed to restrain each of the prisoners.

Dastan Kiobi and Dastan Rubis. Those were the names of the two kings.

Their appearance was simple and duplicate. Red hair, no eyes shown due to their blindfolds, copy pasted noses and same drawn lips. But the two men were quite scarred. As it was, these two kings were the most bloodthirsty of our lot.

Unlike Hunimo and me who were complying with their little promenade, it was implied that the twin kings were not. Seeing as they were gagged, blindfolded and handled by four people, it was clear that they had no intention of going to the hall willingly.

One guard was holding the chains. Another had his weapon unsheathed and aimed at his prisoner just in case he broke loose. And the last two held long shafts to the king's neck with a grip at their ends.

"What did they do? Hehe" Wart chuckled at the sight of them.

"Trashed the cave and destroyed the bridge when we loosened their binds" one of the twin torturers answered.

"Well at least mine is civilized and not a savage" my torturer threw, looking at me with expectant eyes. "Right, Akilaba?"

I walked past Tiff and followed the other torturers, freeing myself of its lead. I shrugged and shook my head sideways.

"I do not wish to indulge in your childish competition, Tiff" I said somewhat coldly.

(Sorry Tiff!)

Every one of them bellowed with loud laughter, snorting like swine.

"Well said King Akilaba. Well said!"

Tiff, disheartened, marched slowly behind us, letting me walk freely. He could be right though. If anything, I could pass as civilized. But I had no wish in giving flame to their insignificant squabble.

The trotting quickly passed and we were in front of the hall before the allotted time.

A few guards were stationed before it, holding spears within their hands. Walking past, they did not flinch. Not even a glance was thrown at us. Maintaining an unwavering posture that was terrifying to say the least.

I was fascinated by it. Such formation. Such discipline. I'd call it perfect, but I have seen better during my days…

No, no, no!

I don't want to think about these things anymore. Focus! My goal is to stop the kings. Be it by convincing Demonic God to cancel our exoneration or by stopping them myself should the need arises.

I have killed countless before. Surely six more were not a problem, right? Especially those select six.

Right?

Right?