47 Mind games

"Are you out of your mind, Kaius?" Allyria laughed in hysterics.

Maybe the broth had damaged his brain or something. He wasn't even sure they'd manage to find an exit behind the walls. Allyria suspected they were underground so the only way out was up. How would they do that if the only thing they had was a measly weapon AKA a spoon?

"I'm not crazy, Allyria. I'm serious," he replied, "I'll take care of the mallet."

"And where will you get that?"

He stood up and went to the prison bars, gripping the cold steel, "There are only two options: breaking this or stealing the weapon from one of the guards."

Allyria already thought of it. But every time she tried to do it, the timing was always wrong. Also, the guard, as Kaius put it, didn't have any weapons with him. He probably was just following orders from his bosses and checking them from time to time but not to the extent of guarding them 24/7.

That was also another thing she found weird. If they were captives and somehow dangerous, why would he send a man who didn't even know how to handle a weapon? Why weren't there any actual soldiers to guard them? Where was everybody?

"Good luck with your hand in breaking it," Allyria chuckled, "I'm surprised you still have the willpower to think all that."

"I can't just sit here and wait for a month to hear your idea," Kaius replied, the seriousness in his voice had a tinge of jokiness in it, "Like I said, find a better plan so we could stop all this nonsense."

"You acknowledge that this is nonsense. Good," she said, "It means you're not going crazy."

"And you're a psychiatrist now?"

"It's a fact."

"Should I be lucky you haven't brought me to a hospice yet?"

"Wait 'til we get out of here, I will be the one to deliver you there."

Kaius made a face. He knew he'll never get a decent conversation especially if it's Allyria he's talking. She'd only give meaner and heavier comeback every time he tries to bring up something that's less of a rap battle.

"Thanks," he replied, not bothering to think of a better retort.

Vervali has always been ahead of its time. Although the kingdom was still stuck in a medieval age and hasn't thought of jumping into modernization, there was already a community that took care of the mentally ill. Established during Aleksandr Astrenmir's term, the only asylum was built, the High Gardens Sanatorium.

"You both seem to be in a good mood," a man's voice thundered in the dungeon.

It's him again.

"Planning to escape?" he asked.

No one answered.

"I'll save the energy for you before you do something reckless and tell you the truth. There's nothing you can find beyond the walls," he paused, "If that is what you're expecting."

"Even if you dig and dig for decades, centuries or whatever term you call for time, you'll see nothing there," he continued.

Allyria raised a brow. This guy is the one who needs to be brought to a sanatorium. He's the one who should be locked in a cell, not them.

"And since I've already told you the truth. Mr...," he stopped mid-air not knowing what to call Kaius, "Companion, kindly give me back the utensil."

'He knows about it. The guard must have noticed it after he left.'

"Hurry now," he said.

Kaius didn't have any choice but to give it to the man. Allyria heard Kaius groan when he handed it to him. So much for having the best plan in the universe.

The man didn't add anything to his sentence. Kaius was now beside her, sitting knee deep in silence. The air refused to make a sound and if what he's really saying was true, they will never hear anything from the outside if there was nothing behind the walls.

"Wait," he said like a bright idea knocked into his mind all of a sudden, "Why don't we play a game?" the man asked.

Allyria looked at Kaius, her eyes in question but he only shrugged.

"If you could guess where we are right now, I'll give you a free pass to the exit," he said, "Sounds like a fair game, right? What do you say?"

Allyria thought Kaius was already close to getting crazy but she didn't realize the person who was most qualified to go to the asylum was already standing right in front of them.

"No objections?" he asked. When no one answered, Allyria could see the silhouette of his head nodding from a distance, "Good. Mr. Federova will be asking you every day before you get your tray of breakfast."

So that was his name. Allyria took note of it. He might come in handy soon.

"If you don't have anything else to say, I shall leave. The guessing game starts tomorrow. Good luck."

----

Hello dear readers, I'm sorry for the late update. I've been really busy with school and I barely have the time to write now that we have tons of pending requirements :( I hope you understand.

And before I forget, I want to let you know that I will be going on premium tomorrow. I thought about this for weeks and the decision wasn't easy. Believe me, I really want my first book to be free but responsibilities are calling me and the only way I can compensate for the time and effort I've been shredding for this book is by taking this opportunity. I hope you understand.

For the readers who've been with me from the start, thank you. I know not all of you would finish this story with me but still, I appreciate you for spending the time to read a work that's very close to my heart. And for those who will continue, I may not thank each one of you but know that I am eternally grateful for your support and for the support you will be giving to the books that I will be publishing in the future. You are the reason why I'm here.

[ANNOUNCEMENT]

Because of several requests, I will be posting chapters 47-70 under the auxiliary volume to give you more time to get to know the characters and understand the plot of the story since this is the part where it gets exciting :'>. I admit it was a mistake getting the premium this early so now, I am giving you a chance to enjoy the book. I will still be posting premium versions of the chapters here as well as the rest of the chapters until the end. I hope you won't get tired of supporting me. Thank you for the endless love and effort you have put into reading and appreciating this book. Love and light.

xx

ephemery