VII. Underneath the skin

The meeting concluded just as the sun began to set, marking the onset of the golden hour. Our strategy is quite straightforward - we will collaborate with the enemy. 

During the extravagant ball, I will disguise myself as a soldier while Kev follows me along. However, prior to the festivities, we will discreetly conduct reconnaissance to gather vital information.

Celesty on the other hand, will remain concealed until the opportune moment when the party is in full swing. At that precise instant, she will reveal herself amidst the crowd. 

Prior to her grand entrance, she will remain hidden from view. As the party commences, only Kev and I will be seen beside the king, while the majority of the soldiers and knights will appear to be guarding Celesty.

This meticulously crafted illusion will fool everyone into believing the Celesty is the primary target, when in fact our true mission is to protect the king. However, this places great responsibility upon both Kev and I, as the king's life is ultimately in our hands.

---

That particular night, I had developed a newfound habit of staying up late due to my growing fascination with books on botany.

These books were filled with captivating depictions of plants, showcasing their unique shapes and sizes. Each page was meticulously adorned with comprehensive information about their uses, anatomy and intriguing historical backgrounds.

As the nightfall enveloped my room, I would eagerly open the windows, allowing the invigorating breeze from outside to fill the space. 

The gentle caress of the wind would cause the curtains to sway gracefully, as if dancing in harmony. 

Gazing into the distance, I was treated to the mesmerizing sight of the kingdom's lights twinkling like  myriad of stars, visible through the window of my room.

The ambience was undeniably cozy and serene, creating the perfect environment for a peaceful slumber. However, to my surprise, my stomach began to growl with hunger at this ungodly hour. Unable to resist its persistent demands, I found myself rummaging through the pantry in search of a late-night snack.

It has been a few months since I first arrived in this world and met Kev and Celesty yet despite the time that has elapsed, I still haven't experienced the true horrors of this world.

My continuous curiosity keeps me engrossed in the knowledge I gain every day, almost causing me to forget how long I have been here. Nonetheless, I remain cautious, as I am about to face an even more troublesome event.

As I held up the candelabra I brought to illuminate the shelves of food, a sudden noise emanated from beneath me. 

Interestingly, only the floor of the pantry is made of wood, which seems peculiar considering its location on the bottom floor. It seems impractical to have wood as the foundation for this section of the mansion.

*CHA*

As I stood there, a resounding echo filled the room, intensifying my curiosity as it hinted at a vast space existing beneath me. 

Intrigued by this discovery, my curiosity was once again piqued as I began to search the shelves for hidden mechanisms. Unexpectedly, while lifting a block of cheese, I heard a metallic clank emanating from it, revealing a previously concealed trapdoor within the woden floor. 

A winding set of stone stairs adorned with softly glowing light blue torches greeted me, ironically foreshadowing the impending danger that awaited me. 

As I descended further, the scho of the sound grew progressively louder, intensifying with each step I took. Gradually a chilling sight unfolded before my eyes, resembling a dungeon-like chamber. 

Various creatures' heads hung ominously on the walls, accompanied by an assortment of unique weapons and unsettling dissecting instruments strewn about the room.

At the far end of this macabre space stood a dilapidated iron door, the incessant sound persisting from beyond it. Curiosity getting the better of me, I cautiously, peered through the narrow cracks of the door, revealing an expansive room adorned with grand marble pillars at its center.

As I gazed around, I instantly recognized someone familiar. It was Celesty, clad in knightly armor and holding a chain whip infused with a mystical power.

Although she was quite far from my location, I knew that her ability to read thoughts had a limited range. Being here for some time now, I had grown accustomed to being within the reach of her mind-reading abilities, which allowed me to gauge the distance she could cover.

Standing before her was a figure devoid of clothing, bowing their head with their arms securely fastened to a massive boulder behind them. This person possessed a robust physique and a complexion as pale as snow.

Each time the whip struck, their long curly hair would sway in response to the joints of pain. Their body bore numerous bruises, with droplets of blood trickling down from the chains of the whip.

"You're planning something… A moon fall is about to occur," Celesty said as she pants "Coincidentally, it's the same day as the upcoming ball. Anything you're thinking of won't work," Celesty said. 

The man didn't react for a moment.

"You were born a fool, child." A chilling tone of voice came out of the man's mouth. "The prophecy has already been set, how shameful your mother and father collided with my own destiny." 

Celesty suddenly lashed out a series of swift strikes towards him. 

"Pathetic, how big of a difference will you make as you alter everything… Your eyes… there is an emotion… you're showing anger. Did something good happen?" he said as he looks at Celesty.

Celesty, using her left hand, performs a spell that results in the formation of a small magic circle that emits a radiant glow. From within this circle, a foreboding head with two horns, a scaly visage, and a distinct glowing yellow eyes materializes. This eerie manifestation then descends, bouncing off the stone floor before finally rolling onto the foot of the man. 

The man's intense anger becomes evident as his jaw trembles and his body shakes. His facial expression gradually transforms into one of madness. 

"RHAAAAAAAAA IGNIL!!" He screams. 

Celesty, instinctively points towards the door behind her, where I am secretly observing. Without diverting her gaze from the shouting man, she conjures a spell that instantly silences the sound, preventing it from escaping through the iron door.

She should have cast the spell earlier, before my arrival. Despite the man's desperate attempts to break free from the chains restraining his arms, Celesty remains unmoved, displaying a calm and emotionless expression with her eyes.

As the chains rattled against the boulder, a small torch slipped from its grip and tumbled down to the ground, illuminating a portion of the room. What came into view was a horrifying sight that sent shivers down my spine. 

The room was filled with gruesome scenes of severed body parts piled on top of each other, heads impaled on spikes, scattered fingers, teeth, eyeballs, and tongues strewn about. Celesty continued to inflict unimaginable torment upon the helpless man repeating the torment over and over again.

I quickly retreated to the safety of my room out of my overwhelming fear, not wanting to risk being discovered. Little did I know, there were still unimaginable horrors awaiting me, lurking in the shadows.