Interrogation

"Hey."

"Hey, Wake up!"

The cultist opened his eyes to smiling face, which looked like a devil in the low light.

He opened his mouth and tried to scream, but Zane blocked his mouth before he could make any sound.

"Calm down. We don't want to make a crowd in here now." Zane said with a friendly smile. "Ms. Knight" He then looked towards Edana.

She nodded her head and created a Flame Ball on her hand, which she brought close to the cultist, right under his chin.

Sweat dripped from his forehead and he started to panic. He struggled to escape but he found his body unable to move, tied up tight by a rope.

"No need to panic, we're not going to hurt you. If you answer our questions that is. I'm going to remove my hand now, but you won't scream right? Because the next hand that shuts your mouth up won't be as "coal" as mine, haha!" He laughed and looked at the flame in Edana's hand.

Everyone rolled their eyes at the joke, but the cultist was scared stiff. He quickly nodded his head, showing his willingness to co-operate with them.

"Good." Zane smiled and removed his hand, after which the cultist took a long breath.

"W-Who are you guys? Please don't hurt me, I'm just a normal guy! I swear I'm not a part of this cult. I was just looking for a job and-"

"Shh Shh." Zane stopped him from talking further. "Just answer our questions and you'll be free to go!"

The cultist nodded.

"Tell us how many cultist there are down there and how many are Seekers? Also about the layout of the place and what they are doing here." Zane spat out in one breath.

The cultist took a moment to think, "T-There are about 30 of us down here. I don't know what a Seeker is, but there are about 10 people with red robes who are superior to us brown robes and 1 leader in a red and black robe. I only recently came here so I don't know much about them. I swear! I'm not like them, I just wanted a job. I have a family at home." He was about to cry.

"Okay Okay. What about the layout? Their activities?" Zane pushed him.

"There's a long corridor with lots of room on each side right down the stairs. That's where we stay. At the end of the corridor, We can go to the prayer hall. They do all sorts of rituals there from what I've heard. I was just asked to bring the new relic for the ritual. That's all I know!"

"Is that the relic there?" Zane pointed at the display case behind.

The cultist turned his head and nodded. "Yes, that's the one I was told to bring."

Zane stared at the cultist, "And is everyone waiting for you to bring the relic? In the hall?"

He nodded frantically, "Yes."

Zane stood up, and looked at his group. He walked towards the middle of the room and gestured everyone to come close.

"What do you guys think?" He looked at everyone.

"We should take the relic and return. We'll take him too." Edana pointed at the cultist.

"Maybe we should let him go, he said he's just a normal person." Ouida added.

"They're cultists, don't believe their words. They're really good at acting after all." Valentina reminded Ouida.

"Yes but... maybe he could be telling the truth." She refuted.

Cadell interjected them, "What do you think, brother Zane?" Everyone looked at him.

Zane was thinking with his hand on his chin. "Hmm..." He looked around the room and his gaze landed on a particular shelf. "Hehehe I have a great idea..." He grinned and walked towards the shelf.

He picked up the Mayhem Bells placed on the shelf. Looking inside it, he found the clapper was attached.

"Is this how it works?" He disassembled the bell and the clapper.

Walking towards the cultist, he asked in a nonchalant manner, "How long has it been since you joined the cult?"

"Just a week maybe." The cultist answered.

"Ohh okay. Do you know what this is then?" He stopped before the cultist and knelt down. Showing him the clapper and paying attention to his face.

His eyes widened but he controlled his expression and smiled nervously, "N-No, what's that?"

Zane's gaze lingered on his eyes for a moment before he smiled. "Ah, this? We use it like this." He grabbed the mouth of the cultist, put the clapper in and blocked his mouth with his hand.

"What are you doing?" Edana and Ouida ran towards him and tried to stop him.

Zane looked at the cultist and threatened him, "Swallow it or I'll ring the bell right now."

He widened his eyes and swallowed the clapper with some difficulty.

*Gulp*

"Haha.." Zane smiled and let go of his hand.

"Are you crazy!? What are you doing so suddenly?" Edana berated at him, but before Zane could answer, "YOU BASTARD!" The cultist shouted.

"Hahaha.. Oh? Did you know what that was? Should I ring the bell?" Zane put the bell up, ready to shake it.

"PLEASE DON'T!" The cultist begged. "Sorry for trying to fool you! What do you need me to do? Please! I'll do it!"

Ouida and Edana widened their eyes. "Heh, I told you not to believe them." Valentina scoffed.

Zane continued, "Is the information you told us before accurate?"

"Yes! They are. I wasn't lying about that!"

"Good.. Then you don't need to do much. Just carry out the task given to you. Bring the relic to the hall." He grinned.

"What!?" Edana cried. "We need to take that with us. You're just going to send it to them? What are you even thinking?"

"Come on, I have a great plan. Just trust me!" He smirked.

Edana couldn't speak any further so she just backed away.

"Go on then, or they'll start to suspect that something's going on here." Zane untied the rope and let the cultist go.

"O-Okay." He quickly grabbed the wooden box inside the display and ran towards the door.

"Hey." Zane called out coldly and the cultist froze.

"Y-Yes?" He turned his head.

"You better not try anything funny!" He showed off the bell.

"Of course not! I'm not stupid!" The cultist left quickly.

"What are you thinking? What's that relic you made him swallow?" Edana barraged him with questions.

"We don't have time for this, you'll know once you see. Let's follow him for now." Zane ignored her and followed the cultist.

Edana gave his back a death-stare. "Come on guys." Everyone followed.

---

*Tap Tap Tap Tap*

The footsteps of three people echoed inside the dark tunnel.

"I found him." Thorn stated while running forward, a clear blue flame on his eye.

"Good, let's go faster." Avery spoke and started running faster.

In a minute or so, they caught up to the person Thorn saw.

"Odis Roan. Why are you alone? Where are the others?" Avery started questioning him right after he appeared in front of him.

"S-Sir Avery? Thank God! I'm saved!" Odis rejoiced. "Please take me out of this place!"

"We will, but first tell us where the others are?" Thorn appeared behind him.

"Sir Thorn! Yes, they went towards the other tunnel saying they wanted to catch the cultists."

"Fools!" Avery widened his eyes.

"We must hurry!" Thorn stated. He looked towards Avery and nodded.

"Len, bring the child to a safe place. We're going after them!" Avery ordered and ran back together with Thorn.

Len Beale and Odis were left alone. Len turned his head towards Odis, him doing the same.

"Let's go kid. I'll bring you back." Len spoke to Odis, who nodded his head and followed.

"Will they be alright?" Odis asked, making a complex face, he added "My sister is also there."

"Yeah, The commanders are going now. They'll be alright. Don't worry about your sister. Knight Edana is also there right?"

Odis nodded. "There was also one other person."

Len raised his eyebrows, "Other person?"

"Yeah, he came with Knight Edana." Odis spoke lazily, already tired from all the walking.

Len stopped and Odis bumped into him.

"Ow, why'd you stop?" Odis rubbed his forehead.

"Kid hold on tight!" Len carried Odis in a swift motion and ran towards the final tunnel.