The silent wait.

[Randall's POV]

… Currently, I found myself tied down by multiple metal chains. Sitting in the darkness of an underground cell.

In the hallway, a lamp's blue flame shed light onto the environment, granting me some vision. An irregular, blue-ish glow emanating from the binds grasping me acted as the other light source.

Two human guards stood outside the cell, with a shiny, silver key dandling on the hands of the younger one.

"Stop it, Rookie. the noise is annoying."

"Come on, old man. We need a bit of a distraction too, you know?"

"Y-you!… I'm not even 40…"

The duo almost got into an argument again, and there wasn't much I could do. Otherwise, they'd probably shut me up.

… And I'd be unable to fight back.

'All thanks to them…'

I glared at the fruit resting in the older one's hand. Its white skin created a unique contrast with the gloomy background. 

And it's because of that damn thing that I'm helpless, at the moment.

That fruit has a strange property, which can be used to suppress someone's Ego. Assuming they eat it, that is.

… There's also the disgusting drink from earlier. And according to the guards, it came directly from "a pure land from Teutonia."

If I can't move my body properly, to the extent that even breathing becomes difficult… Then, it's probably that drink's fault.

'At least the fruit tastes good…'

I remained rooted to my spot for what felt like hours. Waiting for a mercy that might never come.

Only for some footsteps to echo all the way down to this place.

"M-Miss Verderift? What are you-"

"I'm here to speak to the prisoner."

'Verderift?... Is it Jean?'

Why is she here again? I thought yesterday's visit had told her and the others everything I knew.

… In other words, nothing, because I don't have any of this body's memories.

"Oi, bastard. You have a visitor."

I raised my head slightly. 

A figure stood on the other side, with a hood covering most of her well-endowed body. Minus the face's fair skin… And her red eyes.

"Can you two leave us alone?"

The young guard attempted to complain, but the old one threw a rather heavy slap towards the rookie's head. "We can leave you some of our shift's time, Miss Verderift. But we need to be here once the cycle comes to its next stage."

And so, they walked away. While the rookie withstood some of the older guard's scoldings.

'... We're finally alone.'

Recalling what happened last session, a frown appeared on my face.

It was a disaster.

Multiple armored individuals involved in a way or another with Fegendale's Royal Ensemble visited me, and used various methods in order to interrogate me. Mainly threats, manipulation, bribing, and even treating me nicely…

Then again, that falls into manipulation-

"You… Why did you kill him?"

"Like I said multiple times, I don't know."

"You're still pretending to have amnesia? Just drop the act already. Everyone knows it's a lie."

"It isn't! Hell, this isn't even my body!"

She looked at me, puzzled. Even her open mouth helped to express confusion, and all.

"Ugh, just spill it out already. We have proof that the Demons' Velliesta school sent you to do this."

"I don't even know that name… Trust me, Jean."

"... I'm trying to be patient, as you're the main key to knowing who ordered Rand– I mean, the Prince to be in his current state. But you seem to be very determined to piss me off."

The environment around us heated up, thanks to the flames that appeared on her left hand, thanks to a particularly smooth magic circle. Somehow, nothing reached the cloak that hid her body from the lamp's light… Though, it did reveal the cold wrath written all over her expression.

"So, do me a favor and give me the answers I want. Maybe you'll be able to live that way."

Her gaze easily pierced my soul, reflecting a rage I had never seen in her. 

"... If I tell you something, will you be willing to hear me out?"

"Speak."

'Well, here goes nothing…'

"I am Randall, I lost ownership of my own body and-"

A fire dart passed by my face, cutting me off entirely. "What a waste of time."

She started walking towards the exit, and opened her mouth. Possibly to summon the guards.

"I can prove it!" I yelled, with almost all of my remaining strength.

"..."

Jean stopped for a moment.

"Nonsense," she muttered, quickly leaving me alone in this rotting place. I wanted to call out to her again, but… I was empty. I couldn't even make a sound, let alone talk.

'These chains… I can feel just how they drain the life out of me...'

The guard duo returned shortly after her departure.

"You'd do well in remembering that, rookie."

"B-but it goes against the rulebook-"

"Kid. Follow that damned suggestion-book, and you can forget about lasting even five years in this line of work. Instead, play by whatever rules the others follow..."

My mind drifted along the unprocessed soundwaves. 

And eventually retreated into a slumber…

***

[Jean's POV]

The steps I took crushed some of the grass beneath me. Grass that surrounded a few flowers, stones, and even a lake in the distance.

They also allowed me to distance myself from the hidden prison chamber, where the bastard that almost killed Randall is locked up at.

The bastard's words resounded in my head. 

'"I am him", "I lost my body"... Hah. As if.'

This has to be a joke. It's impossible for something like that to happen, there's nothing that can make it happen. 

Even a foreigner murderer is taking me for a fool now.

'... In spite of all my achievements and extraordinary progress with mana, nothing has changed.'

Really, nothing.

'... Well, it wasn't exactly for nothing.'

But still, putting DECADES worth of effort into something, only for two people to come close to noticing your effort…

Sometimes, it really makes me wonder if it's worth it.

In the distance, my eyes finally spotted the Capital. Thus, I had to sweep those thoughts under the rug. There are far more important issues to deal with, after all.

Namely, Randall. 

'The healers said that, miraculously, he'd be alright… I wonder if he'll wake up.'

… I hope he does wake up. I really do.

'I can prove it!'

That statement resurfaced in my mind. It took me about ten seconds to shake my head, and kept walking.