Chapter 6

The next day, Roxana once again descended into the dimly lit depths of the dungeon. Her first visit had been filled with anticipation and uncertainty, but on her second visit, she navigated the shadowy corridors with a newfound ease. With her privileged access already established, there was little novelty to discover.

The gatekeeper Suha, barely hesitated when he saw Roxana's face, readily unlocking the door to the grim chamber. Before entering, Roxana leaned in, her voice a hushed murmur, "Has anyone else been here since my visit yesterday? Jeremy, Charlotte, or anyone else?"

"No," Suha replied, "The master instructed me not to permit anyone else inside."

"But I entered," Roxana pointed out with a knowing smile.

Her whispered words hung in the air, giving Suha pause. Roxana glanced at the man beside him and then narrowed her eyes as if she had uncovered a hidden truth. "It seems I'm the sole exception."

Indeed, it appeared that no one else had dared to venture into the dungeon. Roxana pressed further, her curiosity piqued, "And what's your name?"

The gatekeeper, Suha, stammered slightly, his composure faltering under Roxana's boldness. "It's Suha."

"Thank you, Suha," Roxana replied graciously. "I'll just take a quick look today to avoid any unnecessary trouble."

"I'm honoured to meet you, Roxana," Suha said, his voice trembling with excitement. "I've only heard rumours about you, and I'm glad to assist in any way I can."

With that, Roxana entered the grim jail, leaving Suha behind. The atmosphere remained oppressive, but she had little choice, especially with Cassis Fedelian's presence.

As Roxana stepped through the iron gate, it emitted a creaking sound that seemed to have gone unattended for at least a century, lending an eerie ambience to the chamber. She couldn't help but wonder if all prisons, whether in the past or portrayed in literature and media, carried this same chilling aura. Perhaps it was the lingering humidity that contributed to the unsettling feeling.

Lost in her thoughts, Roxana suddenly locked eyes with the imprisoned boy. His golden eyes, reminiscent of a blazing sun, held a steady gaze on her without wavering. "Oh, you're awake today."

Had their brief encounter yesterday left such a lasting impression that he recognized her? Roxana hesitated, uncertain of how to proceed.

The boy continued to observe her silently, then finally spoke, "You..."

It seemed that he had indeed recognized her as the person who had visited him yesterday. Roxana wondered if her face had been imprinted in his memory despite their limited interaction.

As she approached, the boy became more alert and asked, "What did you feed me yesterday?"

His voice was raspy, but his gaze remained steady. Roxana noted his cautious nature. "It was an antidote. You were paralysed."

The boy remained sceptical, prompting Roxana to provide more details, "Without it, the paralysis would have lasted at least five days, causing excruciating muscle pain."

Roxana observed that there were no new whip marks on him, suggesting that his condition hadn't worsened since yesterday. She had no intention of tending to his wounds from the previous lashings.

"Do you expect me to believe your words now?" the boy questioned.

"Aren't you feeling much better than yesterday? You're even conversing with me quite coherently," Roxana pointed out.

The boy fell silent, clearly not ready to trust her completely. Roxana changed the subject, "What kind of pill did you think the medicine was?"

The boy appeared momentarily bewildered by the question but quickly regained his composure and asked, "Who are you?"

"Roxana," she replied, causing the boy to react with surprise.

"Is that your real name?"

However, Roxana's patience began to wear thin as the boy's tone grew more confrontational. "Stop demanding answers. Are you affiliated with the Agrece family too?"

With a sigh, Roxana said, "I came here because I was curious."

"I asked you first. Who are you?" the boy pressed.

Roxana disregarded his question and posed one of her own, "Can't you see right now?"

Silence hung heavy in the dungeon as the boy's unresponsive gaze met hers. Roxana continued, "That's right, you can't."

She approached him and waved her hand in front of his face, but there was no reaction. "You're not reacting at all."

It was evident to Roxana that the boy couldn't see her properly. She had noted his calm demeanour during their previous encounter, which was unusual given the circumstances.

She probed further, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Remove it," the boy replied.

Roxana reached for his torn shirt, prompting him to wince and groan in discomfort. She discovered a small swirling pattern on his waist, indicating that he was nearly blind.

"It's not poison; it's magic. The effects are temporary, and your eyesight will gradually return over the next two days," Roxana explained.

The boy contemplated her words for a fleeting moment before he voiced his scepticism, "And you expect me to believe that?"

"I don't wish for your demise," Roxana replied, her words catching the boy off guard with their unexpected sincerity. Roxana reached a conclusion, her tone resolute, "I'll come back on another occasion."

"Wait," the boy interjected, making an attempt to grasp her arm, but Roxana continued her departure unabated.