PART 5 – FREEDOM HAS A PRICE

The number of trays coming in and out of the room became my only time indicator. For me, a day equaled two trays of food. That's how I determined I had been confined for over a month. I started stacking them on the side, and the pile reached over sixty, precisely sixty-eight trays, equivalent to a month and four days.

Every tray that arrived with food ended up in my stomach. After the tenth, I stopped caring whether the animal was alive or dead; I just ate it. After all, it was a matter of survival: them or me.

The smell of blood permeated the cell. I didn't know how much longer I'd have to endure being locked up, but I was sure that if it continued, I would eventually lose my sanity. Despite everything, I held onto hope; I was certain they needed me for something, as it wouldn't make sense for them to expend so many animals on me.

Finally, a day after ninety-six trays, the doors opened. Mibreg returned accompanied by the twin brothers, those who always acted in perfect synchronization. Both remained still by the door while the lieutenant general was the only one to enter the room.

"What a bad smell around here, but it seems it doesn't bother you much, does it?" she commented as she approached the empty trays piled near the entrance. "Are you collecting them?" She counted all the trays from top to bottom and continued, "Ninety-six trays. Ninety-six animals. Ninety-six suns and moons. How do you feel?" she asked, not expecting an answer. Ninety-six days. I thought two trays equaled a day, but I was wrong. I had been locked up for much longer than I imagined. Somehow, in a hundred days, I had managed quite well not to lose my mind.

"You've demonstrated exemplary behavior, and since the Senate has reached a response in record time, it's time to get out of here."

At that moment, the ceiling began to split like a window. It opened slowly, letting in the sunlight, the scent of gunpowder, and a gentle breeze. My excitement grew, and I stretched my neck to better appreciate the sky.

However, a problem presented itself: how would I manage to get out? With the confined space of the cell, my long and wide wings didn't have the necessary space to spread. Moreover, the ceiling rose too high for me to jump out. I had always been intrigued by how they had locked me in here, as the door was too small for me; in the end, the answer was always the ceiling.

"I want you to lift it, Ceache," Mibreg ordered.

The twins approached me without hesitation and showed no fear towards me. That filled me with fear, but I could do nothing but wait patiently; I still wore the electric collar.

The woman, with a jump, reached the ceiling and stood on the edge, waiting. On the other hand, the man stood in front of me and, without warning, grabbed the lower part of my neck, lifting me with his hand enveloped in green flames.

I rose a few centimeters from the ground, and fear began to invade me for what was happening. Mibreg remained motionless, watching me with a smile as she lit a cigarette that would soon touch her lips.

The man threw me upwards, and as fast as Mibreg lighting a cigarette, the young woman waiting on the roof caught me in the air, throwing me even higher. This time, I had the chance to spread my wings and float, finally freed from the cell.

The first thing I saw were numerous soldiers aiming their rifles at me, each showing a terrified face. Moreover, some tank-like vehicles had their cannons directed at me.

The place where I was seemed to be an airport. An imposing tower rose on the horizon, and a very long road crossed it. Several gigantic hangars presumably housed artificial dragons, warplanes.

I remained watching, analyzing, and enjoying the sights after so many days of confinement. Anything I looked at could excite me. The wind hitting my huge body, the smell of grass and gunpowder danced in my nose.

I looked back, although it was unnecessary. After several days locked up, I discovered I had some kind of spatial vision, like a third eye, able to perceive everything around me in a smaller distance than my own eyes. I realized that more soldiers and vehicles were aiming at me, closing a circle around me. However, I didn't care. My attention focused on a huge rectangular building in the distance, capturing my greatest interest.

I remained like this for several minutes, simply enjoying the feeling of the hot sun on my black scales. However, time around me continued its course. Mibreg emerged from the large metal box that once contained me and ordered:

"Lower your weapons!"

All the soldiers lowered their strange rifles, letting them rest on the grass, except for the vehicles that remained alert, like guardians.

"Descend," she ordered.

Without wasting time, I obeyed. I began to descend outside the circle, near the vehicles. Everyone turned in fear as I passed over their heads.

I saw the woman on the roof jump several meters above the edge and land on the ground without any problem, as if the distance were insignificant to her. Meanwhile, her brother exited through the same small door they had entered.

And, as if she wanted to prove that there was no danger, the lieutenant general approached me. She was so close that she could touch me. She raised her hand, and I knew what was coming. I closed my eyes, expecting a painful electric shock. However, none of that happened.

"See? It's completely at my will. It won't do anything I don't want it to do," I heard her mocking tone as she placed her hand on my scaly body.

Did my reaction intend to show them that I feared them and that I was tamed? They treated me as if I were a simple animal, assigned me a name and a collar as if I were a pet. The only thing escaping their control were my thoughts, and I feared that at some point, they would try to take them away from me.

To reinforce her control over me, Mibreg ordered one of the soldiers to bring a saddle. A soldier, with a face covered in sweat and visibly terrified, approached with a saddle similar to the ones horses use, but larger and heavier. This one was held by green flames in his hands; he used magic to lift it.

"Lie down," she ordered.

I did what she said and dropped onto the grass. Mibreg approached close enough and then said:

"Put the saddle on it."

The soldier, with a trembling hand, not because of the weight of the saddle, which was as dark as my scales, but because of the fear towards my presence, approached slowly. Finally, he placed the saddle on my body, and it began to adjust itself. Leather straps slid over my skin and tightened. One secured around my neck, while two others traveled to my stomach, tightening firmly. The feeling was horrible; the friction was uncomfortable, and the saddle was adjusted very uncomfortably.

As if Mibreg were extremely cruel, she ordered the fearful soldier who had brought and placed the saddle to get on it. The soldier obeyed, but he was shaking so much that he looked like jelly. He put both hands on the saddle and tried to lift his weight to reach my back, but he failed. He tried to climb using my scales, but he was unsuccessful. Then, he tried to take a run and jump, but he only ended up hitting me.

"Ceache, please, help him get up," Mibreg ordered impatiently.

The woman approached, making her way through the soldiers, grabbed the man by the collar of his grayish-blue shirt, and lifted him without the need to use the green fire in her hands. Then she threw him in the air, and he landed on the saddle face down.

"At last," Mibreg commented disgusted and continued. "I want you to take him to that building and then land and allow him to descend. But I want you to remember something, as long as I live, that collar will accompany you, and if you don't obey me." She raised her hand in my direction and said, "Now go."

Without wasting time, I began to rise. The man on my back began to make sounds of panic, clinging tightly to my neck. I set my course for the large rectangular building that was quite far away.

The flight didn't last long, in fact, just a couple of minutes. I approached close enough to the now imposing building and descended until I touched the ground with my four paws. I crouched low enough for the man to be able to descend. Without words, he jumped long before I crouched, hurting himself when he fell to the ground.

I rose again in the air and moved away from the building. In the distance, I could see several people coming out of the building to help the injured soldier. Several minutes later, I flew back to where Mibreg was waiting for me. I landed in the same place where I had taken off and waited for orders.

"With our new vehicle and weapon of destruction, the empire will rise to victory!" Mibreg shouted.

All the soldiers began to cheer with joy, completely forgetting the fear they once felt in my presence.