Vantias looked at the iron hatch and shouted to draw Aldrin's attention:
"Aldrin!! Come here, I think I've found something!"
After several minutes of calling, Aldrin quickly rushed to where Vantias was.
With a distressed look on his face, Aldrin asked:
"What did you find?"
Vantias pointed at the iron hatch with his finger and said:
"Where do you think this leads to?"
Aldrin's frown softened as he carefully opened the iron hatch.
For a moment, Vantias and Aldrin looked at each other, then decided to climb down, hoping they might discover something...
After descending, they entered a small hall that ended with a door.
The underground chamber was dark and abandoned, immediately filling anyone with fear and unease. Vantias and Aldrin stepped forward cautiously.
Because of the darkness, Aldrin used a light spell to conjure a small glowing orb that floated after them, illuminating the way.
The low, arched ceiling was built of damp, ancient stones, with cracks covered in moss and cobwebs. The air was heavy with the stench of moisture, wet earth, and mold.
Reaching the end of the hall, they stood before the door. Aldrin touched the handle to open it, but his hands began to tremble violently.
Vantias noticed the way Aldrin's hands shook. Taking a deep breath, Vantias said:
"Whatever's behind that door, promise me you'll stay calm, alright?"
Aldrin blinked not once. He frowned slightly and, with a trembling voice, answered:
"How can I stay calm, Vantias? I want to... but my body won't let me. Something's telling me I shouldn't go in there."
Lowering his head slightly, Vantias carefully pushed the door open.
The rusty creak of the door filled the silence, and what they saw made their eyes widen in horror as they rushed inside.
Yutab was tied to a chair, head hanging, lifeless, her eyes closed. Aldrin immediately hurried to her, untying her hands.
With a trembling voice and tear-filled eyes, Aldrin cried out:
"Yutab! Yutab!... We found you. Thank the gods, it's over now..."
He held Yutab in his arms, tears of relief falling as he realized she was alive, though unconscious. There was still hope.
But Vantias's eyes caught sight of something on the table nearby...
He frowned and slowly stepped toward it.
Covering his mouth to keep from retching at what he saw, Vantias stood frozen. Aldrin turned to him and asked:
"What is it?"
Vantias pointed at the table. Upon it lay severed eyes, nearly ten of them. Severed tongues in pieces. Fingers filling several buckets to the brim.
Fingers that had been cut off over and over, only to be healed again with holy magic. Eyes and tongues torn out countless times. All proof of the torment Yutab had endured.
Even if she survived, she would never be the same again. No one could remain whole after such agony.
Unable to control himself, Aldrin doubled over and vomited, trying to shut his eyes—yet he couldn't. His gaze kept locking onto the mutilated remains scattered on the table.
Vantias turned away, his eyes heavy with despair, looking back at Yutab. He thought to himself:
"I'm sorry, Yutab. If I could, I'd take your place in this torment. But unfortunately... you were the one deemed most fitting for this role."
Tears streamed from Aldrin's eyes like pouring rain. He pressed his forehead against Yutab's and cried like a child, whispering through his sobs:
"Why... why Yutab... she's just a child..."
Placing his hand on Aldrin's shoulder, Vantias said in a calm but cold tone:
"Do you see?"
That single question was enough to make Aldrin's eyes widen in shock and terror. He stopped crying, frozen as he looked at Yutab, finally understanding.
Do you see? The result of what *you* have done, the suffering of the innocent—that's what I told you once before.
Now the weight of those words crushed down on Aldrin like the burden of the world itself.
Slowly, he nodded and whispered:
"I see... I see now..."
Hours later, Yutab slowly opened her eyes. At first, everything was blurry and disorienting, but soon the room became clear.
She was lying on what seemed like a medical bed. Sitting up slightly, she shifted, her eyes hollow—like an abyss, empty of life.
A cold wind blew in from the open window. Yutab touched her face with trembling hands...
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening sent her into a panic. Her breath quickened, and she quickly crawled under the bed to hide.
With shaking fingers, she began counting numbers:
100... 99... 89... 85...
She couldn't even count properly—her mind kept skipping from number to number.
Aldrin, dressed in a white robe, entered the room. Looking around, he frowned when he didn't see Yutab. He began searching, until a sound caught his attention—
The muttered counting from beneath the bed.
Peering under, he found Yutab there.
The moment she saw him, Yutab screamed and scrambled out, hurling objects at Aldrin in terror.
Confused and heartbroken, Aldrin tried to approach, but Yutab clutched her head and cried out repeatedly:
"Please... please, I won't do anything anymore... don't hurt me..."
That was the moment Aldrin broke completely. His eyes widened in shock as her words echoed in his mind.
Hearing the screams, Vantias rushed into the room, only to find Yutab curled in the corner, clutching her head, while Aldrin stood frozen, devastated.