Kyle stood in the corner of the courtyard, his gaze fixed on the scene before him.
Bron was there, accompanied by one of the matrons — the woman whose crime was screaming at one of the orphanage's prodigy children and tormenting her. An act that could never be forgiven, for that child was valuable… unlike the rest.
A crooked, almost deranged smile crept across Kyle's face before he burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. Yet, behind that laughter raged a volcano of memories.
They came rushing in like a storm — the cold orphanage halls, the nights echoing with children's screams, the suffocating terror that had been his constant companion.
But above all else, one memory burned brighter than the rest…
The first time he had seen the Infernith.
A mass of living fire advancing with heavy, deliberate steps. Its presence scorched the very air, pressing down on his chest like a blade. It was unlike anything else in this world.
Screams, weeping, chaos everywhere… and then her broken, trembling voice:
"Will holding you… end my suffering?"
Back then, just a trembling boy, Kyle had looked up at her with tear-filled eyes, while an old orphanage lesson echoed in his mind: "If you ever meet one, just say anything to survive."
Everyone thought it was just a silly rumor… everyone except him.
He whispered:
"Just… smash your head against that tree, and it will all be over…"
It was nothing more than an improvised lie to make her go away. But Kyle knew the Infernith would do anything if told it would free them from their torment — even if it made no sense. And so, she moved toward the tree…
The memory shattered, and Kyle returned to the present, his gaze settling coldly on the matron.
"She deserves what's coming… or perhaps… she doesn't deserve such a clean end."
The thought was interrupted by the loud entrance of Moathan and Brian, talking boisterously.
The lingering shadow of his memories still clung to his expression, and 09 noticed instantly.
09 tried to pull him away from the scene:
09: "Could you get me a bottle of water?"
But Kyle, regaining his sharp edge, snapped:
Kyle: "Am I your servant?! Get out of my way, damn you!"
In the center of the courtyard, soldiers had dragged the matron onto a massive, heat-resistant catapult — built for hurling Infernith into the volcano during the early stages of their transformation.
The executioner stepped forward — a figure built like forged steel, shoulders broader than a fortress gate, as if he were a giant pulled from pre-war legends.
He forced a black flower into her mouth.
Seconds passed… nothing happened.
He picked up another flower, while she screamed and pleaded:
Matron: "Please! I never touched her! I'll do anything… just spare me!"
But the executioner, face like stone, shoved the flower past her lips.
Before she could swallow, her head drooped forward — dead from sheer, crushing fear.
Executioner: "I think she died of a heart attack."
Moathan: "Then burn her body… or throw it to the dogs."
Before the next execution began, Chloe stepped into the courtyard, her eyes blazing as she addressed the crowd:
Cloe : "This… is the fate of any criminal who dares defy the law."