The guard with the square face and peculiar beard grinned, saying, "Oh, murderer, you've got new company. Enjoy each other's presence—or don't, I don't care. Just don't let me hear any screaming or commotion." He shouted, "Bring the other prisoner! By the hells, what even are you? Ha, doesn't matter—get in, creature!" Suddenly, a strange figure entered, clothed in tattered rags, likely torn from relentless torture or beatings.
The newcomer entered quietly, groaning in pain. He was larger than a dwarf, with a large head and deep brown eyes. As soon as he stepped into the corner of the cell, he let out a pained moan, muttering, "Thank you for your hospitality. I've enjoyed it immensely." The guard smirked, revealing his yellowed teeth. "Ha, no trouble at all. We must treat our guests well—it's the least we can do for you." Then he left, and darkness swallowed the cell once more.
Time dragged on inside the prison, moving so slowly it felt as though the eternal darkness would never end. The murderer glanced at his new companion without uttering a word. He saw nothing but the all-consuming gloom, and the air was so cold that every movement ached. What a miserable end. Suddenly, a guard entered carrying a mat for the new prisoner. Without a word, he placed a torch in the nearly lifeless cell and departed. It seemed their hospitality extended to providing for the new guest.
The new prisoner took the mat, laid it on the hard cell floor, covered himself, and slept quietly. The murderer didn't stir or acknowledge his presence. Time crawled by, as if it had stopped entirely. Then, the murderer closed his eyes, sinking back into his haunting dreams.
The prison overseer, Yako, poured himself aged wine from the verdant lowlands, gazing out a window at the restless sea. Its waves crashed against the rocky outcrop upon which the prison was built, surrounded on all sides by water. The only connection to the mainland was a movable bridge linking the prison to another rock to the east. Escape was impossible. The prison housed every kind of criminal imaginable, a terrifying black fortress with one hundred seventy cells, two guard towers, fifty guards, seven commanders—including overseers and their deputies—two cooks, and a dozen servants.
Yako heard a knock at the door. "Sir, there's a message for you from the capital," a voice called.
"This is just what I needed," Yako replied sarcastically. "Come in and summon Mohak."
"Yes, sir. One more thing, sir—"
"Out!" Yako snapped. What an annoying soldier, him and his leave requests. If only the situation allowed for it.
"Yes, sir," the soldier said, placing the letter on a redwood table. *What a pompous fool. I hope he chokes on his wine.*
It wasn't long before Mohak entered. "Commander, you called for me? Have you heard about the new prisoner? He's from the noble Shari family—filthy rich and deceitful."
"That doesn't matter. Hurry up with the task I assigned you. One mistake, and you'll lose your head."
"Everything is proceeding as planned, Commander. No mistakes, don't worry."
"What worries me most is that I'm trusting *you*, and I don't know why. A letter arrived from the capital. See what it says."
"As you command. It's from the Second Minister. He requests your presence in the capital for the king's birthday celebration in a month. Strange, though—the journey from here to the capital takes a week on horseback, or two days, maybe more, on dragonback. That's if we even had a dragon, haha."
"There are matters we need to discuss, and they're none of your concern." Yako drained the rest of his wine, then added, "Listen, you'll take my place until I return. If anything goes wrong, we're all finished. This is serious, and you know what happens to those who fail. No need to remind you."
"I won't let you down, sir. I've never made a mistake before," Mohak replied.
"I trust you," Yako said, though that trust was precisely what made him uneasy. "Dismissed. I'll call for you if I need you." He went to refill his glass with wine, then called out to Mohak before he left, "Interrogate the murderer again. He might tell us something."
Mohak grinned at the commander like a child promised candy. Mohak wasn't the sharpest mind, but he was a sadist who relished torture, as if born for it. He closed the door and descended from the commander's chamber in the western wing, shouting to the guards, "Come on, there are some people who need a little fun!"
The large dwarf stirred, every part of his body burning with pain. The torchlight flickered in the cell. He smiled and murmured, "Alone, always and forever."
He turned to see eyes glinting in the torchlight. He nearly screamed in terror but looked closer and saw a dark figure, clad only in a cloth covering his loins. "Are you human? I thought I was alone here. Well, I'm Lucas Shari, one of the noble, wealthy Shari family. Damn them—I can't believe they did this just because I'm a dwarf, or half-dwarf, with a big head." He paused, then said, "If you want to kill me, go ahead. It doesn't matter. I've lived enough to atone for my sins."
The figure didn't move or blink. *The light here is good enough to see clearly. Is he still alive?* Lucas approached to check on his new cellmate. He reached out to touch him, but suddenly the murderer grabbed Lucas's hand. Lucas leapt back in terror, screaming and trying to pull free, but he couldn't break the murderer's grip. Then the murderer released him, and Lucas scrambled back to his spot. "Gods, what was that? I nearly died of fright! Sorry for intruding, I just wanted to check on you. I think I wet myself. Are you human? You look it. Hello? Did he die again? Never mind, I'm not touching him again. I don't want to die here, or like this. Well, enjoy your brooding—it's good for bad thoughts or bad company."
A guard appeared upon hearing the scream. "What's going on here?"
"I think my friend is dead, but alive," Lucas said.
"Oh, the murderer? Be careful, he doesn't like talking or noise."
"You should've warned me before I wet myself!"
The guard smirked. "I'm warning you now. Don't worry, he doesn't hurt anyone… probably."
"Thanks for your concern. Next time, try to be quicker—maybe *before* it happens." *What a sly bastard. Damn you.*