All of Noir's eyes had closed as he laid half dead on the ground, the left side of his snout reduced to cinders.
Even though he was barely breathing the wolf could not let go of the leg it had bitten off.
Clapping echoed in the distance, as his master approached.
"That was quite the spectacle you performed there." The thing said, still plastering a grin on its face, "although things could have turned to a bit more favorable outcome."
The wolf tried to stand up before the thing stopped it. "The humans have already captured Beleth, and are taking it to their village. " It said calmly, "there is nothing you can do now."
The thing knelt before him and looked him up and down before plunging its finger into the wolf's skull.
Noir wept like a newborn puppy as the injury on his head began to heal and fade.
"It is sad. They have probably already begun experimenting on him, and it is all your fault."
The thing shortened the distance between it and the wolf, "Make sure to retrieve him as soon as possible, unless you are content with him suffering."
The thing began scratching its chin, although it might be better for him to stay there. The growth he showed today exceeded the results we achieved during training. It let out a sigh as it pulled out its fingers from Noir's skull. On the other hand, I might lose my control over him completely if I let him meddle with his kind for too long. It looked up to the sky, "Being conflicted is such a bothersome feeling."
Noir, now healed, took a step back dragging himself through the ground. The thing took notice immediately and bound his paws to the ground with ice.
"Not so fast." It ordered, "There are some things I need you to do."
***********************************************
Beleth woke up unable to see anything. He felt cold binding pressure around his wrists and ankles. Laying on his side he could not stand up.
His whole body aching, he could still feel where his spine had twisted into spikes, where his legs had elongated, the immense pain lingered.
The torturous itchiness around his neck drove him crazy, an itchiness he could do nothing about as his hands could not reach it and even if they could they would only cause him further pain. Both on his hands and feet he felt as if his nails were ripped off, the slightest of anything even the air causing irritation.
As if they were both poked by a million needles and set aflame.
Worst of all was the headache he felt, it was continuous. Every thirty seconds he felt like his head was being forcefully opened, by being hit by a hammer. The pain was so immense he could not form a single thought.
The only thing that he could do was sob quietly, to the ears of no one.
Within short lived moments the pain in his head subsided, which left him able to think. He was finally able to understand where he was.
He was locked in a place similar to his own room back home. The familiar stench of urine entered his nose, though this time it was not his own, it was coming from somewhere around him.
A faint sound reached his ears, the sound grinding. It continued for a couple of minutes before a silent snap ended the quiet grinding.
The loud sound of flesh banging against metal echoed around him, followed by a harrowing roar and unintelligible mumbling. As the banging got louder it was suddenly stopped by a cracking noise.
The stench of blood once again filled his nostrils as a harrowing scream of agony followed. Shortly the banging and mumbling resumed even stronger than before.
Yelling of encouragement came from the opposite direction of the banging, followed by escalating laughter. Soon more voices joined, turning the noise into a symphony for the insane.
The boy's breathing hastened as he struggled to move, he tried removing the cloth blocking his eyes but his hands could not reach. He struggled again and again but he simply could not move.
As a final desperate measure he slammed his head on the floor and began dragging it, hoping with the friction he would be able to remove the cloth.
All his attempts were unsuccessful. He curled up into a ball, as a stream of tears escaped his eyes.
As the noise around him began to die down, Beleth cried himself to sleep.
***********************************************
Beleth woke up once again, the pain all over his body gone, in its place stiffness had taken root. And an uncanny feeling at the back of his neck. He wiggled around, and felt the wetness of his own clothes in the places where his tears had fallen.
"It's good that you are awake." A high melodic voice echoed. It carried softness in its tone.
The boy wiggled his head, as if he could locate from where the voice was coming from.
He felt warmth on both sides of his face, that slowly moved upwards to the thing tied over his eyes. What was previously tightened around his eyes loosened. As it was taken off him, he was blinded by the light which entered through the window of his cell.
When his eyes got used to the light, he was greeted by the sight of a gentle looking woman. She wore a thick robe made of animal fur and looked somewhat like him. Same grey hair and eyes though they were nearly empty of life and her hair was longer and tied in a braid, she had the same sharp chin and button nose.
She was looking at him with a smile though her eyes were also carefully studying his appearance. Beleth tried backing away from her but only managed to pass a small distance. His hands and feet had not only been bound together but they had also been bound to the floor of the cell with an iron chain.
The woman also backed off with her hands lifted up, "There is no need to be on guard. This is a safe place."
The boy looked at his chains without uttering a word and looked back at the woman.
She smiled and pointed at the chains, "Do not worry about that, they are only a precaution." She sat in front of him and unlocked the chains around his hands. "You see." She stared into his eyes, "I believe we can help each other."
Beleth remained silent, and looked down, to the side, up. His eyes scouted the whole cell just so he could avoid her stare. He felt a burning feeling rising in his chest. His gaze found itself into his hands, they were red and swollen on the wrists but it felt good to be free. He looked back at her, "I… I… I do not think…. I can help." then quickly looked away.
"And why is that?"
The boy did not answer, he just tried to crouch into a fetal position but the chains on his feet prevented him from doing so.
The woman let out a sigh, her eyes mellowing out a little before reaching for the boy's feet. Beleth pulled away instantly, backing himself against the wall of his cell.
"Do not worry." She said calmly as she unlocked the shackles around his ankles, before getting up and going outside the cell. "This is the most I can do for you right now." She said as she closed the iron bar door. "I am sorry but I cannot let you out yet. I will come again tomorrow, If you need anything ask the guards, you will see one once every half an hour."
The woman turned to leave before stopping herself. "If you do not mind, might I ask what your name is?"
"Beleth." He said, his voice quiet, barely above a whisper.
"That is not a bad name. Mine is Silistra. I am pleased to become your acquaintance."
***********************************************
The light of the candles illuminated their faces. Erden and Silistra. One wore a controlled grimace devoid of any humanity, the other had a grim expression as if they'd just buried a dozen people.
In a tiny room they were sitting, one standing tall, their posture perfect as if they were chiseled out of stone, the other leaning back their chair staring into the darkness of the ceiling.
"Did you find out what he is?" Erden started, clenching his fist. "And more importantly should we proceed with the extermination ?"
"What I can tell you for certain is that Beleth is a child in both body and mind." She answered calmly.
"A human child ?"
" .... "
"I understand." The flames of the candles turned blue, and became smaller, casting shadows on both their faces. "Should he be allowed to live?"
"I will not deny that he is a threat, so I ask you." She took out her hands that she had neatly placed on her lap and pointed at him. "Can you bear the guilt of the action you are suggesting?"
The flames went out as absolute darkness enveloped the room.
"I will."