The mass of light would expand rapidly two seconds before falling on the trio; it now resembled nets used for hunting wild creatures rather than an attack.
Nafız, spending all her strength to keep the shield up, Alyon, wanting to protect her in this weak state, and Ainle, who hadn't yet come out of meditation, were caught helpless.
It didn't matter how much effort they spent anymore; since their powers were sealed, they didn't even have the strength to struggle.
After fainting under the influence of the light net, they would open their eyes in a dungeon where humidity liquefied and flowed from dirty stone walls onto their faces.
With their hands and feet tied to the wall with chains, they were hanging at least three meters above the ground; they wouldn't be able to see much until their eyes got used to this new situation.
While slowly adapting to the environment, first some glimmers appeared, followed by the color of the stones changing from filth, and finally, they could see two people hanging exactly opposite them, just like themselves.
Unlike them, the faces of these men were covered with sacks made of thick fabric; except for their weak bodies indicating that life energy had started leaving them long ago, there was no possibility of knowing who they were.
"Three little fish thought they could escape the hook by wandering in murky waters with their clever minds, but everything in the world is predetermined, including who will be the hunter and who will be the prey!"
The gloomy and filth-covered place would be illuminated by a speaking voice coming from outside; this voice entering the trio's ears ensured they were filled with awe as if walking in the gardens of paradise.
"Now let's discuss your options without dragging it out too much; I cannot spend my time on worthless insects like you!"
Finally, the owner of the voice had entered; with his long snow-white robe, shining short hair, and a halo so bright above his head that it would make onlookers turn their faces away, this person was the one who came from the Lands of Light personally to capture them.
There was no doubt that the large light balls playing the biggest role in breaking the shield also belonged to him; now he himself had taken priority to interrogate the prisoners.
"Great Chief Alyon and Blood God Nafız, actually I must admit I liked the game you played very much. Throwing yourselves onto this continent with a fake exile, you were working in full cooperation with Khan, the current ruler of the Orc Steppes!"
"Do not fear; you are valuable items to be used when bargaining is done, I have no intention of harming you!"
Although his voice had an air coming from very ancient times, the appearance of the person hovering at the upper limit of arrogance resembled a man in his late thirties at most.
Hearing what was said, Alyon would start struggling like crazy, but to no avail; his mouth was tied in a way to prevent him from speaking, and whatever equipment they had on them was collected.
Unlike the grey-haired orc, Nafız was only scanning the old man with her deadly gaze; since she didn't have much of a chance in this situation, her only option was to try to gather her strength rapidly.
"Calm down, orc warrior; I need you especially. I can't wait to learn what concessions the huge Orc Ruler will give in exchange for his grandfather!"
For the man acting as if living on another plane, the movements of the two orcs he took captive lacked even evoking the slightest interest.
"Today's topic is you, young druid; actually, it would be more correct if we said your mother, who is one of the Five Roots. Shall we do this? You be a good boy and tell your mommy to lift the shield for us, and I will spare the lives of you and all druids!"
The offer of the person evoking awe with his majestic appearance was quite clear; if he accepted, Ainle would not only save his own life but also protect all druids from a bad end.
"Will you spare our lives!"
"Yes, I swear on my sacred soul!"
Unlike the two orcs, Ainle's mouth wasn't tied; he had the opportunity to answer the man talking to him.
"Did you think you were the creator of everything just because you have a little power? If you think who dies and who lives is determined by your pardon, it means you have lost your mind!"
The young druid's answer would be very unusual; one could understand that Alyon would laugh until he exploded if his mouth weren't tied by looking into his eyes.
"Being with these two barbarians for a long time hasn't done you any good, little one; I guess your eye needs to be opened a little to see the realities of the world!"
When the interrogator looking in his thirties raised his hand, the guards waiting in the shadows right behind him would remove the sacks on the heads of the two people hanging exactly opposite the wall.
"Father, brother!"
It had taken almost a century for two short words to come out of Ainle's mouth; time had stopped, all thoughts of the scrawny druid were turned upside down.
"I guessed so; returning to your words just a moment ago, I think we should discuss the holiness of my judgment on life and death!"
The malicious intentions under his divine appearance reflected on his face as a distorted smile; there was nothing to say to the interrogator's joy while putting forward his biggest trump card.
"I can't; no matter what happens, I cannot endanger the druids living inside the shield!"
Ainle spoke biting his lips while looking at hundreds of wounds engraved on the bodies of the two druids hanging with their mouths tied; he had to make the hardest decision of his life while facing the lost members of his family, for whom he had longed since childhood.
"Is that so; then let's see together how long it takes for your father to die after his single leg is cut off!"
The guards receiving the signal wouldn't delay a second; the right leg of the man, writhing in the claws of old age overshadowing his old glorious days, was no longer in its place.
"Noooooooo!"
The young druid would scream in tears; his father, whom he had longed for years, was being killed before his eyes.
"I can't; I cannot betray either my father or my people!"
Even though a voice inside him said like crazy to accept the enemy's offer, he couldn't turn his back on the path his father set out on without even considering his own life and the feelings awakening inside him teaching him his purpose of living.
The man, losing his limb through which many veins in his body passed, wouldn't be able to endure this situation any longer; while his eyes, which had lost their light long ago, closed for the last time, he completed his life journey with only a sigh.
"Open the other one's mouth; maybe he has things to say to his brother!"
The interrogator of the Lands of Light seemed to have planned everything down to the finest detail; when his order was fulfilled, the exhausted druid would suddenly come to life.
"What are you doing, Ainle; does my father's life have no importance for you?"
The brother, who spent his years in captivity, was very scared; although he pointed to his father's end, it was obvious he was speaking for himself.
"I can't, brother; I cannot leave our people and our lands to the hands of the enemy for my own personal interests!"
"Don't be ridiculous, you brat; wasn't it enough that you killed my father, has my turn come now!"
Ainle's elder brother had gone mad in the full sense of the word; he was cursing, pulling the chains tying him to the wall with ambition.
"Whatever the cost, you won't be able to make me do what you want!"
The scrawny druid had said his last word; although he closed his eyes not to watch his brother's throat being cut, his decision was definite.
"Rotten apples spoil the bunch; since you left me no other choice, we will have to go on a journey with you. Let's see if your mother is also stone-hearted like you; I wonder very much whether she will choose to do what I say while her child is being killed before her eyes or just stand and watch!"
When Ainle's unwavering stance left no other option for the man seeing himself as a superior being, the young druid saw that no trump card remained on the table other than his own life.
"What great arrogance to think you can use me to threaten my loved ones; father, brother, I am coming to you!"
When the last letter came out of his mouth, Ainle locked his jaw together harder than ever in his life to sever his tongue; the metallic taste of warm blood had started to burn his throat. While his lungs slowly filled with fluid, his eyes were still on his family members hanging opposite him.