Chapter 190: Distant Memories
Time felt meaningless before the Inquisitor’s interrogation. They never seemed to tire of hearing my voice, be it honest answers or screams. Occasionally, while the elder was taking notes, Emery, the apprentice, would grow bored, and take it out on me. She used all sorts of weak spells to torment me. Occasionally, after a particularly successful attempt, judged only by my expressions of pain, she would report excitedly to her mentor, who would roll his eyes.
By the time he finally snapped his notebook shut, blood streamed from countless wounds on my body, running down my bare form and splattering in fine drops upon the white floor. Where my skin wasn’t stained crimson, it was bruised and broken, discolored with hideous blotches of yellow and purple. My soul fared no better, the constant stimulation leaving me hovering on the borders of unconsciousness.
"Well done, Emery," the mentor said, ruffling her hair.
She smiled brightly, but quickly subdued the expression. "Thank you for your guidance."
"We shall review what you have learned tomorrow, but let us adjourn for now. It’s been a long day and you should get some rest."
"But what about you?" she asked, suppressing a sudden yawn.
He laughed wryly, hefting the thick notebook. "The Grand Inquisitor will be expecting a report tomorrow. Although we’ve obtained much, it’s going to take some time to organize."
Voices that had covered me in vitriol now chatted with friendly tones, showcasing a relationship I expected with a close teacher and student, not torturers. They spoke so casually that I wondered whether they’d forgotten my broken body was still before them, but that couldn’t be true. I was a slave to them, worse than even an animal. What cause had they for being conscientious now?
"As for you, filthblood," the inquisitor said, turning a critical eye on me, "you would do well to gather your composure. It would be disgraceful for the other heroes to see you in this state."