The Mettalic sound of his cell opening woke Soren up.

He opened his eyes groggily. Somehow, while thinking those nice happy thoughts, he had eventually fallen asleep.

A good sleep it had been.

He wiped the blur from his eyes to see clearly.

The cell was filled with people in white coats from the science research team

Cynthia sat upright as wires and tubes were attached to her body and plugged into a machine.

"So you are the boy of miracles." A sweet mature voice came from his side.

Soren turned to see a face mere inches away from his nose.

Whoosh...

He dove back instinctively. Even if he had only woken up, he was not so dumb about his environment.

After what happened that night when he and Cynthia had been murdered in their sleep, Soren made sure to always keep his Blackfield on—no matter how exhausting it was.

And yet, this woman had come so close to him without him knowing.

She had an oval face blanketed by light green bushy hair that had candy of different types sticking out here and there.

Her eyes matched the color of her hair, a pair of round glasses sitting on her small nose bridge.

Her mouth was stuffed with a candy bar.

Of course, like the others, she had a lab coat on, but it was rough and not buttoned—allowing for the molds of her chest to reveal an eye-pulling cleavage.

"Soul breaker candy," she offered, arm stretched out to Soren.

However, Soren was confused, backing away some more.

"Whaaat?" She spoke through bites, "youu don't want soome? They are preettty gooodd'"

Soren shook his head instinctively.

He was a person that had been through battles and had now developed a sixth sense for when he was before formidable opponents.

This woman is dangerous.

A man stepped forward.

"Doctor Kaya, we have prepped the patient for the procedure."

She waved a hand, shooing him away. "I'm no longer interested in the Dragon."

"You mean patient Cynthia." The man corrected.

"Yeah, whatever." She walked towards Soren. "I heard your Shade can talk." Kaya's gaze narrowed, like she was trying to pry open secrets.

"I have questions if you don't mind."

Soren wanted to say something, but she had already begun.

"So what does a shade sound like? Do they speak the same language as us? If they do, which of them?

The human race has over fifty thousand languages, both dead and alive. Which one of them did it use? And if it did, then how do you speak that language?

Or is it a special language between the both of you? If yes, how long did it take you to learn the language?"

The questions just kept coming nonstop. Kaya was relentless. Stopping only when she was inches away from his face again.

"DOCTOR!" The man spoke louder this time around.

Everyone froze.

Kaya turned to him. "What!?"

"Captain Scarvguard is here."

Soren and Kaya turned simultaneously to the side.

There he was. As gallantly dressed as ever.

He had a frown on his face. "Kaya!"

Kaya gave a meek smile. "Bushy Beard. Hi, I was only trying to know..."

"I don't care about that. The Blackspire Bastion has a deal with the Science Research Department of the empire. We let you have as many toys as you require from the glass, and you help us manage the conditioning of Soulbound Warriors.

What in heaven's name are you doing?"

"Uh... Managing conditioning?" She gave a fake smile.

"Kaya..." Scarvguard massaged his forehead. No doubt, this was not the first time he was having trouble with the doctor.

"You and your ceaseless obsessions with Shades. Can't you ease up on it? Or at least throw it away altogether?

This operation was supposed to be done yesterday—immediately after the Crowned Jewel was acquired—but you pushed it to today, knowing fully well a life was in danger, and now, you are harassing my prisoner?"

"Well... I... was only curious." She pouted. "After all, you spoke a lot about him, and..."

"KAYA!"

"Okay! Okay!! Stop screaming my name, Bushy Beard. I get it." She dug a hand into her hair, bringing out a lollipop. "I'll go do my job."

She walked past Captain Scarvguard. However, she stopped at the door—eyes on Soren. "Hey kid," she licked on her lollipop, "hurry up and make it to my operating table, okay? I'd like to see what makes you tick." She winked at him, giggling as she left.

The medical team, carrying Cynthia on a bed, left behind her.

No matter how Soren thought about it, Doctor Kaya felt like a person he should not mess with.

Get on your operating table? I'd rather die.

Soren vowed silently in his heart.

Scarvguard sighed. Then he turned to Soren. A more focused look in his eyes. "I'll advise you to also get prepared. Your trial is tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, you will be leaving this prison.

May the god of the Neuralink be with you."

He turned, his cape fluttering behind him as he stomped away.

The room was left silent. Just Soren.

Soren sighed. "What a way to start the day."

After freshening up, he made his way to the yard.

Today was going to be his last day in the Blackspire Bastion.

For every other person, he had been here for just a week.

But to him, it was years. And in that time, a lot had happened.

He had met people, created friends, and crossed obstacles.

Thinking this far, a face came to his mind.

Vinegar.

Then again, his adventures in this place had started with her.

Soren wondered where she would go from here. After all, the crowned jewel they got was equivalent to one million points.

Each person that participated was given one hundred thousand points.

Handler, Ratler, Slacker, Sausage Neck, Tiger Face, Cynthia, Vinegar, and himself.

Soren and Cynthia had taken the remaining two hundred thousand points.

Of course, some of it went into the cost of Cynthia's operation.

The remaining went into Soren's pocket.

Soren stepped into the yard. It was colder than before.

He looked up at the little flakes of snow.

Winter had begun.

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