No More

Chapter 79: Clockwork Part 4

Axel entered the prison through a wooden door, and is walking back towards the iron tower. He just had to pass through the dungeons where they kept all of the cold, heartless prisoners to rot so they never do anyone harm again.

At least, that's how it's supposed to be. Axel walked through the cold, iron hallway; cages flanking both sides, torches placed in the spaces in between while the soldiers here at the Clockwork Fortress patrol the halls.

Axel didn't know how they can see anything with those red vein-covered hooded cloaks they wear over their leather armor. The single eye designed in the center of the face-covering hood is void of all emotion.

Axel noticed that the guards are still. Unnaturally still. Uncaring even as, much to his confusion, they all walked out in unison.

But as they walked out through the double iron doors, he let out a relived sigh. Axel continued forwards to see that the cells are empty, even though he saw many people come in here not too long ago.

"Where is everyone?" he whispered as the cold, metal place continued to answer him with silence and unease. Oblivious to the events happening on the inner walls with his friends.

"Who knows?" A male with his back against the metal bars replied came from one of the cells. His voice tired as his red jacket is tied around his waist; he ran a bruised hand through grime-covered blue hair. The mysterious male in the cell stood up and turn to look at Axel, revealing his torn jeans. "It's good to see you're doing well, Axel."

"How do you know my name?" The large male asked in surprise.

The man in the cage shrugged. "Well, first of all, Scribing." He gestures to his eyes, glowing with faint Mana. "Second, I'm the one who let you into this fortress along with your friends."

"You did?" Axel replied, unable to remember.

"I don't blame you if you can't," Said the man in the cell. "You were so ill... but it's good to see I didn't cause a mistake."

"Mistake?" asked Axel before shaking his head. "Why should I be listening to you? You are in here for a reason..."

Axel then Scribed the man. It's not as good as the runes in Jesse's right eye, and while Axel has difficulties exercising Mana outside his body, it's enough to get a name. "Luke?"

[Luke] Level 157

Class: Berserker

Title: The Hungry Miner

"...You know what I did to get locked up in here?" Luke asked. "I tried to give a starving family food."

"That's it?" Axel said, surprised by the unexpected answer. "Why would they do that?"

"I was tired of hearing starving children cry," Luke shrugged. "I wanted it to stop."

"Even if it means getting locked up?"

"I took the risk, but I still failed." Sighed Luke. "More people were thrown out, the rest get locked up in here."

"...So where is everybody?" Axel questioned, looking at the empty cells. "Why are the guards not even guarding this place?"

"Other than me being the only prisoner?" Luke asked rhetorically, raising an eyebrow. "Can't think of anything; they move the people into the next room, into that door."

Axel looked down the hall where he saw double iron doors. "What's in there?"

"I honestly don't know." Luke shrugged. "The soldiers drag the people in, but only they walk out; no prisoners."