Hector sat on a chair in a strangely comfortable prison cell. The stone floors were warm and clean, and the hallways were well-lit and had many windows that let sunlight beam through. Thankfully, he was no longer naked. Now, he wore a simple black robe that had been given to him upon his imprisonment.
It had been many hours since Hector had last been with Soro. The guard captain had sent him to the prison with assurances that if his story were true, he would likely be released after interrogation. The prison cell was actually a good place to sit and think about all the events that Hector had gone through.
Frankly, the whirlwind of death, life again, and then discovering he was in a completely new world was easier to deal with mentally than he had expected. He searched himself for lingering attachments to his old life, but none existed. It was shockingly easy for him to accept this new reality.
If anything, Hector was actually excited about the new opportunity this life presented to him. In his past life, he had grown up as a sheltered youth living in his tyrannical father's shadow, never traveling the world or exploring new connections or feelings. The only time in his entire life he had done something of his own will was when he betrayed his father and helped the villagers kill him.
That was the only moment he'd ever truly chosen something for himself in all twenty-two years of his life. It had been exhilarating. Now, he stood in a new world—one untouched by his father's shadow—no more chains of legacy, no enemies hunting debts that weren't his to pay. For the first time, he was free.
The irony of how free he felt while sitting in a prison cell did not go over his head. "Life's a fucking bitch sometimes." he chuckled to himself.
"On that point, we agree." A voice replied from the nearby stairway, grabbing Hector's attention.
He turned to the stairwell just in time to see two figures emerge from the winding staircase. The first was a familiar figure, his silver hair tied up in a bun and pinned by an elaborate golden pin, and his beard finely trimmed.
Trailing behind Soro Gwisoo was an even older gentleman with long, flowing white hair and a beard that nearly reached his lower abdomen. His face was imperious and handsome despite his age, and his long, elegant robes were both graceful and audacious. Similarly to Soro, this gentleman wore a masterfully crafted sword in an extravagant sheath on his hip.
"Lord Soro." Hector greeted, doing his best to be polite as he stood and gave a brief head bow.
"Greetings Hector. Please meet Strategist Ryual Cheonma, the third son of Lord Ma Cheonma, the Heavenly Demon." Soro introduced.
Hector turned to Ryual and bowed his head in greeting, this time clasping his fist to his hand in a traditional bow of respect. It was a very practiced motion as he had been taught to greet his father in much the same way. "Greetings Strategist Ryaul. It's an honor to meet you."
Strategist Ryual smiled warmly before returning the greeting with a smile, "So you are the transmigrator Captain Soro told me about? How interesting. I must admit, I am excited to meet you. I have read every research article I could obtain about your kind, and the results were fascinating. I hope
You will be open to sharing your story with me in full."
"I would be open to that," Hector answered, pausing to let a silence sit over the three men. He wasn't sure exactly what he should do here other than to cooperate.
"Good! I am glad to hear that, but first, I have a very important question." Strategist Ryual said, his jolly tone falling more serious. "How did you survive eating the Blood Blossom?"
"So that's what it was called? Ah, um. That's complicated." Hector said, keeping his face as calm as possible despite the screaming in his nerves.
Suddenly, an icy cold swept over Hector. It was a threatening power that seeped into his bones. Strategist Ryual smiled warmly while emphasizing his power over Hector. "Hector, to be blunt, I am very interested in everything about you, and I have no plans to harm you in any manner. That is, however, only if you tell
Me the truth and answer all my questions. Would you like to rethink your answer?" The warning in his voice was clear.
Hector shivered. 'Shit.' He silently scolded himself. Although revealing what he had been was an unknown danger, lying was a known one—a very scary known danger.
"I apologize. You see, in my old world, I was a creature that drank blood to survive. While I cannot say for certain if that is why I survived consuming the Blood Blossom, I believe that to be the case. However, I am no longer sure if I am a vampire! I am certain that I have taken a human form." Hector added quickly, wanting to remove as much association with vampirism as possible.
"Ahhh, that makes sense! I read that Transmigrators are often born near items or places that are necessary for their survival. Although you are now human, my guess is that you probably have an extremely high affinity with blood. Possibly even a Blood Core? That would definitely explain your continued need for the consumption of blood! Incredible!" He raved, seemingly losing himself in his rant.
Hector remained silent and allowed the man to ramble on as much as possible. Anything said would be extra information for himself, and frankly, he needed all he could get.
After a few more minutes of the man babbling about things that Hector couldn't make sense of, the man seemed to get back on track.
"So, Hector. While I want to discuss your story in more detail in the future, I would first like to apologize for holding you here. We hope that you have not found our treatment of you displeasing," Ryual said.
Hector shook his head, "Not at all, Lord Cheonma." Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "Err, I do have a question, though. If I may ask, why are you all treating me so well? While I can understand that you all sympathize with my circumstances, I simply don't believe this is all out of the kindness of your hearts."
Ryual Cheonma burst out into laughter, his voice booming throughout the prison cell for a moment before he calmed down and turned his gaze to Hector. "That is not wrong, Hector. This is not simply out of the kindness of our hearts. Tell me, what do you know of the Sacred Flame Sect, or as others call us, the Heavenly Demon Cult?"
Hector thought for a moment considering what type of answer to give. After only a brief moment, he decided to give the most honest one he could.
"Well, I only know what information I have gathered from Soro and yourself, Lord Cheonma, but from what little I have learned, the Sacred Flame Sect is a place where strength rules. You use an unusual method to gain power that scares those outside your influence. The nature in which you gain your abilities and the nature of said power terrifies people, causing them to demonize you. That's about all I know." Hector said, giving the most honest assessment he could.
Ryual smiled.