CHAPTER 11: Fractures Loyalties

It had been weeks since the guard had been reassigned to patrol the farthest section of the compound—far from the fields and barns where the girls had once been kept. The news of their disappearance after a failed escape attempt had hit him harder than expected. But the other guards dismissed it with cruel jokes.

As he walked along the dirt path, boots crunching against gravel, a group of guards approached, their shoulders relaxed, chatting as they passed by the wooden fences that lined the fields. One of them smirked as their eyes met.

“If it’s not Renwick,” one of them smirked. “Every day, I gotta see your face here,” the guard jeered with a sneer.

The guard showed his fist. “So what?! You got a problem with my face?!”

“Whoa, chill, man! Just messing with you…” The second guard surprised. Though the first one kept provoking “But hey, you remember the kid you used to patrol back at your Section D-13?”

The guard’s breath hitched. “Maika…? What about her?”

“Yeah, that one. We gave her a little… ‘lesson’ the other day.” The guard chuckled, the sound echoing against the nearby barns.

“What?! Why didn’t anyone tell me she was still alive?!” His voice rose, laced with shock and anger.

“Relax, man. She’s down in the underground chamber now— being tortured like some kind of test subject or something.”

“What the hell did you guys do to her?!” Renwick lunged forward, grabbing the other man’s uniform and shaking him roughly.

“Hey, Renwick! Chill out! What’s wrong with you? Just ‘cause you’re always patrolling their place doesn’t mean you gotta start feeling sorry!” the other guard stammered, eyes wide with surprise.

“You’ve got no sense of humanity at all, do you?!” Renwick shot back, his voice hoarse with fury. “She’s just a little girl—you tortured her like she’s some animal!”

The guard scoffed, yanking himself free. “Just a girl…? Are you stupid or somethin’? She’s immortal! What’s the big deal?!”

“Immortal or not—”

“What do you think we’ve been tryin’ to do this whole time?!” the other guard snapped, his voice rising. “She’s dangerous! Look at what she did to us the other day! And what they did to you—left you accused of being drunk that night! The Warden wants her broken, and that’s exactly what we’re gonna do!”

“Why the hell do you have to torture her?! Dangerous, my ass! She’s just a kid…! We ain’t got a scratch, man!” His voice cracked with raw emotion. “You’re pissed ‘cause she put you to sleep—what’s that got to do with our damn country?!”

“Bullshit! Just wait until that girl tries to take over the world with her damn power! So stop actin’ like a saint!”

The guard’s chest heaved with rage, fists clenching and unclenching as he cursed under his breath.

“Dammit all… Why are you all so heartless…?” His voice dropped to a whisper. Without waiting for a response, he shoved past them, sprinting down the path as gravel scattered beneath his feet.

“Oh, come on now! Where are you going?” one of the guards shouted after him.

“I’m going underground, so piss off!” he shot back without glancing over his shoulder.

His boots pounded against the dirt as he dashed through the rows of crops and wooden fences, heart hammering in his chest. Skipping his post didn’t matter anymore. Screw the consequences. All that mattered was finding Maika—before it was too late.

"This experiment carries unprecedented risks. The Greed creature's influence is unpredictable, especially with Subject E-02’s human lineage still intact. The consequences—"

“Are irrelevant,” the Warden interrupted, eyes gleaming with something darker than ambition. “If consuming the hybrid grants even a fraction of its power, I will become unstoppable. No blade, no poison—no force in this world will bring me down. Imagine a man feared by kings. Imagine a world where no one dares stand against me.”

The researcher hesitated, his hands resting on the parchment as if the ink might seep into his skin. He had studied too many creatures driven mad by their hunger, and the thought of the Warden falling into that same madness sent a chill through him. “But… if the transformation goes wrong, you might—”

“Then you will record the results,” the Warden said sharply, rising to his feet. “Prepare the containment chamber. And find E-01. I intend to witness this power firsthand—“

Suddenly, the heavy wooden door burst open with a THUD, slamming against the wall with enough force to rattle the metal fixtures.

Renwick stood in the doorway, eyes blazing with fury as the spear clutched tightly in his hand. Without hesitation, he stormed into the room, pointing the weapon directly under the Warden’s chin.

“You fucking moron!” Renwick’s voice echoed through the chamber, his rage uncontained. “I thought you wanted her as a skilled Elyssence user—to train her, to work alongside her! But all you’ve done is turn her into your personal lab rat!”

Shock rippled through the room. Shiba, who had been standing near the machinery, stiffened at the outburst. The researchers exchanged anxious glances, stepping back from their instruments. The guards flanking the room instinctively raised their spears.

“Hey! Who told you to get in here?!” barked one of the guards, stepping forward with his spear aimed at Renwick’s chest.

“Stand down.” The Warden’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. He raised his hand as his cold eyes locked onto Renwick, unblinking. “What do you want?”

Renwick’s grip on the spear tightened. “Give her freedom, damn it! What else am I here for?!” His voice cracked slightly, raw with anger and desperation.

“Freedom?” The Warden stepped forward slowly, the echo of his polished boots reverberating through the stone chamber. His gaze, sharp and emotionless, bore into Renwick’s soul. “How typical.”

Renwick instinctively stepped back, the weight of the Warden’s presence pressing down on him like a physical force. Despite his anger, a flicker of nervousness crossed his face.

“What do you hope to achieve by freeing an immortal capable of destruction?” The Warden’s voice dropped low as his eyes gleamed with something darker—a hunger that no mortal power could satisfy.

Renwick’s chest heaved as his pulse pounded in his ears. “Nah…” He shook his head, spitting the word like poison. “This ain’t about her being dangerous. All you care about is her power—nothing else!”

The air in the chamber seemed to thin as the tension coiled tighter. A faint pulse of energy seemed to radiate from the Warden’s presence, like a storm gathering beneath the surface.

For a moment, no one spoke. The flickering lanterns cast shadows that seemed to grow taller against the stone walls, as if the chamber itself was holding its breath.

Then, after a long pause, the Warden’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile—cold, and humorless. “Very well. I cannot guarantee her freedom……But you may do whatever you wish with her.”

He turned sharply, his coat fluttering as he strode past the researchers. “We’ll postpone this until later.”
His footsteps echoed until they faded into silence beyond the door.

Ignoring them all, Renwick’s gaze shifted to the figure at the center of the room—Maika, suspended by the Sapphire Heart beneath her.

Ryven’s eyes widened in shock. “What is that idiot doing in the chamber?! We can’t let him help her—what if he tries to help her escape?”

He glanced at the Warden, who sat calmly in the chair, one foot resting atop his knee. His resting on the armchair with fingers brushing his temple as if lost in thought.

“He’s not much of a threat,” the Warden replied with a faint smirk. “Might even be another source of entertainment.”

Ryven’s breath hitched, disbelief washing over him. The Warden’s amusement sent a chill down his spine—as if Renwick, their own side, was next in line to die.

=======================

Maika lay curled on the cold stone floor, her thin arms hugging herself tightly to keep warm. Her breath was shallow, and her body ached from days without food or water. Her eyes fluttered shut, but the faint sound of footsteps made her stir.

The slow, steady steps echoed off the stone walls, growing louder as they approached. Blinking through the haze of exhaustion, Maika lifted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the figure entering the chamber.

It was him—the guard who used to patrol near the girls’ confinement area. He paused a few steps away, holding a tray of food and drinks. His grip on the tray was steady as he knelt beside her.

Maika’s eyes locked onto the food. Without hesitation, she pushed herself up and snatched the fried chicken from the tray, biting into it with wild hunger.

“Hey—wait! Wait! Careful, kid!” the guard gasped, startled by her sudden movement. But before he could say more, Maika had already grabbed the whole plate, scooping up the rice and vegetables with trembling hands and eating as fast as she could.

Her body shook from both cold and hunger, but she kept going, devouring every bite like a starving animal. Her breath hitched as she gulped down the water, droplets spilling from the corners of her mouth.

The guard could only watch, his chest tightening at the sight. It wasn’t just hunger—it was desperation. No child should ever have to eat like this.

“…Slow down,” he said softly, though his voice held no authority. “You’ll make yourself sick.”

But Maika didn’t stop. She clutched the plate close to her chest as if afraid someone might take it away. Her fingers, still bruised from the chains, trembled as she tore through the last scraps of food.

The guard swallowed hard, guilt twisting in his chest. How long had they left her without food?

When the tray was empty, Maika lowered it slowly, her breaths ragged as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“How long have you not eaten?” The guard’s voice was low, cautious.

Maika didn’t answer right away. Her thin fingers clutched the cold stone floor, her gaze distant. After a moment, she whispered, “I can’t… remember..”

The guard’s eyes traced her fragile frame—her arms so thin that the bones beneath her skin were visible. His chest tightened with guilt. “Tch… I should’ve known sooner…!” He turned his head away, jaw clenched as he exhaled a shaky breath.

“984 days… left…” Her voice broke the silence, hollow and distant as her lifeless eyes gazed at the stone beneath her.

The guard’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What…?”

Somewhere beyond the chamber walls, unseen eyes watched. The Warden leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze locked on the display glass. Beside him, Ryven exchanged a glance with the researchers, sensing the tension rise.

“They… will bestow me power… absolute power…” Maika’s voice shook as she pushed herself upright, her movements slow and unsteady.

“Maika… what do you mean?” Renwick stepped back slightly, his heart pounding as he noticed something—the Sapphire Heart embedded beneath the stone began to flicker with an eerie blue light. The pulse of energy sent faint vibrations through the floor, and without warning, the collar around her neck cracked. The sound of metal snapping echoed through the chamber as shards of the broken collar clattered to the ground.

The researchers monitoring from the control room scrambled to their glowing runic slates. “Sir! We’ve detected a mutation—E-02’s status has spiked beyond the limit. The collar’s energy reserves have been fully depleted!”

Ryven stepped forward, eyes narrowing at the display. “Renwick is in the chamber—should we dispatch a retrieval team to secure him—”

“No need,” the Warden cut him off, his voice like frost against steel.

“Bring E-01. Now.”

The air in the control room seemed to drop a few degrees as his gaze remained fixed on the screen.
The guards stationed outside the control room saluted, their armor clanking as they hurried down the corridor toward the chamber.

Inside the chamber, Maika clutched her arms tightly around herself as her knees pressed against the ground. Small cracks began to spiderweb outward from where she knelt, the vibrations of the Sapphire Heart growing stronger with each pulse. The air around her grew heavier, charged with an invisible force.

Renwick staggered to his feet, his eyes wide. “O-oi… Maika! Come back to your senses, kid!” He stepped forward cautiously, his pulse hammering against his ribs.

The cracks beneath Maika deepened, spreading outward as faint tendrils of blue light seeped through the fractures. The air crackled as if charged with static.

A heavy metal door at the far end of the chamber groaned open, and the sound of clanking chains echoed through the air.

Renwick spun around, eyes widening as several guards pushed a creature into the chamber—a Greed. Its limbs moved with jerking, unnatural motions, like a puppet dragged by invisible strings. Its form wavered, cloaked in shifting shadows and thick fog that clung to its body like a second skin. Its hollow eyes glowed faintly with a sickly blue light as it stumbled forward.

“Hurry—release the collar!” one of the guards barked. Another guard swiftly removed the creature’s iron collar with a flash of blue sparks. Without the collar, the Greed’s movements grew faster, more fluid—its head snapping toward the source of the Sapphire Heart’s energy.

The guards slammed the heavy iron door shut behind it, sealing themselves safely outside.

“Wait—hey! Are you trying to get me killed?!” Renwick shouted, pounding his fist against the stone wall where a viewing window was embedded. Beyond the glass, faint silhouettes of researchers could be seen, but none of them responded. His voice echoed back at him, unanswered.

“No—damn it! Don’t ignore me!” His fists hit the glass harder as his voice cracked with desperation.

Inside the control room, the Warden’s voice cut through the noise with cold finality:

“Break the Sapphire Heart.”

The Greed’s body convulsed, its fog-like shadows thickening as it sprinted toward Renwick. Its sharp limbs scraped against the stone floor, leaving scorched marks in its wake.

Renwick’s breath hitched as he turned his head..

The Greed lunged, its clawed limbs snatching toward Renwick until his voice echoed in the thin air.

Behind the glass, the Warden stood motionless, watching the scene unfold with a cold, unreadable gaze. The researchers shifted uneasily, but none dared speak.

Whilst Ryven’s vision darkened at the edges as the world grew distant.