Chapter 9 - Interrogation

The dungeons located under the kingdom were long, expansive, and empty. Each cell was fitted with a straw mattress and a basin, with a small barred opening in the ceiling that illuminated the cell with sunlight. The doors to the cell were made of long steel bars, just thick enough to keep a prisoner captive. Tetsuo watched as a guard slowly paced down the hallway briefly inspecting occupied cells, until he passed by the cell Tetsuo was seated in front of. Tetsuo fiddled with his ring, as he waited outside of the cell, listening to a one-sided interrogation. He perked up as he heard the creaking of the bars sliding open. Eleanor exited the cell, wiping her glasses roughly with a look of annoyance on her face.

“Nothing.” Eleanor put her glasses back on and tightened the knot behind her bandana. “Your turn.” Tetsuo stood up and entered the cell. He took a seat in front of the prisoner, opting to leave the cell opened behind him. Pia was seated in a chair across from him with her hands locked inside conjoined metal gauntlets. Wilbur had informed him that prisoners had to wear them to help prevent the usage of Ars to escape, but for Earthens it was more of a formality. Based on Pia glaring daggers, Tetsuo surmised she didn’t appreciate it.

“So Pia.” Tetsuo began. “I’m from Earth like you. Does that make you feel more comfortable?” Pia remained silent. “Do you want anything, like candy or a pillow?” She huffed and turned away.

“I’m not a kid. All I want is to go home.”

“Oh, where are you from?” Tetsuo tried to ask tenderly, but again she refused to respond. “By chance, is it Brazil?” Pia flinched, informing Tetsuo he was on the right track. “Rio de Janeiro?”

“Natal,” she replied annoyedly.

“Oh, I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Of course you haven’t.”

“I’m actually from Japan.” Pia suddenly perked up with excitement, startling Tetsuo.

“Protectors of the Zodiac!?”

“Like Sergeant Seiya?” Tetsuo asked. Pia nodded hurriedly. “Yeah, that Japan.”

“Wow…” The way Pia stared at him like some kind of mythical figure made him a bit embarrassed, but regardless she was speaking to him now.

“How…” Pia paused for a moment before resuming. “How did you know I was from Brazil?”

“Back in the cave you had trouble using Ficium. It’s pretty important to know how to use it, and it’s one of the first things they teach us when we get here from Earth.” Pia intently listened, so Tetsuo smiled and continued. “Someone I knew told me that when you got here you said you were from Brazil, so he asked me where it was on a map.” Tetsuo leaned in and whispered. “They don’t know much about us though, they still seem to think our Earth is flat.” Pia giggled, letting Tetsuo lean back and relax a bit. “You know I only got here the week before you, and you already seem better off than I was. I bet if we switched places you would have wiped the floor with me.” 

Pia covered her mouth while attempting to hide a proud grin. Although their fight from before had left a lasting impression, Tetsuo could see now that she was still just a kid who was in way over her head. Tetsuo pulled a small journal and pencil from the satchel behind him. He quickly attempted to doodle the same picture he had seen at the cave.

“Pia, I saw this drawn a couple times back at your base. Is this supposed to be Earth?” Pia slowly nodded her head. “What were you guys trying to do back there?”

Pia began to sway nervously in her seat. She rubbed her knees together, and looked down before quietly muttering. “They wanted to make a way back home…”

“Oh…” Tetsuo sighed deeply, his suspicions having been confirmed. “Why did they steal all that chalk and Ficium then?”

Pia glanced nervously at the door before gesturing to Tetsuo to lean in closer. Tetsuo obliged and she whispered into his ear. “They told me that Alvania doesn’t care about us. No one is looking for a way back. We’re just pests to them, that are easier to tolerate than to help. They only pretend to help us, before leaving us stranded in a world that will never be our own. The only way we will leave is by making it ourselves.” Pia leaned back and turned away again. “That’s all I think I’m allowed to say…”

“Thank you, Pia. I’m glad you told me.” Tetsuo got up and began to leave.

“Um mister, be careful with what I told you.” Pia’s voice trembled as she spoke. Tetsuo nodded and left the cell, closing it behind him. Eleanor had been sketching plans and glyphs that Tetsuo couldn’t make heads or tails of.

“So?” She looked up at him expectedly. Tetsuo cleared his throat.

“She said that they were trying to create a way back home. They wanted the Ficium to try to create some method to return to Earth.” Tetsuo paused to gauge her reaction before continuing. “She also mentioned that they were just scared and desperate, it doesn’t seem like they wanted to hurt anyone.”

Eleanor replied curtly. “Regardless of their motivations, they put our soldiers and the kingdom's well-being at risk.” Tetsuo was taken aback by her authoritative tone.

“What’s going to happen to them?” Tetsuo cautiously inquired.

“Given that she’s barely been here for a week, the girl will be continuing the rehabilitation program. However, she’ll need to have an escort with her at all times. Veera has already volunteered himself for this.”

Tetsuo let out a sigh of release. “That’s good. What about the others?”

Eleanor pushed up her glasses, the light catching in the lens, obscuring her eyes. “We’ll be holding them down here indefinitely until we figure out how they tracked down our Ficium shipments.”

“How long will that take?”

Eleanor didn’t reply.

“They’re just trying to find a way home.”

“Did she say anything else?”

Tetsuo paused. “Not really, no.”

Eleanor got up and began to walk away. “I understand you might sympathize with them, but if that girl was any more proficient with Ars, their little Ficium ‘experiment’ would have left you all as ash and bones, buried in a cave.” Eleanor hesitated for a moment. “Ficium is manufactured and distributed exclusively by the kingdom for this exact reason. You’d do well to remember that.” Eleanor continued on her way, each step of her boots echoing through the chambers.