They are escorted into the prison. Due to Sole’s critical condition, he was taken to a different location for recovery. Red, Elias, and Hiro are brought to the men’s ward, and Ame to the women’s. When they arrived, a man used his arcana, which caused a head, torso, and arms to come out of his stomach. This second human sealed their abilities away. Elias and Hiro were taken to the infirmary for further treatment, and Red was brought to his holding cell.

--- Chapter 145 ---

Red: So this is mine?

Guard: Yup, this one is yours kid.

Red: It’s a little dark, isn’t it?

Red says, looking at an almost pitch dark room. The guard shrugs and walks away.

Red: Great.

Red takes a few steps toward the room, but someone begins to emerge from the darkness. A slender man, with short green hair, and two long antenna-like tufts of hair. He grabs one of the bars and silently stares down Red.

Red: So, does this mean we are rooming together?

Red says awkwardly and with general unease. The man continues to stare at him. Silence truly sets in, only being broken by a single fly buzzing by. Suddenly, from the man’s mouth, a long tongue fires out and snatches the fly from the air like a frog.

Red: What the hell?!

The man takes a few steps back, almost disappearing into the darkness apart from his head. Red takes a few steps in and reaches for the light switch. Suddenly from the darkness, his wrist is grabbed by the man, almost with supernatural strength.

Man: The lights. Stay. Off.

He says with menace. Red slowly brings his hand away from the switch.

Red: Right… What’s your name?

Man: Froge(Froh-jh).

Red: Right… Nice to meet your Froge. I’m Red.

Froge replies with a stare. Red walks in deeper to where the bunks were. He sees stuff on the top bunk, so he goes for the bottom one. Froges tongue launches from the darkness, snapping on Red’s hands.

Red: Ay! Chill! Your stuff was on the top bunk, so I was taking the bottom.

Froge: Froge takes the bottom bunk. Red takes top.

Red: Ok, can you move your stuff then?

Froge moves his stuff into his bottom bunk. And Red sets his things on top of his bunk, then wanders toward the infirmary. When Red arrives, he spots Elias.

Red: Hey man, how you holding up?

Elias: Eh, it’s not that bad.

Red: That’s good.

Red looks around.

Red: Where’s Hiro?

Elias: … I’m not sure. I just woke up, so I haven’t seen him.

Red: He was supposed to be here in the infirmary. Maybe he was released?

Elias: I doubt it, he had worse injuries than me.

Red looks over at a nurse.

Red: Did you check out someone named Hiro?

She flips through her notes.

Nurse: Uh, sorry, it seems no one named ‘Hiro’ was checked into the infirmary. Is it a nickname?

Red: Oh, yeah sorry. Hironi Sataro.

Nurse: Hmm, sorry, still no one with that name. Only Elias Sataro.

Red: Where could he be then?

The nurse shrugs. Red and Elias begin to worry.

---

Deep below the prison, in a subterranean facility, we locate our lost Hiro. Hiro begins to blink into consciousness, and goes to move but realizes his right arm is chained to a wall. He starts to look around confused and notices a weird black X on the back of his hand. As he becomes more lucid, he looks around at this stone chamber.

Hiro: What’s going on?!

He then hears people yelling in the room over. He peers through the door the best he can and sees two men. One with dark grey skin, elven ears, a large wide-brimmed hat, circle glasses, and lab coat. The other is human, with short black hair on the sides, long on the top with it all pushed to one side, a skinny mustache, and a red polo, black tie, and a white doctors coat.

Human: Dr. Lysange, he has the SCENT! He is one of US! Not some subject for your mind games!

Dr. Lysange: Enough Dr. Agon, he has the potential to awaken. Not some piece in your demon-worshipping cog!

Dr. Agon: But he is! The scent of him is stronger than almost any scent I’ve smelled before! The only scent closer is that of my allies. He must know something! Or maybe he is something similar, or… I’m getting ahead of myself. He is one of us, and that is final!

Dr. Lysange: You speak of a smell, yet no odor reaches my nose!

Dr. Agon: That is because you’re an ignorant fool! Only those truly enlightened can smell the scent!

???: Enough!

The two doctors look startled, and they seemingly lookup. This loud and deep disembodied voice commands the full attention of the Dr’s.

???: Your report.

Dr. Agon: Sir, the boy I marked was successfully sent here. I thank you. I marked him because, during his surgery, I noticed the boy has the scent.

???: Explain.

Dr. Agon: While I currently don’t fully know the source, the boy contains a heavy scent of Zariel.