Siyu opens his eyes to darkness. A few moments pass before his eyes adjust to a dark and humid stone ceiling.

He gets up from the moist pile of hay on the ground to look around and see the metal bars which enclosed the small space.

“Damn,” Siyu exclaims under his breath. So that happened, he thinks before letting out a sigh and laying back onto the hay.

I guess I'll just continue to sleep, he says as he closes his eyes.

**CLANG CLANG**

Siyu instinctively pulls his body up at the sounds of metal clashing. He looks back at the metal bars to see a guard standing outside hitting the door with his gauntlets.

**CLANG CLANG**

“Get up prisoner and kneel across the room while facing the wall. Someone asked for you; I suspect your interrogation is happening today. What are you waiting for? Move it!” The guard says in a commanding voice.

Siyu promptly gets up to kneel before the wall.

The prison doors open, and an unwanted thought crosses Siyu's mind; If I just take out the guard…

He shakes his head to clear his mind.

The guard quickly approaches before forcefully grabbing Siyu's arms and binding them with metal cuffs.

“Get up,” the guard says as he pulls Siyu to his feet.

“Walk forward as directed and don't make any sudden moves. Even a grandmaster would find it difficult to escape this place so do as you're told.” The guard says as he prods Siyu's body forward.

…

…

Siyu takes a seat on the creaky chair as the guard binds his hands to the metal table.

“Wait here quietly; the interrogator will come for you soon,” the guard says before exiting the dimly lit room and locking the doors behind him.

Siyu sighs as he closes his eyes. But he knew it was pointless. After moving to the city of Starr over four years ago, Siyu's weariness became a part of him. Never enough sleep and always work to do. But he kept going, accumulating karma and progressing the story; something he deeply wished to see the completion of.

And as he walked forward, the fruit dangling in front of him and encouraging hi. forward had begun to rot. And the hope pushing at his back was slowly becoming silent. And the hesitation pulling down on his body threatened to unravel all he had accomplished.

So what could Siyu do? He continued to walk forward. Because he knew in his heart, somewhere ahead of this dark path he would find something... something he deeply wished to be a part of.

And it's better than the emptiness, He thinks with a quiet laugh that echoed in the small room. Anything is better than the emptiness, He thinks as he digs his nails into his palms.

But maybe my journey has come to an end, He thinks as he looks to the ceiling. It wasn't bad. I've had my fun. He thinks with a sigh.

…

…

The door opens and Siyu sees a familiar face.

“Here's the bastard! You piece of shit; you demon cohabitating puddle of piss. Let me tell you, it never ends well for little shits like you!” Articus says before closing the door to the sounds of light chuckles from outside the room.

Siyu shakes his head. “Fuck, why is it you?” He asks with deep disappointment.