I just stared at the porridge.

There was no way that I was going to eat.

It wasn't even made well. It was runny, and looked more like it was just rice that had way too much water added.

They wouldn't try to poison me, would they...?

But, I'm sure they'd try to inflict as much pain into me, as possible.

I've had some time to think...

And...

...

This was utter nonsense!

What crime were they going to convict me with? Weapons dealing? The famine and poverty from the war would've killed so much more people than my God's Finger. No matter how destructive it was.

They... They must be insisting that it was my fault, to try and-

NRRRRRNGH!!!!

"Argh...!"

The rusty door opened with an ear-scratching creak, making me grip my ears tightly...

W-wait... It wasn't this loud before... Was it...?

"I heard you haven't eaten, or even slept. It's already morning, you know. We're leaving in ten minutes." Pandora, the Devil, was the one that walked in, with a pipe in one hand, and a golden saber hanging from her waist.

"Wench..." I called out weakly, gripping my knees tightly, as I struggled to push myself off of the chair, and stand up.

"Tell me... And be honest.." I stared straight into her eyes, trying to muster whatever magic I could. But, to no avail.

The lead cuffs and anklets were doing their jobs perfectly.

"Sure. Why not. Ask away."

"This isn't... Uhk...!" I nearly choked on the blood which had clogged on my throat, but I forcefully washed it down with my spit. "This isn't... really about me... Is it?"

"Well, you're certainly the valedictorian of the Calimus College, aren't you?" Pandora answered with a chuckle, before blowing from her pipe.

"That's right. It's not really about you. Or what you did. It's about making sure that the Coalition doesn't start picking fight again with other countries or with each other."

"You don't have to worry. There's no plans of executing you." She continued, before grabbing the cheap, faded linen shirt they've given me, and yanked me closer to her. "You'll just be a prisoner, or maybe do some odd jobs, for the rest of your life."

"A constant reminder of what we should always avoid, and why. If you cooperate, then we'll be virtuous with you. The High Brass would be even kinder, if you write to your family, that you're doing this voluntarily."

"But..." She grinded the hot end of the pipe against my forehead, causing me to wince.

I tried to take a step back. But, her grip was tight. And I was practically hanging off of her hand.

"... Nnnhh...!" I grit my teeth, desperate to keep the tears from leaving.

...

... I doubt I'd be able to succeed.

I was under this devil's mercy.

"Please. Please try and resist as much as possible. While those at the top do understand that you're just a means to an end. The populace like myself think, just a tad bit differently."

"So..." Finally, she pulled the pipe back. Most likely, there was already a bright red mark left there.

I'm sure that she's enjoying that... Seeing me like this...

This... Sadistic... Wench...

"... Hehehe... I like that. Keep glaring at me, as hard as you can. Now. Let's go."

Before I knew it, two burly soldiers walked in with grave expressions on their faces, with one of them brandishing...

"A COLLAR?!" I yelled, and immediately tried to pry myself out of the woman's grip.

"YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS TO ME! YOU CANT!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs, swung my head all over the place, and desperately tried to pry her fingers off of me.

But the terrible sound of a metallic click, echoed painfully in my mind.

...

"... no..."

I was collared.

"... please..."

Like a dog.

"... take this off of me..."

Like a pet.

"I promise... I won't... resist..."

Like... an animal.

"Just... take it off of me... please...!"

I wasn't human, anymore...

And all I could see through my tears, and blurred vision, was the twisted smile on my captor, and the disdainful looks of her lackeys.

"Let's walk you out of the fort. Your brand new carriage is waiting for you, after all."

My heritage...

My status...

My talent...

My... Everything...

I've... just lost it all...

And they reveled in it.

Unable to even say another word, I was yanked out of the cell.

Losing my footing, I was brought to my knees.

And then I saw it.

All around me, were Coalition soldiers.

All of them jeering, others cheering. And many of them, calling for my immediate death.

With my captor slowly walking in front pulling me along, the mob gathered around me.

"Ahhhhk!" They yanked at my hair.

"Ahg!" One of them threw a punch, out of nowhere and hit me squarely in the gut. They hit me so hard that I was lifted in the air for a split-second.

"Ahng!!" But I couldn't rest yet. Immediately as I landed, and was about to curl up, someone else kicked at my back, forcing me back upright.

"Please!" I begged.

"Plea-!" A backhand to my cheek.

"Ple-!" A knee to my side.

"... pl... ease..." As blood colored my already-beaten face, my tears only made the rest of my body, even more.

Even as they yanked my hair back, kicked, and punched me, whenever I was just about to fall down, one of them would shove me back up, to take another hit.

And... There was nothing I could do about it...

The lynching continued, for what seemed like forever, to the point that I couldn't even feel the pain, anymore.

Forced into silence, I was flung around and I just received it all.

Until, I finally saw light.

The fortress door.

I could see the bright blue sky, the blowing white clouds, the rustling trees, and the gliding birds.

I cried...

Even more than I already was...

All the things that I once took for granted...

I now saw it differently.

Rather than salvation... Rather than peace, or a helping hand. I saw it all, as my welcome greeting, to a life of continued suffering.

And there it was...

The destination that the devils were leading me towards...

A pig cage, barely two meters tall, was sitting atop a rickety hay cart.

"... ... no... Please... no... I don't deserve to be..." I was silenced by another backhand, making my vision spin again.

...

My weapons were in their hands.

My prided magic was made impotent.

My heritage...

My status...

My talent...

My... Everything...

I've... just lost it all…

Like I was headed for the slaughterhouse, I was carried by my limbs, and thrown inside with no regard for my safety - immediately slamming into the bars.

And finally, I blacked out.

By some small grace of Divines, I didn't need to stand the stench of fecal matter.