Icarus descended into the dungeons.
The stairs were narrow. Damp.
Darkness clung to the walls like something alive.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Water echoed in the distance.
These dungeons were never meant for people.
They stored grain.
Rot.
Things meant to be forgotten.
But today—
they held something else.
A prisoner of war.
Icarus pushed open the cell door.
Inside were two figures.
Seren.
And Skye.
Seren stiffened the moment Icarus entered, shoulders tight, eyes wide.
Skye did not move.
Stripped of his armor, dressed in plain black, bound in silver chains that hummed faintly with power—
he still looked composed.
Dangerous.
Skye smiled.
Icarus did not.
"You may leave," Icarus said.
Seren didn't hesitate.
He nodded quickly and stepped out.
The door shut behind him.
Clank.
Silence settled.
Icarus removed his cloak.
Bloodstained.
Heavy.
He let it fall.
"You are a monster, you know."
Skye's voice was calm.
Icarus glanced at him.
"I could say the same."
Silence stretched.
Measured.
Careful.
Icarus dragged a chair forward and sat.
He studied Skye.
Skye studied him.
"Sit," Icarus said.
Skye raised an eyebrow.
"Where?"
Icarus pointed to the floor.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Prisoners don't get choices."
Skye exhaled softly.
"…I suppose they don't."
He slid down the wall instead, resting against it.
Not obeying.
Not refusing.
Just… adjusting.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Icarus tilted his head.
His voice was quiet.
"I want to watch you suffer."
Skye's gaze sharpened.
"Get over it, Prince."
Icarus leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"No."
A pause.
"I don't think I will."
His voice lowered.
"You took everything from me."
Another pause.
"The least I can do… is return the favor."
Something in Skye shifted.
Barely.
"…So this is it."
Icarus nodded.
"You've lived long enough."
He stood.
Then—
instead of looming over him—
he sat on the floor.
Right in front of him.
Close.
Too close.
Watching.
"Tell me something," Icarus said.
Silence.
"How did Morvane release the The Corruption?"
Skye looked up.
His eyes were tired now.
Resigned.
["The Oathbound Knight" is gazing at you.]
"I can't."
A pause.
"If I break my oath… I won't die quickly."
Icarus leaned forward slightly.
Curious.
"How slow?"
Skye swallowed.
"…A year."
Silence.
Then—
Icarus smiled.
It wasn't kind.
"Break it."
A whisper.
"Do it for me."
Skye froze.
Then shook his head violently.
"No. No—no."
His head hit the wall.
Once.
Twice.
A dull thud echoed through the cell.
Blood began to trace down the stone behind him.
"I won't— I won't die like that—"
His voice cracked.
"I won't—"
A hand touched his head.
Gentle.
Warm.
Icarus.
"It's alright," he said softly.
"We all die somehow."
Blood smeared against his fingers.
He didn't seem to notice.
Skye looked up.
And for a moment—
Icarus looked almost kind.
Almost human.
"Nothing can save you from me."
["The Dead Prince" smiles at you.]
Icarus watched him quietly.
Then reached out again—
fingers brushing through Skye's hair.
Soft.
Careful.
[You have activated Charisma(Lv.3)]
"Tell me, Knight," he said gently."Tell me the secrets Morvane holds."
Skye's breathing was uneven now.
But he still shook his head.
"…I won't."
Icarus leaned back.
A small sigh escaped him.
"How boring."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Far away—
unseen—
someone laughed.
Caelum.
"Imagine being destroyed by a child."
He pressed a hand to his chest, smile thin.
"At least he'll be older when he kills me."
A pause.
His expression darkened.
"I despise him."