Inside a dark and dingy cell far under the ground, Sylvia's long eyelashes fluttered as she stirred awake.

Pain ripped through her as every inch of her body hurt like hell.

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Sylvia snapped her eyes open, fully realizing that the nightmare that she was stuck in was in fact very real.

Biting her lips to withstand the pain that was deafening, she slightly craned her neck and looked around.

It took a while for her eyes to clear up and adjust but to her dismay, that didn't do her any good.

She was stunned to find herself in a familiar place. The underground prison!

A lantern was lit in the corner of the room and a guard was sitting in front of the prison cell.

Ah… Sylvia groaned as she tried to talk to him. "I… Why am I?" The pain was too much for her to speak and she felt as if her head was about to split open.

She tried to rub her temples to ease the pain when she found both of her hands chained to the wall.

Sylvia's face paled as she looked down to see her legs chained to the wall as well.

The expensive dress that she had worn for the tea party, studded with pearls and emeralds was still wrapped around her body, but her arms and feet were bound by shackles, not even giving her an inch of breathing room.

Sylvia immediately panicked and started shouting. "What? Let me go. Let me go." She thrashed around with whatever strength that she could muster and wildly shook her body.

However, except for the loud clanking noises from the chain hitting the wall, nothing really happened.

The guard did not even move a muscle as he continued staring at her with a cold expressionless face.

Sylvia was utterly petrified. She struggled for a few more minutes before finally losing her consciousness again.

Gudang!

Not long after a loud metallic sound echoed in the cold and earthy prison cell, which woke Sylvia up again.

Her eyes immediately darted here and there, in a panic, but unfortunately, she was still stuck in the same nightmarish world.

Her body was chained to the wall like she was an animal.

Tears spilled out of Sylvia's eyes as an unbearable pain surged through her body.

Her gorgeous blue eyes looked dull and lifeless and her alluring body looked like a sack of bones that was going to break anytime.

She felt as if all the energy had been drained out of her.

She tried to break her shackles once again, but only to experience another soul-crushing stabbing pain from her arms.

"If I were you… I wouldn't do that." A voice sounded in front of her, humming leisurely.

Sylvia snapped to look at the old man in the austere robe standing in a corner of the prison cell.

This man was the reason for everything!

A wave of rage washed past her as she thrashed against the wall, her shackles trembling and making loud metallic noises.

"What did you do to me? Why am I here?" She shouted.

"Woah. You seem to be a strong one. Even with the blockers on, you can still talk?" Master Eric rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

The blockers that he was talking about were the chains and shackles binding Sylvia to the wall, which not only imprisoned her but also drained every bit of magical energy from her body and then some more.

If someone were to wear these blockers for a long time, even their very soul would be corroded.

"What beast are you?" Master Eric asked, his eyes scanning Sylvia from top to bottom.

"Be… beast?" Sylvia muttered weakly, not understanding his words.

"Eh? The jig is up darling. Why are you still putting on an act?" The old man clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"This is the wrong attitude girl. You should start talking. We are not enemies here you know…" The man's voice trailed on.

"Not enemies?" If she had more strength, Sylvia would have laughed at those ridiculous words. If they were not enemies, why was she being chained to the wall like this?

"What? You don't believe me?" Eric chuckled. "You should. I am the only one stopping some people from simply killing you."

"I am the one who convinced them you are more useful to us alive rather than dead. Aha ha ha."

Sylvia trembled. She had no idea just what the hell was happening. Where was Mikel? He was coming for her right? He would be able to get her out of here?

Her mind wandered as she thought about the fight they were having yesterday night.

Was this why he was so worried all of a sudden? Did he know this was going to happen?

Sylvia could only bitterly smile at the cruel twist of fate. Even though he had forced her to leave, it was still too late in the end.

But what she didn't understand was that why these people were after her so much. Her tired eyes closed as she didn't have the energy to even think anymore.

However, not allowing her to rest, the old nasally voice continued prattling on. "Not talking still?"

"Heh. You can't even tell me what beast you are?"

"Such strong resolve huh?"

"Let me see how long you are lasting… Aha ha ha."

The hateful voice rang loudly in the empty prison cell sending shivers down her tired and battered body.

She watched weakly as the old man clapped his hands and the guard sitting in front of the prison cell finally moved.

However, he returned back in a few minutes with what looked like a tray of glass conicals containing colorful liquid and a pot.

Eric nodded and took the tray in his hands while the guard set up a simple table and chair for him inside the prison cell.

He then neatly arranged all the glass conicals and the pot on the table.

"If you won't tell me what beast you are, then I have no option but to find it out for myself. Aha ha ha."