Chapter Text
Another week has passed.
Theresia began to feel that she was weakening a little. She wasn't strong enough at all, compared to her brothers and even more so any other members of her family, but still, even her little strength gained during training over the past few months began to dissipate into nothing.
The amount of food and water did not decrease, did not increase, everything remained about the same, although the food itself was varied. Various vegetables, fruits, made soups and meat. Day by day, there could be something new or very good old. Although what was definitely unchanged was that white sauce. It wasn't always served with dishes, but it was often enough, and Theresa was delighted with it, and she still wasn't tired of it. Everything it could be used for seemed to fit him perfectly.
- Yo.
Theresia raised her gaze. After the second week in detention, someone else came to her for the first time. It was a boy with dark hair and the same eyes. They had met once before, although he was no longer dressed so stylishly. This time, it's some kind of tasteless shape that Theresia is not familiar with. But she kept silent about this fact, after all, her position doesn't allow her to talk much.
She already knew Shaula and even talked to her sometimes, asking how things were outside, to which she received strange answers like "Sunny" or "Cloudy." Still, that wasn't exactly what Theresia was asking, but even such answers were at least something to her.
However, now she has a new guest, and he has brought food with him.
– Well, it's not much here, but I hope that's okay with you.
On the other hand, she still didn't move too much and often slept. In this way, she managed to keep a lot of energy in her body, so that she almost did not feel hungry. Her imprisonment was stable.
– Who are you..?
Of course, she knew who he was, she had seen him once before, and it was by his will that she agreed to be here. However, the stupid question came out of her mouth before she could think more carefully.
– My name is Natsuki Subaru.
The boy introduced himself once again as Natsuki Subaru. He wasn't much older than her, but he was already leading an army of demi-humans into battle. It was a great success for him.
– …
However, Theresia didn't want to praise him. It wasn't because she thought his services were somehow wrong or something like that, it was just fact that he was her enemy after all. Even if Theresia didn't want to fight, it didn't change her division of the world and people into white and black.
– By the way, how do you like the food? Is everything okay? Or do you have any special requests?
Suddenly, he asked her something so unexpected. Theresia was definitely not ready for this kind of conversation, given her position in this place. She looked at this guy with incomprehension before he continued.
– Well, you usually ate everything, you didn't even leave crumbs. But still, I was wondering if I should cook something else that you like better. And I just want to know how you would rate my food.
– I rate…
Her mind was even more confused.
- Yes. I usually ask Shaula about this, but she told me that even Sandworms became a delicacy for her at some point, so such questions hardly make much sense.
Theresia would never have been able to eat a sandworm in her life. She couldn't understand at all what Shaula could be thinking. And then suddenly her attention shifted to what she had also heard earlier.
– Wait, you said this is your food..? Did you cook all this?
He nodded confidently in response.
- Yes. It's one of the few things I can do.
It was interesting. But, on the other hand, such things can be taught or they can be learned on their own. It wasn't surprising that someone was a good cook. Theresia just didn't know the man well enough to judge him that way.
– That's how it is... the food was delicious... thank you.
It was still good manners to thank for the food. Moreover, she wasn't treated so badly here, so Theresia wasn't angry with them and did not feel any negative emotions towards her captors at all.
– Is that so? I'm very glad to hear that.
He seemed to think for a few seconds before his face turned serious. The boy looked at Theresia sitting on the floor from head to toe.
– Eat and then leave the room. We have things to do today.
And he left her alone with the food that had been brought to her. This time, the portion was even smaller than usual, but Theresia enjoyed the meal anyway. Although, to be honest, she wanted much more now, she even felt hungry from such indignation.
But most of all, she was probably amazed that she could now leave this room. She wasn't tied up, she wasn't wearing any chains or handcuffs, but the door was always closed. This time it has changed. She was even told to leave the room.
She didn't know why, she didn't know what had changed, but something had definitely happened or would happen. This feeling did not leave her, even when she left the dark room, where she was greeted by the faint light of the magic crystals on the wall.
– Oh, it's Theresia. Foreshadowing your question, it's sunny outside today.
Shaula appeared in front of them. She greeted Subaru, calling him Master, and turned her gaze to the girl next to him.
–Ah…
– Hmm? Do you give her a weather forecast every day?
Shaula turned back to Subaru and, with stars in her eyes, began to tell how Theresia constantly wanted to find out something from her, to find out how things were going outside. Therefore, Shaula definitely began to pay attention to the weather in order to bring the necessary news along with the food.
– I'm sure that's not what she asked you about.
- Huh? Isn't that right?
Subaru looked at Theresia and nodded. She didn't quite understand it, but that was how he tried to calm her down. After all, she wanted to know what was going on in the outside world, and that was okay, Subaru decided. If he himself was imprisoned in hell knows where, he would also like to know more.
– It doesn't really matter right now anyway. We have things to do. Let's go.
As they walked, Subaru turned his attention to Theresia. And Shaula just almost danced next to him. He estimated her age, she was younger than him, he estimated her height, she was shorter than him, he estimated her body, and she seemed weaker than him. And her expression perfectly showed the mess in her head. She was like an open book for Natsuki Subaru.
– After all, I've been thinking for a long time about whether a kid can pass the trial, but I'm being told more and more about how incredible the Sword Saint's power is. And I decided to give you a chance.
– Give me a chance..?
Theresia didn't really understand what he wanted from her. But she came to the conclusion that it would be related to the battles. Did they want to force her to fight on their side? Or should she kill witch-beasts? Or is it something else that requires a lot of strength?
Although Theresia herself didn't believe that she really possessed great power, these were all just the hopes of others.
– Sort of.
And then they fell silent for a while. Well, more precisely, Shaula was the only one talking, she was trying to suck up to Subaru by saying weird things about kids, baseball and football fields, whatever it was, and everything like that. This left Theresia in limbo.
– Let's get you dressed up. Otherwise it will be more difficult to fight.
Still, they want her to fight. And she doesn't even have enough willpower to resist it.
And so all this time she was wearing her tight-fitting suit, over which armor is worn. Living as a prisoner of war in such clothes was both comfortable and uncomfortable, but she got used to it for two weeks.
In any case, she was taken to one of the many rooms in the corridor where they had been walking all this time.
A plump female cat greeted her in this room. She smiled slightly, trying to appear friendlier than she looked. Theresia forced herself to smile back, although she didn't know what kind of reaction she should show. And soon the woman handed Theresia a large bundle of clothes, along with the scabbard where her short sword was laid.
She was given her uniform, which she was wearing on the battlefield that day. Theresia didn't expect to be able to wear something like this so soon. More precisely, she didn't expect to be able to put on a knight's uniform at all anytime soon and take her sword. She just didn't want to fight anymore.
However, that's what everyone here and there wants. It doesn't matter which side it is, humans or demi-humans, for them Theresia is just a weapon.
– Well, are you ready? Then let's go.
When she left the room where she changed clothes, Natsuki Subaru and Shaula met her, and then led her through the confusing corridors to somewhere else. As they walked, Subaru brought her up to date. He told her that they were currently in the Watchtower, the one about which there are various rumors in the Kingdom.
That in itself was amazing. And it could only mean that Shaula was the same Shaula from the legends of the Sage. Although Theresia couldn't understand why the legends talked about a man and not a beautiful woman. But then there was more.
Subaru said that the Watchtower itself has a set of trials, after passing which, you can gain a lot of knowledge at least. He had been involved in this before, as he had passed one of the trials on the third floor. But now it was the turn of the second floor's one.
He doesn't know what kind of battle it is, or against who in particular, or how many opponents there might be. Natsuki Subaru didn't even begin this trial, although he didn't say why.
And soon they came to a lonely door, behind which a staircase was hidden. The boy led the way, and Shaula gave Theresia a little push after him. After all, they were still watching her, which was logical, she understood that.
Theresia followed. As she walked up the stone steps, all she could think about was that it didn't make sense. She didn't want to fight, she didn't want to hurt or kill anyone. However, that's what everyone else wanted from her, and it didn't make the situation any better. But what choice did she have? That's right, there was no choice.
And when they finally came together, there was only a large or small room in front of them, completely white. Theresia couldn't even tell the distance in this room, everything was so pale and shiny. It was hard for her to believe that they were still in the Watchtower.
However, there was something else. In the center of the room, a few dozen meters from the stairs leading here, a sword is stuck in the floor.
– If you touch this sword, the test will begin. Well, I'll watch and believe in you, good luck.
Wishing her all the best in such a simple way, the boy remained standing on the last step of the stairs with Shaula. For some reason, they refused to even set foot on that pale floor, but Theresia had no choice and no will to resist, so she just obediently walked forward.
The floor was simple, neither hard nor soft, it just existed, enough so that you could stand on it and not fall, so that there was no feeling of dissonance and discomfort. Theresia took one step, then another, and then she was walking normally.
Her body felt nothing, no instincts inside, and not even Divine Protection tried to give her a clue about the impending threat. And there are only two options. Either she's too inexperienced, or there really isn't a threat here.
In any case, she soon came to the sword. She turned back before touching the hilt. Subaru and Shaula immediately gave her a thumbs up. They really believed in her. But Theresia didn't believe in herself.
But that didn't stop her from actually touching the sword. And then the white world around was transformed. A green lawn and a blue sky took the place of whiteness. And up ahead, right in front of Theresia, someone else appeared.
– And you want me to fight just a child? No honor, no asses, no boobs, nothing from these brats.
The creature that appeared there turned out to be a man. The significant features of this man made it clear a lot, especially that he was a terrible person. Every word that came out of his mouth was filled with cursing and malice. Even Shaula couldn't stand it and fell to her knees in tears, after which she sprawled down the stairs like jelly. She felt so bad, even though Theresia didn't quite understand the situation correctly.
In any case, she wasn't feeling well either. The flow of words from this man didn't seem any meaningful or kind. All he talked about was how stupid, idiotic, and insignificant it all was, and he also used a bunch of other words that Theresia didn't even know.
Small chopsticks appeared in his hand, and he prepared for battle, even though he looked like he didn't care about it all at the same time.
It seemed like he didn't have a weapon to stand up to Theresia and her sword. However, she herself saw and felt with all her being that this man could even fight with chopsticks. The God of Sword's whisper prompted her to attack without delay, otherwise it would be too late. So she drew her sword from its scabbard.
Theresia struck, but it was weak, almost insignificant, that her enemy was already bored, although he blocked the lunge. She was without the proper will to fight, but she tried again and again, and it didn't bring any success. Her angles of attack, applied strength, and speed were normal, even though she had never done this before. But this was clearly not enough.
And when he counterattacked in response, she saw it, noticed it, recognised his blow, could have prepared to deflect it and throw another one of her own, but…
– Tooooooo slow!
With one simple swing, he effortlessly knocked the sword out of her hands, sending it clattering across the room, rolling across the green lawn.
Her hand trembled as she lost her only weapon. It was both familiar to her and not at the same time. She felt like she was in her older brother's shoes. After all, it was then, taking up a wooden training sword, that she disarmed him in seconds, although she had never even dreamed of such a thing before.
At that moment, she realized even more clearly how insignificant her older brother, who devoted himself to the art of the sword, felt back then.
– Don't make such a stupid face, little lamb.
And then, with his chopsticks, he made a perfect incision right along the line of the girl's eyes. She was shocked by the glare in front of her eyes, and soon her vision stopped responding, she couldn't see anything, not even the usual darkness with her eyes closed, just nothing, as if she no longer had eyes with which to see.
Her heart immediately started pounding faster from fear, she stumbled a couple of steps back, almost losing her balance. And then soon the brain finally recognized the itchy feeling in the area of the eyeballs, this feeling quickly became an incredibly strong pain in a rather vulnerable place.
– AAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Screaming from the sharp unbearable pain, Theresia lost all remaining will to fight and fell to her knees. But she couldn't even comprehend the situation, as her opponent's foot kicked her in the stomach, getting all air out of her and knocking girl straight to the stairs.
She sprawled on the ground, clutching her eyes with her hands, trying to breathe again and understand what was happening, trying to calm the pain, trying to see at least something. However, Theresia couldn't do any of that. It seemed to her that the whole world had turned against her, the whole world had closed itself off from her.
– Worthlessness.
With that single word, one of the famous villians of this kind world ended the battle.
But Theresia didn't hear him, she didn't hear anything except a strong ringing in one ear and a slightly weaker ringing in the other. Her head was buzzing, almost splitting from an overabundance of feelings that girl had not been familiar with until now.
She had felt pain before, both physically and mentally, but it was beyond what she could feel at the moment. The pain of training with her family members and the pain of realizing her Divine Protections, none of this was even close to what Theresia feels now.
Her chest hurt, her stomach was bursting, her legs couldn't pull themselves together, her hands were clutching at her sore eyes, her head was buzzing. From the feeling of overwhelming pain, poor girl dug her nails into the skin of her face, trying to somehow survive this stress, trying to calm and take the pain away from her eyes, which no longer see anything.
And then soon she was grabbed by the arms, she couldn't continue to harm herself, although she was still in pain, very much in pain. However, someone's hands took her body, picked her up as if she were a kid and moved somewhere with her in their arms. However, Theresia was really just a kid, she hadn't even reached adulthood, and she had already been told to go to war and kill all the demi-humans who opposed the Kingdom. And now she had lost her sight at such a young age, it was incredibly terrifying.
The sounds, she didn't really hear them either, just the ringing in her ears, which prevented her from hearing anything else. However, Theresia felt like she was being gently hugged and her body was moving in space, as if they were walking down a flight of stairs. She didn't know who was doing this, although it could only be Subaru or Shaula.
However, it didn't matter to Theresia. She couldn't see anything else, she was just crying in pain, and she wasn't even sure if she could even keep crying, even though she could feel the lines of moisture running down her cheeks from her eyes. And the tears that came only increased the pain in her eyes.
And then a drop of one of the tears fell on her lips and ran into her mouth. She felt this tear, it was salty, but it also had a persistent taste of something metallic and sour. It made her feel bad, she didn't like it. In the end, her tears mixed with blood, and she cried tears of blood.