Mikah sat back against the dungeon wall, Red was now asleep with her head on his lap. He was wrapping his right arm with old and worn bandages. Ezra came in with the cloth bag over her shoulder, her eyes dropped to sleeping Red.
"Shock?"
Ezra asked, dropping the cloth bag from her shoulder, and into a corner as she approached. Mikah finished wrapping his hand before looking over to her.
"Mhm."
He looks down at Red's sleeping face, her nose slightly scrunched and her brows furrowed. He reaches down and brushes the tip of her nose with the back of his hand, the cloth rough against her skin. He lets out a low, amused laugh as he sees her brows furrow deeper and her lips twitch. "Weaklings are amusing. "
"They are."
Ezra agrees with a small laugh. She moves closer and sits beside him, her back against the wall and her shoulder against his. She reaches down and brushes Red's hair from her face. "Hey, doesn't she look like... Do you remember the woman from the river? The one with the long red hair?" Mikah takes in Red's appearance fully for the first time, then he nods, his eyes soft.
"She does... Maybe it's her daughter? She was pregnant when we found her."
Ezra goes quiet for a moment, considering Mikah's words. She leans back, crossing her arms.
"No. It couldn't be. That woman looked like a peasant, and this girl is obviously a noble or at least a fallen one. Besides... The woman was drowned."
A silence passes over them. Mikah moved his gaze forward, away from Red, but not focusing particularly on anything. Ezra's gaze was left on Red's peaceful face.
"Do you ever miss it? Ardo, I mean. The people, the food. Father Othon and Sister Freed. Any of it?"
Her question filled the silence. Mikah didn't look at her; he took in her question, considered his answer carefully, but didn't-- rather, he couldn't give an answer. She looks over to him before giving an empty smile. "Can't answer hm? It's the same for me. I don't miss it, but I don't hate not being there. But I wonder how Kazar, Phil, and Tion are doing." She let out a small laugh. "I bet anything that they are still stuck together, and if anything, Phil and Kazar are fighting over Annne." Mikah finally looked down at Ezra, he was quiet for a moment.
"Those two are idiots. Fighting over a girl who doesn't have any interest in either of them. As for Tion, he's probably a blacksmith by now. He always did prefer to spend hours in the workshop rather than be outside in the fields or the forest."
"Mhm, you're right."
Ezra lets out a laugh, leaning her head against Mikah's shoulder. Her eyes flutter closed, and she lets out a breath, finding comfort against her brother. Her heart slowed as she took his hand in hers, locking their fingers, just as they did even in the shared womb.
"I hope they're all well."
Mikah glances down at Ezra before looking away. He locks his fingers tighter against hers. No words were needed to fill the gap; the silence spoke louder and conveyed more to the twins than any words ever could. Mikah's head fell back softly against the stone wall, the discomfort of the environment forgotten as he closed his eyes softly. Finding comfort even in the current circumstances, the three children manage to sleep peacefully alongside each other. The twins' breathing was soft and measured, Red's was more sporadic as if she were a newborn taking their first breaths. Nothing disturbed their slumber, not even the haunting sounds of chains forcefully dragging against the rough ground and the piercing screams of people on the upper floors being dragged up to the surface. There, no one wanted to be, the dreaded surface where one was sure to die.
Atop the Garden, a massive circular arena erupted from the ground(rumours have it, if you could manage to reach the top of the arena, you could touch the very skies) and towered over almost every estate in Alcaida. It is said to be the greatest feat of human ingenuity and creativity(though Alcaida's people are very biased for their country), though all glory is quickly overshadowed by what occurs in the Garden of Death. It can easily seat ten thousand in its circular design, with space for many nobles and royalty of different countries. Currently, there are an estimated eight thousand along with royals of Alcaida and other smaller kingdoms. Deafening cheers roared through the air, shaking the very steel bars that securely held up the arena. Today was a specially packed day, since word got out that new monsters were being imported for fighting. Many enthusiasts of the bloody and gruesome battles that unfolded could not resist. Even the King of Alcaida makes a presence; he sits back on a high seat, stroking his greyed beard slowly. His eyes were cold and unassuming, looking down at the peasants.
"Tsk. Noisy."
He mumbles out through gritted teeth. Soon, a short, stubby, pot-bellied man dressed in an exuberant yellow suit that stuck uncomfortably tight to his layers of folds made from fat approached. He pulls off his hat, revealing a pale bald head, and he lets out a forced laugh.
"My King, of course it is noisy. The commoners have already gotten word of a few new rare species that arrived, especially the Kanga Tiger. I assume that's what most people are here for."
The short man comments, letting out another terrible, forced-sounding laugh. The king looks down at him.
"Darren, you're here. Right, I heard news of a new species, so I came to see what they were capable of. I plan to send my firstborn son hunting soon, so I need to see if he is competent enough to."
Darren nods, trying to take a seat next to the king, he struggles climbing up onto the already low seat but finally manages to with the help of a guard nearby.
"Phew.. Ahem. I see, M'Lord. As the first in line for the throne, he must show he is competent enough to succeed your reign."
Their attention is drawn to the middle of the arena when two great horns are blown. The crowd falls into a silence, anticipation and tension building as the announcers step into the middle of the ring.
"It's about to begin. Please watch closely, M'lord, at the power of the beasts in the Garden."
The king's gaze shifts briefly to Darren before moving back down to the middle of the arena, where the first battle is being prepared.
"...Do not bore me."
The King's words were simple yet carried an underlying threat. Darren smiles an awful, twisted smile. The folds under his neck were trembling with each movement. He takes a laboured breath.
"Rest assured, you will not be."