The Lying Elf
In the outermost reaches of Nihilum stood a towering prison made of bricks shimmering with a blue hue. This was the Nihilum Detention Center, built to incarcerate heinous criminals who had broken sacred taboos. Its walls, constructed entirely from anti-mana stones that absorbed mana, rendered all magic impossible inside. Worse, they periodically drained the inmates' mana, turning the facility into a living hell for witches blessed with mana’s grace.
And recently, one such witch had been locked away here on charges of attempted murder. She had long, straight green hair and a stunning beauty that screamed "elf" at first glance, even without her saying a word. It was Sonia von Trigrad.
It had been a full fortnight since Sonia was imprisoned. Unlike the other criminals who showed only irritable outbursts, she had been on edge today, displaying unusual anxiety. Shackled at both wrists with special restraints that suppressed mana use, she paced back and forth in her cell. Unable to bear the unease any longer, she began gnawing at her thumbnail.
"When the hell are they coming...!"
Nihilum authorities had already convicted her as the culprit. Punishment was inevitable. If White won the trial and demanded lifelong enslavement, it would be a sentence of slavery. If she called for death, it would be execution.
In this dire situation, Sonia had only one way out: help from her "accomplice," who had been sending periodic updates. But even that contact had gone silent four days ago. With every passing moment of radio silence, her anxiety skyrocketed.
'Or maybe I've lost track of time stuck in here?'
Sonia had reached the denial stage. Sweat beaded on her forehead nonstop—until then.
Clank—
The door to the only exit beyond her barred cell swung open, and two women entered. They were prison guards on duty. Without a word, they approached her cell, unlocked the heavy door, and swung it open.
"Sonia von Trigrad, you're being transferred to another room effective immediately. Get out."
"Transferred? All of a sudden?"
Sonia blinked in confusion at the abrupt order, but the guards offered no response. They just glared at her with fierce expressions, urging her to hurry.
'These damn rookies who just graduated, acting like this...!!'
Sonia, who had always prided herself as a descendant of the great World Tree and of noble blood, seethed at their attitude. But for now, she had no choice but to comply. Click—!! When she extended her arms in an "11" shape as instructed, the restraints on her wrists snapped onto the guards like magnets. She stepped out of the cell.
The three boarded an elevator descending to the tower's lower levels and rode it down for a long while, arriving at the prison's deepest floor. As the doors opened, a corridor of gray stone blocks came into view, lit by mana stone lanterns. The air was chillingly cold this far down.
Sonia shivered as her body temperature dropped, but the guards showed no mercy. Faithful only to their duties, they led her to the innermost room.
As the trio reached the door, the heavy steel portal slid open automatically. One guard behind Sonia shoved her shoulder, prodding her to enter.
Barely containing her rage at the rudeness, Sonia whirled around, teeth gritted. But before she could speak, the steel door slammed shut behind her.
Then a voice echoed from inside the room.
"Long time no see, Lady Sonia."
Sonia turned again to see a woman seated in a chair in the corner. Golden hair like melted gold, sapphire-blue eyes. It was Luine Asphodel, official heir to the prestigious magical house Asphodel—one of Triia's premier chaebol families.
Sonia's jaw dropped; she hadn't imagined Luine would be here.
"Luine... why are you here...?"
"Hehe, curious?"
Luine closed the book she'd been reading and rose gracefully, gliding toward Sonia like a swan. A strangely sweet milky scent teased Sonia's nose. Unlike Sonia's anxiety, Luine exuded calm leisure, wrinkling Sonia's brow instinctively.
The last impression Sonia had of Luine was a coward who couldn't meet anyone's eyes—a half-baked witch born to a noble magical house yet lagging far behind her peers. But by sheer luck, she'd succeeded as a potion maker. That achievement had earned her official heir status in House Asphodel.
Others had eyed the Asphodel fortune late in the game, seeking connections, but all failed. Sonia had tried once too, but Luine always stuck to Rose Crimson, so she'd given up. A witch ensnared by that vile enemy was beneath notice.
Yet here she was, right in front of Sonia, throwing her into panic. Trying not to show it, Sonia demanded:
"Answer the question. Why are you here?"
"To meet you, Lady Sonia. You're the only one who knows where Rose is, right?"
"......"
Luine smiled, but Sonia felt an eerie pressure from her.
"I told you before—Rose fled through a teleportation magic tool. After that, I don't know..."
"Lies."
The voice was ice-cold. Just one word sent chills down Sonia's spine. Luine still smiled, but her deep, abyssal blue eyes—devoid of any light—reflected nothing.
Sonia shuddered and backed away, but the room was too small. The only thing behind her was the frigid steel door.
"White was supposed to come, but... I begged them to send me instead."
"Ha! Planning revenge? Don't flatter yourself, Luine Asphodel! You're not worthy to touch me! The verdict isn't even final yet!!"
She still had a fortnight before a full ruling. The trial chaos from her escape attempt had delayed proceedings. Fortunately, Nihilum's rigid laws demanded due process even for the worst criminals, keeping her alive for now.
"Do I look violent to you?"
".........."
"I'm just worried about Rose. Please... I beg you, Lady Sonia... where is our Rose right now?"
Unable to contain her emotions, Luine's voice grew watery with desperation. Sonia felt frustrated—genuinely ignorant of Rose's fate, this plea was maddening.
"I really don't know!! Give it up!! Rose Crimson might already be a corpse somewhere...!"
"Lies."
Stab—!!
Before she could finish, something sharp pierced Sonia's neck.
"Huh?"
Stunned by the suddenness, Sonia glanced sideways. A syringe embedded in her neck, its mysterious liquid slowly depleting. She wanted to resist, but strength ebbed from her body.
Thud— Sonia collapsed to the floor. As bewilderment gripped her, Luine spoke.
"Lady Sonia, let me ask again. Where is Rose?"
Backlit by the room's lantern, Luine's face was shadowed, but two deep, oceanic eyes glared down. Not the eyes of an enraged avenger—but a greed-driven seeker rummaging through an endless abyss for treasure.
The chilling sight made Sonia struggle desperately, but...
"Useless."
Her body was already rigid from the mystery drug.
"Ugh...!! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Rose once said: if you don't get caught, it's not a crime. And just in case, I gave the guards some 'little gifts.' They promised to ignore whatever happens here. Funny, right?"
"So, what? What are you gonna do to me now!!?"
"More importantly, Lady Sonia."
"Where is my beloved Rose right now?"
"......Have you lost your mind? I told you!! I don't know!!"
"Lying again... Are all elves liars?"
Luine's face twisted in madness—no, obsession with Rose. A new syringe gleamed in her hand, filled with suspicious purple liquid. Instinct screamed danger; Sonia thrashed wildly.
"Y-Yeah!! Ask White!! She must know something!! Rose vanished because of White's magic tool!!"
Luine's hand hesitated. Silence blanketed the room. As Sonia exhaled inwardly in relief—
Slash—!!
Luine gripped the syringe reverse and swung her right arm horizontally.
Stab—!! Straight into Sonia's neck.
"Wh-why...!!"
"Lady Sonia, White already knows. That someone taught you how to absorb the 'mana of the fallen god'. And that the 'blood oath' prevents you from spilling about that person."
"?!!"
"I came all this way because I figured you'd hide Rose's whereabouts to the end."
"I-I told you!! I really don't know!!"
"Lies."
Squiiiish— Luine pressed the syringe's plunger fully. Sonia's vision darkened. Soon, only blackness remained.
Deprived of sight, terror seized her.
"M-my eyes... I can't see!! Luine Asphodel!! What did you do to me!!"
"Lady Sonia, one more time. Where is Rose?"
"..........."
"Every wrong answer, and you'll lose one bodily function—not vital for talking. Got it?"
Blind, with only hearing left, Luine's words constricted Sonia's heart. Luine Asphodel was no longer a coward or half-wit. She was a devil, claiming body parts as contract terms.
Terror shattered Sonia's mental walls; tears welled in her unseeing eyes.
"I... I really don't knooow... I really... d-don't know anything...!"
Elf pride abandoned, she'd cast aside dignity to escape this injustice. But.
"Lies."
The devil ignored her plea and stole another precious sense.