Fandom 鬱憤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ― in character

[poi]

光

chapter#00
prologue


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CLANK!!​

And just like that, the locks holding the cell doors closed were no more. Though the sound of metal shattering happened in an instant, the sheer volume was enough for it to linger within the minds of those who heard it. A silence that could only be described as an aftershock permeated through the earthen hall of the kingdom’s chambers, and lengthy as it was, what soon cut through it felt oddly sudden.

The creaking of a rusty entrance, and with it, the steps of a man whose expression was void of uncertainty. This was now the reverberation the prisoners faced.

With a loud clap, and a raise of his fist, the red-haired male halted his tracks in the middle of the hall, an unclear attempt in gathering everyone’s attention. The ahoge on his head dangled about as he did so—and as it’d turn out, he was not the type to waste time in addressing the other unfortunates that happened to be lumped in this less than stellar situation.

The rustling of his thick fur coat, a prelude to his words; with a boisterous voice that accompanied his slight optimism, his lips parted. “Everyone! Look, the locks are gone now! But something’s amiss…”

The man paused, as if to let that very fact sink in, or to make himself seem smart for possibly having caught something.

“Yes… Caution is our friend right now, so let’s think about what we should do moving forward before we get hasty! What if the palace people are doing a test of sorts… To see if we’ll take the bait? We might get punished even more!”

He then waved his hands around in haphazard fashion like he was playing with invisible air drums. “So, let’s proceed with caution, shall we all?” He finished, with a manner of thinly veiled irresolution that wasn’t present before. A bit too trusting with the perception of his own charisma, this case will put it to the test; to see if everyone else will agree with his sentiment and not just dart out from the area with impatience.

Trying to continue the flow of the (one-sided) conversation, he cleared his throat and put his hands on his hips, giving all of his cell buddies a bright smile with a tinge of imperiousness. “Well, to kick things off I suppose, my name is Usuratonkachi Ren!—but you calling me Ren-sama is preferred, for I am a master apothecary, an ultimate apothecary, even!”

Not even a second later, a dark-haired individual slid out of his own cell, a look of disengagement written on his features. His narrowed eyes spared not a single person a glance, despite the situation; not even the exuberant man who sought to take lead in this uncertain predicament. It would seem that he was wasting no time in exiting the underground chambers.

Letting out a huff, Ren called out a question―his tone accusatory, yet hesitant. Did that bleak man not hear a single word he just said? “You! With the sour look on your face…! Where are you going?”

Teal irises slowly bore into golden ones with an intense disinterest, no words to be said. If it wasn’t already apparent from the way he was about to just up and leave, this moment alone would have been enough for anyone to realize that he cared very little for what Ren had to say. Several moments of an off-kilter stillness passed before finally, he responded.

“Out.”

With that, he continued in his pursuit of outside air. Although not enough to dispel the feeling of unease that hung over the area, there was a sense of awkwardness that understandably followed. Despite this, the entire debacle did bring attention to the current question: Was it safer to stay and discuss? Or was there more merit in venturing into uncertainty?

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San Nellancholy Verite oishui​