Chapter 6: The Interrogation

Thunder rumbled ominously outside the garrison walls as Reziel followed Aria Highwind and the young squire down a dimly lit corridor. The flames of the wall sconces danced with each passing draft, throwing flickering shadows on the stone. Each echoing footstep reminded Reziel of the gauntlet he was about to face. No matter how calm he tried to appear, his nerves were on edge.

They reached a wooden door reinforced with iron bands. The squire opened it, revealing a small briefing chamber—more like an austere meeting room. A heavy table occupied the center, with a handful of chairs arranged around it. Sir Galland, the Knight-Captain, waited at the head. Two additional knights in plain tunics stood by the walls, arms folded, their stern expressions leaving no doubt they were there as guards.

Aria guided Reziel to the table and nodded toward an empty chair. "Sit," she said quietly, her earlier hint of empathy overshadowed by formality.

Reziel lowered himself onto the wooden seat, every bruise and cut in his body protesting. He took stock of his surroundings: no windows, a single door, and four knights altogether. No easy exit. The presence of so many watchers made his skin crawl with apprehension. He inhaled, trying to keep his composure.

Sir Galland inclined his head to Aria. "Thank you, Highwind. Stay with us. We'll need your account of events as well."

She gave a short bow, then stood at attention behind Reziel, spear upright but not threatening him directly. The two knights near the wall wore swords belted at their hips, ready to respond if Reziel so much as twitched the wrong way.

Facing the Knight-Captain

Sir Galland set his gauntleted hands on the table, leaning forward. "Reziel, is it? You claimed the cultists began their ritual in the slums and that you were caught up in it by accident." His voice was measured but carried an undercurrent of severity. "We need you to fill in the details—everything you saw and heard."

Reziel glanced at Aria, who gave him a small nod, encouraging cooperation. Swallowing against a dry throat, he began to speak. "I… I was just trying to find a safe place to sleep," he said, voice echoing slightly in the confined chamber. "I heard chanting in an abandoned courtyard—when I looked, a group of robed figures was performing some kind of dark ritual. Something went wrong. The power they summoned lashed out and—"

He paused, uneasy about revealing the System. "—it latched onto me. I barely escaped."

Sir Galland's brow furrowed. "Latched onto you in what way? You have a… resonance of dark mana unlike normal mages or artifacts."

Reziel forced himself to hold the captain's gaze. "I don't fully understand it. The cultists called it 'forbidden power,' or something like that. I didn't ask for it. But now it's… stuck inside me." He stopped short of mentioning the quest screens and forcibly leveling up skills. That's not something they need to know.

Galland exchanged a glance with Aria, who responded quietly, "He fought off two cult agents earlier. They seemed intent on capturing him."

The captain's jaw tightened. "Yes, and that is part of what concerns us. If they want you, it means you carry something valuable to them. A living key, perhaps, or a source of forbidden energy they require."

Reziel let out a harsh breath. "I'm no key. More like a target."

Sir Galland drummed his fingers on the table, pensive. "You realize Luxaria has strict decrees against dabbling in dark sorcery. Normally, the Church of Radiance would demand an immediate inquest, possibly execution if corruption is proven. But with cult activity rising, we can't afford to let potential intelligence slip away."

Aria's voice softened. "He's told us how he ended up with this power, Captain. He's shown no sign of worshipping those cultists. We can at least confirm he's not acting as their willing spy."

One of the knights near the wall shifted his stance, skepticism plain on his face. "Are we sure? The story could be fabricated."

Tension bristled in the room. Reziel bit back a retort, deciding indignation wouldn't help. Instead, he took a breath. "I'm not on the cult's side, trust me. I've bled and nearly died trying to escape them."

Sir Galland considered him for a long moment. Outside, thunder boomed again, as if punctuating the silence. Finally, the captain spoke, voice carrying a note of authority that brooked no argument. "Regardless of your intentions, you possess power that can destabilize the kingdom if left unchecked. We can't simply let you walk away."

Reziel's heart clenched; the System stirred in the back of his mind, whispering of conflict. Fight them, or outsmart them, it seemed to say. He exhaled slowly, trying to remain calm. "So what are you going to do, lock me up in a dungeon?"

A flicker of conflict passed across Galland's face. "I'm not unsympathetic to your plight, especially if you truly were a bystander. But we must keep you under supervision for now. There's too much at stake."

Aria spoke up again. "Captain, if I may suggest something… Let him remain within the garrison, under watch, while we investigate the cult's next move. If he cooperates and proves his innocence, perhaps we can find a way to free him from this… affliction."

Reziel tensed at the word affliction, but he understood Aria was trying to help. Sir Galland eyed her, then nodded curtly. "Agreed. We'll keep him here for the time being and see if he can assist us in uncovering the cult's plans."

One of the knights near the wall frowned. "Is that wise, sir? He's dangerous, and we have no guarantee the cult won't come for him here."

Galland's expression was grave. "True. But at least in our custody, we stand a better chance of defending him—and the city—when they do." He turned his attention back to Reziel. "If you betray our trust, know that we will not hesitate to act. Is that understood?"

Reziel nodded, a shiver lancing through him. "Understood."

Between Trust and Doubt

The interrogation concluded without further fireworks, but the tension remained palpable. Sir Galland dismissed the extra knights, then rose from his chair. "We'll discuss our strategy in more detail soon. Until then, Aria, take him to the guest quarters. Under guard."

She saluted. "Yes, Captain."

As the meeting ended, the storm outside raged on. Rain assaulted the garrison's slate roof, and distant lightning illuminated the corridor.

An Unlikely Arrangement

Aria led Reziel down another hallway that branched off the main reception hall. A pair of guards followed at a discreet distance, ensuring there was no chance of him slipping away.

"Guest quarters?" Reziel asked wryly, his tone edged with fatigue. "Sounds fancy."

Aria offered a ghost of a smile. "It's a small room used for visiting envoys—much nicer than a cell. But I'll warn you, the door can be locked from the outside."

He snorted. "Figures."

She paused by a solid oak door and pushed it open, revealing a modest chamber with a single bed, a narrow table, and a tiny window set high in the wall. A simple oil lamp flickered atop the table, casting warm, dancing shadows.

Reziel stepped inside, noticing the heavy iron bolt on the exterior. Aria glanced around, then faced him. "We're not your enemies if you truly want to rid yourself of this curse."

He turned, meeting her gaze. "Thanks… for not throwing me in a dungeon, I guess."

She nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. "The real test starts now. If you attempt to escape or if the cult tries to break in—"

"I won't run," he interrupted, surprising even himself with how steady his voice sounded. "At least not until I know more about getting rid of this power."

Aria's eyes flickered with a mixture of relief and lingering suspicion. "Then rest. I'll have someone bring food. Tomorrow, the captain wants a more thorough briefing—he'll share what we know about the Circle of Twilight and see if your information lines up."

Reziel started to nod, but froze. "Circle of Twilight?" he echoed softly. That name reverberated in his memory, like a half-heard whisper from the cultists.

Aria noticed his reaction. "You've heard of them?"

"Not until now," he said, swallowing. "But it… rings a bell. They're the ones behind the ritual?"

She pressed her lips together. "Likely. They've dabbled in taboo magic for years, but recent sightings suggest they've grown bolder. If they're the ones who forced this System on you, you're at the center of something large."

Reziel exhaled shakily. "That's just what I needed to hear," he murmured, sarcasm masking the pit in his stomach.

A flicker of concern crossed Aria's face, but she kept her composure. "Rest," she repeated. "I'll have the guards keep watch outside." With that, she stepped back into the corridor. The door closed, and a moment later the heavy bolt slid into place with a dull clunk.

He was alone.

System's Call

Sinking onto the bed, Reziel let out a long breath. The day had been a whirlwind of violence, interrogation, and precarious truces. He pressed a hand to his bandaged side, relieved to find the wound wasn't bleeding anymore. The Knights' cleric had done a decent job.

In the flickering lamplight, the Forbidden System manifested once again in his peripheral vision:

Quest: Growth Through Conflict

Progress: 50% (Incomplete)

Note: Host has avoided direct confrontation with a superior foe. The System predicts future battles soon.

Additional Prompt: Adapt or remain vulnerable.

A ripple of annoyance twitched across Reziel's features. Adapt or remain vulnerable… So the System was basically calling him weak. He rubbed a hand over his face. Did he really want to keep powering up through violence and conflict? If he was going to stay among the Knights, that might mean resisting the System's urges to fight them—at least for now.

He mentally pushed the interface away, shutting it down. "Not tonight," he muttered. "I'm done with your demands."

Yet, the memory of the cult's unwavering pursuit gnawed at him. The Knights might provide temporary security, but what if the Circle of Twilight staged a direct assault on the garrison? The System's quest implied that only by growing stronger could he truly survive.

Nightfall Unrest

Time passed slowly in the small chamber. A guard brought a tray of simple food—bread, soup, and water—sliding it through a hinged slot in the door. Reziel forced himself to eat, ignoring the twisting worry in his stomach. The warmth of the soup soothed his throat, but his mind churned with too many questions.

Eventually, fatigue won out, and he dozed off, fully clothed atop the blankets.

He wasn't sure how long he slept, but the crash of thunder jolted him awake. He shot upright, heart pounding, sweat beading his forehead. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. Then reality settled: the locked room, the Knights' outpost, the swirling storm beyond the walls.

Another rumble followed—closer this time. Lightning flashed through the high window, illuminating swirling dust motes in the air. Reziel's pulse began to calm. But a faint, nagging sensation persisted: something felt off.

He swung his legs to the floor, bracing his hands on the bed. The storms had been raging on and off all day, but that last thunderclap sounded almost… unnatural. The entire building seemed to vibrate.

Am I getting paranoid?

Then he heard it: muted, urgent shouts from somewhere beyond the corridor. Booted footsteps pounded in the hallway. A muffled alarm bell began to ring, each clang sending a spike of dread through his chest.

Reziel's mind raced. An attack? Could the cult have come for him tonight, just as the System ominously hinted?

He stood, every muscle tense, and moved to the door. He pressed an ear against the heavy wood. Shouting. Something about "intruders"—he caught the word "cultists." Heart hammering, he stepped back.

Dammit, he cursed inwardly. They actually came.

A pounding fist struck the door from the outside. "Reziel?" came Aria's voice, muffled but urgent. "Get back from the door!"

He scrambled away just as the bolt was drawn and the door swung inward. Aria rushed in, water dripping from her hair and armor—she must have been outside. Her gray eyes flashed with a mix of alarm and resolve.

"They're here," she said, confirming his fear. "Cultists infiltrated the outer courtyard. We need to move you somewhere secure—now."

Reziel's chest tightened. "You're sure they're after me?"

She grimaced. "They specifically mentioned retrieving 'the boy with forbidden power.' We can't let them get their hands on you."

Adrenaline exploded through his veins. The possibility of facing more than two cultists—this time well-prepared—terrified him. He might rely on the Knights for protection, but the System stirred, urging him to harness conflict for strength.

Outside, the alarm bell clanged again, accompanied by distant clashes of steel and bursts of magic. The storm's lightning illuminated Aria's determined face.

"Come on," she said, gripping his arm. "Stay close. Let's go—"

Before she could finish, an explosion rocked the corridor, sending a tremor through the building and rattling the doorframe. Dust and splinters rained from the ceiling. Alarm bells intensified, and more shouts pierced the chaos.

Reziel's eyes met Aria's. In that moment, any illusions of safety fell away. Whether he liked it or not, he was at the center of a pitched battle—a conflict that might either claim his life or unleash a greater darkness within him.

"Let's move," he managed, mustering what courage he could. And together, they dashed into the storm-lashed hallway, prepared to face the Circle of Twilight's assault—and the trials fate had in store.