Chapter 5

[Nightmare]

Unknown Universal Calendar.

Earth, year 1431.

Location: France.

The land back then was divided, torn apart by the Hundred Years' War which had been going on for long.

Certainly, its people caught between a rock and a hard place because of this. 

The north that belonged to the English and their allies, and the south remained that remained under Charles VII, the disinherited French king struggling to reclaim his throne. 

During the ongoing battle that has been continuing even till now has affected more over the past years.

Fields were scarred by battle, villages burned, and hope was a rare luxury.

Yet, in the midst of war, there were those who sought to bring light to the suffering.

A young woman and her followers, guided by what they believed to be the voice of the One True God

They had traveled the land, mediating between warring factions in hopes of bringing peace.

However, as it would happen.

On one certain missionary visit to a particular city, was a trap that had been awaiting her.

The local Church, aligned with powerful forces, saw her not as a messenger of salvation, but as a threat. 

Whispers of heresy spread quickly. 

They accused her of poisoning minds, turning the people against divine order, and soon, their judgment was made. 

Jeanne was seized, declared a witch, and imprisoned under the Church's authority.

"And that sums up why I am here!"

'And still, you say that's god's will? Ridiculous.' A scoff.

The Aristella had thought with a scoff, averting his gaze as Jeanne—this so-called Saintess—continued to ramble on about how she had "saved" a country called France.

On that hand, this—perhaps—was the first time in more than seven years, his dull expression showed a little discomfort.

Most of the time, his expression were always relaxed, neutral and tired as it could get.

But now, his brows slightly curled down, as his lips tightened.

Having understood the situation he merely just silently listened to her venting while listening to her vent.

On that note, he had also tried shutting her up, saying "you're too loud," but her personality was the complete opposite of his.

An extrovert through and through.

Were she in his world, particularly, in his school, with her beauty and personality, her popularity would completely eclipse the likes of Leon.

However, he could almost tell, 'she's lonely.'

He didn't want to hear her stories, but they had become his only source of entertainment in this currently forsaken place. 

And through them, he had learned somethings about this world.

This world was called earth.

It is also divided into seven landmasses called "continents." Which was incredibly similar to his world, with his also having "Seven Continents."

Additionally the name Earth was similar to his world's Neo Earth.

Coincidence? He thinks not.

The seven landmasses being called continents too were strikingly similar, but different. At the very least, the names are.

And from the looks of it, this current era was too backwater compared to the technological advancements of his world.

However, considering the striking similarity between both words, alongside comparing the year difference.

It made the slightest of sense.

"Hmph! Ignoring me even when you have a beautiful woman like me in front of you!"

Jeanne huff complaining with a playful pout.

"You're just bored."

To her words, Ren had shot her down with a harsh reply which made her wince.

Throughout her entire life, she had never been rejected like this before, "how dare you!"

Despite her indignant protests, Ren continued his train of thought. 

He planned on following a certain process to begin his escape.

There had to be a reason why he was placed into this situation instead of the usual "cycle of execution" he always found himself in.

As for the chains—

'It's tight.'

He jerked his hands, and the metal rattled in response.

Hearing the clatter, and seeing the obvious movement he was making, Jeanne had blinked at him.

She had seen many prisoners opposite her cell, but none had the expression he wore.

'Aristella, huh?'

'I haven't had much time to know him, but I can tell even with a glance, this person is no good.'

She had thought that in all honestly.

For someone who could hear the supposed 'Voice of God,' she also had always been able to perceive the emotions within people's hearts.

However, she heard nothing from him.

Occasionally, people would bottle things up inside their minds.

Most prisoners she had been with up till now has, in one way or the other, had some lingering voice in their minds. 

Fear, despair, regret. She always heard and felt something.

In fact—

She had met soldiers, prisoners, and men who had lost everything. They still had some shred of fear, regret, hope. 

But Ren?

There was nothing. No sorrow. No faith. Just... emptiness.

'Oh Lord, what has this child gone through.'

Jeanne thought as she observed him with raised eyebrows jeering his chains. Seeing this, she couldn't help but be curious.

"What are you doing? No matter what you do, you can't break those chains, you know?"

She had continued, tilting her head as she advised.

It was something many had attempted too, however gave up. Even as prisoners, they don't have free will.

"I'm doing just what it looks like. Breaking out of here."

Ren's voice had been as eerily calm as it had always been. Even as he said those words.

At his words, Jeanne couldn't help but let out a short burst of laughter as he did.

Of course, she had thought of it as nothing more than a joke, even though she clearly saw him curl his fingers around the chains, wrapping them over his bent knee.

She had thought he'd have just given up the moment he try and fail.

"Not only are those chains closed tight, you'd have to injure both your hands and knees, and—"

"That's what I intend on doing."

Ren had cut her off immediately, which was followed by a painful CRACK that echoed both prison walls.

There was a moment of silence, followed by a gasp and her loud voice, as she crawled towards the barred steel in front of her.

"You idiot! What are you doing!? That's dangerous!"

Ren winced, letting out a soft groan. Even for someone like him, willingly breaking his own bones hurt like hell. 

His pale hand turned visibly red and swollen, but he had managed to pull his right hand free.

His fingers twitched, his wrist now visibly dislocated.

"It hurts…."

His murmur was soft, but under Jeanne's astonished gaze, he let the chains fall and began wrapping the broken limb to minimize movement.

Compared to the pain he had endured in the past, this was nothing.

Furthermore—

If what she said was true, then he believed the people above could never be truly be saved.

After all, no matter the iteration, before he had stopped pleading with them, they had mercilessly looped off his head over and over again.

Now, he had the perfect chance of avenging himself, having been given the opportunity to.

Hence, he wouldn't let it pass.

"You—!? Why!?"

"God's will this, God's will that… That's all you ever say." 

Ren let out an ominous chuckle, his crimson eyes darkening as he threw his head back, looking at her with a side glance.

"I'm simply tired of it. God doesn't exist anywhere. Not in my world, and not here, if not, you wouldn't be here, and if not, he wouldn't have made me suffer."

Those words, frustration, everything that he had covered up till now have been hanging on his throat ever since his parents and grandparents had met the same faith.

Perhaps. It was finally time to unleash all the madness he had been suppressing.

No human, more so, a child like him could have endured till now. But he had done so.

Yes. To show how much he respected and loved his family. He didn't want to become something that'd make them ashamed of him.

But where has that led him.

Destruction. Ruin. With a mental health that hangs on a thin thread.

"Now that I think of it Saintess. I'll use this chance to prove you wrong."

As he said that, she had seen it, his lips slowly curling as his crimson eyes seemed to glow in the dimly lit prison.

"I'll prove you wrong—that HE doesn't exist."

At that moment, Jeanne felt it.

Something… felt off.

Something…

DEATH.