An Extra’s POV

"Ciela… is alive?"

As Rey uttered those words, looking at Kara's slightly stunned face, he realized he never actually thought about the fate that befell Esme's mother.

He never considered the implication of her being alive either—until now.

"Tell me more about this." His exhaustion instantly vanished, and the pale expression on his face brightened up instantly.

He led Kara into his abode, closing the door behind them as he listened to her explaining how she was able to piece it all together.

Talking to the Elders, narrowing it down by speaking to the Esteemed Ones, her investigation was very thorough. Still, even though Rey was very impressed that she could get such cooperation out of the Elves and pry into so much information, he wasn't really interested in her methodology

All that was relevant was the actual information on Ciela.

"You said they have her captive, right? Tell me more about that." Rey sat on his chair, opposite his bed where he told her to sit.

"W-well… yeah. In a secret chamber where only the Esteemed Elders have access to."

"And she's alive."

"Well… yeah. But it's not that simple." As soon as Rey heard this, he raised his brow and made a complicated face.

Kara took this as her queue to explain further.

"The Elves placed her in a state of Eternal Sleep. That is the highest punishment they can give to one of their own—forcing them to sleep until their life runs out and they die."

Since Elves had a no-kill Rule, they couldn't eliminate even their most severe offenders. However, by placing the perpetrators in a state akin to death, allowing nature to run its course over them, they had their own form of execution.

she's not fully dead… but she's not really alive either…" Rey mumbled to himself, his

they use some kind of Curse, or is it just Magic…?' He couldn't determine that

Closing his eyes and controlling

speak to

************

[Moments Later]

Rey… do not

has become tainted—corrupt and unholy. Do

"We beg of you…"

Esteemed Elders all had their heads bowed as Rey

of the Esteemed Council Hall. It had fireflies dancing around it, with darkness filling

critters not only illuminated the ugly-looking bark, but also highlighted the worried faces of the Elves that were

plain, and it smelled of

if one looked up, they

essence, a

well…" Rey muttered under his breath and stretched out

need to

bark or rough resistance. Rather, he felt a

he pushed even

began to get sucked into the tree. Offering no resistance at all, it only took him a few seconds

Rey was transported

compartment, there was nothing in sight but one entity. She seemed glued to the wall, completely naked, with parts of

stuck in, up to her elbow, and her legs suffered the

part of her hair was also sucked

bare chest, to her slender, malnutritioned