Tower of Paradise

ARCEUS PENDRAGON'S POV

I got up from bed as soon as I was sure everyone had fallen asleep. I opened the door carefully and went out before closing it behind me.

Sneaking around at night made me nervous, so I was careful not to go down the stairs because I knew they made noise.

I managed to reach the library in total darkness. When I opened the door, the dim light of a lamp illuminated me.

I quickly entered before anyone could see me and closed the door behind me.

Cassie was sitting at one of the tables, with an open book and a fire lamp beside her.

When she heard the door open and close, she looked up and her eyes focused on me.

After a moment, she stood up.

—You didn't back down. Good. —She turned to look at me as I closed the distance between us—. Everyone else is asleep. Emilia went to bed a few minutes ago. So now we can talk freely.

I closed my mouth for a moment and reflected.

Emilia, huh. Apparently Cassie already found out the truth.

—I know.

I knew she would have many questions and that her interrogation would determine whether she could trust me or not. As I was thinking, I opened my mouth.

—I don't know where to start. What do you want to know? —I looked at her thoughtfully before shrugging.

—I need to make sure my theories about you are correct. And if you really know what I think you know, I want you to know that you're not the only one. If you accept, we can even work together.

Cassie hesitated for a moment while I touched my lower lip.

She really had been watching me and seemed to have dedicated many thoughts to this.

And... from what she just said, she had almost understood it perfectly.

The only detail she hadn't alluded to, that she didn't seem to have deduced, was something she couldn't have guessed: my reincarnation.

—Work together? How? —I asked as I crossed my arms—. In fact, first, what do you think I know?

That was the first topic, the most important one to address, before any other.

—I'm supposed to be the one asking questions here. —Cassie snorted.

I tilted my head from side to side trying to better interpret her mood. She definitely didn't look good at all.

—You know what's on the other side of that door. You know what this place really is. And what we were born for. That's why you've been so strange since you arrived. That's why, every time someone is "adopted," you never seemed to be really happy for them. —She spoke so quickly that I felt my mind going numb listening to her.

However, she was right about everything.

—There was always hesitation and sadness in your eyes. Maybe you think you're a good actor, Arceus, but it's quite noticeable if you act so strangely. —Her tearful voice came out as if she were squeezing each word from her throat.

She gave me subtle, but vague, hints, just in case, and gave me enough information so that, if her theory was correct, I could grasp her deeper meaning. Cassie was cautious even when she had most of the answers. I exhaled a sigh, not knowing how much I should reveal.

—This place is like a cage. No, it is a cage. They feed us well and everything goes as planned. When we wake up, when we go to bed, everything. We are nothing but cattle waiting to be sacrificed.

Cassie stood there trembling like a solitary leaf on a tree. She sobbed and then raised her head. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, but her eyes and nose were reddened.

—They're killing and devouring them... —She said looking around as if she were nervous, letting out a shaky sigh as she crossed her arms over her chest, frightened—. Good. We're on the same page. —She finally sighed as if she felt relieved.

—All of this... is probably to maintain our quality of life as merchandise. After all, we probably wouldn't taste as good if we weren't healthy or were malnourished.

She shuddered at my comment before nodding in agreement.

—What about the daily exams? Emilia encourages us to learn, but what's the use if they're going to eat us?

I began to frown deeply at her question.

In fact, if we were cattle, they shouldn't be educating us.

At first I thought that educating us should seem almost dangerous to those monsters.

The meat won't taste better if we get good grades, right?

It seemed that age and score had something to do with the level of "merchandise."

Although she was certainly right, that wasn't the conclusion I came to after years of research.

—If I remember correctly, those who were sent were between seven and fourteen years old. And if seven years is the norm. Then... —I gave Cassie a clue so she could understand it for herself.

Cassie covered her mouth as she opened her eyes with fear upon reaching the expected conclusion.

—So, basically, our shipment was proposed by our higher-ups? —She looked at the floor helplessly—. I still don't understand. Why do they classify us by score?

—Could it be the size of our bodies? —I suggested, but then shook my head.

No... thinking about it, it can't be. In that case, they would care more about our body mass.

Cassie's eyes opened forcefully, having reached a chilling revelation.

—Brain size.

—Huh? —My face hardened and I stiffened.

Both of us sank into deep reflection. Yes, that was it.

It was said that the human brain was 90% developed by age seven. Others also maintain that by thirteen it was fully developed.

—It's just a guess for now.

—Fine. Now tell me, what did you see outside the orphanage?

With a guttural and primitive howl that pierced through me as if they were fragments of glass, Cassie broke down crying upon hearing my question.

Although we were only one step away from each other, an indescribable void of emotions separated us.

—What's wrong?

The room itself seemed to cry for Cassie as her sobs and moans filled the air. It wasn't Cassie's anger that made my insides boil in that way... it was mine.

—Do you remember the door we found when we were children?

Cassie took some time to respond.

—Yes.

—Well, beyond that door... There's a tunnel that connects to a well.

—A well?

—A well that leads to the surface, to the outside world.

I stood there stunned at that information.

The knot in my throat blocked any words of comfort I could say, so I did what no one else could do without knowing the truth: give her hope.

—Let's run, Cassie. We have to get out of here.

—...

—I don't know what the outside world will be like, but we have no other choice if we want to survive. Everything will be fine, we'll manage to escape. If it's you and me, surely...

—Do you think it's possible to bring them with us?

—...

—If we leave them here... They'll end up like that! Surely! We can't leave them behind. I don't want anyone else to die!

Tears ran down her cheeks and clouded her vision. Cassie's body visibly shrank as her small shoulders trembled; she couldn't breathe while the torrent of emotions continued to flow from her.

Do you think it's possible to take them all with us?

—Are you kidding, right? Cassie, you see... We can't do it.

It simply wasn't possible. There was no way to escape from this place.