The moonlight touched upon his skin, its embrace so cold it stung. Hours had passed since the decisive verdict which spelled out his fate. The boy had tossed the cloak aside as the comfort it had provided over the past few days had faded.
Every time he tried to think about what awaited him his mind went blank.
He stared at the moon beyond the barred window and reached out to it, his small stature and short arms not allowing him to even touch the bottom part of the window.
Beleth looked down and let out a sniff, his eyes watery. The boy collapsed on his knees and reached out for the cloak he had tossed aside hours earlier but it was still cold.
He turned his head ashamed at the thought it could provide warmth once more.
He stood there looking to the side at the wall of his cell, until a minute detail grabbed his attention and shut down the mess that was going in his head.
The stone bricks that made up the wall were laid uneven, some protruding into his cell. He turned to the window, and the wall there looked the same. Though some of them were stained in old blood.
Regardless, he crawled to the wall letting go of the cloak in the process. The brick there really did extend inside though not by much, only enough for his toes to fit.
Even so he began climbing, it wasn't an unfamiliar process, but the rough texture of the brick certainly wasn't pleasant.
Soon he had climbed up to the window, the boy stuck his head between the bars and looked at the beautiful full moon. A moment later he reached out to grab it, but it was too far away. His desire to stay there overwhelmed even the pain he felt in his feet that supported him.
Support him they did until they slipped and he crumbled as he dragged through the wall giving it a new fresh paint of blood.
Beleth found himself on the ground staring at his own blood once again, his toes and arm stinging as air entered the newly opened wounds.
Memories of the day he was caught flashed through his mind, it was his choice to run away, and for that choice blood was spilled. He chuckled, "It was my fault."
He curled up, his eyes empty and exhausted. " Do I deserve to live?"
***********************************************
The sound of the heavy door being opened echoed throughout the corridor as someone approached Beleth's cell.
A friendly face gave a little warmth to the boy's heart before it was driven away by doubt and suspicion. Conrad stood before him, his face mellow.
"Did you manage to sleep?" He asked before he knelt down outside the cell.
The boy was crouched in the left corner of the cell, his eyes looking everywhere but the man.
Conrad looked down for a moment then back at him, "I know we have not known each other for more than a few days, and I know you do not trust me." He reached out through the bars, "But, I ask that you believe what I am about to tell you. I would like you to put your faith in me."
The boy looked up, shame written all over his face, "I have not been honest with you. It was my fault that they died." His lips trembled, "I do not think I deserve such kindness." He turned away, not being able to stomach looking at Conrad.
The man took a step back, "Who told you that?" He asked coldly, however Beleth did not answer, the boy just tried his best to avoid his gaze. He let out a frustrated sigh. "A child should not carry such a burden, the wrongs a child commits are a responsibility of their parents."
"Do children not exist only for their parents?" he said as he looked down.
Conrad took a deep and lowered the tone of his voice, "Whoever raised you, was no parent to you. Did they also tell you that it was your fault when something bad happened?"
The boy went silent, tears welling up in his eyes. Conrad stood up and leaned on the bars, "They also told you what happened to those people was your fault did they not?"
Beleth began to sob, "I did not do it …. but it is my fault." Wiping the tears away left his eyes red, "they were killed because I ran away." Snot was spilling from his nose as he began to stagger for a breath through the crying.
Conrad unlocked and opened the door, he took out a handkerchief from his left sleeve and handed it to Beleth. "Why did not tell us that earlier?" The boy just continued wiping his tears with his hands until his eyes started to swell. With one arm Conrad grabbed both his hands and slowly lowered them using as little force as he could, he then gently wiped the tears away with the handkerchief before giving it to the boy.
Beleth looked up trembling "I did not want… to cause him anymore.. trouble." He said through sniffs.
Two loud bangs echoed throughout the corridor, just as they did Conrad grabbed the boy's shoulders "I am sorry, I will not be able to comfort you anymore for the time being. Our time has run out. I know it will be a lot for you right now, but in thirty minutes you will meet the families of the people that died that night."
"Huh?" The boy was left stupified, "no no no. please." His breathing intensified, "Please! I cannot do that right now." He grabbed Conrad's hand, as another loud bang echoed.
The man stood on one knee, and patted the boy's head, "I promise to get you out of here." His voice filled with determination.
Beleth calmed down a bit and felt something in his chest as new tears filled his eyes. "I believe you."
"Thank you."
***********************************************
Conrad opened the door to his post, on the other side Erden was sitting on a throne of flames, flames that were spilling out his severed leg. "How did it go ?" he asked whilst fidgeting with his hair.
"I failed, I did not prepare him for what is about to happen." He slumped towards his friend and sat beside him on the ground. "But he did tell me that he was taking the blame for someone, his own parent."
Erden let out a sigh, as the flames from his throne spread underneath Conrad, in just a few seconds they had formed another one. "What he has told you is far too little and misplaced to make any difference."
Conrad frowned as Erden continued to speak, "If you bring that up with Silistra it will just further her suspicion of the boy. He might as well be lying to you to save his own skin." Erden stood up, the flames making up his throne returning to his leg.
"I cannot abandon him, Er…
"Next month Otto will be entering his tenth year on this plane, in three more he will begin his education in the monastery." Erden knelt before him, "Please do not sacrifice it."
The echoes of countless steps filled the space growing louder with each passing seconds.
Silistra entered the room, as she did a brief moment of concern washed over her face. She had not seen Conrad so miserable before. "Co…" she tried to speak and reach out to him, but stopped herself. She looked everywhere else but him before taking a deep breath, her face returning its emotionless visage. "Conrad!" her voice sharp and confident, "As I said I have arranged several meetings between the victims of the massacre and the boy.
However due to your biased opinion on the matter, you will not be permitted in the meeting. Are we clear?"
"yes, my lady."
"Good." She continued, "Furthermore you are relieved of your duties as a warden for the next few days, with the addition that you are not permitted to enter the prison, under any circumstances."
The man who stood tall days prior now nodded humbly, not even able to face her. He then stood up, his eyes staring at the ground, "I already know Erden is here to escort me out of here. I am ready to go now."
Just as he was about to walk out the door, Silistra spoke, "Before it starts, I have to warn you. I will not take sides during the meeting. However I pray that the outcome proves satisfying to all of us."
Conrad smirked as he closed the door behind him, "Thank you."
***********************************************
More than thirty minutes had passed since Conrad had left him, Beleth was left stupified, unable to move a muscle. A mass had formed in his chest making it difficult to breathe. Should I confess? He thought as he clenched his fists. Without him I am nothing, only he will ever accept me.
The boy began shaking, but… his breathing eased a little, Mr Conrad accepted me, he even told me he was going to free me, even if I fail now. Right?
He leaned back on the hard wall and started sliding down to the floor, But… if . Should I truly believe in him? What if he was not honest?
A sound most familiar reached his ears as countless steps echoed throughout the corridor. His heart once again began to dance as the sound of the steps began louder and louder.
When it ended Beleth was met with numerous eyes, some burning with rage, some with confusion, and some too young to understand whatever was happening.
Among them one set was painfully known to him, Silistra with her emotionless visage stood in front of him. "This is the one responsible for the massac…
Before she could even finish her sentence one of them lunged forward at the bars. "You bastard! Why did you do it?!" He was a boy only a few years older than Beleth himself, with tears in his eyes he tried forcing himself inside the cell. "Return them. RETURN MY PARENTS TO ME YOU MONSTER!!"
"Calm down Zach." One of the adults, a scarred old man who was standing next to Silistra pulled the boy off the bars, then stared daggers at the woman. "What is this charade?" He asked as he tried calming down the boy who had broken into crying. "You truly expect us to believe this child caused that gruesome scene."
Before she could speak a different voice rose up, an old woman walked up. "This thing is not a child. Both you and I know it." She looked directly at Beleth. "This thing is far beyond anything that can be considered human."
A young man, in his early twenties, pushed through the others to look Beleth in the eyes. With him he led a young girl, maybe three years old at most. "I do not care what you are." He started, his voice trembling, "You left my niece without a father." He patted the head of the little girl and smiled. "And I will kill you for that!"
Beleth's heart skipped a beat as he could feel it from all of them, their overwhelming animosity towards him.
Silistra pushed the people aside, "I do believe this is quite enough from you for now." She said with utmost sternness, "Let us at least give him the chance to defend himself."
Their eyes pierced his soul. All these people suffer immensely because of me. Maybe … The boy looked up at them, behind the initial group there was another one just as angry. Just as hurt.
He let out a faint whisper, "I am sorry."
"I am guilty."