Location: Absolute Prison
The surroundings were almost disturbingly silent. Candles hanging from the ceiling cast yellow, flickering light, stretching long shadows across the walls. Drops of water occasionally fell from the damp stone, each landing with a hollow tick… tick… that echoed through the corridors. The candle flames trembled softly, as if an unseen breath drifted through the air. The iron bars were rusted old bloodstains marked some spots, while others were scarred by years of grinding chains.
In the middle of that heavy atmosphere stood only two people… one was Jack, sitting inside a cage bound by chains, and the other was Arthur, standing firmly across from him.
Jack shifted slightly, his chains clanking and tearing through the silence.
Jack: What kind of news is this?
Arthur stepped closer, the hard sound of his boots echoing against the stone floor. His face was serious, but there was quiet determination in his eyes.
Arthur: News about exactly what's going to happen to you.
Jack narrowed his eyes, studying Arthur's face carefully as if searching for a lie.
Jack: Introduce yourself first… then we'll talk.
Arthur's lips curved upward slightly.
Arthur: Fair enough… my name is Arthur Violend.
Jack's eyebrows lifted. A brief smirk formed on his lips, yet a small bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. Almost no one hadn't heard that name.
Jack: So… I'm talking to the strongest Guardian.
Arthur shrugged, as if the title meant nothing to him.
Arthur: Yeah… anyway, can I give you the news now?
Jack tugged lightly at his chains; metal rings scraped against one another.
Jack: Go ahead.
Arthur cleared his throat. His voice echoed through the prison walls.
Arthur: The bearer of Liberty Sacred… starting today, you're my student.
Jack blinked twice, as if he'd misheard.
Jack: Sorry… what?
Arthur: You'll be my student.
Jack tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing.
Jack: Making someone your student when you don't even know them… you realize that's a bit weird, right?
Arthur suddenly burst into laughter. His voice echoed against the walls. A small tear slipped from his eye; he wiped it away with his finger and looked back at Jack.
Arthur: Don't worry… I know you well enough.
Jack's shoulders tensed slightly; Arthur's grin made him uneasy.
Arthur: Your future is bright, Jack.
Jack: I'm not a genius… I'm not worth that.
Arthur lowered his head and chuckled softly.
Arthur: Then I'll make you worth it.
Jack was stunned. The determination radiating from the man in front of him felt almost unsettling.
Arthur stepped closer. Candlelight illuminated half his face.
Arthur: Ever wondered?
Jack: Wondered what?
Arthur: Why Liberty is with you.
Jack froze instantly. The whispers Liberty had spoken inside his subconscious flashed through his mind. His chains trembled slightly.
Arthur continued.
Arthur: Because you're the Key Bearer.
Jack: What? What key?
Arthur: I should explain.
Jack fell silent, locking his eyes onto Arthur.
Arthur took a deep breath.
Arthur: A thousand… maybe eleven hundred years ago, Liberty brought chaos to this world. Cities were destroyed. Even the sky turned red. But a few brave Guardians defeated him… or did they really?
At that moment, the prison's atmosphere shifted. A wind with no clear source swept through. Candle flames bent sideways; shadows stretched and twisted unnaturally.
Arthur: Before the war, Liberty discovered a theory… and because of it, he's still alive. Inside your body.
Jack's head felt heavy. Illusions flashed before his eyes collapsed buildings, smoke, screaming people… fleeting images that came and vanished in an instant.
Arthur's voice remained steady.
Arthur: That theory… is Soul Transfer.
Arthur explained slowly, his tone clear almost like a lecture.
Arthur : Soul Transfer… the act of splitting one's soul into fragments and embedding it into an object… allowing the soul to survive even if the original body dies… awakening again in a new existence even hundreds of thousands of years later…
Jack's breathing grew heavier.
Jack: What did he transfer his soul into?
Arthur raised his finger and pointed directly at Jack's heart.
Arthur: Into you… the Key itself. One of the Five Ancient Artifacts resides within you.
Arthur continued.
Arthur: The other four are out there… the Fallen God Core… the God-Severing Katana… the Book of the Fallen Angel… the God-Cursing Eyes… and the fifth artifact within you… the Blessed Cursed Key.
The candlelight flickered violently.
Arthur: If all five artifacts unite within a single body… a terrifying power will be born. Even an ordinary human could challenge Rank Zero Guardians… all of them, except me of course.
Jack swallowed hard.
Jack: Then… if something this dangerous is inside me… why wasn't I executed?
Arthur answered without hesitation.
Arthur: Because I canceled your execution.
Silence… only the dripping water echoed.
Sweat ran down Jack's forehead.
Jack: So if it weren't for you…
Arthur: Yeah. You'd be fully roasted meat right now… probably waiting in line to enter Heaven.
A vein popped on Jack's forehead.
Jack: Could you maybe not say it like it's normal, you flaming idiot pants!?
Arthur's face changed instantly.
Arthur: Who are you calling flaming idiot pants, huh!?
Their voices echoed violently through the prison corridors.
Location: Absolute Prison Entrance
The guard standing before the massive gate lifted his head, hearing the shouting from inside.
Guard: Sounded like someone yelled… eh, whatever… guess I can eat the breakfast I made earlier.
The guard shrugged and sat back down, while the echoes inside continued to tremble along with the flickering candle flames.