CHAPTER 62: THE WEIGHT OF POWER

My eyes flutter open, taking in the dazzling rays of the morning sun.

A sigh leaves my mouth.

"Another day.." I whisper.

It’s been seven days since I first woke up here, and It’s been six days of the same intense routine.

I wake up, get chained by the weight braces from morning until night. Every night, I sleep outside— in the courtyard in a lotus position with chains on my ankles. And I don’t eat at all. I’ve not even eaten once since I found myself here.

K only gives me water once a day when my breath becomes too unstable. It’s not like he does it decently though. He just raises my chin up and pours the water down into my open mouth.

Today’s the day I’ll finally eat. I’ve been waiting for this day for what felt like an eternity. My stomach is sunk and my rib cages are exposed.

Even my cheeks are sunk, my cheekbones are perfectly outlined on my face now.

"I’m so hungry I can eat a whole cow." I mutter as I stand up from the ground.

I raise my right leg up, dragging the chain tied to my ankle to make a clink sound— alerting K of my wake. Although, I’m pretty sure he’s already aware that I’m awake.

He’s beaten the time I’m supposed to wake up every morning into my skull after all.

"Well, today I’m gonna eat a pirantroph." I mutter to myself again. "This is so stupid. I’d be eating good food if I was back at ho—"

Grrr!

My stomach rumbles again, reminding my brain that I do not have the luxury to reminisce about good food in this situation.

Whoosh!

The air in front of me ripples as K appears. A wide, mischievous grin plastered on his face.

Great. The sadistic monster’s here.

"Good morning, Mr. Blank." He speaks with a dry, mocking tone as he crouches— taking off the chains around my ankles.

I roll my eyes. Not replying to him at all.

"That’s odd. Not gonna reply with a witty joke today?" He presses.

"I’m eating today, right?" I ask. My voice’s low, my body’s weak, and I’m greatly emaciated. But somehow, I can still stand tall without falling. I can still talk, albeit lowly. And I am still alive.

Is it because of the body reconstruction the flames of eternity caused at the pool ritual? Or is it because I’m a Flameworth? Or are humans in this world not regular humans, but humans with genes that are on steroids?

No. It must be the flame of eternity’s body reconstruction. After all, it’s one of the causes of my current dilemma and the whole reason this mad man is interested in me. It’s like a blessing and a curse at the same time.

Speaking of Phoenix, I’ve been too focused on the grind since I came here so I haven’t thought of it, but, isn’t the Phoenix supposed to contact me again now that I’m in Lu–

"Kid!" K suddenly yells, snapping me out of my daze.

"Huh?" I reply as I blink my eyes rapidly. My shaky gaze fixated on his muscular frame.

"I’ve been talking to you for a while now but you’ve been standing there staring at the house behind me!"

Oh.

"I’m sorry, I was just thinking. What was it you were saying?" I manage voice out.

He sighs, rubbing his index finger and thumb on his forehead, "I said yes. You’re eating today. I’ve told you before haven’t I? You’re eating Pirantroph meat. Raw."

I nod, "that’s good. But when?"

"Hmm, that’s a good question." He says as he slowly caress his white beard. "We’re in a territory just outside Ludia. One that borders the beast terrains. This is where I built my house." His cheeky grin widens.

My eyes slightly widen.

"Are you crazy? You built a house near the beast terrains? The desolate land where all rogue beasts and monsters roam?" I ask.

I want to yell, but this old man might hit me, and I don’t have the inner strength for that.

He nods, his grin still wide, "mm hm."

"The same one that the mercenaries avoid because it contains even S-rank monsters?"

"Mm hm."

A resigned sigh leaves my mouth.

"I was going to tell you to head to the terrains to catch a Pirantroph and bring it here for us to eat. But, looking at your condition.." he scans me from head to toe. "I don’t think you’ll be able to survive stepping foot in there."

My dry throat wets with saliva as I gulp it down hard.

Thank goodness he has some form of sympathy at least. Me going to the beast terrains? Even if I was in a normal state.. I don’t think I’d be able survive it.

"So, I’d go bring it. And after this one time, I expect you to be able go bring your food by yourself next week."

I’m just eight years old for crying out loud!

And he turns toward the direction of his small wooden gate to leave.

"Ah! Before I forget!" He says as he halts and turns to face me with glinting golden eyes. "Your weight braces."

"Shit." I whisper.

I thought he had forgotten.

He blinks. His afterimage blurring as he covers the small distance between us.

He then pins the weight braces around me.

And I fall to the ground.

"Nnngg!" I groan.

This again!

And then he turns to leave after patting my head. "I’ll be back. And, try standing tall this time. Stop kneeling."

And he leaves.

"Nnngg!" My biceps feel like they’ll burst from the sheer strength I’m using.

But at least I’ve made some progress.

I can raise my both hands to a certain degree.

So, even though my knee is still on the ground, at least my wrists are few inches away from the ground.

"Come on Edward!" I yell, raising my wrists with all my strength.

–Huff– –Huff–

Beads of sweat stream down my face as I keep trying to raise this goddamn thing up!

Boom!

The solid sand-filled ground of the courtyard cracks slightly as my wrists fall back on the ground and dust soars high in the air.

–Huff– –Huff–

My breathing is heavy, coming out in short gasps as I take this short break.

It’s been like this for days now. I’ll raise it for a while, then drop. Raise again, then drop.

But slowly, I’m making progress. Some really slow progress.

"God, I’m so hungry."