CHAPTER 40: REN’S MEMORIES [3]

Little Ren turned his head toward the shattered glass pieces laid out like a feast of suffering.

Celestine stood there—smiling, tilting her head, still playing the shy little girl act. Like none of this meant anything.

Leon, gritting his teeth in the present, watching all of this unfold through Ren’s eyes, could feel the pain in his jaw before even touching the glass. But that wasn’t what burned him inside.

It was her.

That Celestine.

When I saw her the first time... she looked like a cartoonish brat. The kind of bully who throws a tantrum when things don’t go her way.

But this?

This is something else. Something darker.

How can a seven-year-old girl be this cruel? This brutal?

No hesitation, no fear, just pure, twisted joy in others’ pain.

Her family... Does it come from them?

Is this the kind of monsters they raise in the Lysandra household?

Little Ren picked up a shard—his fingers trembling—and bit down.

A crunch. A sharp slice.

The jagged edge tore through the inside of his mouth like paper, and the moment he swallowed, one shard lodged deep in his throat.

His breath caught.

The pain was unbearable—like fire and razors together. He wanted to scream. His lungs screamed for air, but he held it in.

Big Sister can’t see me like this.

He clenched his jaw. She can’t.

Celestine, watching him with that twisted sugar-sweet smile, tilted her head.

"Can you eat a bit faster? You see... my parents might show up any time now."

She gave a tiny giggle, smacked her own cheek gently with her hand, stuck her tongue out like some harmless little girl.

Bitch.

Little Ren’s blood-soaked lips tightened.

He grabbed more—three, four shards this time—and shoved them in.

His teeth crunched again. His tongue split.

His throat burned.

But he didn’t stop.

Blood streamed down from his mouth, dripping onto his shirt. His teeth were red. The upper inside of his lips were torn apart. And still... he chewed. He swallowed. He obeyed.

Tears blurred his eyes. His whole body trembled.

Scream. Scream. Just scream.

His mind begged for it.

But he kept it inside.

All of it.

Little Ren dropped to his knees, gasping—no air. His throat was closing.

Each breath was like trying to pull knives into his lungs. His vision blurred, edges pulsing red and black.

The glass... stuck deep.

He thrashed, the chains rattling, wrists bleeding from the strain. His small body jerked, choking. Drowning on dry air.

Celestine tilted her head, watching him with fascination. As if observing some caged animal dancing for her entertainment.

Then she raised her hand slightly. A silent signal.

The guard stepped forward, opened the iron-barred door with a loud clang. Heavy footsteps echoed through the dungeon.

Leon—inside the same body—was screaming in his mind.

What is he doing? What did she tell him? What now?

Ren barely had time to brace.

CRACK!

The armored boot smashed into his throat.

He folded, collapsed against the cold stone floor, gasping as blood and shards burst from his mouth. The force was like thunder inside his fragile neck.

He couldn’t even scream. Couldn’t cry. Couldn’t make a sound.

But the glass was out.

And Celestine smiled. A warm, satisfied smile.

Like she just fed a stray dog.

The iron door clanged shut behind her like a judge’s gavel.

Celestine turned, her long violet dress trailing the dusty ground behind her as she stepped out of the dungeon.

"Now I have to go, dog," she said with a fake pout, waving a hand. "Princess has so many duties, you know?"

Her sweet tone was a mockery. Her smile—a weapon.

Guards followed behind her, armored boots echoing, one staying behind to secure the prison door.

But just as the guard reached for the key—

"Wait..."

Little Ren’s voice cracked like a broken whisper.

Celestine paused mid-step, turning her head with a smug grin.

"What happened, dog? Can’t even let your master walk away for a second?" she giggled like she told the world’s best joke.

Ren opened his mouth to speak again, but the pain was too much. His throat, tongue, and gums sliced raw from the glass. Every sound sent blades through his nerves.

Instead, he looked at the bloody shards on the floor—

Then moved.

He pressed his leg forward, grasped one shard between his small toes—then passed it to his mouth, biting down.

Blood welled instantly.

But still, he turned it in his teeth, grabbed it in his bound hand, and began scratching his skin.

Slow. Deep. Again. And again.

The guard near him stepped back, startled. "Princess..."

Celestine tilted her head, a confused sparkle in her eyes.

Like a child watching a broken doll start moving again.

The guard stepped forward, peered at Ren’s trembling arm. Letters... red, fresh, shaky.

’Give my sister real food. She is hunger’

The message was raw. Barely legible. But it was there.

"Princess, he says... give his sister real food. She is hungry," the guard said, bowing his head.

Celestine’s eyes went from Ren... to the unconscious sister chained beside him. Her lips parted. A sigh escaped—

Not pity. Not guilt.

Boredom.

"Anyway... my toy is him," she muttered, flicking her wrist. "I don’t like playing with girls."

She turned to the guard, waving off the concern like dust.

"Tell a maid to bring soup. But don’t let her in. Carry it here yourself. And..." she glanced at Ren’s bleeding limbs, "bring a healer. I don’t like using broken toys."

With that, she disappeared up the stairs.

The sound of her laughter faded like poison smoke.

After she left, silence returned like a curse.

Little Ren’s body, broken from inside, gave out again. He fainted—

And time passed, slow and hollow.

When his eyes opened again, he felt something strange. A heaviness in the air. His wounds... were closed. A healer must’ve come. But the warmth of healing magic didn’t comfort him now.

Because what he saw...

The guard who had brought the soup for his sister—

Was standing too close.

Too quiet.

His hand... hovering where it should never be.

Ren’s eyes widened. His teeth clenched. His nails dug into the cold iron.

"G-Get... away... from... her!"

His voice cracked with fury, words like broken glass forced out of a shredded throat.

The guard ignored him.

Still.

Ren’s body, even healed, was too weak. But his soul...

His soul screamed like a beast.

He shook, rattling the chains, his body trying to lunge like a rabid dog.

The guard’s hand moved—lower—

Until the sound of boots echoed from the hallway.

Other guards.

He pulled away fast like a thief caught in the act and vanished into the shadows.

Little Ren collapsed back down, his body drenched in sweat. Heart pounding like drums of war.

"...Sis...ter..." he wheezed, "wake...up..."

Slowly, her eyes opened.

Her gaze wandered the cold prison cell. Her wrists hurt from the chains. Her throat was dry. Then she saw Ren.

"Ren... why are we here?"

She looked around, searching the dark. "Where’s... mother? Father?"

Ren froze.

He wanted to speak. But the words died in his throat. He couldn’t tell her the truth.

He bit his lip, blood forming again.

"They... die... in fire..."

"...Princess...captured us...for...inquiry."

Her eyes widened. The lie hit like thunder.

Her voice cracked, "No... no... no no no..."

And then the dam broke.

She cried.

Raw. Helpless. Shaking.

Ren didn’t cry. He couldn’t.

The tears were gone.

Stolen.

Along with everything else.

He watched his big sister weep in pain. And all he could do—

Was endure.

She composed herself for a bit, wiping her tears with the back of her chained hands.

"Then why... why are we chained?" Her voice trembled again.

"They said... we’ll run back home to see... mother... father... if they don’t chain us..."

Little Ren’s face darkened as he forced the words out.

She went silent.

Ren looked at the soup placed near her. The warmth still lingered, but not for long.

"Sis...ter, that... soup is for... you... I had... my part..."

He smiled faintly. "Drink... it before... it goes cold..."

He lied—

So that she’d eat.

She didn’t question. She looked down, helpless, and sipped slowly... until the bowl was empty.

Just then, footsteps echoed.

Celestine entered with her guards.

"Hey brother and sister, you’re awake. Good."

She smiled as if she were greeting old friends at a festival.

She gestured casually.

A guard stepped forward, entered the cell, and unlocked his sister’s chains.

"Where are you taking me?!" she shouted, resisting.

The guard didn’t answer—just pulled her out of the cell.

"What do you want?!" she yelled at Celestine.

The girl smiled like a merchant offering candy.

"The thing is... I want your brother to live with me."

His sister looked confused. "What do you mean...?"

"I want him to stay in this castle. With me. As my friend."

She tilted her head sweetly, voice honeyed.

"In return... I’ll give you a weapons shop. You can earn, live freely. You can even meet him... occasionally."

If he survives, she added in her mind, grinning.

His big sister turned between the two.

She looked at Ren. Her heart cried. Her soul unsure.

"...What do you want?" she asked him, the decision now his.

Little Ren’s eyes widened.

He looked down.

His face darkened.

He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to stay with her. But... if she stayed, she’d break—

Watching him suffer. Slowly.

Leon watched silently.

What decision will you make, Little Ren?

"I... want to live with Celestine."

He smiled.

"...You can go, sister."

She stared at him.

Eyes wide.

Tears formed again—

But this time, she said nothing. But,

"...I hate you," she whispered.

Then the guards took her away.

The moment she disappeared, Ren froze.

His chest tightened.

His heart shattered louder than chains ever could.

Did I do wrong?

Did I...?

Why does she hate me...?

Why?

I tried.

I gave everything I had to save her from Celestine...

So why...?

His smile faded—

And silence drowned him once more.