Rupture

Sakrael?

Execution Knight?

In the Black Prison, Tales' brow twitched. Who was that this time?

The name sounded vaguely familiar.

Firelight flickered in the prison, shadows swaying in silence.

Only after a while did a languid voice slowly ring out.

"He's being held separately from us—the Execution Knight feared by all."

The prisoners' expressions changed one after another.

Semir turned toward Naki, who had spoken.

"Naki!" Little Barney sharply rebuked Naki for contradicting his companions.

But Naki merely shook his head. "He ought to know... Even if he has already gone his separate way from us, he must know."

Little Barney fell silent.

Naki let out a long breath, as if gazing toward yesterday. "Do you remember the day you broke free of your chains and escaped your escort, Semir?"

Semir froze. "Me?"

Naki nodded, looking gloomy.

"That day, with no higher-ranking commander present, Sakrael bore the fury from above alone. He stepped forward to surrender himself and admitted that he had helped you escape—even though we all knew that was impossible. His escort position was a full hundred meters away from yours."

"But the people above didn't care about that. Enraged and humiliated, they only needed an example to warn us, and the higher that example's status, the better."

Semir shifted, his expression hazy.

"As punishment, Sakrael was locked below," Naki said dejectedly.

"On the lowest level of Bone Prison."

"Solitary confinement."

Naki's voice was bitter.

"You know, at least those of us on the same level had someone to talk to. But him—Sakrael?"

"He had no cellmate, no conversation, no light. He had nothing."

Semir stared at Naki from afar without saying a word.

"That's right. The strongest expert in the Royal Guard, a star with a limitless future, the former heir apparent to the position of Guard