October 17, 530, after the Red Cataclysm
A pain in her heart awakened the woman in a cold room.
???: "............".
She was currently in a dark room. Waking up on a slightly tilted metal table, a nauseating odor filled the room.
Despite the silence in the room, the woman understood that she was in a bad situation. She felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her left arm was cold, and without realizing it, her right arm was cold as well. Something was tightening around her pelvis. Her arms also seemed to be blocking her, and she could no longer feel her legs.
Minutes passed until she could see around her. Even though her eyes hadn't fully adjusted to the darkness, she could still discern the shapes of those around her.
???: "Where am I?"
She found herself in a room about thirty square meters in size. The walls were covered with iron sheets, like an abandoned cellar. It was dimly lit by an oil lamp. To her left was a wooden table covered with books, flasks, and metal tools, which she couldn't clearly see due to the darkness. To her right was a cabinet lined with several dozen drawers, although she couldn't see them all because of the blind spot caused by being stuck in a lying position. She could still count between seventy and eighty. She couldn't see the wall behind her, but in front of her was a metal door with a slight opening to let in light and which had the luxury of not having an inside handle, even though there was no indication of one on the outside.
???: "From what I see, I'm stuck," she thought.
After several minutes, footsteps were heard from the other side of the room.
The noises grew closer and closer until they stopped in front of the door, leaving a shadow to peer inside the cold room.
???: "SHE'S AWAKE."
???: "Who is that man behind the door?"
Thoughts raced through the young woman's mind, wondering what was going on.
???: "What's going on? Where am I? What did I do that could have gotten me into trouble?"
The sound of keys unlocking a lock was heard, then the door opened, revealing a man of imposing build. He must have been about forty years old, with brown hair and some white hair, wearing a suit that looked almost like a business suit.
??? : "I imagine you must have been Mrs. Vael or Sarya."
Sarya: "Who are you?"
???: "SILENCE."
The sound in the room died down.
The woman lying down, intimidated by the person in front of her, couldn't answer.
???: "Not only did I not finish my sentence, but you're also not in a position to answer me. I'm going to explain the reason for your arrest and the crimes you're accused of. Everything you say or do could be used against you, so I advise you to tell us the truth. Given your nature as a woman and potentially as a criminal, it will be difficult for you to get a lawyer."
After the blond man's explanation,
Sarya: "................"
???: ".......you have a question."
Sarya: "Who...…. are... you?"
??? : "My name is Selron Kaas, official alchemist of the Court of Intellect of Truth in the land of Thelkar."
Sarya: "What crime am I accused of?"
Kaas: "Even if your question is pointless, as we were about to get to it, I will still answer it."
He took a breath before replying.
Kaas: "Sarya Vael, twenty-one years old, apprentice in medicine, chemistry, and biology, is suspected and accused of several crimes that could lead to the death penalty."
At this statement, Sarya's heart sank.
Sarya: "The death penalty, what could I have done to receive such a sentence, even though I think I know it based on my past record."
Kaas: "You are accused of impersonating a man in order to borrow books from the great library, of bribing guards to allow you to steal chemicals and scientific equipment for illegal research that endangered the lives of others."
Sarya: "WAIT, THAT'S FALSE, I'M NOT."
Kaas: "SILENCE."
A scream even louder than any of theirs erupted from the room.
Kaas: "YOU ARE ALSO" *Ahem*
Clearing his throat to calm himself, he continued.
Kaas: "You are also suspected of selling poison and illegal substances to the black market, of child harassment, and of murder involving the concealment of a corpse."
Sarya didn't believe what she was hearing and protested as well.
Sarya didn't believe what she was hearing and immediately protested.
Sarya: "I swear I didn't commit all those crimes."
Kaas: "So you admit that you did commit some of them."
A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead, and her eyes began to water. She couldn't calm down. She was stressed because she was so upset, and tears began to flow from her eyes.
Kaas: "Don't think it's because of your pretty eyes that I'm going to be so tender with you. Besides, you knew perfectly well that women's rights in our country are inferior to those of others, making you wonder if you really have any."
Sarya: "Please *sob* I didn't kill anyone *sniff sniff* let me prove it to you." Kaas: "Then explain to me everything about your origins, how you entered the city without being detected, why you study and craft poisons as an investigator and alchemist. I have to study your case."
Sarya: "*Sniff* You could at least clean my face."
Indeed, Sarya's face was covered in sweat from the heat of the room and the tears that had flowed a few seconds earlier. Kaas, searching for information, took a silk handkerchief from his pocket and rubbed it against Sarya's face to clean it.
After catching his breath, Kaas gave her a minute to organize her thoughts, and she resumed the conversation.
Sarya: "My name is Sarya Vael, and I am a researcher."
CHAPTER 1: THE END