Interlude: Amiyu the Hero, in the Imperial Castle Dungeon

Amiyu was on her knees on the hard floor of the dungeon.

I wonder how long it has been since I was put in here.

　Being underground, where the sun never shines and it is extremely quiet, even the sense of time becomes blurred.

On the night of the entrance ceremony, we were immediately put on horses and rode through the night along the streets.

Changing horses along the way, we hardly took a rest, and by the evening of the next day, we had reached the imperial capital.

I don’t know why they were in such a hurry.

Nor about my own, unremembered sins.

After passing through the gates, I was immediately put on a carriage and brought to the imperial castle.

And then, with little or no explanation, I was put into this dungeon.

Amiyu had an idea that this was no ordinary prison for sinners.

After all, this is the basement of the Imperial Castle. It was probably a place to hold political prisoners.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she could not understand why, a child of an adventurer and a commoner, would be trapped in such a place.

Amiyu hugged her knees tightly and arched her back.

It was cold. It must be already midnight outside. Even though it was spring, it was still cold. The cold stone floor was taking more and more of her body heat away.

It was hard for Amiyu, who had been brought in with nothing but her clothes on. Although she carried a staff sword, it was taken away before she was put on the horse, so she could not use magic to keep warm.

What will happen now?

The thought made her shiver.

It was never just the cold.

I didn’t know how this had happened.

Just a few days ago, I would have been thinking about my last year at the school and my life as an adventurer starting next year.

I wondered how the entrance ceremony had gone since then.

I wonder if Ifa and Mabel are worried.

Seika’s address as valedictorian —-.

“…”

I rubbed the tears that began to seep out of my eyes with my arm.

I might not be able to fulfill the promise I made to Seika that we would go on another adventure together.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing from behind the bars.

“Huh!?”

I brace myself.

A figure with a light in its hand gradually approaches.

Recognizing the figure, —- Amiyu’s eyes widened.

“Oh,……, you,…….”

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