Before the sun could cast even the faintest glow, Seo-Yun was wrenched from his restless sleep. His body throbbed with fresh pain—ribs cracked and muscles raw from the endless beatings. Each breath was a sharp sting in his chest, but there was no time to recover. The cold grip of the guards seized him roughly, dragging him from the cold cell toward the dreaded training chamber.
Kaelith's towering form awaited in the shadows, his piercing eyes locking onto Seo-Yun's with cold intent. Today, the cruelty would deepen. No mercy would be given. Seo-Yun's heart pounded—not just from fear, but from a stubborn spark of defiance that refused to die.
The chamber smelled of iron and sweat, soaked with the suffering of those who came before. Chains rattled on the walls, a cruel reminder of captivity's grip. Seo-Yun's bare feet met the cold stone floor, sharp against his battered skin.
Kaelith's voice broke the silence, low and commanding. "Submission is not enough. You must obey without hesitation. Without question. Your will belongs to us."
The collar flared suddenly, biting into Seo-Yun's throat like a living thing. A cruel reminder of the price of disobedience. Pain twisted through him, but he forced himself to nod.
"Down," Kaelith ordered.
Seo-Yun dropped to his knees, the stone cold and unforgiving beneath him. The whip cracked through the air—a vicious slash burning his bare back. He gasped, the fire of pain igniting every nerve ending.
"Do you understand?" Kaelith demanded, eyes sharp and unyielding.
His voice caught in his throat, but he nodded fiercely, refusing to give Kaelith the satisfaction of hearing his broken cries.
"No hesitation. No weakness."
The hours became a merciless storm of commands and punishment. Every misstep met with brutal force—fists slammed into ribs, boots crushed, and the collar's electric sting punished every flicker of fear or hesitation. The pain was unbearable, but the worst was the crushing weight on his mind—the slow stripping away of his identity.
Yet even beneath the bruises and shattered flesh, Seo-Yun's spirit fought. They could break his body, but his mind remained a battlefield.
When finally the torment ended, and he was thrown back into his cell, Seo-Yun curled into himself, exhausted and broken but not defeated. Hot tears ran down his face in the darkness, a silent vow on his lips. No matter how cruel, no matter how relentless, a piece of him would always remain free.