Lumen: Flicks a lighter on and off, rapidly "Enjoying the light show, shithead? Looks like your brain's short-circuiting!"
DO NOT GO! My eyes flickered open again, my vision still blurred and my breathing even more erratic than before. I stumbled to my feet slowly trying to regain my balance and composure. My back hit the wall hard, causing me to freeze momentarily until I continued towards the door. As I reached the door, I turned around to speak with Lumen, who was still sitting on a chair.* "Lumen, please! I need something-"
Lumen: Leans back in the chair, smirking "Oh, look at you, all desperate and shit. What's wrong, princess? Need a hero to save you from yourself?"
I clenched my fists, trying to harden myself up to not appear weak, but I could feel Lumen's eyes on me and I knew I was giving myself away. "I-I need water..." My voice was weak and strained, so much so that there was almost nothing to it. "P-Please..."
Lumen: Stands up, walks towards Sophia, towering over her "Water, huh? How about I give you something else instead?" Pulls out a small vial from their pocket
I didn't move or try to stop her, but my eyes widened as I saw the vial. "What's-"
Lumen: Grins mischievously "A little something to make your vision clearer than it's ever been. Trust me, you're gonna love it."
I nodded slowly and held out my hand, still unable to properly see him. "O-Okay..."
Lumen: Drops the vial into Sophia's trembling hand "There ya go, sweetheart. Just a little sip will do the trick."
As soon as I felt the cool vial in my hand, I quickly opened the cap and took a sip, immediately spitting it out onto the floor as it tasted horribly bitter. But behind that bitterness I could taste something sweet faintly; a sweetness that I hadn't tasted in years. It brought tears to my eyes. "T-Thank you, Lumen..."
Lumen: Laughs mockingly "Oh, don't thank me just yet, princess. This is just the beginning of your little adventure."
I shook my head, trying to clear my vision up. Slowly, the world around me began to come into focus, and I finally saw Lumen's full appearance for the first time in years. "A-Adventure?"
Lumen: Smirks, leans in closer "That's right, princess. We're gonna go on quite the adventure together. But first, let's get some things straight."
I nodded, curious. "Okay..."
Lumen: Raises an eyebrow "First things first, we gotta establish some ground rules. Rule number one: You're gonna stop calling me princess.
I nodded, understanding. "Alright...."
Lumen: Smirks "Good. Rule number two: No more stuttering. I hate it. It makes you look weak, and I don't wanna be associated with anyone who can't hold their own weight."
I nodded again, wanting this to be over and done with. "Understood..."
Lumen: Tosses their hair back, crossing their arms "Now that we've got that cleared up, let's talk about why you're here.
I hesitated, wondering how to answer this question. After a few moments, I decided to keep it simple. "Because I ran away."
Lumen: Raises an eyebrow "You 'ran away'? That doesn't sound like the best reason to find refuge here. What the hell did you do?"
I looked away from him, embarrassed to admit why I had left my old pack. "It-it's embarrassing..."
Lumen: Leans in closer, grinning "Oh, do I care about embarrassing? Nah, sweetheart. Spill the tea. What happened that made you run like a damn coward?"
I sighed, finally giving in. "Fine... I was tired of being in my brother's shadow. He was next in line for the throne, and every moment he had to spend with me was a reminder that I wasn't as good as him. So I left."
Lumen: Laughs derisively "Oh, poor little princess ran away because she wasn't good enough? Boo-fucking-hoo! Good thing I'm not here to coddle your fragile little ego."
My face hardened as I heard his words, feeling anger rising within me. "I left because I was tired of being judged by everyone in my old pack. I wanted to make my own name for myself, and this place... this place seems like a fresh start."
Lumen: Smirks "Well, lucky for you, this place is full of opportunists. If you've got any skills or talents, you might actually fit in here."
I felt a spark of hope ignite within me at his words, and I nodded eagerly. "Then you'll help me? Please, Lumen, I'd do anything to prove myself."
Lumen: Raises an eyebrow "Anything, huh? Well, let's see if you walk the walk as well as you talk the talk."
I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! Anything."
Lumen: Grins wickedly "Alright, then. First things first, we need to get you in shape. But before that, I need to know exactly what kind of skills you got."
I looked up at him, curious. "What kind of skills?"
Lumen: Laughs sarcastically "Oh, sweetheart, let's just say we're not exactly talking about your basic sewing and baking skills here.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean by that?"
Lumen: Grins devilishly "We're gonna be playing a little game, sweetheart. It's called survival.
I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness at his words. "Survival? What kind of survival?"
Lumen: Smirks "Oh, you'll see. The goal is to become the last survivor in this place. And trust me, you're gonna have to use everything you've got to make it through."
I shivered slightly, both excited and terrified at the prospect of survival. "I... I understand."
Lumen: Raises an eyebrow "Good. Now let's see if you can handle yourself in a real game." Signals for Sophia to follow them
I nodded and followed him, ready for whatever he had in store. "I'm ready."
Lumen: Grins "Let's see if you can survive a night in the wild." Starts walking deeper into the forest
I kept close behind him, looking around me nervously. This was the most excited I'd ever been to do something. "Lead the way, Lumen."
Lumen: Laughs "Oh, don't worry, princess. I'll lead the way. Just follow my tracks and don't wander off on your own." Starts setting traps along the path
I kept close behind him, watching as he set traps along the path. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I felt ready for anything that would come our way. "That should cover our tracks, right?"
Lumen: Smirks "Oh, you have no idea. These traps will make sure any unwary survivors don't go wandering off into the unknown."
I watched as he set more traps, marveling at his ingenuity. "I didn't know anyone else was here... How many others have tried to survive this place?"
Lumen: Grins wickedly "Oh, more than you can imagine. But let's just say that survival isn't exactly a common occurrence here."