Lumen: Flicks a lighter on and off, rapidly "Enjoying the light show, shithead? Looks like your brain's short-circuiting!"
Sophia
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?"
Sophia
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
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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.
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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.
Sophia
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?"
Sophia
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?"
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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.
Sophia
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.
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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
Sophia
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
Sophia
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
Sophia
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."
Sophia
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."