REWRITE: Lets escape the reality

Minutes passed, and Zhui and I were escorted to Eskapa's headquarters, governed by Sei. The soldiers rushed to report to her office, flinging the door open without knocking in their haste.

"Queen Sei!" they called.

Inside, they found Sei gazing out the window, her expression blank and emotionless. "Forgive us, Queen Sei, but there's an emergency below," one soldier stammered.

She turned to them, silent, her face an unreadable mask.

Nathaniel's Point of View

After our capture, we were brought to a vast, barren room lined with restraints—a chamber clearly designed for condemned criminals. Zhui was bound with a collar chained to four iron posts surrounding her, a measure to prevent escape if she struggled. We both knelt, our wrists shackled with "Tariro" cuffs imbued with sealing spells that blocked our energy.

Eskapa soldiers, including Ataparag's team, stood guard. An hour elapsed since our capture, and as Zhui regained consciousness, she erupted, thrashing and shouting, "You fools, release me!"

The thought of the mess I'd stumbled into drained me, especially since I'd vowed to avoid trouble until I found Koko. Yet, this predicament offered a chance to meet Sei. Before airing my own issues, I needed to navigate this situation—and somehow aid Zhui, though her current demeanor made it daunting.

"Release me, or I'll devour you all!" she threatened, her voice a defiant roar, oblivious to her earlier helplessness.

"Do you really think they'll let you go with threats like that?" I muttered, incredulous.

"Shut up, you fool, unless you want to share my wrath!" she snapped back.

Stunned by her insult—after all I'd done for her—I couldn't hold back. "You forget I'm in this mess because I helped you. You should be grateful!" I retorted.

Instead of thanks, her attitude soured further, dismissing my aid as she sneered, "I never asked for your help, and I don't care about you."

Her ingratitude stung, belittling my efforts as she lay bound beside me, even calling me useless. "You've got no sense of gratitude," I whispered, biting back frustration.

Knowing Zhui's fiery temper, I reined in my anger, explaining my intent. "I'm determined to be your friend and help you escape," I said earnestly. "Can't you work with me?"

Her response was a furious shout. "You're putting yourself in danger, you idiot!" she raged.

I frowned, aware of the risk, but committed nonetheless. "If I suffer for this, it's my problem, not yours," I replied boldly, trusting Sei's fairness and compassion would aid me once she learned my innocence.

Moments later, the room's door slammed open as Eskapa soldiers entered, flanked by Sei and her team leaders. She strolled in, casually munching bread from a bag, as if on a leisurely walk—a quirk of hers, eating everywhere, even in battle.

This wasn't mere gluttony; her Crimson Curse Mark demanded she stay fed. Using her time-control power drained her, and an empty stomach left her dozing.

As they entered, one of Sei's companions, Katsuri Aoi—her vice commander and most trusted advisor—yelled, "Who brought that monster into our base?!"

Ataparag stepped forward. "Good day, Vice Commander. My team brought them here for investigation," she answered calmly.

Aoi's face twisted with irritation. "You again?" she snapped, storming toward him. "Don't you tire of this nonsense every day?" she fumed, grabbing his collar and scolding him for endangering their queen.

As a Columbus, Sei had claimed lands with over ten million citizens, earning her royal status before joining Eskapa. Terrified, Ataparag stammered, "Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me!"

"She warned this would happen," Nyabu muttered under her breath.

Aoi rejected his apologies, berating him. "Ten years in your role, and you still can't learn! What kind of brain do you have?" she demanded.

Pitying her leader, Nyabu intervened. "Apologies, Vice Commander. Perhaps the leader erred, but let him explain," she pleaded.

Aoi paused, pinching Ataparag's cheek. "Fine, explain—and make it good, or you and your team face punishment," she warned.

Nyabu winced, whispering about their recent penalty from Ataparag's last mistake. "I did it to be fair—they've done nothing wrong," Ataparag said softly.

Aoi sighed, disappointed, sensing his pity for the Soul Eater and drove this decision. Yet, he clarified his adherence to Eskapa's laws, rooted in its religious tenets, forbidding execution of Soul Eaters not on the criminal list, despite their danger.

"You're right about the law," Aoi conceded. "But that one's a threat to all living beings."

She warned that if the Soul Eater consumed a soul here, Ataparag couldn't undo the damage. Nyabu interjected, "I warned her, but her kindness ignored it."

Aoi studied the bowing Ataparag, recognizing his good heart—often her downfall—mirroring Sei's compassion, her role model. "Your combat talent's wasted if you can't decide on a simple issue like this," she remarked.

Soon, Sei approached, addressing Ataparag. "Your decision was reckless—it risks your team, especially with criminals held here," she said, her gentle tone disarming despite the reprimand. "But I can't blame you for following orders."

Grateful, Ataparag bowed deeper. "Forgive me, Commander. I'll improve my leadership, I promise!"

Sei showed no irritation, valuing her perseverance and expecting her to rise to her role. Her earlier gloom lifted, replaced by a relieved smile, fearing she'd disappointed her revered queen.

Nyabu spoke up, defending Ataparag. "This wouldn't have escalated if not for one troublemaker," she hinted, glaring at me, shifting blame to lessen her team's penalty.