* * *
When the third morning of my punishment arrives, the Quartermaster brings outsiders. They are wealthy people who bought the opportunity to torture me. Such situations have happened in the past, so I am neither surprised nor astonished. It actually plays into my hands, because such individuals usually lack both the strength and the knowledge of how to properly wield a whip.
Today will be a relatively peaceful day.
I have the impression that no one and nothing is capable of ruining my good mood.
For the second time in a row, I had that vision.
As more weaklings try to torment me, my thoughts drift to that soothing vision.
Perhaps, if I were not a slave, my life would look different?
For the first time, a true storm of untamed emotions awakens within me. The very thing that led me to this three-day agony has also made me rejoice in the reclaimed savagery of my nature. I am more confident. Although they treat me like an object, I have discovered something more within myself. And those dreams of Malvira... They have motivated me even more not to hide my true face anymore.
They will have to get used to me in the arena.
Time flows like crazy today. I endure these inept tortures with a smile, for I know that at night, that single, solitary act of humanity will visit me again. Even if it is just a dream phantom or a figment of my psyche. I cling to this thought with all my heart. It makes it easier for me to endure the passing hours.
Day turns into night. I fall asleep instantly, like never before. Even my nightmares and visions become paler and milder.
It is incredible! And all of this just because I accidentally looked into her eyes!
Something is wrong...
Many hours have passed, and I still cannot conjure Malvira's face. I open my eyes. The darkness of the night is already yielding to the first rays of dawn. Suddenly, sounds of a scuffle and muffled screams reach me from the entrance to the grounds. My heart stops in my chest.
No... I do not believe it...!
Two guards drag a struggling Malvira across the sand. They throw her right next to me, and when the girl tries to stand, a brutal kick from a boot knocks her back to the ground. Quirinus emerges right behind the guards. I am completely dazed.
What is happening here?!
Quirinus approaches with a slow step. Staring straight into my eyes, he steps on the head of Malvira, who is now writhing in the dust like a wounded snake. Before a wave of anger can flood my mind, the arena overseer speaks coldly:
"Malvira had the task of tending to you and washing you every night. If, for some unknown reasons, she failed to do so, the same punishment that befell you awaited her."
I look at him in disbelief.
The kindest, most human gesture I have ever experienced was caused solely by the fear of punishment?
"And now, speak. Why did you not come last night?"
Malvira spits sand from her mouth when Quirinus finally allows her to speak.
"What else was I supposed to do?! That task was completely pointless! I was supposed to wash the back of that killing machine? That's just an abomination!"
As soon as these words fall, the thing I thought I had regained is shattered and leveled to the ground in a single moment.
So in her eyes, I am not even human…