* * *

  As the third morning of my punishment dawns, I see the Quartermaster bringing in outsiders. They are wealthy people who bought the opportunity to torture me. Things like this have happened before, so I am neither surprised nor shocked. It actually works in my favor, because such people usually have neither the strength nor the clue how to do it.

  Today will be a relatively peaceful day.

  I feel like nothing and no one could ruin my good mood.

  I had those visions for the second time in a row.

  As successive weaklings try to torture me, my thoughts return to the realm of dreams.

  Maybe, if I weren't a slave, my life would look different?

  For the first time, I feel a full spectrum of untamed emotions inside me. What led me to this three-day torment has also made me rejoice in the regained wildness of my nature. I am more confident. Being treated like an object, I discovered something beyond that within myself. And those dreams of Malvira... They motivated me even more not to shed my true face.

  They will have to get used to me in the arena.

  Time flies like crazy today. I endure these tortures with a smile because I feel that today, once again, I will be visited by this single, unique act of humanity. Even if it's just a nocturnal phantom or a figment of my imagination. I cling to this thought with all my heart. It makes enduring these passing hours easier.

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  Day turns into night. I fall asleep faster than ever before. Even my nightmares and visions seem paler and milder now.

  It's amazing! And all just because I accidentally looked into her eyes!

  Hmm? Something is wrong...

  Many hours have passed, and I still can't summon the vision of Malvira. I open my eyes and see the darkness of night giving way to morning. Suddenly, I hear a loud scuffle and shouts coming from the entrance to the grounds. My heart skips a beat.

  No... I don't believe it...!

  Two guards are dragging a struggling Malvira by the legs. They leave her right next to me, and when the girl tries to get up, she immediately takes a kick and is brought back down to the level of the sand. Right behind the guards stands Kwiryn. I am totally dazed.

  What is happening here?!

  Kwiryn calmly walks up to me and, looking me in the eyes, steps on Malvira's head as she writhes on the ground like an angry snake. Before I can even feel anger, the arena manager begins to speak.

  "Malvira was tasked with coming to wash you every night. If for some unknown reason she failed to do so, she was promised the exact same punishment you received."

  I look him in the eyes in disbelief.

  The nicest and most human gesture I have ever experienced was driven by the fear of punishment.

  "Now speak. Why didn't you come last night?"

  Malvira starts spitting sand when Kwiryn lets her speak.

  "What else was I supposed to do?! This task was completely pointless! Was I supposed to give a back massage to this killing machine? It's an absolute abomination!"

  As soon as those words are spoken, what I thought I had regained is shattered and leveled to the ground in an instant.

  So in her eyes, I am not even human...