"Little Mistress, you will be fine."
Back then, everything was just darkness. I have no idea what was happening. There was nothing. After that instruction, they have temporarily blinded me with clothes and blocked my hearing. They guided my hands and I could feel their soft skins.
There's warmth but, at the same time, it's cold. It's indescribably disturbing. To top it, what I touched is alive, they are alive. I could feel them trembling. The moment I touch them, they would flinch.
Why can't I see? Why can't I hear?
But I just know one thing. Once I've touched them long enough, I will feel relief. Free from the pain that has caused me by the so-called 'Spirits'
I never questioned the strange 'ritual'
I just do what I was told because it gives me relief.
But as I grow up, my curiosity intensified. Eventually, I broke the instruction. The moment I touched one of them as usual, I pulled the blindfold that block my sight.
What I saw scarred me...
Taking off my earplugs, I could hear the screams. Was I that stupid? It was pretty logical. The moment I touch them, I would feel relief. Why? It's because I've passed 'it' to them.
That's the reason I have to become strong. I have to accept all the burdens to myself.
But sometimes...
"You're awake."
Trisha opened her eyes. As soon as her senses came back to her, she became cautious. The sight of an unfamiliar ceiling entered her eyes. Immediately, she sat up and saw the man who should be responsible for her peculiar situation.
Under one spotlight amidst the darkness, a few meters away from her, Teren was sitting on a chair.
It seemed as if he's pondering.
"Where am I?"
"You're in a basement."
"Why?" Trisha narrowed her eyes. She was unnerved as she imagined the time she was unconscious. This man could've done anything to him. However, that wouldn't stop her. Rather than worrying about things like it, she should prioritize analyzing what truly is happening.
"Diamonds are formed by heat and pressure for billions of years."
Teren replied with an ambiguous answer.
"What does that mean?"
"You have the potential, I just have to create the environment."
Trisha looked around while she listened.
'There's only one exit. I have to get pass through him first.'
She stood up. Trisha realized that stalling time will be unnecessary.
'I just have to be extra cautious. I didn't expect him to have so much power and experience before. But I still have the confidence to win. If worse comes to worst, I just have to run away, that's easier than winning against him.'
There are still a lot of questions left unanswered. Why was she brought there? Can she leave? If this man wants to keep her there, why is he not restraining her?
However, she deemed this place as dangerous. Staying there longer increases the chance that something 'bad' might happen. Trisha cannot explain it but her guts were telling her to do so.
At first, she walked forward while asking.
"What's the purpose of that?"
"I need strength."
Teren simply replied which made Trisha grasp something within her head.
"To rope me into your side, I don't think kidnapping me is very convincing."
"No, I'm not trying to ro-"
While Teren was speaking, Trisha already made her move!
'This time, I will be surprising you!'
Her fist was already on its way towards Teren's face. But alas, before it even reach its destination, she was struck right onto the stomach.
Bam*
"Ka!"
Trisha spat out a mouthful of saliva while she was launched a few meters away. It didn't take a second hit before she understands reality.
'I can't defeat him!'
Therefore, with all her focus, she looked at the escape route.
Ignoring the pain in her stomach, she sprinted. As expected, Teren blocked her path. She raised her fist again and just like the scene before, Teren simply counterattacked by raising his leg.
'Is this a feint?'
Trisha internally asked herself when she saw Teren's counterattack.
'Because mine's one!'
She spun, making a slight breeze within that room. Her seemingly forceful attack turned into evasion. Along with her spin, her elbow was ready to strike Teren's face again.
Bam*
She was hit in the stomach again. This time, she was hit by Teren's fist.
'That punch still packs so much force?!'
Trisha was stupefied. She thought that with his leg raised up, his fist wouldn't be able to extract force from the ground.
Her body flew a few meters away again.
But that doesn't mean her attempt was a failure. This was the outcome she was looking forward to. Since she was at the side when she was struck, she flew closer to the exit rather than in the opposite direction.
Without hesitation, she kicked the ground and reached for the stairs. She was quick and in a blink of an eye, she was already behind the door at the end of the stairs, ready to bring it down and escape...-
"Argh...!?"
But something latched onto her nape.
"You're much stronger than before. You're still standing after two hits. However, that's not enough."
Trisha heard a cold voice before she was pulled away from the exit. She was thrown as if she's trash. But for her, it was never hopeless!
She landed on her feet and tried to sprint again when-
Bam*
Teren didn't even let her take one step before giving her a fist that would send her back landing on her bed.
"Urgh..."
Trisha groaned a little. If it was better, that would've made her fainted. But now, it was far from making her give up.
Therefore, without much talk, the two 'played a game'
The scene repeated yet not. Trisha would always try to escape but her actions would always be different. She would try to adapt and try new things for the sake of escaping. However, no matter what she does, Teren would counter it.
Not even half an hour had passed but Trisha felt like she had cracked a few bones. She held her dislocated shoulder while blood drip from her lips.
"Haa..."
"You're still not staying down?"
Teren asked, a little bit dumbfounded. But instead of answering, she replied with a question.
"I've hit you a few times already... how are you still unscathed?"
"It's because you're still too weak."