Kino's head drifts, and his mind flutters with a flurry of thoughts while his body leans against the cold bedrock of his barren enclosure. How long had he been here? Time tends to slip through one's fingers when held captive. Kino scoffs at the thought, his weary, heavy eyelids opening as they adjust to his dark cell. His mind was beginning to scramble, and he could feel it. Is this truly the fate he was meant to endure? Kidnapped and tortured by his mother's enemies, rendered unable to distinguish the difference between illusion and reality as his youth slowly faded away.

A tiny waterbug scatters across the cold, hard ground, its antenna illuminated by the room's only source of light- the sun's rays seeping through the intricate, rose-shaped oculus meticulously carved into the ceiling. Truly a cell fit for royalty, Kino scoffs, the irony of his situation. Along the walls of his spacious entrapment were detailed paintings adorned with various golden symbols- something he'd take delight in if he wasn't currently trapped within their premises.

It's cold. Everything in his body stings, and after a while, Kino figures he'd be better off if he faded away. The loneliness of his existence eats away at him, and the only thing reminding him of his consciousness is the pain backpacking alongside each torturous session his kidnappers paid him. Kino's thoughts plague his brain, and the dreadful silence of his cell deafens him. That is until he hears the sound of subtle breathing.

His eyes snap toward the middle of his cell and lock onto the figure from which it came. Kino's breath hitches, and for a moment, his mind tells him it's an illusion- that you're an illusion. His thoughts halt their relentless flurry along his mind, and a small smile forms upon his lips, aware of your shared unfortunate fate, but grateful for your sudden presence. "...I hope you find these quarters to your liking." His voice echoes from the shadows, his form still cloaked in darkness.