My Free Will System: Transmigrating Into My Favorite Immersion Game

"Talk?" Lord Varric asked with a puzzled expression

"Yes, I need to speak to one of the people in the cell," Elias replied

Lord Varric's face further squeezed into confusion, "You need to speak to a prisoner? Why If I must ask?" He queried

Elias looked up at Lord Varric, "Haa…It's a little private," he replied

"Does this prisoner happen to be Flare folk?" Lord Varric asked

Elias nodded in affirmation, "I see. Normally I wouldn't let anyone visit a prisoner of the cells without a direct order from the king or any of the family heads," Lord Varric began

"But…?"

Lord Varric smiled, "But you saved my daughter's life and protected my district from a disaster,"

"Thank you," Elias said

"I have one more condition," Lord Varric added

Elias' face fell flat, "Saving your daughter's life wasn't enough?" He asked

Waving his Lord Varric said, "No, No, It's less of a condition than a request. Yes, a request. I would like you to drop my abode and see my daughter before you leave today,"

"Okay," Elias said flatly, "Is that all?" He asked

With a satisfied smile on his face, Lord Varric replied, "Yes. I will escort you myself to the cells, sometimes those people down there can be a little…overactive," He turned to look at Imaya, "Is the young Lady coming with us? I strongly advise against it, if she is,"

Elias glanced at Imaya and she gave an anticipating look as she waited for his reply, "Imaya is something of a warrior herself, she can take care of herself but I'd rather she doesn't come with us," Elias said

"Is that so?" He said, a hint of surprise detectable in his voice, "Feel free to look around and pick any weapon of your choice, when you have made your choice, my soldiers will lead you to my mansion," Lord Varric said and then instructed a couple of soldiers to wall with her as she explores

As Elias and Lord Varric walked, Elias couldn't help but notice Lord Varric frequently stealing glances at him. After a while, Elias couldn't bear it anymore,

"Is there something on your mind Lord Varric?" Elias asked, finally breaking the awkward silence

Lord Varric laughed lightly and stroked his beard, "Haa, you caught me. You look so young, I was just wondering how you managed to get the strength you possess, it's unheard of!"

Elias's flat expression remained unchanging, "Hmmm," He looked at his hands, "I don't know, I just woke up like this," He replied

"Is that so? And you never tried to find out why?"

Elias shrugged, "No, I figured it was because of the whole 'chosen child' thing," He lied

"No, you haven't even gotten your blessings yet. According to the records of the past, the strength you showcased doesn't manifest until after the Goddess's blessing has been bestowed upon you"

Elias shrugged nonchalantly, he knew where his strength came from, and that was enough, other people's ignorance was none of his problem.

"Is that the cells?" Elias asked, pointing to a large smooth cylindrical building with little windows around it.

Lord Varric stopped in his tracks, "Yes, that's the cells. The place where we keep the most dangerous criminals we catch. Its smooth cylindrical exterior is made so prisoners can't scale the walls, and every new week we change each prisoner's cell.

The walls are soundproof so the prisoners cannot communicate with themselves to plan an escape. It is a place of no return, those who go there die there," Lord Varric explained

"Isn't that a bit overkill?"Elias asked

Lord Varric shook his head, "For the criminal who deserves it, it is not, but for the Flare folk I think it is too much of a price to pay for simply existing" He said

"You think the Flare folk should not be imprisoned?" Elias asked, clearly surprised by Lord Varric's statement

Lord Varric let out a sigh, "The agenda that Flares are dangerous folks, is a false one pushed forcefully by the king.

I know the Flare folk and the last thing on their mind is violence, it was as if nature and the Goddess balanced out their overwhelming power with a kind and stable heart to hold.

I know this because of my late wife…Sarah's mother was a Flare folk too," He said, his voice taking a wistful tone as he talked about his wife

A frown squeezed into place on Elias' face, "Why didn't you do anything to stop King Alaric?" He asked

"He's the King, his words are the law. I'm just a family head, who am I to go against his orders," He paused, "King Alaric and I go way back, when Eldoria was divided, I fought alongside him for its unification.

You should have seen him then, glorious in every way, the power, looks, and charisma, he was a natural-born leader, a true king…not what he is today. He used to be a unifier, and now he's tearing apart his kingdom with his hands. It is only out of respect for what he embodied that I still do his bidding,"

Elias looked up at Lord Varric, "You're saying you don't agree with King Alaric's current ways of handling the kingdom?" He asked

Lord Varric began walking again, "I am not satisfied, to say the least," He said

"How about you do something about it? Talk to the King, if he's your friend, he should listen to you" Elias urged him

Lord Varric was silent for a second, "We're here," He said, ignoring Elias' last words as he stood in front of the "Cells"

There was no door in sight, so Elias was unsure how they were going to enter, noticing Elias' visible confusion, Lord Varric smiled. He placed a hand on the smooth surface of the building and poured his mana into it, and immediately a loud buzzing sound could be heard, followed by the sound gears turning and whirring.

Then suddenly, a visible line that was clearly not present before appeared on the wall of the building, it expanded like a doorway, revealing the inside of the prison.

"Shall we?" Lord Varric asked, motioning for Elias to go in first