In the room the interrogation was taking place, Gabrielle’s voice cut through the tension like a blade—quiet, steady.

  "...Elara. You say I hurt your kin… Tell me when. Tell me where. Because if it’s true… I want to remember it."

  "Don't you dare play dumb with me, you bi—" Elara spat out in a blind fury, raising her pale fist to punch the bound woman in the face. The fist was caught by Ciel, who took Elara's fist in her hands.

  "Elara, call down now," Ciel said, her voice firm, "If you become the same monster you're fighting against, then what's the purpose of all this?”

  Elara looked at Ciel, her hazel eyes flaring, but a hint of a reluctant understanding in them. After a second, she took a deep breath, releasing her fist from Ciel's gentle grip.

  "Right. You're right. I'm...just so angry..." She let her hand fall to her side, her body still thrumming with suppressed emotion.

  She then looked back at Gabrielle, her gaze cold. "But don't think that's gonna get you off the hook. I want answers.”

  Gabrielle looked directly back at Elara, unintimidated despite Elara's cold look. "I want to give you answers," she replied, her voice holding a hint of frustration. "But how can I give you answers about something I don't even remember?"

  As if sensing Elara's impending negative response to Gabrielle's words, Ciel placed a hand gently on Elara's shoulder, a silent reminder to remain calm.

  Elara scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "You expect me to believe you don't know? That's such a poor excuse—" She took in a sharp breath, restraining herself again. "Back at the auction site, I scanned your aura. I found traces of Mireya's soul within it. I detected her blood on you, no matter how well you washed it off. So you're going to tell me what the hell you attacked her for. Right now.”

  Gabrielle's eyes widened at the mention of her aura being scanned, and the talk of blood made a flicker of...something pass over her face before it disappeared.

  "So you did..." She sounded almost impressed, before shaking her head. "There's also one thing you forget..."

  Ciel glanced at Elara, as if in a gesture to remain calm, but stayed silent as Elara continued to press on.

  Elara's eyes pierced Gabrielle's, her arms crossing over her chest. "And what is it exactly that I so conveniently forgot?”

  Gabrielle's expression remained neutral, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "You forget I am a master at deception," she explained calmly.

  Elara scowled, her irritation flaring at Gabrielle's composure. "And what does that have to do with anything?"

  Ciel's hand remained on Elara's shoulder, the touch serving as a subtle reminder to remain composed.

  Gabrielle chuckled softly, leaning back in her chair with a sly look. "I'm just saying, you're trying to get information from someone whose expertise is in misleading others.”

  Elara gritted her teeth, her hands clenching into fists as she struggled to keep her voice level. "I'm well aware of your so-called 'expertise' in deception," she retorted, her voice dripping with venom.

  Ciel's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, a silent plea for Elara to remain composed. "Keep it together, Elara..."

  Gabrielle's smirk widened, her eyes never leaving Elara. "Good, at least we understand one another," she replied casually. "So that should make this conversation easier, right?"

  Elara's jaw set, her entire body taut as a drawn bowstring. Ciel's firm grip on her shoulder was now a constant anchoring presence, holding her back from flying off the handle.

  "Easier?!" Elara snapped, her voice rising slightly. "How on earth could this conversation possibly get easier? You're sitting there acting like you're having a goddamn pleasant chat!"

  Ciel shook her head, her grip on Elara tightening even more, attempting to physically ground her. "Elara, control yourself," she pleaded.

  Gabrielle's smirk remained on her face, seemingly enjoying the display she was causing. Her eyes moved back and forth from Ciel's hand on Elara's shoulder to Elara's furious face, taking in the sight.

  She leaned back in her chair lazily, tilting her head to the side, "My, my, you're quite the hothead, aren't you? No wonder you're so passionate about this."

  Elara let out a frustrated huff, trying to shake Ciel's grip off. "And you're quite the smart-ass," she retorted.

  Ciel's grip on Elara held firm, her knuckles turning white from the force she was exerting. "Elara, please! You're letting her get under your skin," she implored, her tone tinged with concern.

  But Elara's eyes remained locked on Gabrielle, ignoring Ciel's pleas.

  Gabrielle simply chuckled, enjoying the spectacle. Her eyes twinkled with playful mischief, "You're proving my point flawlessly, you know.”

  Elara's jaw clenched even harder, her nails digging into her palms. The urge to lunge at Gabrielle and wipe that smirk off her face was almost overwhelming, but Ciel's grasp on her shoulder was the only thing keeping her anchored in place.

  "Oh, please," Elara shot back, her voice sarcastic as all get-out. "As if you're not doing anything to provoke it. You've just been sitting there, gloating and playing games like you're having the time of your life!”

  The smirk on Gabrielle's face widened slightly, clearly amused by Elara's reaction and by the fact that she was right. As if to further provoke Elara, she casually stretched her bound, chained arms, a nonchalant gesture that seemed almost mocking.

  Ciel's grip tightened further on Elara's shoulder, her voice becoming more urgent. "Elara, don't give in to her taunts! You're falling right into her hands, and you know it!”

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  But Elara was beyond reason at this point, blinded by her anger. The sight of Gabrielle stretching nonchalantly, bound though she was, sent a fresh wave of rage coursing through her veins. Despite Ciel's warning, she was teetering on the edge of restraint.

  "Don't you think I know that?!" Elara snapped, her voice rising again. "Do you really think I want to give her the satisfaction? She's taunting me on purpose, and I'm sick of it!”

  Gabrielle laughed lightly, seemingly enjoying the way Elara was unravelling. Ciel's grip on Elara's shoulder tightened even more, her voice taking on an almost pleading tone.

  "Elara, she's playing you like a damn fiddle, and you're just dancing to her tune!"

  But Elara, blinded by her anger and her own pride, shrugged Ciel's hand off harshly. "No," she hissed, pointing a shaking finger at Gabrielle, "I'm done. I'm done with her games and smart comments. I want answers.”

  As soon as Elara broke away from Ciel's grip, she stalked forward, closing the distance between her and Gabrielle in quick strides. She pointed an accusing finger directly in the bound woman's face, her eyes burning with fury.

  Ciel's heart sank as she witnessed Elara's determined approach, helpless to stop her now.

  Gabrielle simply arched an unimpressed eyebrow, looking unfazed by Elara's aggressive stance. "And pray tell," she said calmly, "how are you planning to make me talk?”

  Elara's anger flared at Gabrielle's blasé response, the fact that the other woman was taking the situation so lightly adding fuel to her rage.

  "Oh, I'll find a way," she replied, her voice dripping with venomous determination. "I'll get the answers I need, no matter what."

  Ciel's heart hammered in her chest, watching the escalating scene, a mixture of dread and pleading in her eyes. "Elara, whatever you're planning, don't-"

  But it was too late; before Ciel or the others could even blink, Elara raised her foot and slammed it down on Gabrielle's face, a sickening CRACK echoing throughout the room.

  Ciel froze in shock, her eyes widening in horror at the sight before her. The room went dead silent, the only sound being the echo of the brutal impact that had resounded.

  Gabrielle, despite the brutal blow, had managed to keep her chair from tipping over, her face now tilted to the side from the force of the stomp.

  She let out a small huff, her eyes narrowing as she slowly shifted her head back towards Elara, a trickle of dark blood trailing down from one of her nostrils.

  Elara, her chest heaving with ragged breaths, stared down at Gabrielle with a twisted mixture of anger and satisfaction. The sight of the blood dripping from her nose sent an adrenaline surge through her, fueling her determination to press on.

  "Had enough yet?" she taunted, a hint of cruelty in her voice. "Are you ready to talk now, or do I need to kick you a little harder?"

  Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders the best she could while bound. "Heh...y'know, guess they were lying about Gem Sprites possessing immense physical strength... But I dunno, if I had to be honest, I've seen newborns kick harder than that.”

  Elara growled in frustration, her anger flaring up again at Gabrielle's defiant response. "Oh, you really think you're clever, don't you?" she hissed, taking a step closer. "You think you're so tough, but I'll see how smart you feel when I break a few more bones."

  She raised her foot again, preparing to deliver another brutal stomp.

  Ciel reacted quickly this time, leaping forward to grab Elara's arm, trying to pull her back away from Gabrielle. "Elara, that's enough!”

  Gabrielle let out a dry, almost mocking chuckle. "Ooh, you think I'm scared of a little pain? Go ahead, show me that physical toughness that gem sprites are famous for."

  Elara's eyes blazed with fury at Gabrielle's taunting words. Her grip tightened around Ciel's arm as the other woman tried to pull her back.

  "Let go of me!" Elara snarled, trying to shake free from Ciel's grasp.

  Ciel refused to budge. "No! If you keep this up, you're no better than the monsters we're fighting against!" she pleaded urgently.

  Gabrielle continued to grin despite her split lip and bloodied nose—her defiance unbroken.

  "Maybe she is one of them," she said coolly. "After all...she sure is acting like it.”

  Ciel's eyes widened as she realized the implications of Gabrielle's words, and her grip on Elara's arm tightened even more. "That's not true!" Ciel protested vehemently.

  Elara, though still struggling against Ciel's hold, looked like she was about to snap. Her face contorted with a mixture of rage and disbelief.

  "What did you just say?" she demanded, her voice now a low growl.

  Gabrielle shrugged again, a sly smile on her face. "I'm just saying what we're all thinking... You sure are acting pretty monstrous right now.”

  Elara was on the brink of lunging at her once more, but Ciel's firm grip on her arm was the only thing keeping her grounded.

  "Shut up!" Elara snapped, her voice cracking with the effort to contain her fury. "You don't know anything about me or my people!"

  Gabrielle's smile only widened at Elara's outburst. "Oh, but I think I know enough," she chuckled, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

  Elara's hands clenched into tight, shaking fists. She was a storm of anger and frustration, the urge to pounce on Gabrielle again nearly overwhelming her. But Ciel, sensing the mounting aggression, tightened her grip on Elara's arm even more, her eyes imploring with Elara to cool down.

  "Elara, you need to calm down," Ciel urged. "This is exactly what Gabrielle wants: for you to lose control and lash out. Don't give her that victory.”

  But Elara barely registered Ciel's words, her gaze locked on Gabrielle like a predator ready to strike.

  "And you," she hissed, turning her fury back on Gabrielle. "You talk about knowing enough? You don't know anything! You have no idea what I've lost, what my people have suffered because of monsters like you!"

  Gabrielle remained unfazed, the trickle of blood from her nose adding a macabre contrast to her defiant smirk. "Then enlighten me," she drawled mockingly. "Tell me all about your tragic past…and maybe I'll actually care.”

  Elara's breath hitched, her entire body trembling with a mix of rage and raw emotion. Gabrielle's mocking tone was like salt rubbed into an open wound, each word cutting deeper.

  "You want to know?" Elara spat, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Fine. My village...my family...wiped out in a single night. Burned to ash while they slept. And do you know why? Because monsters like you decided we were nothing more than obstacles in your path!"

  Ciel's expression softened with sorrow as she watched Elara unravel. This wasn't just anger anymore; it was grief laid bare.

  Gabrielle didn't flinch, but for the briefest second, something flickered in her eyes. Not remorse, not quite, but recognition…as if the words struck a distant memory buried beneath layers of arrogance.

  Still, she masked it quickly with another smirk. "And you think beating me senseless will bring them back?" she countered coldly. "You’re not avenging them. You're just screaming into the void.”

  Elara couldn't find the words to answer Gabrielle's retort; her voice was choked with anger and unshed tears.

  Ciel, sensing the conversation was spiraling out of control, tried again to pull Elara away. "Elara...please. Stop this. You don't need to prove anything."

  Gabrielle, sensing the power she had over Elara, seemed to grow bolder. She leaned forward in her chair, taunting Elara with a smirk. "Looks like I hit a nerve," she teased, her words meant to provoke even further.

  Elara's hands were practically shaking, her anger reaching a boiling point. She struggled against Ciel's grip, desperately wanting to lunge at Gabrielle. The urge to make her suffer for her words was almost overwhelming.

  But Ciel held her ground, refusing to let go.

  "Just stop," she pleaded, her voice urgent. "You don't have to listen to her. You have a choice here, Elara. Don't let her provoke you into doing something you'll regret!”

  Elara froze, her breath ragged, chest heaving as Ciel's words finally pierced through the storm in her mind. A single tear slipped down her cheek—hot, unbidden—carrying the weight of everything she’d buried.

  For a long moment, no one spoke.

  Then Gabrielle leaned back again with a slow exhale, the smirk fading slightly. "Tch. And here I thought Gem Sprites were made of sterner stuff," she muttered, almost to herself. But there was less bite in it now. Almost...tired.

  Ciel kept her hand on Elara’s arm, gentler this time. "Come on," she whispered. "Let’s go. She’s not worth it."

  Elara closed her eyes tight, once more opening them with cold clarity.

  "No," she said quietly—not to Gabrielle this time…but to herself.

  "Not like this.”