Mika raised an eyebrow, her curiosity tinged with unease. “What do you mean by Punishment Tunnel?”


    Creselya turned to her, her expression briefly puzzled. “Oh, perhaps I didn’t explain it clearly,” she said, her voice calm yet vaguely mysterious.


    She gestured toward the restroom and added politely, “Change into your uniforms, and I’ll explain everything.”


    The group exchanged glances, but followed her instructions without question. After changing into their uniforms, they joined Creselya and left the Clothing Tunnel behind.


    Emerging from the dark, eerie passageway, Creselya caught the eye of one of the workers stationed nearby and nodded.


    The worker, standing near the Punishment Tunnel, reached for a small hatch set into the wall. He opened it, revealing a lever inside


    With a firm pull, the entire area was suddenly illuminated, flooding all the tunnels with bright light.


    The group blinked in surprise, their eyes darting around to take in the sight. The brightness revealed the full expanse of the tunnels, their dim corners now exposed.


    Mika quickened her steps, catching up to Creselya, who was leading the way. “So, you had all these lights here all along?” she asked, her tone edged with skepticism.


    Without looking back, Creselya responded coolly. “Of course. We turn them off at night so the children can sleep peacefully. We don’t want to disturb them.”


    Mika froze at the mention of “children.” Her brows furrowed, her mind racing. ''Children?'' she thought. ''Why would kids be sleeping in dark, gloomy cells?''


    A wave of discomfort washed over her, but she held her tongue, waiting for Creselya’s explanation.


    Creselya continued as though nothing was wrong. “Normally, these children wake up around ten in the morning. You didn’t see them yesterday, nor did we turn the lights on, because you spent the entire day in my office.”


    Mika frowned slightly, the details tugging at her thoughts. ''Did we really spend the whole day in her office?'' She replayed the events in her mind, searching for any gaps. It wasn’t strange on the surface, yet something about it felt… off.


    Yesterday’s meeting had stretched until sunset, but the timeline didn’t quite add up.


    Her unease deepened as she failed to recall anything unusual. Shaking off her thoughts, she refocused on their path forward.


    After several minutes of walking, they arrived at the entrance of the Punishment Tunnel. Two workers stood inside, extinguishing the torches one by one with magic.


    Mika watched as they absorbed the flames with a spell, leaving the passage in pure light coming from the light bulbs placed in the middle of the tunnel.


    As the group stepped inside the tunnel, their eyes began to adjust to the dim light. What they saw next sent chills down their spines.


    It was far from anything they had expected, and entirely the opposite of their assumptions.


    Within each cell were children, their appearances varied. Elves, dwarves, humans, and unfamiliar races, they were all there, filling the cells in peaceful silence.


    Mika froze, her breath hitching as she stared at the surreal sight. Jarred and Azrael were equally stunned, their expressions betraying their shock.


    Creselya turned to face them, confusion flickering across her features. “Is there a problem?” she asked, her voice cutting through their disbelief.


    Mika swallowed hard, forcing herself to regroup. ''Focus. Don’t let her suspect anything.'' Placing on a strained smile, she replied, “S-sorry about that… This is the first time we’ve seen races other than humans. It just caught us off guard.”


    Jarred and Azrael exchanged uneasy glances and quickly adjusted their postures, masking their reactions as best they could. They knew better than to let Creselya catch on to their unease.


    Instead of slaves, they saw healthy children waking from sleep. Each cell housed large, luxurious beds, big enough to fit two or three adults, yet occupied by tiny, peaceful children.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    The furnishings were extravagant, almost regal: polished tables, elegant chairs, ornate cabinets, and even miniature playgrounds. The atmosphere inside each cell was anything but bleak.


    To their astonishment, the cells themselves were massive, spacious enough to accommodate a family of ten or fifteen.


    Despite the lavish furniture filling each cell, there was still plenty of room left.


    Even the bars enclosing the cells were different, they gleamed with polished metal, a far cry from the rusty, jagged bars they had imagined.


    The material reminded Mika of the metals used in castles, refined and impossibly expensive.


    The elegance of it all clashed violently with the grim name of the tunnel, leaving the group more bewildered than ever.


    Mika’s thoughts swirled as she tried to make sense of what she had seen earlier, the rusty bars that had now transformed into gleaming metal.


    Had they been rusty at all? Maybe the dim lighting from the torches had distorted her perception, making the bars seem old and decayed when, in reality, they had always been polished and expensive-looking.


    Now, under the bright lights flooding the tunnel, the true elegance of each cell was revealed.


    The beauty of the cells was undeniable, but it only deepened the mystery of this place.


    Mika’s mind felt clouded, like she was chasing shadows. Was there a problem here, or had she misjudged everything from the start?


    Lost in thought, Mika didn’t notice someone approach until a gentle hand rested on her shoulder.


    Startled, she turned to find Jarred standing beside her, his expression filled with concern.


    “W-what?” Mika stammered, blinking back her wandering thoughts.


    Jarred frowned slightly. “Are you okay? You look worried... unsettled.”


    Before Mika could respond, Creselya glanced over, her crimson eyes studying her intently. “He’s right,” Creselya said with a calm voice. “You’ve gone pale. Are you feeling alright?”


    Mika inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself, and then sighed. “Y-yeah, I’m fine.”


    Creselya smiled faintly, her expression unreadable. “Good. Follow me,” she said, gesturing ahead. “We’re heading to the far end of this tunnel. There, I’ll explain why it’s called the Punishment Tunnel.”


    Jarred remained close, offering subtle support as the group followed Creselya.


    After a few minutes they have reached a sturdy wooden door, which she opened with deliberate ease, guiding them inside.


    What greeted them was a wide comparison to the dim, eerie tunnels they had walked through. The open space was vibrant and alive, draped with vines and leaves.


    A lush, grassy floor stretched beneath their feet, soft yet firm, like a perfectly tended mound of green.


    The air smelled fresh and earthy, an oasis hidden within the shadows of the Punishment Tunnel.


    Scattered throughout the area were round wooden tables surrounded by log chairs, their rustic charm inviting.


    Near each corner of the room, small piles of ingredients like salt, pepper, and other seasonings sat neatly arranged.


    Wooden benches lined the room, adding to the natural, almost enchanting ambiance.


    Creselya held the door open, motioning for the group to enter.


    Once inside, she quietly shut the door behind them. “You can sit,” she said, her tone steady but commanding.


    The three of them chose a nearby bench, sitting down as their eyes roamed the unusual space. It felt like a world apart, nothing like the grim tunnels outside.


    Jarred broke the silence, his voice tinged with amazement. “This place is beautiful... so different from everything else.”


    Creselya raised an eyebrow and asked, “Different? What do you mean?”


    Jarred hesitated, glancing at Azrael and Mika before replying uncertainly, “I... don’t really know.”


    Creselya chuckled lightly and shrugged. “Maybe you’re overthinking. Let’s focus on the topic at hand.”


    Her tone sharpened slightly as she began her explanation. “This is where we discipline the children who don’t follow the rules. Look over there, at the salt, pepper, and the other items.”


    She pointed to a corner of the room, and the group’s eyes followed her gesture.


    After a brief pause, Creselya continued. “When a child breaks the rules, we make them kneel on salt or pepper. If they refuse to learn, we use sticks to strike their hands as a form of correction.”


    Mika’s stomach turned, her unease growing as Creselya spoke. “With these measures, the children obey us without question, and they grow to be more disciplined,” Creselya concluded, her tone almost matter-of-fact.


    Summoning her courage, Mika asked, “What is this place, exactly?”


    Creselya turned to her with a calm smile. “An orphanage.”


    The realization hit like a wave. This wasn’t the place they had expected to find, not even close.


    But what had they been expecting? Mika’s thoughts grew hazy, tangled in conflicting emotions.


    Before she could process further, Creselya gestured again. “Follow me,” she said, her voice firm.


    The group rose to their feet, waiting as she approached the door.


    She turned back briefly, her crimson eyes gleaming. “I hope you’ve found the answers you were seeking. Now, I trust you’ll enjoy your work here.”


    With that, Creselya opened the door, and the group stepped outside. To their surprise, the floor beneath their feet had changed, it was... grass.