Sage experiences in practice that freedom is a gift that requires resoluteness.

Suddenly, the distinct voice of Naomi sounds in Sage’s head: “You feel bad because you did not know the Truth. You were bound by the shackles of **** morality. You were chained with contempt like a pathetic animal. The only way to survive is to become free. Do you want freedom, Sage?”

You were chained with contempt like a pathetic animal.

A chain of contempt…

Contempt…

Indeed: the memories of Aurora’s contempt flare up in Sage’s mind like a flame. And the problem is not only with Aurora – many influential and wealthy persons in the Warren settlement have long viewed Sage as a pawn, fit for doing dirty work. They treated her like a puppet. They treated her with poorly concealed contempt and disdain. Her sociability and medical skills were perceived by many arrogant and wealthy persons as traits of a servant. They interpreted it as abject obsequiousness and slavish willingness to please. They used Sage. And they will try to use her in the future. It is likely that they will blame Sage (and not that arrogant, spoiled bitch Aurora) for the **** of Luna.

A whirlwind of such thoughts runs through Sage's mind.

These thoughts repeat themselves over and over.

A few days ago, these thoughts would have been difficult to formulate. They were vague subconscious feelings.

But now...

Now everything has become obvious.

Why was Sage sent on this dangerous mission? Why was she **** to risk her own life? Why was she **** to slavishly follow the orders of chief-researcher Zephyr and the orders of Elder Rynok (as long as they both remain safe and comfortable)? Why was she **** to meekly endure Aurora's contempt for simply enjoying her own body and sex?

The answer is simple - Sage really was not free.

The shackles of **** morality... Submission to authorities... The influence of the opinions of other inhabitants of The Warren...

All of these were oppressive "chains" that fettered her psyche.

The flame of awareness consumes all doubts in the mind of Sage.

An insistent question sounds in her head over and over: "Do you want freedom, Sage? Do you want freedom, Sage? Do you want freedom, Sage?"

Sage powerlessly screams back: "Yes! I want freedom! I agree to everything to survive!"

Many hands grab her body and lift her body into a "sitting" position on this stone table.

One of the hands places something sharp in the fingers of Sage's right hand.

A knife?

Figures in dark hooded robes are dragging a large sack towards a stone table.

Then they pull out the naked body of a scared and emaciated young human blond girl.

The hooded figures grab the girl and drag her closer to Sage.

The girl's throat is a couple of dozen centimeters away from Sage's right hand, in whose fingers is clutching the handle of a sharp knife.

The girl's blue eyes are wide with overwhelmingly powerful terror. Her mouth opens, but she can only make inaudible, quiet sounds.

The voices in Sage's head sound even more powerful.

The hallucinations almost completely obscure the space.

"A sacrifice... A sacrifice is needed... For your freedom... For freedom, courage is needed... If you do not dare, you will forever remain a ****, bound in the shackles of contempt... Now or never! Are you a **** or a free person?" - an insistent whisper, similar to Naomi's voice.

Sage imagines the image of Aurora, who looks at her with contempt and an expression of utter disdain.

The next second, Sage delivers a quick and powerful stab with the tip of a knife into the throat of a blue-eyed young girl.

A copious stream of scarlet blood flows from the wound.

The figures in dark robes take out similar knives.

A series of stabbing blows.

The naked body of a young human girl is covered in many wounds that are clearly incompatible with life.

Someone brings a bloody knife blade to Sage's mouth.

Drops of blood drip into the open mouth of the rabbit-girl.

She instinctively swallows these drops of blood.

The cave is filled with many-voiced cries: "The Dark Ascension Ritual is complete!"

One of the figures in a dark robe helps Sage get up from the long stone table.

Sage's naked body, which is covered in dirt, sperm and blood, is still permeated with weakness.

However, with the help of this figure, Sage manages to stand on her legs, which are slightly trembling due to weakness.

Strange ghostly images of horned creatures continue to hover before the gaze of the rabbit-girl.

But now she feels at least something more reliable and real - support on a living body.

The person in the dark robe pulls back the hood.

Sage sees the beautiful face of a young woman with long dark reddish hair that flows over her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes look with satisfaction.

Naomi says: "You are one of us now, sister. You have now known True Freedom..."