by Andy Nadir
Chapter Four
Laxus woke up to the same dark brown walls that greeted him every morning. He sighed. He found that he was almost longing for the laughter and light that Tabitha seemed to bring with her. “Gah, what is wrong with me?” He nearly cried.
He slammed his hands on his head. But, still he considered the possibilities. He washed his face in cold water from a small pool near his bed, and headed to the mesh hall.
He put his plate on the slider, and reached for the box of mashed potatoes. As his hand closed around the spoon, he froze. “We don’t have a farm here, do we?” He wondered to himself. He returned his tray, despite the strange looks his peers gave him, and entered the kitchen.
“Bartholomew, the cook, was sitting on a stool. “Bart, how do we get our food?” Laxus asked.
Bart laughed. “Well, we head to the grocer in Daletum, and politely ask for some food. Then, after that, we take what we need.”
Laxus was relieved. “Then, we take everything we need, and a little more, and leave him alive.” Bart finished.
A rock settled in Laxus’s stomach. He stumbled out of the kitchen. Throughout the day, he continued to notice the little things. A word here, a reference there. It seemed as though the Guild had little to no care for those outside of the guild.
At lunch, he headed to Daletum. Armed with only his flute, the gift from Tabitha, and his clothes. As he walked through Daletum’s streets, a young voice called out. “Would you like to buy a copy of the daily paper?”
“Sure why not?” he said. He turned towards the boy. The second the boy saw Black Dragon’s sign on him, he stumbled back. “Please… don’t hurt me!”
Laxus frowned. “Why would I do that? I just want the paper.” He said.
The boy hesitantly gave him a paper. He then turned to run. Laxus grabbed his arm. “Whoa, slow down there. I didn’t pay you yet.”
Laxus dropped a gold coin into the boys hand, and let go. The little boy ran as fast as his feet could carry him into the dark alleyways around him.
Laxus sighed, and sat down on a bench. He glanced at the headline.
The paper fluttered from his hands. The headline read “Black Dragon, the Leader of the Black Guilds Returns, Kills several Blue Phoenix members”
He hesitantly bent down, and picked the paper up again. His eyes scanned across the paper. “The dark guild leader, Black Dragon, had returned. Previously thought to be defeated, Black Dragon had returned with full force. Black Dragon has recently attacked Blue Phoenix’s base, and severely damaged it, along with badly injuring several Blue Phoenix members. Blue Phoenix was attacked without provocation, and Black Dragon tipped the scales toward their favor with Manti-Rock, a special rock that can reduce magic.
The paper slipped from Laxus’s numb fingers. Laxus stood, and ran as fast as he could. When he reached the library, he headed to the history section. He pulled out a book called “The Battle of Cedar Town” and began to read.
He numbly returned the book. Two difference sources, with the same answer. That was proof. Black Dragon was a true Black Guild, and he was in it.
He sprinted back to Black Dragon’s cave. When he reached his room, he locked the door, and sat down on his bed. He didn’t know what to do. There was no way Tabitha would talk to him.
He laid down on his bed, and fell into a fitful sleep.
The next morning came, and as usual, Laxus pulled on his clothes, and went to the mesh hall. He went to grab a tray, but stopped, remembering how they got the food. His stomach rumbled in protest, but he ignored it.
He looked around the mesh hall, and his eyes settled on a boy in the back, who looked like a walking skeleton. He headed to his table, and sat down.
The boy looked at Laxus. “What is our prize member doing here?” He asked scornfully.
Laxus shook his head. “Black Dragon… I was tricked! They made me believe that…” The boy grinned, and held a finger to Laxus mouth.
“You figured it out too? Lots of us have been kidnapped, and persuaded to the dark. The problem is, once you figure out, they don’t just let you leave. They put you on maximum watch, and you can’t go anywhere without an instructor.”
Laxus paled. “Wait you mean…”
The boy nodded. “Yep, they know you figured it out. You are now essentially confined to your room, and this cave. My name is Nico. And I already know you, Laxus.”
“I have been working on a way out of here for a month already. So far, all I can think of is somehow beating an instructor, but my magic isn’t strong enough. I bet you could, though.
“What magic do you have?” Laxus asked.
In response, Nico closed his eyes briefly. A massive monster clawed its way out of the ground, and roared. Laxus staggered backwards. The monster grated out a laugh, and blew out a stream of flame. The monster flickered, and disappeared.
Laxus’s mouth fell open. “But, you just summoned that massive monster! How can you not beat an instructor with that?”
Nico laughed. “If it was real, maybe I could win. But, it’s just an illusion. I can cast any illusion, but I have no magic that can physically harm. “I see. So, if we work together, we can escape!” Laxus said quietly.
Nico nodded. They began to plan quietly. None of them noticed the instructor in the shadows, watching them quietly.
“Guild master Viekus, Laxus caught on.”
Viekus hissed with displeasure. “That boy is too smart for his own good. It looks like we have to launch the operation early.”
The instructor nodded, and left the room.
Laxus sat on his bed, planning to himself. They were scheduled to try to escape in a month. Nico had found a weak spot in one of the tunnels, and they were going to have him cast an illusion of the wall in front of the tunnel while Laxus had his shadows dig the hole to the surface.
As he though, there was a knock on the door. “Go away.” He said.
There was a knock again. “Go away!” He said, louder.
The door flew open, and Laxus felt a small poke on his right shoulder. He looked at it. There was a small dart sticking out from his shoulder. “Wha…”
Laxus collapsed to the floor, out cold. The man at the door grinned. “Headmaster will be happy.”
Laxus’s eyes opened. He was on a metal plate. He groaned, and tried to sit up. He found that he could barely move. With considerable effort, he turned his head. He saw that his hands and legs were chained to the table. “Where am I?” He said quietly.
“Why, you are in the operation room!” A voice said.
Headmaster Viekus strode into sight. “We couldn’t have you running away, that would ruin years of planning! No, If I can’t take your mind, I will take your body! Angelo, begin the operation!”
Viekus smirked, and strode out of the room.
Another man walked in. He had dark skin, and was covered with scars. Laxus opened his mouth to try to talk to the man. Angelo simply raised a hand, and Laxus found his mouth unable to work.
“I am Angelo, and I have the magic of control. Not even one with one with the greatest will could resist me. I shall imprison your spirit, and your body shall work for the master Viekus. Goodbye, Laxus" He said in a grating voice.
He raised his hands, and Laxus’s head flew back in wordless pain.