I wake up in what looks like a small room, barely 3 meters across. The walls are made of solid bricks painted with a smelly, orange substance. Humidity trickling down the walls suggests I am underground. The door is made from iron bars. Similar rooms are visible outside. The faint humming of magic can be heard around me. While looking around idly, my memory returns and I realize what situation this is. I was attacked from behind and captured. They know I can use high-level magic, so they put me in a cell designed to prevent me from using it. It’s enchanted with ‘Mana Dispersion’, a magic field that prevents mana from achieving the density needed to cast spells. The walls are covered in paint that absorbs mana. In essence, this is a prison for mages. My inner clock tells me I’ve been unconscious for around half a day.

“Looks like you’re finally awake.”

Behind the iron bars, a man with black leather armor stands with his arms crossed. His brown eyes are full of curiosity, as if he were observing an exotic animal. I recognize him as Alistir Wendt, the man who arrived with the convoy.

“I didn’t hit you that hard. The neck is really fragile, you know? Guard it better.” He has an unreadable expression and his tone is a bit cheerful. “It was quite surprising to find you here, Rigel Artemia. Your battle against those creatures from last night was impressive. The other mages in the city were losing badly. I know the teachers at the academy praised you a lot, but I was still taken aback.”

“You attacked me from behind, in public, despite knowing who I am. What do you think you’re doing?”

“I guess you haven’t heard what happened in Delos. Your father isn’t the king anymore, which means you’re not a prince. It’s quite an unfortunate situation.”

“What nonsense is this? Tell me what happened.” My tone becomes aggressive and I can no longer control my frustration.

“No worries, you’ll hear about it during your trial. It’s going to be a big spectacle.” He walks away snickering to himself, leaving me alone. What an unpleasant guy. Why did my father keep him around?

Like Alistir said, many things became clear during the so-called trial. I was handcuffed with enchanted iron shackles and taken to a heavily-guarded room where a group of nobles looked down upon me from an elevated platform. Three members of the Royal Council were in attendance: Cassius, Padraig and Lachlan. The latter two must have arrived in the convoy. They sat and watched as one of their lackeys kept throwing accusations at me. The only thing they were right about was my use of forbidden magic.

After trying to refute the endless accusations, I quickly realized it was meaningless. The outcome was decided in advance. Padraig and Lachlan made no effort to hide their contempt. Impatiently tapping their feet on the ground, they were just waiting for the session to end. They never intended to give me a chance. This trial is a sham, put on to give the illusion of fairness. The verdict was decided by the three Councillors. I was sentenced to death without hesitation. Cassius was the only one who seemed reluctant, but he cowered in front of the other two.

Now, I sit in my cell once again, trying to piece together the bits of truth I heard during the trial. My father is dead. Control of the kingdom is now in the hands of a bunch of slimy, greedy bastards. They must have planned for this a long time before executing a quick and decisive coup. It doesn’t make sense. Father was a good man. He was fair to his subjects and to the Council. He listened to the selfish demands of others and did his best to keep them happy. Even if he wasn’t the greatest ruler, there was no reason to kill him in cold blood.

It’s my fault. I should have been there. After mother died, he became a shell of the man he once was. Why didn’t I stay by his side? Maybe this whole situation could have been avoided. Even as an advisor, there must have been plenty of things I could’ve done.

“Do you understand your situation now, Mr. Prince?” a nasal voice comes from behind the iron bars. It’s Alistir again.

“You’ve come to mock me?” I respond in an indifferent tone.

“Not at all. I’ve come to make you an offer. If you agree to work under me, I can prevent your execution.” His cheerful demeanor returns.

“Do you think I’m stupid? You want me to serve my father’s murderers in exchange for my life?”

“Oh no, you’ll work under me, not those stupid nobles. I can make you disappear and you’ll never have to see any of them again.”

“Are you saying you’ll go against the Council’s decision? You have that power?” my voice is full of incredulity.

“Indeed I do. All you have to do in return is follow my instructions. What do you say?” He gives a warm smile.

I start weighing my options. If I stay in this cell, it’s almost certain I will be executed tomorrow. This man claims he can get me out of here safely. It doesn’t seem like a joke. He’s seriously going to disobey the Council. It’s very suspicious but do I have any choice? Live to fight another day, as the proverb goes. Even if going with him turns out to be bad, with my magic it will be possible to escape as long as I stay alive. Accept his offer and look for a chance to escape. That’s the best course of action.

He’s lying. He’s an enemy.

A loud voice suddenly resonates in my mind. I stagger backward, grasping my head in pain. Moments later, the throbbing ends.

“Are you alright?” Alistir asks me while pretending to be concerned. Beneath his friendly voice, I sense something unnatural and sinister. I lift my head up toward him. The same brown eyes from earlier now look cold and menacing.

“Filthy liar… Get away from me.” I use the coldest tone I can muster. His eyes briefly widen in surprise and then he bursts into laughter.

“That’s it! That spirit of yours… I love it.” Sadism oozes out of him. Disgusting.

The sound of a rusty iron door is heard nearby. Alistir looks toward it and then back to me. “No matter, we’re going to have plenty of time to get acquainted.” The last phrase is said in a creepy whisper.

“Oi, Alistir! What are you doing?”

Another voice echoes through the stone hallway. The man is hidden by the walls of the cell, but I recognize it as the voice of Padraig, one of the Councillors who attended my trial.

“Your excellency, I was merely checking on the prisoner.” Alistir responds with a short bow. His tone sounds normal compared to earlier.

“Leave. I want privacy.”

“As you command.”

After another bow, Alistir leaves the area with a quick pace. Councillor Padraig walks in front of my doorway. He’s dressed in expensive, perfumed clothes which fail to conceal his stench and the rolls of fat underneath. In his hand is some kind of magic catalyst.

“What are you looking at with those mangy eyes…?” he asks.

“A fat tub of lard” my answer has no hint of fear. His face turns red with anger. He points the object in his hand at me and fires a spell. It’s weak but it still causes pain to surge through my body and especially my eyes. I instinctively cover my face with my arms even though it won’t really help. Padraig laughs at my misery.

“Learn your place you worm. Did you think your status would protect you? You’re nothing! Just a loose end that wasn’t taken care of properly!”

“Why did you kill my father?”

“Because he was trash just like you. No pride, no ambition, clueless. A disgrace to nobility. I hear he begged for mercy with a snotty face. Let’s see if we can make you do the same” he replies with a savage grin.

This bastard… I never truly wanted to kill someone until now. I’m sorry father. I should’ve been at your side. Even though I knew what you were going through, I ignored it. If we worked together, we could have found a way out of this mess. Now it’s too late. I can’t do anything. I’m a failure.

Kill them all. Make them suffer.

I already knew it, didn’t I? This world is rotten to the core. Humans are making it rot. I merely closed my eyes to this obvious fact. It’s not over yet. There is still something I can do for you, father. I will eliminate this filth even if it costs me everything!

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“Body is the transient whim of Chaos

Mind is the formless Void

Soul is the flame of Creation”

“What are you mumbling to yourself for? Saying your prayers already?”

“Within the true Origin, all are One”

As the chant ends, a magic circle with a complex pattern appears on the ground beneath Rigel, its glow illuminating the cell. His muscles and nerves burn with pain. The mana inside becomes a fluctuating wave of energy and undergoes a change he does not comprehend. His mana-aura fades and is replaced by countless white, transparent threads that come out of his back, forming the shape of two wings.

“Magic!?” Padraig stumbles backward as his face turns pale. “Impossible… Guards, come quick!”

He turns and starts running clumsily down the hallway while yelling for help. He’s slow. The wall conceals his body but his mana is visible through it. He cannot escape. Rigel aims his right hand and activates a spell.

“Soul Spear”

More threads of transparent mana flow out and form a lance-like shape. They fly through the wall without leaving a mark. He watches with a blank expression as Padraig’s aura is penetrated, causing it to scatter and fade into nothingness. There is no joy, no sadness and no pain. The mind is empty of all thoughts.

A powerful pulse spreads through the ground. The sensation is similar to that of mana. Rigel kneels and places his hands on the ground, feeling it carefully. His gaze pierces the stone floor and the earth beneath it, reaching deep underground toward the core of the planet. Inside the endless darkness, there is a sphere of light which shines brightly like the sun while sending intermittent pulses of energy, like a heartbeat. Unlike the sun however, its color is a dark crimson and its energy feels cold and distant.

In the following moments, a different underground energy makes its presence known. This one is incomparably smaller than the first and the source is not far away. With his heightened senses, Rigel can estimate its location. The pulses it emits feel gentle and warm, almost as if it’s calling for him.

The silence of the prison is disturbed by shouting that echoes down the hallway. Rigel looks up to see multiple human auras approaching.

You will not stand in my way.