The Virtues' Magecraft

Page 58: World's Stasis

Alexander never liked the feeling of cold. But that was his first focus, his first thought as his senses awakened themselves to the cold tile floor his bare feet were pressed against, to the cold metal chains that were wrapped around his wrists and the cold metal chair he sat on.

He was tied up.

Alexander's eyes were still shut as he slowly regained consciousness with the flickering of a lighter. And in the next second, the smell of smoke filled his nose.

All he could do was let out a grumble as his head drooped forward and his eyes finally began to open.

He was right. Sitting directly across from an air conditioner, his feet stood against white tiles. And his wrists were chained behind him with handcuffs. He was wearing clothing that wasn't his.

"You know who I am, right?" a voice said.

Alexander finally looked up to the source of the stench of smoke. A suit-wearing, spectacled man, with a burning cigarette sitting on his lip.

Alexander shook his head.

A sigh left the man's lips. With one hand, he ran his parted, curtained hair through his head and pushed it back. "My name is Xerxes Agnes. I'm the chairman of the Magecraft Association."

He extended his arm, opening his hand to shake Alexander's.

But Alexander only stared at his open hand. "I can't shake your hand. I'm handcuffed."

The Chairman stared at him with stale eyes. "That's the joke, kid. ....You're not that bright, are you?"

"Not generally, no."

It was then that Xerxes laughed. "You got chops, kid. I like that." He raised his cigarette back to his lips and stood up straight. And Alexander was still confused.

He took a step back and smiled. "I'm a personal friend of Charles Archibald. He's told me a lot about you, you see." Xerxes paused. "...Damn, there's no point in stalling, is there?" he asked himself.

"Well..." he continued. The burnt parts of the cigarette broke off and fell to the ground, becoming a stain of dust and smoke onto the white floor. "The Association has arranged for a secret execution. For you, who harbors a demon within."

Alexander's eyes widened. 'You can't be serious.'

"Yeah, we're serious," Xerxes chuckled out. "Unfortunately. Archibald and I even worked together to try to prevent this, but I guess there's no stopping the inevitable. Personally, I don't find the sense in executing such a valuable and capable asset like yourself. But I guess the higher-ups just don't care." Another puff of smoke left his lips.

The boy's chains clinked as he struggled to move. "But why? Wait a minute, man. Why..." he choked out through his clenched teeth, still struggling to break his chains. "Why am I being executed?!"

A wry smile floated onto Xerxes' lips. "'Cause you're a liability, kid. A danger to society. Do you even know what you did while in that demon form or whatever?"

Alexander shook his head.

"Wait..." Xerxes removed the cigarette from his mouth. "Wait, you really don't know?"

Again, Alexander shook his head. And Xerxes pressed his palms against his eyes and let out a frustrated groan. "Jesus Christ, kid, that's not gonna hold up in court in the slightest. That's the only way to appeal the motion to execute you, anyway. So if that starts to work, and if anyone asks you, that demonic transformation of yours... You were conscious during it. Maybe not completely in control of your actions, but still clearly conscious. Got it?"