The Magitrix: A Flame Awakens

Chapter 12: Welcome to Prison

Kazuma was in a haze. It felt like his brain was shrouded in fog, fog that took away all of his perception of his surroundings and jumbled his memories so going through them only confused him. He didn't know where he was, or even if he was still alive. For all he knew he could have gone to join the Lord of the Winds in his eternal hunt.

Finally, after some time, he pushed enough of the fog out of his head that he realized his eyes were closed. He opened them, struggling with the action. But once it was done, his mind cleared instantly.

At first Kazuma didn't see anything, telling him that it was either night or the place he was in was very dark. But then his eyes adjusted, and he saw the place in clarity. He was in a narrow corridor, whose walls and floor were made of stone slabs. He realized he was being dragged on the floor by the feel of smooth stone sliding against his legs. Searing pain teared across his body over and over again, especially his neck- in a shackle. His wrists and ankles were shackled as well, he knew from the cold metallic pressure being placed on them. The acute training of his senses by the Resistance was paying off.

A warm body bumped against his. He feebly tried to turn his head, but failed, sending a shot of even more pain into him. He grunted. There must be someone next to me, he thought. He just couldn't remember-

And then he remembered. Dreamer! Damn it, he told her not to try to 'save' him. Yes, it was a part of the plan. But he couldn't bear the thought of something going wrong and her being stuck there with him or worse, so he approached her the previous day, nervous and full of hopes for their mission. "Dreamer, can I talk to you?" he'd asked her.

She'd turned away from the laundry line, where she was designated to be that day. Everyone in the Resistance, including the elderly, was given a daily chore. Even Kazuma did one, if he had time. Dreamer set down the shirt she was folding and smiled at him. "What is it?" She asked in that inquisitive way of hers, and cocked her head at him, almost bird-like.

He tried to be evasive first. "Can you... not go according to plan?"

Dreamer simply blinked, her dark eyes boring into him. At this point, he was used to the way she looked inside your soul, but most of the others flinched under her stare. "What do you mean?"

Obviously, evasiveness didn't work, so he was more blunt the next time. "Don't jump in to 'save' me tomorrow. I can handle it myself."

"Are you saying I can't do it?" She said, her eyes narrowed. She crossed her arms and shook her head. "Kazuma, you know fully well I can take care of myself. Don't even try to protect me."

Oh, he knew- she bested him in every fight they'd ever been in, even when they were little. "I'm not saying that, Dreamer," he muttered. "I'm just saying I don't want something bad happening to you. It happens to the best of us." If she died, he would have no one left. Kazuma would be completely and totally alone. The prospect terrified him even more than his mission the next day.

She must have seen the look in his eyes, because she sighed and uncrossed her arms, looking semi-defeated. "I'll consider it, okay?" she mumbled under her breath. "Consider."

"Thank you." They then stared at each other in awkward silence for several minutes before Kazuma asked if they could train later that day, which she enthusiastically agreed to.

And proceeded to beat his ass. Again.

He smiled to himself.

"Would you quit that?" snapped the guard that was dragging the two. Kazuma could tell they were a man from the deep bass of their voice. "I would appreciate it if you'd let me imprison you in peace."