A Fool's Call {Discontinued}

four

Balthazar knew he shouldn't have trusted them. Hendrick and Jarah had tricked him into coming here all along. Now he was imprisoned, and that wasn't all. From the little that Balthazar knew, there was a chance he might even be executed, just like that. Not even the slightest chance to escape or defend himself.

That is, if he wasn't a human. Which he was. He was sure of it. He looked like a human, and didn't seem to have any inhuman features, so he must be a human, right?

But somehow...Balthazar felt like he just might not be one. His instincts told him so, like a bell ringing softly in his head. The same instincts that warned him about the magic seal were tingling once again. The same instincts that claimed the sword of black crystal for his own were hinting at some kind of hidden truth. Though what was he, if not a human? Balthazar did not know.

After a long period of silent contemplation, his cell door opened, and Jarah walked into the room, flanked by two soldiers holding a sturdy looking length of rope. One was a bulky looking man with a body covered in muscles and a scar across his left eye, the other one was a taller and lither man staring at Balthazar with the hint of a curious smile on his face. 

"So you're here. What's going to happen now?" Balthazar asked.

Jarah ignored him, instead telling the soldiers, "Secure him with the rope. We can't risk a monster running on the loose."

"Hey, you haven't answered my question."

Jarah sternly stared at Balthazar. "Are you really amnesiac or are you just playing dumb?"

"Do you think I'd be asking pointless questions if I didn't need to?"

After a moment, Jarah slowly nodded. "It would only be fair to let you know what's coming. Simply put, an ancient secret ritual will be done, which will reveal your true form to us."

"I see... So it is an absolute verdict then."

Jarah nodded. "I trust that you will cooperate with us now. If you are a human, no harm will be done to you."

Jarah glanced at the soldiers. "He's secured?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then let's go," Jarah said, stepping to the side of the prison door.

As Balthazar heard the clang of the cell door shutting behind him, he knew that the place he was going to be brought to now could be the start of his new life, or the end of it.

He turned back to face Jarah and asked, "So, where are we going?"

Jarah ignored his question and took a strip of red cloth from his belt. "We're going to have to blindfold you. If you are set free, you will not reveal where you will be brought, nor what happened in that place."

"Is that so? Well, I've no choice, do I?"

Jarah nodded. "Correct. If you try to desist, we will have to knock you unconscious before dragging you to our destination." 

Balthazar sighed. "Then go ahead. There's no point asking me if you're going to end up forcing me into it."

Jarah stepped forwards and tied the red cloth around Balthazar's head, leaving him unable to see anything. 

"Good. Now we can go. Follow me," Jarah said.

"How I am supposed to- Argh!" Balthazar was cut off as the two guards grabbed him by the arms and began pulling him along. 

He stumbled along for a bit before regaining his balance. He gritted his teeth, saying, "You know, maybe you could afford to tell me what's happening so I can react properly and not get dragged around like a ragdoll." There was no reply. Balthazar groaned, wondering how he had gotten himself into this situation.