Naming The Enemy[Solo|Plot]

In preparation for his journey, Zion departed the Koval Estate and flew to Magnostadt where he could procure supplies to last him. Crossing the ocean on ship would take months to reach heliohapt so Zion planned to fly across the ocean on his magic carpet at top speed. It would be exhausting and a harrowing journey, but with enough food to replenish his magoi Zion felt confident he could manage. He even planned to bring a log to use as flotsam in case he needed to take a break in the middle of the sea. Feeling that he had accounted for everything, Zion cheerfully entered the market and began to haggle for prices on dried fruits and meats that would last longer than fresh goods. Suddenly an unnatural flutter of rukh caught Zion’s attention and he looked around feeling as though someone were staring a hole through him. No obvious glares could be found by the doll but he didn’t feel as though his instincts were wrong.

“Hey, you gonna buy these or not?”

An impatient vendor groaned drawing Zion’s attention back to the task at hand. If he was being watched then so be it, Zion had long been aware that his enemies were within the city walls of Magnostadt. It wasn’t strange for them to keep an eye on him. After completing his shopping Zion loaded up his flying carpet and set out from the west gate. The young magician’s pace was a casual one until he got out of the city, then he suddenly willed the flying carpet forward with all its might. The gate guards were left to blink at each other in curious confusion over what the rush was for as a cold wind blew past them from inside the city. Zion flew like this until Magnostadt was out of sight behind him before making a change of course to head more southward. Once he had traveled quite some distance the doll decided it was unlikely he was going to be pursued and caught.

”Are you sure it’s alright to slow down?”

A whimsical comment sounded from behind and sent an ice cold chill down Zion’s spine as a frigid gust surrounded him. The dolls eyes shot wide open as he turned around but found himself unable to locate the source of the voice. While Zion was distracted looking for the speaker the frigid winds secretly began to concentrate on the carpet beneath him. By the time Zion looked forward he noticed that his bottom felt rather chilly and looked down to find that his carpet had been frozen solid! A layer of ice finished forming at that moment which cut off Zion’s flow of magoi into the carpet causing it to plummet into a crash landing.

Thankfully Zion wasn’t flying very high off the ground and he had just slowed down but the unexpected sensation of falling made the inexperienced Zion panic. With a loud thud the carpet impacted and the ice surrounding it shattered, but before Zion could power it with magoi he and all the supplies including large log were sent tumbling forward. After a few rolls Zion scrambled to his feet and looked up to find that he could finally see his attacker. A shimmering veil of water droplets peeled away from a magician dressed in blue who was gently floating to the ground a few meters away. ”It’s a shame you didn’t keep running, kid. I didn’t have time to grab a carpet and I only have so much magoi. You would have gotten away if you had just kept going.” The middle aged man hefted his staff over his shoulder as he landed and gripped it tightly inciting a magic circle to shine on its shaft.



A large dragon-like stream of water erupted from the end of the man’s staff and began to hover over the blue magician baring its fangs made of high pressure water currents. It was an intimidating display of power, especially after chasing someone down for several hours at top flight speed while maintaining an invisibility spell. At the very least, Zion knew that he wasn’t capable of such feats which implied this man was much stronger than him. Casvallion had warned Zion that something like this might happen. The doll dusted himself off and stood as he gave out a bitter laugh. ”So you’re the eyes I felt at the market...you wouldn’t happen to be the person who froze my room at the academy, would you?” Zion felt terrified in his heart and his legs would not stop shivering but his voice stayed steady as he feigned noble bravery.

The blue magician looked up a bit surprise and then smiled lightly, ”As expected of the novice who managed to break my Ice Barrier...To be honest, I don’t have anything personal against you. I’m just being paid well to do this. Don’t worry, I’m not here to kill you. My orders were to make you...disappear.” The man seemed to be amused that Zion had identified him but it made no difference to the greed that motivated his actions. He walked towards Zion with the sinister water dragon in tow, each step bringing the sound of rushing water ever closer. The white haired doll grimaced and looked down for his staff. The log for flotsam had landed atop the Nature’s Scepter pinning it to the ground.

Zion cursed his poor luck and started to reach for his back to use the nightmare rifle instead despite having reservations about doing so. The nightmares that tool creates do not listen to Zion’s orders and would devour victims alive which would make an interrogation rather difficult. But it didn’t matter because he was too slow on the draw. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he underestimated the speed of the water dragon. By the time Zion had both hands on the rifle the water dragon roared silently as it burst forward and crashed into the doll. The dragon current picked up Zion’s body with its force and launched him upwards before turning around and driving him into the ground. The golden light of a borg surrounded Zion to protect him at first but it shattered once he was smashed into the earth leaving him helpless against the currents which pinned him t the ground.

As the rushing water blurred Zion’s vision and blocked out his access to air he felt a bone deep cold spread throughout the dragon. It sapped his strength and made Zion quickly feel sleepy. Before he could even feel the urge to gasp for air an even stronger heaviness overcame the doll’s eyelids and everything turned to black.

Rings of dense sharp ice bound Zion in several places along his body. There were biting cuts were the tight ice rings cut into Zion's body keeping him cold and weak. The dolls shivering and the pain on his bindings woke Zion into a pained grunt as his eyes eased open. The man that captured him was seated at the head of a flying carpet different to Zion's own and judging by the sea on the horizon they hadn't gone back to Magnostadt. "So you're awake?" The blue magician turned his head slightly to look upon Zion's expression. Though he was hurting, cold, and couldn't stop shaking his eyes didn't hold a trace of the fear Zion truly felt and hid away. The doll remembered Casvallion's training and did his best to put on a strong expression and to convince himself that giving up was not an option.

"Who are you..."

Zion made the demand with great effort but the target of his sharp gaze simply laughed and shook his head, "You spent all that time playing house with those plainsfolk and never spent any time investigating who I am?" The question mockingly taunted the doll who could only silently admit that he had left the investigation entirely up to Casvallion. Mikael did not want Zion to live a life seeking revenge and honoring those wishes he didn't proactively pursue it. But now revenge had come to him and it was out of his league. Seeing his prisoner go quiet made the older magician sigh, "Alright, alright, don't be so glum. I like you kid, honest. I could have messed around with your brain and turned you into a wandering madman. But instead I'm just gonna sell you off to serve a rather powerful man. You'll probably suffer a bit, but being the slave of someone like that can have its perks too." The sound of his voice was one of consolation but hearing that he was about to be sold into slavery did little to cheer Zion up.

The concept of a slave was one Zion had little contact with but he knew the words meaning and that it entailed the loss of freedom. "That didn't make me feel better at all!" Zion shouted weakly enticing a perverse smile from the blue magician. "That's better! It'a boring if you just mope back there in silence, I don't want to get there until nightfall so we have a few hours of time to kill. Say, I know what will get you talking...You don't wanna know who I am. You wanna know who hired me, right?" These words made Zion's eyes light up with expectation. "Why would you betray your employer?" Though there was caution in his voice Zion was asking with hope to be convinced that he could trust this mans word.

"Betray? Solomon's tits, I said I was hired to do this, not asked by my lover. Just cause I do some dirty work for that crusty old coot doesn't mean I like him. Besides, I already told you that I DO like you, kid. Stop looking a gift horse in the mouth, do you wanna know or not?"

Hearing the annoyed sound of the blue magician's words Zion quickly gave in, "Yes, yes, please tell me!" The dolls body struggled against the ice rings as he responded. "Now that's how you ask for a favor...Alright, I'll tell you. His name is Kornel Klien. Cocky old slug who serves as assistant to the headmaster and thinks he should be to one being assisted. He even stole your fathers research and claimed it was his own. After using it to complete the academies existing theories they managed to develop a means to manufacture magic tools and Klien is trying to take all the credit." The blue magician grumbled about the matter in a manner that made it clear he didn't approve of what was going on.

The revelation struck Zion with shock as he immediately recognized Kornel Klien as the author of his favorite series of books on magic theory in the library. How many of those works were stolen as well? But the even bigger shock for Zion was that they used his fathers research to complete a magic tool manufacturing method. For a magician their research was their life's work. "If you think its so despicable, why are you working for him?" Zion asked with confusion in his voice."[/purple] The blue magician laughed and said plainly, "I told you, he pays well! Hahaha, I know I said I like you, but to be honest selling you was just the most profit I could make off the situation. The only two things I trust are money and this baby right here." As the magician spoke he tapped his staff on his shoulder twice to signify it as his "baby" that was worth trusting.

Something about the way the captor lived his life made Zion feel repulsed. To be solely driven by greed and power was an existence Zion did not yet understand and it perplexed him how someone could be that way, naive of how cruel the world can be. Despite continual pestering from the blue magician Zion was in no more mood to speak. There was little he could do about his current situation at the moment but Zion was not ready to simply accept shackles with complacency. The man flying the carpet wasn't too happy about Zion's cold shoulder treatment but considering the context of the situation he couldn't blame the young magician and eventually accepted a quiet wait.

Once the darkness of evening fell over a rather small fishermans village. Their docks could hardly be considered a proper port but a large merchant ship was anchored in the bay and smaller boats were ferrying people and goods to land. Zion was carried over the fishing village and across the water heading straight for the large vessel at sea. Guards shouted out alerts when they came into view of the ships lamplight but everyone was put at ease when the captain recognized their guest. There was a short wait before a pair of men came up from the deck and asked, "This the one?" Gesturing to Zion who was still bound with ice. The blue magician looked around dramatically, "See anybody else with me? Sheesh, you'd think the binding spell would be a hint."

The large man ignored the magician's attitude and walked up to Zion carrying a black collar with a magic seal engraved into it. Zion had a bad feeling about the collar and struggled his best to resist but under the ice bindings Zion couldn't do much other than worm away a couple inches. It wasn't enough and the metal collar closed shut around his neck and suddenly his flow of internal magoi was stagnated. The blue magician looked at Zion with an almost apologetic gaze as he tapped his staff and the ice sublimated into vapor and disappeared. His belongings are our property now." The large man said standing up from Zion whom was then picked up by the other man. The blue magician sucked his teeth before handing over Zion's rifle, carpet, and staff.

"Excellent! The snow haired exotic magician you promised me really did show up!"

A sudden shout from across the deck sounded as the cabin door opened up. A fat merchant who had the ships captain following in tow acting desperate to curry the merchant's favor. Sir, he appears to have been quite wealthy too." Said the large man as he present Zion's gear to the merchant. "Hooo~ These are rather nice items...this strange device is particularly enchanting..." The large man walked over to inspect the magic tools and picked up the silver rifle of nightmares. Zion's heart sank as he hadn't yet anticipated that all of his stuff was now in the hands of the enemy. Thankfully, the merchant had never seen anything like a gun before. He picked it up from the barrel and swung it like a club thinking the butt-stock was a cudgel.

Zion sighed quietly to himself in relief that the merchant didn't just summon a nightmare to kill them all. Now that this collar was on him he felt as though he couldn't control his magoi at all and there was an oppressive heavy feeling that made it seem like his body wouldn't respond to him even though the numbing hold had left. Currently it was hard to even speak so the doll decided to just be quiet and watch for now. The man holding Zion up noticed the magician was barely even trying to stand and complained out to the others, "This ones so scared he's like a wet noodle. Let's get him outta here. I don't wanna have to carry 'em when he pisses his pants." The merchant paused his admiring of the rifle to glare at the sailor who spoke. After placing the rifle down carefully he walked over to the man who was now feeling regretful for having spoken out.

"I have traveled this world back and forth many times and never have I seen a magician with white hair. To you it might not be something special, but to a collector like me there are fewer rare prizes! Especially with the auction so close at hand! WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?"

The more the fat man spoke the more riled up he got until he was roaring at the sailor. The ships captain was now looking extremely grim and signaled to some of his other men who quietly walked over toward the man holding Zion up. "N-No, give me another chance!" He pleaded as he let go of Zion and backed away from his shipmates who mercilessly approached only to throw him overboard. It was possible to swim to shore, but unlikely he'd make it before the sharks in this region got him. Another sailor took charge of the role to hold Zion up as he weakly collapsed. Once the doll was stood up and presented to the merchant for inspection he had already taken on an angry expression. There was no reason to kill that man but they did so as if it were a simple matter.

"Aaaaah~ He has fire too, this one! Seems like his body is a bit weak though....Sevintus, did you do something to him?"

The merchant was rather pleased with his new acquisition but noticed how frail and pale Zion looked. The blue magician shrugged and then held out his hand expecting payment. "Nothing I don't usually do to them before I bring them to you Mr. Aventti" The merchant held his suspicious gaze for a moment but then burst into a wide smile, "Don't be so cold, I've told you to just call me Aponitus, you've brought me a number of interesting oddities. Am I not one of your best customers?~" Upon revealing a rather large bag of coin and placing it into the magician's hands he smiled wide and gave a slight bow, "The best paying of them by far! My apologies, I simply insist on professionalism in my business deals. I'll be taking me leave now." With the payment he came for, the blue magician had no reason to linger and quickly flew off as Aponitus looked Zion over one last time. "Mmm...Lock him up next to my other newest collectible and prepare them both for transport. The auction is only a few days away we must hurry." The fat man then turned and headed back for the cabin with the captain apologizing for his subordinate the entire way.

The sailors carried Zion not below deck, but off the ship and to the village where a train of wagons waited. Hidden within the flaps were cages with people and beasts alike trapped within. One such wagon was to be Zion's new cage. The men threw the weak doll into the metal box unceremoniously and locked the door before leaving to continue their work. Left alone in the dark Zion could barely see and the magoi restricting collar made it feel like he had no strength. Suddenly a hoarse voice sounded from the cage next to Zion and he strained his eyes to spot a sliver of moonlight that fell upon the golden iris of another person.

"I was wondering who they would put into the cage next to mine...."

"I was wondering who they would put into the cage next to mine...."

As the doll's eyes adjusted to the darkness, Zafar started to move forward only to fall face first and crawl towards the other side of his cage where the two prisons met. There were cuts and bruises all over Zafar's body, gifts of Aponitus' men as they tortured him. The physical pain was something Zafar could endure, enjoy even. But the magician that served the merchant personally had been searching through Zafar's memories at regular intervals and the experience had him losing his sanity. The other day he had overheard someone outside mention that there would be another slave Aponitus considered part of his "collection" joining them today. Zafar waited all day for this chance to talk someone who could tell him where they were.

"Ugh...you look like a magician..."

Zafar frowned and spoke his displeasure towards the race openly with disgust on his face for a moment. Once the assassin crawled closer and his eyes also adjusted he saw the ropes and frail skinny frame and made some quick assumptions. The magician groaned and rolled over onto his back, "I leave a city full of goi haters and wind up as a slave with a goi that hates magicians. Is this what the outside world is like?" The helplessness in Zion's voice was thick but he sounded strangely optimistic. Zafar had been expected the young man to despair so he felt a bit sour over that and scoffed in response. "Hmph, so you're just some sheltered brat?...Don't worry, there is only one "me" in this world~ If you judge other people by me as a standard you'd find few who could even compare. My name is Zafar and I kill people for fun...and a living."

Having introduced himself, Zafar moved on to the only reason he saw fit to converse with this stranger in the first place. "Say...you wouldn't happen to know where we are right now, would you?" The assassin held out hopes that they had docked in Balbadd or at least somewhere near there. Zafar knew a number of people there who could help him out of his situation there. The magician turned his head and said somewhat sharply, "The coast...I'm not sure exactly where, but west of Magnostadt." There was some uncertainty in his voice, however to Zafar, it sounded like he was telling the truth. It was disappointing news but Zafar wasn't willing to give up just yet. "Do you know where they are taking us?" The clown inquired.

"I don't know. Something about an "auction" but that's all I heard."

Zafar grimaced as he sighed and also laid down on his back, "That doesn't sound good." Aponitus' men had long since stripped Zafar of his magic tools. Though there weren't many magic tools among the assassin's possessions each item was of top quality and worth quite a bit. "That makes escaping a bit more of a priority..." Zafar muttered to himself as he closed his eyes and decided to rest up as much as possible before they arrived at this auction. If he had to make his move there then he wanted to be ready.

Caged with a self admitted murderer who hated him Zion felt as though fate had conspired against him. But the young doll remembered the teachings of his father and mentor. instead of responding right away Zion restrained his emotions and took some deep breaths. Though he answered the beaten and battered mans questions secretly hoping some elaborate escape plan would be described. Unfortunately, Zafar had no such plans to share despite making his intention to escape clear.

"I can't trust a person like that...but if we both want to escape then maybe we can collaborate...At the very least I agree that the auction is probably the first chance I'll get...maybe my last..."

The doll reached up and covered half his face with one hand as he considered the possibility of being killed for attempting to escape. He felt more alone and scared than he ever had in his life. There was still a part of himself that was believing Casvallion would show up to save him at the lade moment. However Zion knew that such reliance was a weakness in him that clung close to his heart. Silently sobbing to himself in the darkness Zion eventually slept feeling exhausted.