53 Galicia (1/2)
The crunch of gravel beneath dozens of boots woke him.
That, and the shaking.
Nikolai's eyes flickered open to see a small caravan winding its way across charred land and shattered trees. Soldiers dressed in a diverse array of armour flanked the carts and wagons, spears at the ready and eyes scanning the surroundings for any hint of danger. Cool, damp air brushed across Nikolai's face, bringing the distinct scent of the sea, mixed with the acrid smell of ash and blood.
A battle had been fought nearby.
He struggled upright, groaning at the effort and almost collapsed at the strange weight on his body.
Cold steel wound around his neck and with trembling fingers Nikolai traced what could only be a collar. His arms jerked uncontrollably at the sensation, horror threatening to overwhelm him.
He was bound.
Deep in his soul something angry stirred. The will of the True Imperial snarling at the restraint, howling to get out.
Nikolai growled. Or at least tried to, the sound coming from his throat was little more than a faint squeak.
His body felt unwieldy, taking forever to carry out even the simplest of actions. Rage coursed through his veins, the blood of the True Imperial calling for magic. The energy from his surroundings flowed towards him, struggling to pass into his body as if a barrier coated his skin. Whatever it was that blocked him warped under the force of his will, cracking all over and letting threads of energy seep into his pores.
”Master Nikolai! There's no need to be so angry. You're not restrained at all! You're free.” A strange silver masked man galloped towards the cart Nikolai was in, brown cape flapping in the wind, arms flailing to catch Nikolai's attention.
There was a strange vibration in the man's voice, shocking the will of the True Imperial out of its rage. It seemed to sense something and agreed with the masked man's assertions, returning to the deepest recesses of his mind. Gritting his teeth, Nikolai tried to draw more energy, sensing the power building in him with every drop that passed through the strange barrier. The masked man drew close and waved his hand, causing the collar to light up with runes. The spell etched into the collar came to life and Nikolai groaned in despair as the surrounding energy spiralled into chaotic swirls. Even the streams of power within him went out of control, wriggling to his skin and bursting in sparks of light.
”Sorry. Sorry. I can't let you cast any spells right now.” Chuckling, the man hopped into the cart, letting his horse be pulled away by a soldier. ”Please don't glare so viciously, Master Nikolai. I am but a humble Mage of little talent, eager to learn from one of the greatest minds to walk the Empire in the last few centuries.”
”How is this not restraint?” Nikolai croaked, gasping for breath like he'd run a circuit around the Imperial Palace. Withouthis magic, there would be no easy escape. He hadn't expected one, but one could always hope. Anyone kidnapping a Mage would take appropriate precautions. The collar was an interesting technique though, and Nikolai hoped to be able to dissect it later. If he got out. Shaking his head to rid himself of the thought, Nikolai focussed on his captor's words.
”The collar is for me and my compatriots… security. It only stops you from using magic in uncontrolled situations.” The masked man gathered some scattered hay and heaved a loud sigh as he settled down. ”I must say, the trouble I had to go to just to arrange a meeting with you is astonishing.”
Nikolai tried to stand but couldn't gather any strength in his legs. A deep weariness pulled at his body and he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep.
”What have you done to me?”
”Well, I'd rather not explain all the details, since it's possible you could find some method of breaking free, but it only seems fair for you to know a little bit after all.” Nikolai blinked at the flurry of words spewing from the masked man. Now that he was forced to pay attention to his captor, Nikolai noticed how flat the man's words were, despite the obvious enthusiasm behind them. Taking a deep breath, Nikolai drew a thread of energy to activate his Sight. In his enhanced vision, odd magic swirled around the strange silver mask, hints of Vilinian masking techniques blurred by something far more ancient, making it difficult to determine all the details behind the magic. Based on the spell structures he could identify, it seemed to be an elaborate tool for disguise.
Not just a simple cloak but a means to hide one's identity completely, soul signature and all.
Nikolai's vision blurred, Sight dissipating under the tremors that sprung from his hands and he leaned back against the cart rail.
Exhausted.
”Yes it is a disguise.” The masked man offered, having kept a close watch as Nikolai used his Mage Sight. ”It is… unwise for me to reveal my identity while on the road.”
”So you're not a member of the second Magical Corps?” Nikolai feebly waved at the man's crimson eagle pin.
”I used to be.” He sighed, the mask wobbling strangely at the odd whistling which passed for the masked man's sigh. ”Not many of us are left after what happened.”
Nikolai tried to shrug, but the tremors in his body intensified. All of a sudden he felt waves of nausea rise up and sharp spikes of pain dig deep into his head. In a haze he toppled over, grunting as he hit the bed of the cart. The masked man whistled at the sight, pulling a small packet from his belt as he scrutinised Nikolai's convulsing form.
”At the least, you have proven the value of my alchemical skills.” The flat voice seemed far more sinister to Nikolai's ears at this moment.
Leaning over the masked man poured the powder into a small mug and added in a measured dose of glittering powder from the packet. Once he was satisfied with the mixture, the man grasped Nikolai's head and poured the concoction down his throat. The liquid burned on its way down, a sharp flavour assailing his tongue and a horrible stinging like there were dozens of insects crawling around the inside of his mouth. Nikolai wanted to spit, but the man gripped even tighter, forcing him to swallow.
The masked man retreated to his seat and kept a close watch as Nikolai recovered. The convulsions retreated and Nikolai found his mind expanding. That was the only way to describe the odd sensation. As if he could think of a thousand things at once. Everything felt clearer and the spell structures he'd seen in the silver mask came back into focus for a few blissful seconds before the moment of clarity vanished.
”What was that?” Nikolai muttered under his breath, covering his eyes to avoid the suddenly glaring sunlight.
”That, was a unique concoction of mine. Without regular doses you'll end up with… significant withdrawal symptoms.”
”Stardust.” Nikolai sighed. His hands still trembled, and while the symptoms of Stardust addiction weren't always clear, the bizarre experience couldn't really be anything else.
”Stardust is only the starting point. I've refined it with some magic and a few other items to make it far more potent.”
”Potent?” Nikolai groaned, despair worming its way into his heart. He wasn't disciplined enough to handle even his obsession with magic, let alone an actual addiction.
”Please don't worry Master Nikolai. It just makes you addicted faster and while the withdrawal symptoms may be severe initially, it won't cause permanent damage.” The masked man coughed. ”I think. At the least you won't make it far if you do somehow manage to escape.”