The first few hours in the jail cell were a bit exciting for Max as he tried to figure out what kind of intricate spells were casted on the solid, stone walls and the handcuffs on him. Most of them were useless, since he had almost no innate magic. With his hands bound behind him, it was also extremely difficult to attempt runes. There was no doubt someone would come in and stop him even if he tried. The only light was from a small, floating orb in the corner of the ceiling, which would extinguish itself if touched or tampered with. There wasn’t even a door, since the wall had built itself up behind him.

It had been a bit of a shock when he was yanked away from Edric and dragged off the pitch by the scruff of his neck. After thinking back on it, they must’ve used some sort of spell to prevent him from resisting while Elder Aris took him. Not that he was going to fight back. Cy was making clear gestures to not move while he watched helplessly from the side. While being dragged away, there was no explanation given. But to be honest, a clarification wasn’t needed. He was a bigger threat than they originally thought. Simple.

There wasn’t much more for him to do now anyway. The application, medical exam, and magic assessment were completed. All he had to do was wait for the interview and verdict while Edric and Darius were doubtlessly doing their best to make the last parts successful.

Max was unsure if his application would be granted. On one hand, two of the seven judges were corrupt and in his favour. On the other hand, he was in jail… Perhaps it would be better to give up on the idea?

The next hours of waiting were less fun as it finally dawned on Max that he was stuck being covered in the rotting dragon’s blood for a while. Also, they hadn’t opened the cell to provide him with anything to eat or drink. He suddenly missed Darius’s hospitality. Cy’s father was a bit bitchy, but he didn’t disappoint when it came to a place to wash up and food. Max didn’t get a chance to sleep in the spare room assigned to him because he was too busy filling in the application. But, his brief glance of it left a good impression with how huge and clean it was. There was a beautiful view of the waterfall from the balcony, just like the conservatory.

Suddenly, the singular light turned itself off. The air was still as Max sat in complete darkness. It had been a couple of lifetimes since he had experienced similar conditions. No food, no light, no freedom; the thought made him itch. Being constrained and bound had been a reoccurring nightmare for him in several lifetimes. Although it wasn’t as bad as the claustrophobic hell Darius had promised him… right?

The heavy handcuffs restraining his arms disagreed.

Panic was setting in. His breathing got faster. Sweat was making the rotting blood come to life again. Drip, drip, drip; the trails made his skin itchy.

How long ago was it? When they put him in that box? Arms and legs bound. Weights on his chest. Enchanted to stay alive. Cursed to feel hunger and thirst. How many years was he in the box? Max never got an answer. Day after day. Stuck in that box. No runes invented to save him. No one on the outside to help either. Day after day. Year after year.

Until one day, he woke up on a beach with a new body. Time had no effect on him. It wasn’t as kind to the unmaintained box, which was keeping him alive. It must’ve corroded with time.

But this time wasn’t so bad? He could move his legs. To do what though? The slick mixture of blood and sweat could be used for runes. They’ll come and stop him? Then they’ll be sorry.

The thought calmed him as he kicked off his shoes in preparation. Head a little clearer, Max used his shoulders to wipe away some of the blood causing the worst itchy spots on his face. More could be made later when he calmed down.

It wasn’t ideal. It was uncomfortable. But he wasn’t back in that box.

Weariness crept up on his reassured mind before taking over.

The next day, an abrupt light woke him with the orb suddenly illuminating with more intensity than shown previously. At least it was easy to tell between day and night in the prison cell. Hoping for food or water, Max kept watching the walls as he waited.

Hours trickled by before the wall descended to the serious faces of Elder Aris and Darius. The second they got a whiff of the air; their faces scrunched up in revulsion. The petty side of Max found it amusing. Finally, other people were enduring some of the disgusting smells Max had been tolerating ever since he awoke in this world.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Darius couldn’t resist holding his nose and began spluttering. “What the fuck is this? We couldn’t let him wash off the blood before throwing him in here?... Wasn’t there supposed to be a bed or something in the holding cell?” He asked Elder Aris.

“Budget cuts.”

Darius squinted at Max, who was sitting calmly on the floor. “And food? Water? Are you going to say that we didn’t have enough of a budget to keep Max alive to hear the results of his application?”

“Personal grudge.”

“At least, you’re frank about it.” Max’s words were slightly bitter from being constrained for so long. “Can I go to the bathroom now? I’m about piss myself.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t already.” Elder Aris reached for Max.

Curses were about to pour out of Max mouth from pent up fear and anger when he caught a glance from Darius. He looked… upset? The expression caused him to hold his tongue as they escorted him out.

“You’re alive!” Cy was relieved as he saw a drenched Max enter the extravagant courtyard with a mystical looking tree with blue leaves in the centre. “Where are your shoes?”

Elder Aris pushed Max forward, making him stumble. After regaining his balance, a piece of enchanted fabric was tied tightly around his mouth, gagging him. It was getting wet, as water from his hair dripped onto the material. At least he was somewhat clean now. The smell wasn’t as bad.

A shivering Max was mostly focused on the tree in the courtyard.

Story Name:

Yggdrasil

Genre:

Fantasy

Description:

After growing for centuries in a magic rich land, the sacred tree has finally chosen who is to receive its divine power.

Goal:

Rewrite the meaning of magic.

Difficulty:

★★★★★

How to Start:

Touch the tree!

Ever since they had left the prison, Elder Aris had been shoving him in almost every direction. Abusive dick. If he were to give him a shove into this goddamn tree, then-

“Is that really necessary?” Darius gave Max another look causing him to calm himself again. It was the same look in the jail cell and when Elder Aris’s water spell was casted above him. For some reason, it came across as genuine. Was he actually upset by this? Surely, this was nothing compared to everything on display in his soul. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. It wasn’t a box. “You keep an eye on him, Cyrus-”

“We’re not leaving him unattended.” Elder Aris pointed a dirty finger in Max’s direction. Cy copied his father in giving Max a worried look, who only turned slightly to show off his shiny, new bracelets before shrugging. Judging from their expressions, you would think Cy was the one in cuffs.

“Then I’ll leave them with you,” Darius snapped back. Both father and son had issues with the abusive git. All things considered; Max was a little relieved that the three of them were on the same page when it came to Elder Aris.

With his father leaving through a glamorous set of doors, Cy retreated under the hood as he kept his distance from Max and Elder Aris. It was a little frustrating to not get an update, but he respected his decision. Another relief came from Cy slowly edging his way away from the five-stars story tree.

Taking advantage of being alone with them, Elder Aris spoke. “What did he do to Lux?”

Cy’s hood pointed in their direction, but he didn’t answer until asked again. “I don’t know.” Cy snapped back. It was rare to see Cy consistently show animosity towards a person. It was fun to watch. “You should ask him. It’s not like he can use any kind of verbal magic anyway.”

“Mind your manners, little Cyrus. This one’s a mad dog if I’ve ever seen one. We’re not going to give him a chance to act until we’ve reached a verdict.”

Cy’s hood pointed at Max for a second before returning to the Elder. “Which one? The one for our application for Max to stay here? Or the one about whether the community executes him for having significant magical skill without being a member of Tsujuma?”

What? Max suddenly remembered the words of the decrepit mayor. Turns out he was right about even more things. Perhaps Max had been too harsh when giving him a stroke.

Cy continued. “What’s the point of going through the procedure for-”

A moment too late with his own teleportation spell, and Cy would have been badly injured by the flash of lightning in his direction. Zipping around the village and Bessie’s farm had paid off for him as stood still at the other end of the garden. His hood still covered his face.

“You dare to violate the community’s rules by telling-”

“And yet the ‘mad dog’ isn’t trying to escape.” There was an unusual stress within his words. Elder Aris’s attention turned to Max, who innocently showed off the handcuffs still firmly binding his hands behind his back. “You’re grossly overestimating what Max can do-”

“You’re underestimating, little Cyrus. Mark my words, he isn’t your friend.”

Without warning, the glamorous doors where Darius ventured into suddenly swung upon to show a vast, dark staircase. Another shove made Max stumble slightly towards the staircase. A glance behind showed Cy trailing behind them. While Elder Aris was impatiently dragging him up the stairs, Max caught a glimpse of Cy with his hand raised for a second. It wasn’t a thumbs up, or a thumbs down; his thumb was horizontal. But the message couldn’t be clearer.

Max’s approval was still on the table.