Vivian let out a small groan as she came to. Her head was throbbing in pain. She jerked up remembering what happened, her head immediately protesting against the sudden movement. She found herself in an iron cage with shackles made of the same binding her hands. The cage was placed at the centre of a camp set up in a clearing. As soon as she woke up the people around noticed, all gazes immediately shifting towards her. Feeling intimidated by their stares, she tried to make herself as small as possible.

‘Ah you are finally awake.’ A man approached her cage. He had long black hair tied in a neat ponytail and sharp green eyes that seemed to pierce right through everything. Sensing danger Vivian shuffled back until her back hit the bars.

‘You have been asleep for quite some time now.’

Vivian found her voice. ‘Asleep? I was knocked out.’

‘Ah, my apologies for that. My men were quite rough with you. I told them to be gentle with the merchandise, but sometimes they get a little excited.’

‘Merchandise?’

‘Why you of course.’ He leaned in closer. ‘Mages hold quite a high value in the black market. People with money to burn like to keep them as some sort of exotic pets. They have them fight wild beasts or other mages in our arena as a sort of entertainment. It is quite sickening, but it makes good money.’

Vivian gulped. ‘I-I’m not a mage,’ she stuttered. ‘There must be some sort of mistake.’

‘Hmm, I am quite sure you are.’ He pulled out a small glass orb that was glowing slightly. ‘You see this. It is called a resonator. It glows when it detects magic. Quite a useful tool. As you can see, it seems to be reacting to your presence.’ He tossed the orb and caught it before tucking it away. ‘Therefore, you are a mage, a weak one considering the resonator’s glow, but a mage nonetheless… and I am sure those rich fools will pay a fortune for you.’

Vivian’s face was shot through with fear. She had been discovered. The reason why her family tried to poison her, why she had been forced to run away from home had been laid bare.

‘Your kind are such fascinating yet pitiful creatures,’ the man said without a hint of pity in his voice. ‘In a country where magic is banned, your kind will always face unrelenting oppression. It is a wonder you all haven’t already died out. However,’ he continued in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘This animosity was started by your kind. We normal people have to defend ourselves.’ He shrugged which filled Vivian with the sudden urge to punch him. ‘My family has been leading this fight for generations, and they will continue to do so.’

A sense of dread settled heavily upon Vivian. ‘Your family? Who are you?’

‘Oh, how rude of me. I never introduced myself.’ He gave a slight bow. ‘My name is Savant Oryonis. You may have heard of my father Norden Oryonis, the leader of the Sentinels.’

Vivian’ eyes widened in fear when she heard Oryonis before she let out a resigned sigh. She felt all the tension that was built up in her leave all at once, as she resigned herself to the fact that she was going to die.

No more wandering about in the woods, starving and shivering… it can end here… Maybe this is not such a bad thing… I can finally stop running.

‘You seem relieved,’ Savant said, cocking his head in confusion. ‘Usually my family name makes mages like you tremble in fear.’

‘I am just… giving up.’

Everyone has heard about the Sentinels. They are the largest Hunter organization as well as the most dangerous criminal syndicate in the country. A mage caught by the Sentinels can never escape.

Besides, I am tired of running…

‘You are quite strange. I almost feel like keeping you for myself. Unfortunately I have a quota to meet and Father will be angry if I did not.’

Vivian did not respond, curling up into a ball in a corner of her cage. Savant left with a few of his men, preparing to set out for a town named Elenzos. He called out orders and his men moved fluidly, pulling down the tents and saddling the horses. Vivian’s cage was strapped to two horses, one of which was ridden by Savant himself.

‘It is a two day trip to our auction site near Elenzos,’ He said to Vivian. ‘Try to make yourself comfortable.’ He gave her smile that send chills up her spine.

‘There is nothing cosier than a cold iron cage right?’ Vivian asked dryly.

Savant chuckled before calling out the order to move. The cage rocked gently as they started moving, the horses settling into a steady pace. There were men riding on either side of the cage, matching the pace of their leader and keeping an eye on her. Ignoring them, Vivian closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She was going to be sold as a pet. This might the last time she gets a good sleep before she died.

………

‘We will need to clean you up a bit,’ Savant said as he leaned back against the cage.

It was the second day and they had stopped for lunch. Savant sat next to the cage, leaning back on it as he ate. Inside the cage, Vivian was eating the portion she was given, barely paying any attention to what the man outside was saying.

He is oddly talkative to his prisoner, or is he just boasting…?

‘Nothing too fancy,’ Savant continued. ‘Just enough to make you look decent. We cannot present you to our customers like this. Presentation is nine-tenths the sale.’

Vivian did not reply except for pushing her plate towards the door of her cage and leaning back to once again to fall asleep. If it were not for the fact she was going to die, she would have liked her current position. She was provided with food and allowed to sleep as much as she wants. She heard Savant leaving his post by her cage to talk to his men. A snippet of the conversation reached her ears.

‘Have they caught that damn cat yet?’

‘Yes sire. They said that they will meet up with us at the auction site with the creature.’

‘Hmm, good work, though it sure took them long enough. Alright let us continue on our way. Pack up.’

The group started moving again, all of them settling into the same pace as before. By what Vivian overheard, they would near Elenzos by nightfall. Wrapping the blanket she had been given around herself, she fell asleep.

She woke up when the cage grounded to a halt. She opened her eyes blearily to find herself surrounded by a dozen cages. Torchlight spilled into the cages revealing people, and in a few, strange creatures of sorts.

‘Are all these people mages?’ she asked, not expecting a reply.

‘Oh no,’ Savant replied. ‘No, you are the only mage here. They are just people meant to be sold as slaves. They are quite common goods.’

Vivian glared at him in disbelief, the apathy she had felt for her own situation so far being replaced by anger. ‘How can you be so calm about throwing away a person’s life? You disgust me.’

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‘Now don’t say that.’ He looked offended. ‘It’s not like I am some sort of villain planning treason or such. I am a businessman and whatever I do, I do for profit. It is nothing personal. Besides, these people should be glad. If they continued to live the life they had, they would have never had the chance to catch even a glimpse of the nobility or their way of life. I am giving them the opportunity to pursue greatness and glory under the strict patronage of my noble clients.’

‘Phrase it anyway you want, that’s slavery.’

‘I suppose from your limited view it must seem so.’

He turned away from her barking orders. Vivian’s cage was placed among the others. Her new neighbours looked at her with pity and desolation. The cage next to her held a small girl, probably around five years of age who was shivering with fear. The simmering anger from before boiled into fury as she stared at the child. She felt a tension build up inside her, a wave of power, but it barely lasted for a moment before it dissipated. She felt it draining into the iron manacles around her wrists.

Was that… my magic?

‘I thought you had resigned yourself to your fate.’ Savant raised a well-shaped eyebrow at her. She glared back at him. ‘Looks like you still have some fight left in you. That’s good. My customers will pay even more for something feisty.’

‘That girl is just a child,’ she growled.

‘That girl is a product that is going to make me money. Besides, how old are you? Twelve, thirteen… you are a child yourself. You should be more worried about yourself.’

He walked away, heading towards the tent that had been pitched in the clearing. For a moment Vivian observed the hustle and bustle around her. The auction site was not in Elenzos, but in a forest clearing near the town. Even the Sentinels were not bold enough to conduct an illegal slave auction in the middle of town. As a tarp was thrown over her cage, Vivian leaned back against the bars and closed her eyes. The auction would start tomorrow. There was no way for her to escape.

Vivian did not realise that she had nodded off, but she was startled awake by the sound of a cage door opening. She peeked out from beneath the tarp to see the three-tailed cat being shoved into a small cage in front of hers. The two men who had brought it in were the same ones that she had heard before in the woods. One of them kicked the cage before they left to join the other Sentinels.

‘So you got caught too,’ she said to the cat.

It let out a sad mrow in answer.

‘Looks like we are both doomed. Might as well except it. We are going to die.’

A few hours later, Vivian was once again fast asleep, but not for long. The creaking of a cage door awakened her once again. She looked up groggily to see that her cage door was open and the man crouched in the doorway was-

‘You again!’

‘My name is Peri,’ the black figure said. ‘Did you forget me already?’

………

The auction was starting.

Cages were pulled into place behind the stage as the first of the buyers settled themselves into the seats provided. Men bustled about adjusting the tarps over the cages to hide their contents from the view of their customers until they were up on the stage. Occasionally a staff was thrust into one of the cages to quieten the prisoners that were starting to protest.

Vivian sat quietly in her cage. She watched as one by one all the cages were covered and the people and animals quietened down. Two burly men straigtened the tarp over her cage as well, pulling down the corners to cover it completely. They soon left to join their companions on patrol.

As soon as she was sure that they had left, Vivian shook off the manacles that were loosely fastened around her hands. Kneeling down near the door of her cage, she pulled the tarp up slightly to see if she was truly alone. Satisfied by the absence of guards, she pulled out the key that Peri had given to her the previous night and slowly opened her cage. The door swung out creakingly and she jumped out of her confinement. Taking a few seconds to stretch her legs, she turned to the cat’s cage. Its inhabitant was looking at her expectantly with wide yellow eyes.

‘You know what to do.’

It mrowed in consent. Pulling out the other key she had, she unlocked the cat’s cage. Once the cat was out, she pushed the now empty cage into the shadow of her own confines and pulled the tarp down properly so that its missing occupant would not be noticed. After that, she climbed back into her own and locked herself in. She tossed both the keys to the cat, who scooped them up in its mouth and left. She once again loosely fastened the manacles around her wrists.

Now to wait.

The sound of people was getting louder as the seats were filled. A pair of guards passed by, not noticing the empty cage next to hers. The auction had started. Vivian could hear Savant calling out greetings to the crowd as they finally settled down. Her heartbeat quickened as she heard the first cage being pushed onto the stage.

‘Let us start off with a healthy, young male, aged twenty five years. This product was acquired from the County of Orlen. He has a good physique making him capable of manual…’

Vivian felt nauseous as she listened to Savant talking. Unable to understand how one could be so cruel to others of their kind, she shut out his voice and focused on her breathing. She had a long wait ahead. Peri’s plan would not start until the tenth auction item on the list. Burying her head in her knees she thought back to the conversation she had with the man in black the previous night.

………

‘My name is Peri,’ the black figure said. ‘Did you forget me already?’

Vivian stared open-mouthed as Peri slipped in and closed the cage door behind him.

‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed. ‘You’re going to get caught.’

‘Don’t worry. I am not that easy to catch.’

‘How much easier can it be than for a prey to willingly walk into the cage?’

‘I’ll not stay long. I just came to tell you that I can get you out of here.’ He shrugged. ‘However, if you are not interested, I can leave.’

Is he… pouting?

Brushing aside his reaction, she asked, ‘You said you can get me out… How?’

‘Well, not just you. Everyone.’

‘How?’ she asked again.

‘Leave that to me. All I need you to do tomorrow is to set the cat free.’

‘The cat? What does it have to do with this? Also why can’t we just leave with you now?’

‘The security is tight. I barely managed to sneak myself in. I will not be able to sneak all of you out right now. However tomorrow-’

‘Shhh,’ Vivian hushed. ‘Someone is coming.’

The two of the stayed silent, not even daring to breathe hard in fear of being discovered. The pair of footsteps passed their cage and moved away. Once she was sure she could not hear them anymore she nodded to Peri.

‘They’re gone.’

‘That’s a sharp pair of ears you’ve got.’

Vivian shrugged. ‘It wasn’t always this good. Ever since I found out-’

She stopped herself short, wondering whether she should tell him the truth or not.

What if he decides to abandon me as soon as he finds out?

‘Since you found out you were a mage?’ He asked. ‘I know already. There’s no need to be afraid.’

‘H-how did you know?’

‘I have a resonator,’ he answered simply. ‘So I am guessing that your senses were heightened after your magic was awakened.’

‘Yes.’

‘Hmm, a bit of sensory enhancement is quite common when mages first awaken their power. I’m guessing your physique has also improved quite a bit, seeing as how you managed to survive in the forest for more than a week.’

Vivian looked at her hands, flexing her fingers as if feeling them for the first time. A sense of fascination came over her. ‘So this is common for mages.’

Peri waved it aside. ‘Yes it’s nothing special. Now back to the topic. Tomorrow morning security will be lax, as half of them will be send to keep an eye on the buyers attending the auction. Now I’ll give you the keys to both of your cages. The guards will their rounds to make sure all the cages are secure. Once they’re done, slip out of your cage, release Ebion-’

‘Who is that?’

‘It’s the cat. Don’t interrupt me. As soon as you are done get back into your cage. Then give the keys to the cat. The guards will count the keys before the auction to make sure that none of them has been stolen. They have to get back before that… You only have a small window between the check and the key counting to do this.’

Peri pulled out two keys and gave it to her. He then pulled out a third key and unlocked her shackles.

‘Keep them loosely fastened. We don’t want to raise any suspicion. When the guards are distracted, Ebion will bring you the keys to all the cages. Free them and run for the cover of the woods. Do not stick together. It will only make it easier for them to find you.’

Vivian nodded, anticipation building up inside her. ‘Wait… how can I find you again?’

‘Just keep Ebion with you. He knows how to find me.’

‘I am afraid to ask but what will be the distraction?’

He smiled.

………

The tenth cage was being pulled onto the stage. Judging by the sounds that it was making it was definitely not human. They were moving onto the mystical creatures that had been captured. The next would be Ebion’s cage.

I wonder where that cat is right now… it had better not wandered off somewhere…

‘Next we have a real, live stygian wolf. This ferocious beast was captured in these very woods. It is capable of ripping a lion in two and its roar is silent but deadly. This-’

Suddenly the crowd went quiet. Curious, Vivian lifted the tarp up a bit. From her position behind the stage she could see the black and white stygian wolf in its cage, Savant standing next to it and in front of it was-

That stupid cat!

Ebion sat calmly in front of the caged stygian wolf, calmly licking its paw a ring of keys worn around his neck like a necklace. However, the former had a completely different reaction. It scampered back away from the cat, pressing itself against the bars of its cage. It had ripped off its muzzle and its maw was open in a silent roar. Vivian could hear a faint keening sound that sounded more annoying than deadly as Savant previously acclaimed.

Suddenly the earth started shaking. Small pebbles danced and dust shook itself from the ground as the vibrations got stronger. The sound of hooves slamming against the earth reached Vivian’s ears and she realized what was happening.

‘RUN!’ Savant bellowed. ‘STAMPEDE!’