A week had passed since Logan's visit to the so-called "beastly paradise." The air of the city remained heavy, saturated with rumors and shadows that seemed to follow every step. That morning, as the dim light struggled to pierce through the window of the inn's room, someone knocked at the door.
Logan opened it and found one of Macron's men standing on the threshold, his face impassive. The man handed him a large sealed envelope. Without another word, Logan gave him the agreed handful of gold coins.
"I'll settle the rest directly with Macron. You won't have to come here again," he said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
The man nodded briefly and vanished down the corridor, as silently as he had come. Logan closed the door and joined Aria, who was already sitting on the bed, her gaze tense. He sat beside her, opened the envelope, and began to examine the contents carefully.
Inside were thick dossiers, annotated sheets, and drawn portraits. A whole network unfolded before him: names, faces, and locations of Vengus's collaborators, along with lists of regular clients, the supplier of the drug, the mage responsible for the slave seals and brands. And those involved in what they called "the supply" a bloody hunt organized every three months to track down hidden villages, destroy them, and obtain new slaves. Young boys and new girls.
A detailed map of the city and its surroundings marked all points of interest: residences, warehouses, hideouts, and front establishments of every actor involved.
"He doesn't do things halfway," Logan muttered, begrudgingly impressed by the precision of the work.
The second part of the file focused on the sites of slave exploitation. Mines, including the one where Aria's tribe had been sent; addresses of buyers specializing in the sale of boys; laboratories and experimentation rooms, sometimes managed directly by the Alchemists' Guild. The details were chilling: some sites served exclusively to test potions on living bodies, others to crush any will to rebel.
Logan closed the file for a moment, thinking aloud:
"Now I've got everything I need. The name, the face, the position of every one of these bastards involved. But I'll have to go into the field: visit the mine, scout the labs, watch the habits of their guards. We'll be alone, so we'll have to stay invisible, cautious, hide our identities. And the biggest question remains: how do we break the seals? Can the drug addiction be cured? If Vengus senses trouble, he could have them all killed with a single order. And even if we free them, where would they go after? I need a solid plan…"
Aria placed a hand on his arm, worried yet resolute:
"So?"
Logan showed her the file, his expression grave.
"The next step is the Guild. I need to see the guild master. Maybe he knows how to bypass those seals, or help us hide the ones we save."
They wasted no time and left the inn. At the guild, they were greeted by Marie, as warm as ever despite the tension in the city.
"Logan! What can I do for you today?"
"I need to see the guild master. It's urgent."
Marie shook her head, apologetic.
"He's not here today. But if you want, I can set you an appointment tomorrow morning."
"Very well, we'll do that."
Not wanting to waste time, Logan headed for the guild's library, determined not to leave empty-handed. There, in the quiet, he searched among the specialized works until he found several writings on seal magic and magical circuits.
Seated, surrounded by piles of books, he began to read avidly:
Slave seals are complex sealing and restriction magics that rely on an intricate network of magical circuits. Once engraved or inscribed into the flesh, they connect to the victim's magical circuit. Once fully activated, master and slave form an almost indestructible link.
Through this bond, the following commands can be imposed:
– Cause intense pain remotely.
– Inflict sharp agony if the slave tries to disobey or escape.
– In extreme cases, trigger death by stopping vital organs.
It should be noted that these circuits do not provide mind control: they cannot impose actions, only unleash terrible physical suffering. The arcana used for the creation of such seals are closely guarded by mages specialized in sealing magic.
Logan closed his eyes, trying to memorize every detail, then grabbed another book, determined to learn more about magical circuits even though he already knew much.
Magical Circuits:
Logan devoured the pages, absorbing every word, every technical detail with desperate hunger, even rereading what he already knew.
Magical circuits reside within the body of every living being, spreading like a vast network similar to the nervous system. Linked to the brain, which gives the commands, and to the heart, they play a crucial role in the control of mana.
They serve three basic functions: first, to convert raw mana into magical energy; second, to store that energy; third, to allow their owner to use skills or magic. Unlike organs, whose number is fixed at birth, magical circuits can vary from one individual to another, making the storage and use of mana easier or harder.
Certain races such as Elves, Vampires, or Dragons are born with a number of circuits far above average, explaining their innate affinity with magic. But number alone is not everything: the quality, finesse, and precision of circuits are equally decisive factors. Demons, for instance, often have fewer circuits, but theirs are larger and strategically distributed throughout the body, granting them extraordinary power.
Another fascinating detail: the number of magical circuits is not immutable. Through training, repeated mana manipulation, or leveling up, new circuits can be generated, and their structure can even be altered by advanced methods.
However, magical circuits are not indestructible. They can be damaged or destroyed, and once too badly harmed, they cannot be repaired or restored. There are also other types of circuits, capable of manipulating mana in various ways, or even allowing hybridization between different forms of magic.
Slave seals are artificial creations and, like magical circuits, they can be damaged. However, if damaged, they may malfunction and cause injury to the natural circuits.
After a few more books, Logan paused, his expression grim, murmuring to himself:
"So basically, slave seals are really artificial circuits grafted onto the victim's magical circuits and nerve endings. That's why they can restrict, cause pain, or even stop organs… To free a slave, the master must infuse his own mana into the artificial circuit to destroy it and break the bond. If anyone else tries to inject different mana, the circuit may react and kill the victim."
Logan clenched his fists, jaw tight.
"Damn it… this is going to be a real nightmare. Still, the book notes that even artificial circuits can be destroyed. Could my vector control skill interact with these networks… maybe even shatter them?"
He remained lost in thought for a long time, trying to picture the invisible structure of these circuits, already searching for a weakness.
In the guild hall, Aria waited, sitting on a bench, her back hunched, eyes fixed on the ground. She felt useless, an onlooker to Logan's efforts. She wished she could help, to shoulder even a fragment of his burden.
Absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't notice Marie until the woman sat quietly beside her.
"Something wrong, Aria?" Marie asked gently.
Aria hesitated, then let it out:
"I feel useless. I follow Logan everywhere, I just sit and watch him look for solutions. I can't support him, I can't be helpful…"
Marie nodded with empathy, placing her hands over Aria's.
"I understand. I've felt the same before: watching someone fight for us, feeling indebted, powerless. But don't underestimate the value of your presence. For now, yes, you feel like a spectator… But the time will come when you'll be able to act. And then, you'll need to give everything you have."
She offered her a sincere smile, her eyes glimmering with some distant memory.
Aria timidly lifted her head, meeting Marie's comforting gaze, and whispered:
"Thank you."