The corridor smelled like rust, wet stone, and something older Michael didn't want to think about.
His wrists ached.
Every step the guards forced him forward sent another cold pulse from the iron shackles biting into his skin.
And the warmth inside him stayed gone.
Completely gone.
That terrified him more than the hunters.
Torches burned along the walls as they descended deeper underground. The noise of the city faded until only boots, chains, and dripping water remained.
Finally, the hunters stopped.
One of them stepped in front of Michael.
Leonas.
Without the street crowd around him, he looked less impressive and more tired, His dark hair was messy, and a faint stubble covered his jaw. A sword hung loosely at his side.
But the air around him was cold.
Not normal cold.
Magic cold.
Leonas studied him like a puzzle.
"So," he said at last.
"A stray mage."
Michael shook his head immediately.
"I told you, I'm not a mage"
Leonas didn't look convinced. If anything, he looked amused.
"That light in the street said otherwise."
"I didn't do anything!"
"That's the problem," Leonas replied.
He leaned back against the stone wall, folding his arms.
"You commoners never understand how dangerous magic is."
Michael frowned.
"I didn't even..."
Leonas cut him off.
"Mages have power."
His voice was calm, almost bored, like he had explained this a hundred times.
"They can change lives. Heal people. Destroy cities if they know how."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"And most importantly..."
"They can kill."
The torchlight flickered across the corridor.
Leonas tilted his head slightly toward Michael.
"That's why we cannot allow people like you to walk around with it."
People like you.
Michael clenched his jaw.
"I didn't ask for it."
"Doesn't matter."
Leonas pushed himself off the wall.
"Mages are not supposed to appear in gutters and market alleys."
He stepped closer.
"They are trained."
"Registered."
"Controlled."
Michael swallowed
"What happens to the ones who aren't?"
Leonas smiled slightly.
"Depends."
Michael's stomach twisted.
"I'm not executing you," Leonas continued casually.
"We don't waste power like that."
Michael blinked
"...What?"
"You'll be trained."
That word didn't sound right.
Leonas continued.
"Once you learn to behave, you'll work"
Michael started at him.
"Work?"
"Hard labor mostly. Depends what kind of magic you have."
Leonas shrugged.
"Some end up useful."
The meaning sank in slowly.
"You're turning people into slaves."
Leonas didnt even deny it.
"Better than letting unstable magic roam the streets."
Michael looked away, jaw tight.
"Do you really think the king would enjoy being killed by some starving boy who suddenly discovered magic?"
Michael frowned.
"Has anyone even seen the king?"
Leonas snorted quietly.
"Careful with questions like that."
His voice dropped slightly.
"People who ask too much tend to disappear."
He paused, then added:
"And yes. The king exists."
Michael noticed the way Leonas said it.
Not confident.
Rehearsed.
Footsteps approached from the far end of the corridor.
Another guard arrived.
Younger.
Cleaner armor.
He looked barely older than twenty.
He stopped when he saw Michael.
This was Henry.
He glanced at the shackles, then at Leonas.
"Is this the one from the market?"
Leonas nodded.
Henry stepped closer, studying Michael carefully.
Not like a hunter
More like someone trying to solve a problem.
"Are you sure he can handle the training?" Henry asked quietly.
Leonas gave a small laugh.
"He's a slave"
He turned away dismissively
"He doesn't get a choice."
Henry didn't respond.
But Michael noticed the hesitation in his face.
That was the first kint of kindness Michael had seen since being captured.
Leonas grabbed Michael's arm and pulled him farther down the corridor.
They stopped at a call.
Rusty iron bars.
Stone floor.
No windows.
Leonas opened the door and shoved Michael inside.
Michael stumbled but caught himself before hitting the wall.
The door slammed shut behind him.
The echo rang through the corridor.
Leonas locked it.
Then slid a small metal tray through the bars.
On it sat a chunk of bread covered in spots of green mold.
And a bowl of watery gray soup.
Leonas stretched and yawned.
"Welcome to your new home, mage."
He turned and walked away.
Henry lingered a moment longer.
Their eyes met briefly.
Henry looked like he wanted to say something.
But he didn't.
He followed Leonas down the corridor.
Their footsteps faded.
Silence returned.
Michael slowly sat on the stone floor.
He stared at the food.
Then at the shackles around his wrists.
He waited.
Hoping the warmth would come back.
It didn't.
And for the first time in his life..
Michael felt completely empty.