It was late and the surface of his skin seemed to crawl in anticipation of what was to come. Tonight was the full moon, but it was also today that he would be isolated and kept away from the other students for three months as punishment for setting someone on fire and almost killing said person. It wasn't his fault, the academy knew that, but they had a role to play. If it was not for his talent and potential as a rainbow mage, he would probably be expelled and then probably killed soon after by the noble house that girl belonged to. And finding out she was a noble just made everything else ten times more complicated.
"Asd!"
He suddenly shook as his feet suddenly became planted on the ground. He was being led by professor Hogrin to the location that would serve as his prison? For the next three months, he was hoping he would be able to avoid Rhea completely before being locked up in solitary confinement, and now for some reason she was right here in front of him. Or perhaps behind him as he felt her arms encircle his waist and she leaned her head on his back.
"Don't let anyone break you or bring you down. You're not a slave anymore Asd, which means you're free and you can stand and fight for yourself. Please be strong, and I'll try my best to get you out of there as soon as possible, I promise!" she said to him as he held him tighter, leaving Hogrin in an uncomfortable position as he looked every which way but in the direction of the young couple.
Asd felt warmth, the fact that beloved her would not be called into question, but it was the love she had for him that made everything worth it. No one has ever fought for him or loved him freely, not since his had. But Rhea had given everything, and while it was so unfortunate that he would be spending three month away from her, but this was enough for him; this warmth would last him a thousand years if it has to.
"I love you." He said to her, and without hesitation she held him tighter and said back to him.
"I love you too."
She let go and he moved forwards, running to catch up to Professor Hogrin, who had moved ahead surprisingly fast. Considering he was a dwarf, his strides should have been a little bit shorter, but it looks like the whole lovers scene had made him extremely uncomfortable. Asd didn't look behind him as he rounded a bend around a building, he didn't have to see what she looked like, he could smell and head her, and that alone was enough to paint a perfect picture in his head.
"You should be careful with the Ramses girl Asd. She's a noble, her father being a viscount means you would be a very powerful asset in their hands if she marries you. No matter how much love you think you have, as far as the nobility of the empire or the world as a whole is concerned, they are nobles and politicians first and lovers second." Professor Hogrin advices as they came up on what looked like a temple on the south western edge of the academy.
"Rhea is not like that." Asd replied and said nothing more of the matter, whilst receiving a scoff for what Hogrin probably thought was his naivety.
The temple was a Pagoda; it was a bit weird as this was not an architecture that was Synonymous with the beast men continent or even the empire as a whole. This was probably build by someone from the Eastern Long Empire, which makes it even more crazier as the Eastern Empire absolutely abhorred the methods of the Empire of Albion.
This world was or rather is divided between three empires and one democracy. There were hundreds of kingdoms and states under the empires and the democracy, but it was them who divided the world into four power spheres. The beast men continent, home to all of the werepeople was a major piece of contention between all of the four major powers. The slave trade was extremely lucrative, especially in regards to cheap labor and fodder for their armies.
But ultimately the beast men continent was a treasure trove of Natural resource, both seen and unseen. And so there were skirmishes for land and resources. And at the moment based on rumors, war was close on the horizon. The Eastern Long Empire, The Western Albion Empire, The Northern Reich Empire and the Southern Anoai Democracy. Each and every single one of them now seem to have a stake on the continent, rumors were they found something that would make any single one empire the most powerful at a stretch, and they were all now about to fight for it.
"Asd! We're here."
He was drawn out of his thoughts as he gave a more detailed look to the Pagoda in front of him. It was placed up on a hill that overlooked a cliff and a ravine covered in mist. From the side, We could see massive chains that led into the ravine that seemed to clang and shake from time to time. He followed Hogrin inside and discovered the Pagoda was hollow? The roof was open wide and exposed, and there was a hole in the ground that led into what was obviously a call and wet dungeon with a small pond in the middle.
It was a bit spacious, and the chains he saw outside the Pagoda led into it, hanging from the walls underneath the Pagoda as manacles. There was a metal gate hanging over the hole, it was moved to the side, but Asd could see a dull yet sharp glow to it. He turned to Hogrin and couldn't help but ask out in rage.
"What is this place?"
"well if you ask me I would say this is the location where your three months of solitary confinement would be carried out. There are hidden runes all over this place to make sure your entire stay is as uncomfortable as possible, though many of them has been deactivated. But ultimately young Asd this is a confinement cell for demons! And unfortunately vampires and Weres fall under this category due to your weakness to silver and highly concentrated and blessed objects."
" You're putting me in a cage!" Asd screamed, surprising himself at his outburst.
"Yes I am, now get down there and be a good little student, I wouldn't want to be a little bit more extreme than normal." Asd was prepared to run, he was prepared to fight for his freedom, but the darkness took him faster than he ever expected. And as he passed out he heard a voice apart from Hogrin's own.
"Now this would teach the beast his place! Next time he wouldn't be so keen to set the granddaughter of the Dean on fire. This method should make him docile, he's a free slave so we can't bind him anymore, however we can break him, both his body and his mind. And that! Would be a hundred times better, as it means we will have a loyal dog! Hahahaha."
"Don't you mean a Loyal cat; and a royal to boot. This kid has no idea what's in his future does he, but no matter. He will serve…..or he will die, by the will of the Dean."