I picked up the bolt, thought about it for a second, and focused on needing to tie up the woman but preventing her from using magic. I wasn't sure if it was possible to do that, but something did happen. The bolt transformed into a length of rope with a strange device on the end of it. I placed the device on her neck, and when I went to tie it off, I found that it was magnetized and fused itself to her skin.
I stepped back and looked at her, but I still had no clue what I had done.
[Target: Crossbow Bolt]
[Use: Preventing Human from using Magic]
[Transformation: Magic Suppression Collar]
The message rolled through my mind, and I nodded as I put everything together. Numera had said this body could do much more than I thought, and now with this collar, I could keep the woman from using magic to escape. The problem was that I needed her to listen to me.
[Target: Magic Suppression Collar]
[Use: Controlling human]
[Transformation: Mind Control Collar]
My eyes widened as the bolt had been transformed into a mind control collar. I shook my head and laughed but then looked back at the woman with a frown.
I had never wanted to control someone's mind, but right now, it seemed like my only way out of this mess. I focused on the collar and thought about controlling her, and sure enough, the collar glowed and then went dark.
After slipping it on her, the woman woke up a few minutes later with a start and looked around, confused. When she saw me, she started to scream and tried to run away only to find that she was unable to move.
"Be quiet," I said coldly, and though my voice was low and deep, it still gave me authority over her. "Or these woods will be your grave."
The woman stopped fidgeting and looked up at me, her eyes wide with fear.
"Now, tell me what you know about Numera and this world. I also want to know why you tried to capture me. Is there a reward, or are you just happy to see someone else die?" I asked with frosted words.
The woman shook her head and then started to speak. She told me about the war between Numera and the magical gods of Tyme, which I knew little about. But there was something else she said that made my blood run cold.
"If they capture you, they will melt down your body into liquid metal and use it to power their special Blood Crystals," The woman added, and I nodded.
"I see. That would explain why Numera was so worried about me getting killed and why the seven other champions died," I said thoughtfully. I was immortal in this body, but that meant little in this world if I was just melted down.
"What are you going to do with me now?" The woman asked, still unable to move anything but her eyes and mouth.
"Killing you seems the most intelligent thing to do," I said, and the woman started to cry.
"Please, I can be useful. I could show you the ropes in this world!" She begged, and I considered her words for a few minutes before laughing.
"Says the creature that was ready to toss me to get melted. You call me a monster, I am sure, in your head, but what does that make you?" I hissed. I had felt uneasy about killing this woman, but thinking about what would have happened to me was starting to make it seem a lot easier.
"I-I suppose it makes me a monster as well," The woman replied, and I nodded.
"Yes, that is what it makes you. We are both monsters in this world, but at least I am the one with the power. So here is my offer: you help me survive this world and stay hidden from everyone, and I won't kill you. It is simple, obey or die." I said and then leaned down to look her in the eyes.
The woman nodded vigorously, and I smiled coldly, but it only touched my lips. I should just kill with women like the goddess said, but I knew nothing of this world yet.
"Let's start off with something to call you, and you can relax, but you are not allowed to run away or call for help," I said, and the woman's body relaxed, but she started to shiver.
"Kyla."
I could feel the cold, and it wasn't that bad, but the injury might be getting infected. I wasn't sure what I could do to help her, but I was sure I could make a fire or something. I grabbed a fist-sized rock and focused on it.
[Target: Rock]
[Use: Warming Human]
[Transformation: Camp Fire]
The rock started to glow and then transformed into a small pile of cut logs that lit on fire, lighting up the cave.
"What are you?" The woman gasped, and I smiled as I looked at the fire.
"A champion of Numera," I said simply and then gestured for her to come closer to the fire.
"But what does that mean?" She asked, and I shrugged.
"Like I know. I was supposed to be dead, but now I'm not. I'm just trying to survive in this world and understand more about it." I said with a sigh and then gestured for the woman to come closer.
Kyla did, and we talked a bit as she warmed up. She told me some things about the world, like how magic was scarce right now since Wisteria had forbidden anyone else from using it and that the gods of Tyme were looking for people like me.
Eventually, though, I made her sleep and watched her through the night. I didn't seem to need sleep anymore, and I didn't trust her, but I knew that I needed her help if I wanted to survive.
I had been given a second chance at life, and my last one left me feeling like I should have done more to rise higher. There was also the person that betrayed me, so I wasn't going to let it slip away because of one woman's stupidity.