Screams echoed from within the metal chamber where Hex was locked, his voice muffled but piercing enough to disturb even the seasoned soldiers stationed outside. They exchanged uneasy glances, their postures tense as they tried to ignore the sounds but found it impossible.
One soldier muttered to his comrade, "What do you think she's doing to him in there?"
The other soldier shrugged, looking almost relieved it wasn't him inside. "Who knows with her? She always seemed a bit… unhinged. Only the Gods know what that poor old man's going through."
Inside the chamber, Hex sat slumped, chained to the wall, his breaths coming in ragged pants. Blood trickled from multiple cuts across his arms and chest. Dahlia and Perus stood in front of him, both equally marked by the scene. Dahlia's hands were smeared with Hex's blood, and she held a scalpel with a detached fascination, as if her mind was elsewhere.
"Hmmm," she murmured, tilting her head, "you're not healing as quickly as I'd thought. I wonder why…"
Perus looked between Dahlia and Hex, worry plain on his face. "Dahlia… perhaps that's enough. He's been through quite a lot."
She dismissed his concern with a flick of her hand, her eyes still trained on Hex. "One more sample," she mused aloud, almost to herself.
"No!" Hex's voice was raw, a mix of defiance and pain. "No more experiments. I've been cut, stabbed, burned—and I don't even know what kind of poisons you've been pumping into me. I'm done."
Dahlia looked thoughtful, pressing her finger to her chin. "Suppose that's fair. We're done… for the day."
Hex's eyes widened, a fresh spark of fear flaring in them. "For the day? No, we're done permanently. I'd rather be put to death than endure another one of your 'experiments.'"
"Oh, come on." Dahlia waved him off with a slight smile. "You grew up in the ghetto, didn't you? I'd think you'd be used to a little rough treatment."
Hex let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Rough treatment? This is torture. I don't even know what you've been injecting me with. It feels like my insides are melting."
Dahlia's eyes lit up, intrigued by his description. She dashed to a small cart in the corner, grabbing a quill and a notebook. "Can you describe it in a bit more detail? Does it feel like fire, or something more… acidic?"
"No!" Hex's response was final, his voice edged with an irritation that had been building up. Seeing he was done cooperating, she sighed and set down the notebook, frustration crossing her face.
"Well then, since you were so cooperative up until now, I'll share something of interest with you. You wanted to know more about magic, right?" She raised an eyebrow, as if hoping he'd be lured by the offer.
Hex glared but remained silent, his pride bruised and anger simmering beneath the surface.
Perus whispered, "I think he's angry with you."
Dahlia rolled her eyes. "Thank you for stating the obvious, Perus."
She folded her arms, studying Hex's face. "Since you're not feeling chatty, I'll talk, and you'll listen. As I mentioned before, in order to use magic, you draw mana from your source. But to actually do that, you need to be awakened."
Hex's gaze softened slightly, his curiosity edging out his frustration. "And how do I draw mana from a source?"
Dahlia's lips curled into a smirk. She loved explaining things when she had someone's full attention. "You can't open it yourself. Someone else has to do it for you. Specifically, you need a pistis."
"Pistis?" Hex repeated, his voice a mix of interest and disbelief.
"Yes," Dahlia replied. "Pistis are mystical beings, created from the beliefs of others. They're rare, and they tend to appear where belief is strongest."
"Where can I find one of these… pistis?" Hex's voice held a glimmer of hope.
"They're hard to find," Dahlia said. "They can appear almost anywhere, but Balvard has a few of them in containment."
Hex nodded slowly. "Balvard… I've heard of that place. Isn't it that fancy sorcery school in the capital?"
Dahlia's eyes sparkled with pride. "Yes, Balvard University. It's where people like me go to train. They capture pistis there for study. If you can pay the fee, you may even get a chance to awaken."
Hex's hope dimmed. "Of course, only the wealthy have that luxury. Not that it matters—I'm likely to be executed or imprisoned soon."
Dahlia observed him thoughtfully. "You might not need a pistis."
Hex looked at her, brows raised. "And why's that?"
"It's just a hunch," she said, folding her arms. "But I think that orb might have awakened you. There's a chance you're already in touch with a source."
For a moment, pure excitement sparked in Hex's eyes. "Are you serious? You think I might be awakened already?"
Dahlia held up a hand. "It's only a possibility. I haven't confirmed anything."
Perus looked horrified, staring at Dahlia as if she'd lost her mind. "Why would you tell a criminal that he might have magical abilities? What if he tries to break free?"
Dahlia laughed, dismissing his worry. "What could he possibly do? Besides, he's already sensed that something is different. That transformation into… whatever he became—it wasn't ordinary."
Perus pressed on, still wary. "For all he knows, that transformation might've been some kind of curse. What if he becomes dangerous?"
Dahlia shrugged, unconcerned. "Then that pompous captain can deal with it. He managed to subdue him once before, didn't he?"
Hex looked between them, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and annoyance. "You do realize I'm still here, right?"
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through Hex's abdomen, forcing him to double over in agony. His body tensed, the pain unlike anything he'd felt during the experiments. This time, it felt deeper, as though his very core was twisting.
Dahlia and Perus froze, only noticing when Hex let out a strangled cry. Dahlia rushed to his side, her tone shifting from condescending to slightly concerned. "What's wrong?"
Hex grimaced, clutching his stomach. "My… stomach… it's unbearable…"
Perus's face paled. "We have to do something! He's clearly in pain—you pushed him too far."
He dashed toward the door, ready to call for help, but Dahlia grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Wait," she whispered, her eyes wide with fascination.
Perus glanced back, bewildered. "What? Can't you see he's suffering?"
But Dahlia wasn't listening. Her gaze was locked on Hex, who was writhing, his face twisting with agony. As they watched, his skin seemed to shimmer, his wrinkles fading, his eyes brightening. His hair regained color, the deep lines of age reversing as his youth was restored before their eyes.
When the pain finally subsided, Hex slumped forward, breathing heavily. He blinked in confusion, looking down at his hands, now unmarked by time.
Dahlia's lips parted in surprise, but her eyes glowed with satisfaction. "It seems… whatever magic you have inside you has started working."
Perus took a step back, his face a mix of awe and fear. "Dahlia, this is… Are you sure we can hold him?" Hex, now restored to his former self, looked up at her, his eyes filled with a spark that hadn't been there before.