Chapter 16 - Remembrance
Here we have it! The start of the Tower of Heaven! An expansion on what happened in the past and how Jellal managed to escape! This time in HD!
On a side note, by my predictions, the vignettes and side stories will come around in 3-4 chapters :D
"Hey…" Jellal looked up, his mouth no longer scowling.
"Hey." Benjin sighed in relief. I suppose that's over, for now at least. Looking around, Benjin noticed that dark mages were still trying to run away. Of course, there could have been ones that actually ran away. Nothing like a quick aura-scan wouldn't fix. Two of them, a fair distance away. Light chains!
Over a dozen chains exploded form Benjin's form, pushing their way towards the escaping mages and dragging each and every one of them back to the clearing. As soon as they came back, he could literally feel the disdain rolling off Jellal in waves. Thankfully, he made no move to attack.
"So uh, you want to talk about it?"
Silence.
A few seconds passed, before Jellal looked up. "No, not really." Benjin looked around - should I tell him? - he shuffled his feet anxiously, still pondering the question. He really wanted to know what happened, but he didn't want to pry. Above all else, he could understand because he had things he didn't want to talk about too.
Benjin took a deep breath. Okay, leap of faith.
"Remember when we went on that Vulcan mission, and you wanted to know about my magic?" His friend perked up in interest, still uneasy about what just happened.
"Yeah?"
"If you tell me what happened in the year, we got separated…" The blonde took another deep breath, using all his mental strength to overcome the final hurdle. "I'll… tell you everything you wanted to know." Jellal's eyes widened slightly. "History, how I got it, why I got it. Everything."
Please say yes.
Remember what he thought was the tensest seconds of his life? Well, this just took its crown.
"…"
An eternity seemed to pass, before Jellal gave a slight smile.
"Okay."
About Three Years Prior - X775
"Today is the day." For the past couple of hours, he had been mulling on his decision to give chase to the dark mages. It was an irresponsible and horrible idea. There was no way he could win against dozens of adults in combat; above all, he didn't know magic. Although even if he did, would that even make a difference? After all, Shoron's dad was a retired mercenary mage and he still lost. No matter how he looked at it, his plans were stupid beyond measure.
But I have to do it! The blue-haired boy plopped back on the rocks, his teeth grinding against themselves.
Argh! It was so frustrating! There were so many different factors to consider! Sure, he was confident he could find the dark mages, but what if they just outright kill him? Even if he was captured, what if there were multiple bases? It could have easily been the case where he won't even get to see Shiron! Not only that, but he couldn't fight! Guaranteeing his own escape alone would have been impossible. And on top of that… Jellal glanced back at the village.
Could I really abandon him?
Benjin, his new friend; someone who shared in his sorrows who was probably going to lose his mom very soon. But his window was closing! Every second he waits here is a second that the slavers could spend moving! If he stayed too long… he might not be able to catch up. Pressing his fist to his temple, Jellal closed his eyes in thought. Okay, calm down… think this through.
His friend, even if alone, was safe. Despite being the same age, roughly, he could use magic. At the very least, he was capable of protecting himself.
On the other hand… Shiron, he had no idea where he was or even where he could be. Everything was a mess; his entire plan gambled on the fact that the group of dark mages he tracked to be the same. But, he couldn't even confirm it. Originally, he used the maps he had of nearby villages to predict their course by the smoke that would fly into the sky every once in a while. However, he was potentially on a wild goose chase with absolutely nothing at the end.
But I still have to try!
Standing up, Jellal clenched his fists, his aura unknowingly rising with his conviction.
"Today is the day!" Courage rose to the surface; with a jump, he gracefully descended down the rock and ran towards the village where he planned to intercept the mages.
It was decided, and his heart was set. Despite that, he gave one last look behind him.
We'll meet again, I'm sure of it!
For the past week, Jellal tried his hardest to make his way towards Coriander village. However inaccurate, he had an idea of which path the dark mages would take. Although, he still opted to be safe just so he could avoid them until they met at the village. If their paths intersected in the forest, there was a chance he could be outright killed. Why? Because him being in the middle of nowhere would be seen as suspicious, and the dark mages could easily just decide he's not worth the trouble.
My best bet is to pretend I'm a local and hide in a spot that's not too hard to find!
Jellal grinned; he was mere minutes away from the village and if he timed it right, he could easily get to wherever they took the villagers… without getting a single injury.
There it is!
In the distance, the blue-haired boy found a familiar sight. Wooden lodges, straw huts, and the occasional stone house. It was so eerily similar to his own home, it made him think that it was actually the same guy that built all of them.
Naming too…
Jellal shook his head. Okay, none of that mattered! If his predictions were right, the dark mages should be here in less than two hours.
Wait…
He widened his eyes, a hint of panic creeping to the surface as he failed to consider something important! What if the slavers ask the other villagers about him? They wouldn't know who he is, and he would instantly be found out! He had to blend in no matter what! But how?
"…"
Perhaps he was overthinking this? Even if he wasn't a local, maybe he wouldn't be treated any differently from the others? Taking a deep breath to calm his hyperventilation, the boy sat down and closed his eyes. Okay, calm down and think this through.
To the attackers, he was just another prisoner. If he put up just enough resistance, then they wouldn't figure out he actually wanted to be captured. Then, if he avoided the other villagers until the time is right, no one would be able to identify him. But… Jellal smirked. If he were to cover his face with mud, then he would be able to hide his most notable features, my hair and tattoo! Perfect!
Now… Stealth was something he quickly learned in some of the closer calls he had with the dark mages. Thankfully, none of the villagers were able to see him weave around the small alleys, give himself a facemask, and enter a visible box filled with cracks. Jellal took a gander at the passing villagers, smiling confidently.
It's time to play the waiting game.
Just like he thought, the sounds of frantic footsteps and panic could be heard from his semi-inconspicuous hiding spot all around. Soon… Jellal cracked a smile through his quickening heartbeats.
They will find me.
Within minutes, the screams of the villagers echoed around his surroundings. Combat, resistance, and… people dying filled the air. The sounds of flesh being struck, and spells being fired became more and more apparent the longer he remained. Everything around him; the chaos, the screaming, the flames. Goosebumps covered his skin as the very sounds made his blood run cold.
Can I… really do this?
Really, what the hell was he thinking? Getting captured purposely?! Why would he ever come up with something so stupid! Not only did he not bother to think about what his plans truly entailed, but he was in way over his head. All the luck in the world wouldn't save him now. There was no Shiron to distract the mages; there was no cellar for him to hide under. All he had, was a box.
Absentmindedly, the boy peeked out, only to freeze as he made direct eye contact with one of the slavers. Crap! There was no turning back now! Any hope of backing out went right out the window! Okay, calm down, remind yourself why you're doing this! All this trouble… this insanity; it was to save his friend. He made a plan; now, it's time he followed it through!
Follow it through!
Not even realizing it, Jellal began to cradle his legs in a fetal position. The intense beating of his heart only matched by the combination of fear and conviction warring on the inside.
FOLLOW IT THROUGH!
"And what do we have here?" Despite being found; he knew. At that moment… it was conviction that won the struggle. Now? He was in it for good.
Where are they taking me?
To his surprise - a very pleasant one - the slaver grabbed him out of the box like he weighed nothing and knocked him out instantly. It was a while before he even woke up; now, he was positive he was on some sort of boat. Of course, the intense rocking made it obvious, not discounting the sheer humidity here either.
From what he could tell, he was alone in his cell. The walls felt like wood, and it blocked him from seeing anything with the exception of metal bars making up the front wall. Even if he could stick his head out of them, he doubted he would have seen anything.
No light…
So, here he was: no friends, no magic, no help, no idea where he was, on a boat to somewhere. What could he even do at this point? Jellal paced around his rather… cozy cell, before sitting down cross-legged. Think. About what? Oh yes, he knew now. About his next steps, about his future plans. He had to figure out what he would do if he was taken to a different place than Shiron. There was no way he could have escaped some sort of fortress by himself. Either he had to learn stealth, or he had to break out. But how? Wait, that's it! Widening his eyes, the boy smiled confidently in his own revelation.
A revolt!
There were many factors he had to consider. He had to gamble that there would be a far greater number of slaves compared to the slavers. Of course, Jellal put a hand to his chin, he had to confirm that first. If they didn't have enough of a numbers advantage, then he would have to figure out some other way.
"Psst… hey kid."
What if just having magic made even numbers pointless? It is very possible that a single slaver could subdue hundreds if not thousands of non-mages just from that! If that's the case, then he could kiss any short to medium-long term escape plans goodbye!
"Kid!" Not only that, but… wait is someone talking to me?
Jellal curiously looked around his cell, until he noticed a small oddity on the wall to his right. Is that a hole? Wait, someone is looking through it!
"Um, hello?"
He could only raise a brow in confusion as he heard a sigh of relief from the other side.
"Sorry if I scared ya, you were muttering up a storm…" Wait what? "Thought you went crazy there, sitting so still!" Okay…? Wait he was muttering?
"Well, as you can see, I am completely fine." A chuckle.
"Hah! That's good to hear."
Jellal simply stared silently at what he thought was the man's eyes.
"…"
"…"
"I'm James by the way!" This is getting kind of weird.
"…Jellal." Now the man was laughing, loudly.
"I'd shake your hand but my hand's too fat to reach over!" The boy couldn't help but scrunch up his face as he exhaled harder than he would usually.
"Anyways kid, you know where we're going?" Jellal narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He doesn't know? Either he's been captured too, or he might be tricking him.
"No… Did they capture you too?"
"…Aye." Jellal could feel the mood drop before picking back up again, slightly. "But don't let that bring you down! I was a hunter! I brought down four of 'em before they even managed to capture me!" Four? Wait. What if this man knew magic? If that was true, he could learn from him, however little, in the unspecified amount of time he's here! This weird man in the adjacent cell; it was a blessing in his disguise!
"Say, Mister!"
"Oh- yes?" Jellal could tell the man was taken aback by his excitement.
"Do you know magic?"
Silence.
Jellal grimaced, panic running through him. Was he not supposed to say that? What if someone heard him! What if-
"Yes…" The boy released the breath he didn't know was holding, thankful, "I'm assuming you want to learn how?"
Jellal smiled; he had to seize any advantage he could.
"Yes."
"Move faster you useless child!" Jellal had to hold back a grunt as the slaver shoved him harshly onto the plank leading to a dock. It was about two weeks before the boat ride was over. He grimaced, a hint of frustration surfacing on his features. Through that month, however, he made almost zero progress on magic.
As much as James tried to teach him the basics of gun magic, the furthest he was able to make was being able to feel his magic - like it was a second heart. Of course, it wasn't exactly useful. He could feel his 'first' heart if he wanted, but that didn't mean he could somehow control it. It doesn't matter, I'll find some way to use it. He smirked inwardly. Nothing is truly useless with the right application!
As he continued walking, he brought his focus outwards and began looking at where he was taken. Unfortunately, all the adults were forced to go first… for some reason, their heads were also covered by sacs. Why wasn't I? Wait. The children! If his count was correct, there were only 4 children including himself. None of them had their heads covered.
Why? Jellal widened his eyes slightly, before smiling confidently. They were underestimating him. He was granted yet another boon in his plan; he had to make use of it.
There wasn't much he could do now other than observe.
No matter how hard it is, remember!
He likely only had one chance to do what he intended, so he had to make it count!
With a focus sharper than he had managed before, he began memorizing the details of the island he was brought to. Watch, remember, and write it down before I forget! Even if he didn't have paper, he'll sketch it in stone with his own blood if he had to!
About ten minutes later, the slaver motioned Jellal to stop, before forcing him into a cell, one far roomier than his ship cell.
Argh!
Why did they throw him in! He would have obediently walked in on his own! Stupid slavers… From what he could tell, there were four other people besides himself; three were children like him, while one was an old man with white hair and beard… and VERY long eye- wait no! These details could be taken in later, he had to find some way to write things down before it's too late!
Frantically running around the cell, to the other's confusion, Jellal checked every nook, every corner, completely ignoring everyone else.
"What are you looking for, little one?" The soothing voice of the old man called to him. It was as if, it had some sort of calming effect. His mind was clearer, and he found his panic dying down.
He turned his gaze towards the man, taking in his details fully. On him were nothing but rags, his body so frail his ribs could be seen. On his wrists, was the same slave lock that he had on himself. Either that shocks us if we misbehave or I'm stupid.
"Something to write with." Jellal could only widen his eyes to saucers as the old man silently pulled a pen and a small stack of paper from a crevice. WHAT?! Instantly, the boy snatched it from the old man's hands, eliciting a small laugh from him.
"How did you get-"
"Our little secret." The man motioned for him to shush. Jellal smiled deviously. Oh, I see.
If he wasn't meant to have this, that means he had to do whatever he needed to do, fast. If he got caught by a slaver than he could kiss this chance goodbye! Okay, remember! Every, single detail!
Jellal cleared his mind, thinking back to the walk he had from the boat to the cell, before scribbling down everything he recalled.
After the dock, there was a dirt path situated in the middle of a barren landscape. Estimated distance, about 100 meters? Trees and rocks were here and there - they could be good places to hide behind. In the middle, was a godforsaken tower with pipes and spires jutting out in every direction. The whole thing itself looked like an architectural monstrosity or a masterpiece. I couldn't see the top when I was walking, and it was night. If I had to guess, it was easily over a kilometer high.
There were very few guards in this area; the only ones actually guarding were at the dock and the entrance. Inside, there was a massive area with many people who seemed to be slaves mining and doing other forms of work. I believe that's something I would have to do despite not being an adult.
From the entrance, we walked through a rounded path towards the right, reaching a lift. The lift only brought us to the 46th floor I believe before we had to walk the rest of the way. From the lift, we walked around the same rounded path until we were directly across. We then went up to sixteen flights of stairs, or 8 floors, before reaching the 54th floor. I noticed that I was the only one brought to this floor, the rest of the children who I did not know were taken to lower floors. On the top floor, the slaver led me on the rounded path towards the left. I counted four cells until reaching the one I am now. I managed to stray far enough from the slaver to look over the balcony. The floor I saw didn't look like it was 54 floors worth of height, so there must have been another central floor where work was done.
There!
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Jellal quickly slid the paper back into a crevice, before he sighed deeply in relief. Wait.
"Whoah! Too close!" Without even realizing it, all the other kids were all crowded around him. He backed away instinctively, of course, only to have a little girl crawl towards him in interest.
"Wow! You're really smart!" The blue-haired boy nervously glanced to the side, before making eye contact with the girl in front of him.
"Um… thanks?" Not sure if it's just me, but she kind of looks like a cat.
"Now children," the familiar calming voice grabbed all their attention, "let's not be too hasty, we haven't even introduced ourselves yet! I'll go first, I'm-"
"Hi! I'm Millianna, what's your name?" Jellal looked to the others, both of the other kids had looks of interest, while one of them also looked… tired. Very much so. Jellal looked down, before zooming back up remembering he was in the middle - I guess? - of a conversation.
"Oh… I'm Jellal." In that instant, he found his hand being shaken by the enthusiastic young girl.
"Nice to meet you Jellal!" She pointed towards a downtrodden blonde boy, dressed in rags. "That's Sho!" Jellal simply nodded in acknowledgment as he made eye contact with the boy. "And that's Wally!" The boy mentioned gave a slight wave, so he gave one in return.
"Nice to meet you guys too… I guess?" With the exception of Millianna, the other two kids just nodded while smiling awkwardly at him.
"…"
Okay, he didn't have time for this! It didn't matter who these people are, he had to find out whether or not Shiron was here! Unless somehow, the people in this cell could use magic. And really, there was absolutely no way he would be that lucky!
"Hey old man." Jellal ignored the rest of the kids, opting to speak to the one who likely knew the most of what was going on. Said old man nodded, urging him to continue. "Do you know a boy my age, black hair, brown eyes, named Shiron? The man widened his eyes slightly, causing Jellal to do the same.
He knows! That means he's here!
Jellal didn't even wait for the other to reply. Clasping his hands straight onto the old man's shoulders, the other found himself being shaken by the younger boy.
"Where is he?! Tell me now!"
"C-calm D-d-down!" In that instant, the blue-haired boy found out what he was doing to the frail elder. After releasing him, he could do nothing but bite into his lip red-faced.
"…Sorry." And now they're laughing at him. Joy.
As he calmed, Jellal took a deep breath and nodded at the old man, urging him to explain. Sighing, the elder began.
"Shiron… a troublemaker that one is." Troublemaker? "Doesn't know when to stop, nor when to put his head down." Jellal smiled at his words. That must have been him! "He was here in this cell with us." Wait… the boy's mouth went agape from the sheer coincidence of that fact. He's in THIS cell! No wait, he was… so where's he now? Jellal gave his attention back to the old man, who took it as a sign to continue. "Shiron, that stubborn boy, yesterday he…" A crestfallen expression plastered on his face, "…stopped the slaver from striking me when they forced me to move faster."
Oh no…
"They took him… likely to discipline him for what he did," Jellal opened his mouth, but was cut off by the old man. "Where? I truly don't know."
No…
"I'm sorry young one, he was your friend, wasn't he?"
He JUST missed him!
Unknowingly, he began aggressively ruffling his own hair. Try as he might, he couldn't help but let the frustration rise to the surface. Really, how could he not be frustrated? Everything somehow went perfectly fine, then, he missed a golden opportunity… by a single day.
AHHHHHHH-
"Jellal." Said boy's internal screaming was interrupted by the old man, who stared at him with the same kindness he felt from him when they first met. "That boy is as stubborn as they get, I'm sure…" Sure what?! "That he's still alive!" Thankfully, the old man's words visibly calmed him down.
That's right. Before, he wasn't even sure, but he knew now! Shiron was confirmed to be here! The chance of a lookalike with the same name was so low it was improbable! It didn't matter where they took him. It didn't matter how long he might have to remain here… because now? Jellal smirked confidently, his fists tightening anxiously. I can plan my escape.
"Hey old ma-"
"Rob." Rob? Oh…
"Hey Rob…" Rob's kind eyes met with Jellal's own.
"Thank you."
.
.
.
.
Chapter 16 Done! Next Chapter: The Tower of Heaven
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