Chapter 106 Memory 3

The slave trader gathered all his employees to assemble every single slave he had, leaving a good impression was tantamount to his future success. Nobody dared to stand still for even a second, all hurried to bring every single slave he had in front of the mage. Releasing them from their cages could result in a few trying to escape, but he had hired some bodyguards that made sure none would even attempt. And even then, the presence of the mage known for following the rules was enough to crush any sort of rebellious thoughts.

The slaves neatly lined up in rows in front the great magus. The slave trader hurriedly came back and performed another exquisite bow, "These are all the available slaves we have at the moment, dear guest. If any of them suit your needs, please tell us and we'll take care of the rest."

The mighty magus only had tiny bright red lights in his skull to see, making it difficult for the slave trader to look at him. The eyes had a strange presence to them that made him feel uncomfortable. With a sweeping look, he turned around and opened a portal. The portal was just big enough for a human to walk straight into it, making him tower above it.

"I'll take them all.", he said, while throwing a tiny bag at the slave trader. His eyes glistened with delight at seeing what he received, and made quick work of his business. "Every slave here is now under this dear customer, treat him with respect and obey his every order. Now, march!". All the slaves had to enter the portal, not a single one was left behind.

The slaves arrived at a dark location but were quickly put in cages again. The life of most slaves were surprisingly harsh, but after a few weeks had passed, they didn't know what to think of it. They were held captive but received three healthy meals a day and had a comfy bed to sleep on. Eventually, more slaves arrived to receive the same kind of treatment.

After a while, the stream of new people stopped and things started to get a little more serious. Some people were called out and never returned, others came back but had lifeless eyes. More and more slaves had to leave their golden cage to experience something disastrous. At a certain point, one came back missing a limb or two.

Some slaves wanted to figure out what was happening, but nobody wanted to talk. More people went missing, then more came back with an extra arm. Some had animal parts stitched to their sides, others had complete facial structure, taking on gills to breathe. Others had extra eyes on their stomach and hands.

Years went by, and the slaves came back more and more deformed, most couldn't be categorized as human anymore. Horns of rhinos were plastered on one guy's back and shoulders, another had the hands and feet of a giant frog. Tentacles, paws, wings, proboscises, insect eyes, the list was too long to keep track. At a certain point, only one slave was left, a young boy that looked like the combination of several beasts forced together.

He was alone only in theory as he had another spiritual companion. He got used to the lifestyle of eating three meals a day to experience another experiment after. It was the usual for him, and he wasn't alone. Many slaves got used to the way things worked, they knew the risks and the pain, yet it became nothing to them but a gamble. Will I survive and eat another few good meals, or will this be my last goodbye?

There was a form of comradery among the remaining slaves, but after a few months even the most determined ones perished. The boy never really talked or made any friends, unlike others, he just kept to himself. He was done eating his meal and knew what came next. An attendant came forward like always and opened his cell. Through experimentation, he had the power to destroy the cell and kill every attendant, but against the great magus, he was nothing. Only a few slaves tried to escape with their given power, but none survived longer than an hour outside their cell.

Walking down the familiar corridor, he knew what came next. He couldn't remember how many times he walked that corridor, he couldn't even count to begin with. Next, he had to turn right, but the attendant walked left. The boy had already taken a step in the wrong direction before correcting himself. The servant brought him to a great dining table carrying tons of different delicious dishes. There were only two chairs, one on each end, one empty, one filled.

"Please, sit. Enjoy the food.", the enormous magus looked the exact same as he did years ago. It was a stark contrast to the boy who wouldn't be recognized by his own parents. He did as he was told, he had always done so. His limbs weren't his, but he had enough control over them to do the most basic actions.

The tone of the magus wasn't strong or serious, but almost fatherly. He felt friendly, but the boy knew all too well how much evil the man was capable of. Not that he cared, the food in front of him was too distracting, he didn't hold back in the slightest to eat as much as he could.

The magus picked up a piece of meat put gently placed it back down after carefully inspecting it. "This sustenance is something I can't enjoy, so I hope you'll enjoy for the both of us.", yet he didn't receive any answer besides the slurping of a freshly made soup.

"When I started this research, I was wondering which species I should pick to experiment with. Aurora is blessed with a plethora of diverse species living across the planet, many beasts that evolved to what they are now. I was even thinking of including a few dragons, but after reconsideration, that wouldn't have been the wisest choice."

"During my travels I noticed something quite peculiar, if there was one requirement for my research subject it would have to be adaptability. The capacity to develop and embrace change when placed in a foreign or dangerous environment. And only a few species came to mind. After searching further, I was sure that only humans had the power of adaptation more than any. Even my species aren't as fantastic as yours."

"While we live long, we don't bring as many offspring. In comparison to the tribes of insects, they live for mere days, but produce more offspring than any other species. They adapt fast through their evolutions, but are too stupid to do the slightest bit of communication. They are simply pests that need to be dealt with. Humans on the other hand seem like pests, but can adapt and evolve to something unprecedented."

"Your kind is the only one to have left an impression at every corner of the world. Kingdoms in the sky populated by hybrids of birds and humans, underwater palaces ruled by hybrids of humans and fish, underground temples filled with mole-men. Everywhere you look, there are signs of humanity, even with the bugs I've found a few early attempts of a fusion of the two. Hell, this entire stupid war with the dragons would normally put your race under pressure and make you fight as a single unit. Yet there are factions that support the dragons and fight against the other humans purely to protect the potential offspring. Isn't that wonderful?!"

During his speech, the mage had become very enthusiastic and couldn't help but move around with his hands and body. Words wouldn't ever be enough to express his feelings about his research.

"No matter where, humans adapt, even in the harsh circumstances that I placed you in. You slaves developed a hierarchy, a culture, friends and enemies. Although I guess humans always find an enemy, or they wouldn't be capable of bonding. And after all this time, I've found what I was searching for, but before that I would like to ask you a question."

For the first time since he arrived did the boy look away from the feast that was almost entirely eaten up. He was barely human anymore, and neither was his stomach.

"Why did you do nothing with your powers?"

The boy didn't answer, not that he couldn't, he just didn't know what to say.

"You've been given power that surpasses any normal human. Even my attendants would be demolished the moment you try to hurt them. You've awakened to magical powers, yet haven't even tried them out, why?"

The flickering of the flames from the chandeliers and the candles on the table were the only noise traveling throughout the room. The boy had stopped eating and was focussed on the great mage in front of him.

"Myria, what's the boy's name? I don't like referring to him as 'you' the entire time.", he still wanted to say a few more things, but the lack of names made him irritated. At first, he wanted to ask the boy, but he didn't seem all that interested in talking.

Names were a concept that every conscience race used to keep track of each other. A single name contains more information than any book could, they are the concept of a person. Everything someone is, their good and bad sides, are all compressed into that single word. Yet, the boy didn't have such a name, he was destined to remain a concept, as mist in the early morning, ungraspable.

"My apologies sir, his document only has a slave number, the name was left blank."

"Hmm? Did the guard forget to write it down?", he got a bit frustrated at someone else's sloppy work, but pushed his annoyances aside. "Do you have a reason to not use your powers?"

The silence returned, it wasn't weird or awkward for both sides. They reveled in the silence, it gave them a strange form of peace. The boy kept staring at the mage, but his mouth made no movement.

"We are getting nowhere, I invited you here because I wanted to give you something, a choice. You are the very last slave that survived this ordeal, so you deserve a prize. On one hand, I'm willing to set you free, no strings attached. Name a place and I will safely bring you there and give you enough universal currency to start life anew. I'm serious when I mean that there are no murky schemes or plans in the background, no. The first option is your complete freedom."

For the first option to be so tempting, the boy was wondering what would be placed against it.

"Or, you can stay for one final experiment. For almost all experiments I can give a rate of how likely someone is to survive, and this one is quite low, let's just say that you would have to be very lucky or strong to withstand it. But if successful, you could become a one of a kind with boundless potential."

The great mage gave the boy some time to think things through. The obvious lack of emotions or movement from the boy did confuse the mage for a bit. He didn't know whether he had already made a choice, or if he could even understand him.

The mage wanted the boy to speak first, but he didn't utter a single sentence. At a certain point the attendants had to take away the food since it started to get cold. They hesitated to bring another portion since all the food around the boy was gone, and he was still holding on to some meat. Unlike in the beginning, he didn't even look at the food being taken away, he was still concentrated on the mage.

"So, have you made your choice?", the great mage had a lot of patience, he had lived for centuries at this point. Still, he got bored with the waiting and still had other things he wanted to do.

'Yes'

"Hmm? Did you just speak to me?", the boy had not moved an inch, nevertheless, the mage was certain he heard a different voice in his mind.

'Yes...choice...I.....make'

The mage couldn't believe it at first, stunned in thought. Then he started to bang the table in enjoyment.

BAM BAM BAM

"Hahahaha, to think you would talk to me telepathically! HAHAHA, what a wondrous day!"

'...I....want.....teacher.."

"Hahaha I'll be much more than that to you. A slave that has an innate gift, to think such a thing existed! Forget about the choice, I want you by my side! I'll turn you into someone everyone will respect!"