64LAIR OF MADNESS
He knows! He knows I’m the Akh Nara. Cold chills crept down Vir’s back. His grip on his katar tightened.
Saunak had known all along. And yet, the mad thaumaturge had said nothing. He’d revealed nothing. Was it because he simply didn’t care? Or was there more going on here than met the eye?
Vir scanned his surroundings. Immediately, several smaller Automatons caught his eye.
Were there this many just a few minutes ago?
“Well? Out with it!” Saunak said, his eyes full of anticipation. “What did it show you?”
“Oh, uh. Not much,” Vir said tersely, doing everything he could to maintain a calm voice. “Just scenes of some people I care about.”
“Ah, yes,” Saunak said, nodding. “This seems to be a common theme.”
“Um, Cirayus?” Vir called. He locked eyes with the demon. “I think we should leave.”
Saunak appeared mortified. “But why? You’ve only just arrived! Why not stay longer? There’s no rush.”
Vir turned to Saunak, hoping to bluff his way out of this sticky situation. With as perceptive as the thaumaturge was, he’d have to put on his best act to have any hope of deceiving him. Even then, Vir didn’t hold out much hope. It’d have been best to minimize how much he said to the demon from here on out, but that was equally likely to raise his suspicions.
“I saw something in the Ink of Clarity just now,” he lied. “It showed me demons in the Demon Realm who were in danger. I think Cirayus and I should make haste to head there. People’s lives might be in jeopardy.”
Saunak hung his shoulders. “Very well, then,” he said in a deflated voice. “If you’ll follow me, I can recalibrate your Artifact.”
He actually bought it? Vir thought incredulously. Vir’s shoulders sagged as the tension flowed out of him.
The thaumaturge continued, muttering something under his breath. Vir only caught bits and pieces of it. “Such a shame… So long… But what if? Oh yes! Yes, that could work!”
Saunak perked up visibly after his conversation with himself—something that put Vir on edge.
Vir sidled up next to Cirayus, whispering, “We need to get out of here as soon as he fixes the orb.”
Cirayus nodded, sensing the urgency in Vir’s voice. He had the tact not to inquire any further, lest they be overheard.
Saunak hummed to himself as he led them to another, smaller room. This, too, was constructed of pure white floors, walls, and ceiling, all of which emanated a cool glow.
“Artifact, please!” Saunak said, opening his palm to Cirayus. The demon handed over the orb, and the thaumaturge inspected it from every angle.
“Yes, this should be a simple affair,” Saunak said, placing the orb into a receptacle that looked designed for it. The moment he did, the black metal stand glowed white with life, illuminating the orb.
Several images popped up above the table, resembling the tables Ashani had used to craft Vir’s Artifact chakram. Saunak peered at them intently, muttering to himself.
“Cirayus, can you be a dear and lend me a hand?” he asked.
The four-armed demon approached reluctantly, but Saunak held a hand up. “Over there, if you please. You see that panel?”
Cirayus walked over as instructed. “Aye. What of it?”
“Push the black button on there, will you?”
“Can’t you do this yourself?”
“I am needed here,” Saunak said, staring at the diagrams that floated above the table.
Cirayus shrugged, then pushed the button.
The instant he did, he disappeared.
Vir spun on reflex, katar in hand, Prana Current flaring.
He found himself in a small, triangular room. Had he been transported somewhere?
No, that’s not it, he realized. These are new walls!
Saunak had erected a series of walls, separating Vir from both Saunak and Cirayus. They’d risen so quickly Vir hadn’t even noticed.
“Ahem, ahem.” The sound of Saunak clearing his throat reached Vir’s ears, though he couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from. It was as though his voice emanated from all the walls at once, throwing off Vir’s sense of direction.
“What is the meaning of this? Lad, where are you?”
To Vir’s surprise, it was Cirayus’ voice.
“Cirayus?” he shouted. “Can you hear me?”
“Aye, I can, lad,” the demon growled. “Saunak, may you burn in the Ash! Release us at once, damn you!”
“Now, now,” Saunak said in a patronizing voice. “Settle down, you brute. If I wished to simply imprison you, I assure you I have other, more interesting ways. Look! You can even talk to each other through my speaker system, hmm? Not a luxury most captors would afford their prisoners, yes?”
While true, they were still his prisoners, Vir reflected.
The sound of thumping came through Saunak’s ‘speakers.’ It didn’t take much to guess that Cirayus was attempting to break himself out. The constant thumping showed he wasn’t finding much success.
“Cirayus, friend,” Saunak sneered, “you can strike that wall all day long, but I’m afraid the only thing you’ll break is Sikandar. Now, why don’t you two hear me out?”
“You expect us to believe anything you say? After this?” Cirayus raged.
Vir wondered why Cirayus hadn’t used Balancer of Scales, guessing that the Imperium metal was somehow blocking its effects from carrying beyond the prison Cirayus was in.
“Cirayus, he’s right,” Vir said. “This is Imperium metal, supported by preservation inscriptions. It’s invulnerable.”
“You should listen to the boy, Cirayus. He’s smarter than you.”
“Are you certain, lad?” Cirayus asked, ignoring the demon’s provocation.
“Quite. It’s the same stuff the tower’s made of. Not even the Prana Swarm got past that,” Vir replied, though he let a Katar Launch out just to be sure. As expected, there wasn’t even a trace of a dent in the wall. “Besides, if he can summon up these walls at will, who’s to say he won’t just conjure another if we do break it?”
“Very good! Yes, you are quite correct, Vir. Or should I say, Akh Nara?”
Vir gritted his teeth while the thumping sound coming from Cirayus’ prison halted.
“What did you say?” Cirayus asked.
“Can we skip the drama?” Saunak asked. “You’ll deny that young Vir is the Akh Nara, then I’ll furnish proof, and then you’ll hurl threats at me, swearing to kill me. Yes? Now that we’ve summarized the exchange, how about we just skip it and move on?”
Cirayus fell silent, pondering his words.
“He knows, Cirayus. I saw it in the Ink of Clarity. The Ink showed him the mark on my chest. He’s known from the very beginning.”
“I… see,” Cirayus replied coldly. Vir could almost hear the giant gnashing his teeth.
“What do you want from me?” Vir asked.
“What do I want?” Saunak exclaimed. “Why, that should be obvious.”
“Uh… not really?”
Saunak sighed exaggeratedly. “I wish for you to become my test subject, boy! You are the Akh Nara! The only demon alive to carry Ash prana in his veins! Can you even imagine how special you are? You’re easily the most unique test subject I’ve ever had! I spent weeks thinking up tests to perform! What breakthroughs will we make together?”
Vir almost laughed. Of all the things…
He’d suspected Saunak of secretly being in collusion with the Chitran. He worried Saunak would deliver Vir to them in return for great riches. Or perhaps a pardon, allowing him to return to the Demon Realm.
But no. Saunak was incredibly intelligent… Yet he was also simple. For him, research was all that mattered. Vir suspected no coin in the world would tempt him over the opportunity to study someone like Vir.