{15th July 1992}
{Rigel's POV}
A low groan escaped my lips as I slowly woke up to an aching body. My head pulsed with a relentless, stabbing pain that sharpened with every movement of my eyes, scattering my thoughts into a blurred mess.
Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I blinked groggily into dim light, my vision swimming for several disorienting seconds before finally coming into some semblance of focus.
The first coherent thought to break through the haze of confusion was that something felt wrong. My body was tightly bound, pressed uncomfortably against a hard wooden chair. Chains bit painfully into my wrists and even looped around my chest, restricting any meaningful movement.
I struggled instinctively, panic bubbling up within my chest, causing the metal links to bite deeper into my skin. My breath hissed sharply through gritted teeth as the sudden motion sent a stabbing pain shooting through my chest, reminding me abruptly of my violent collision with the wall.
'Shit, although it looks like they weren't broken, I'm pretty sure they were bruised.'
A wave of dizziness rolled through me, forcing me to slump back into the chair as I breathed harshly and desperately tried to gather myself and my thoughts. My heart hammered painfully. Carefully, cautiously, I reached for my mana. Only to be greeted by emptiness.
The shock of losing access to my mana reserves terrified me, leaving me hollowed out and vulnerable. Panic broke through my usual calm as the oppressive absence of a usual sense of comfort sent an icy shiver down my spine.
Without mana, I was effectively defenseless, a feeling I hadn't experienced since I arrived in this world. Since coming to this world and realizing that magic existed, I had always been within the safe confines of my own world.
'Merlin, what had happened to the others?' The thought screamed through my mind.
The memory of the explosion flooded back abruptly...the shattered wall, screaming voices, Ginny's terrified shriek. My breath quickened, anxiety pulsing urgently through me. I strained desperately, eyes darting around the room, searching frantically for any sign of my friends.
The room was small, starkly furnished, and oppressively dark, illuminated only by a single hovering candle suspended unnaturally near the ceiling in front of me. Its dim, golden light flickered gently, casting wavering shadows across the walls.
The ceiling fan, blades motionless and thickly layered with dust, loomed silently above me, adding to the suffocating atmosphere as its shadow stretched over the room.
I struggled again, experimenting with the chains, but the metal refused to yield, digging deeper into my wrists. Frustrated, I stopped struggling and breathed deeply to steady myself. My Occlumency wasn't working without access to mana, but my mind was thankfully protected because of the system.
My injuries from the blast seemed relatively minor right now, but were enough to restrict my movement. A few pulled muscles, maybe a bruised rib, nothing critical for now, but certainly debilitating in this situation. The one worry right now was my sealed mana.
A sudden, subtle prickling ran through my mana sense. Despite suppressing my mana reserves, my mana sense worked unhindered- more an instinct, a passive trait than active magic. I sensed two people approaching, just beyond the door, their presence sharp and distinct, even without visual confirmation.
My heart leaped with renewed anxiety. I had seconds, perhaps less, before the door opened, just enough time to attempt one desperate gamble. They clearly knew that we were wizards, as they had cut off my mana reserves, but perhaps they'd overlooked something subtler: my metamorphmagus abilities. If I could just shift slightly, thin my wrists, loosen the bindings just a little, I could possibly slip free.
I tried to do just that, but nothing happened. Feeling desperate, I closed my eyes, focusing intently inward, desperately willing my form to change, shift, anything to free myself.
My heart pounded urgently as I strained, yet…nothing happened. Frustration surged through me, quickly replaced by cold calm as the small shard of hope was ruthlessly shattered. Whatever method they used to suppress my magic clearly was comprehensive. Even my innate abilities that needed active mana usage were inaccessible.
Before I could process my disappointment, the door swung sharply open, flooding the room briefly with brighter light before quickly dimming again. Two figures stepped inside: a stout, potbellied man with beady eyes and heavy features, followed closely by a beautiful middle-aged woman.
The woman instantly captured my attention. Her features were unmistakably familiar, strikingly similar to Parvati's. This had to be Mrs. Patil.
She stepped forward smoothly, clearly taking control.
"Rigel Black," she began calmly, her voice smooth and faintly tinged with regret. "I apologize for the harshness of your journey here, but you left us little choice."
My jaw tightened instinctively. "Where are the others?" I demanded sharply, voice far steadier than I expected.
Mrs. Patil's lips curled faintly, clearly pleased with my immediate concern. "They're safe...for now. Whether they remain so, however, depends entirely upon your prompt cooperation."
I felt my breath catch painfully, a wave of relief battling briefly against the fresh spike of anxiety her words provoked. Still, with my Occlumency down, it was hard to keep my face carefully neutral to hide my internal turmoil.
"What is it you want from me?" I asked calmly, forcing my voice to be steady and confident.
Mrs. Patil's smile widened slightly, clearly amused by my controlled demeanor. She stepped closer, leaning slightly forward, eyes sharp and calculating. My eyes drifted slightly to her exposed cleavage for a moment as she spoke, "The legacy of Dhanvantari, of course. Why else would your trip pass conveniently through Allahabad?"
I felt my heart drop. 'Of course, this entire journey had been carefully orchestrated from the beginning, wasn't it? Was Parvati in on it and had fooled my mana sense?' I thought. Still, despite my growing anxiety, I maintained my outward calm, meeting her gaze evenly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said neutrally.
She laughed softly, the sound oddly melodious but laced with thinly veiled threat. "Don't insult our intelligence, Rigel. There's no need to deny it. We know precisely what you have discovered. There are greater forces at play here than you can possibly comprehend."
The hint of warning in her tone was impossible to ignore, but I deliberately disregarded it, forcing my thoughts to remain clear and rational. If she knew this much- where the legacy is likely stored, the book's existence- it meant someone among them had read and deciphered the book, or at least part of it. So why did they still need me?
'Doesn't make much sense now, does it? Why would you expose a hidden-' I stopped
The missing puzzle piece clicked neatly into place. Still, stacking the clues meant something I had that they didn't, something important they couldn't accomplish without me.
Perhaps something related to Parseltongue? That seems unlikely, though. Still, if that were true, I would still have some leverage, however limited. Judging by their mana signatures,anxious, eager yet tinged with subtle desperation, they weren't as confident as they pretended.
'Fuck me, at least with mana sense I have some form of way to deal with this....'
I kept my expression carefully neutral, letting silence hang briefly between us, so she could sense my quiet defiance. "If you're so confident," I asked slowly, "why bother capturing us at all? Why not simply seek the inheritance yourselves?"
A faint flash of irritation flickered briefly in her eyes, quickly masked but enough to confirm my suspicion. She needed me specifically. Her lips pressed together briefly, her voice sharper now. "Because the final layer of protections cannot be accessed without a true descendant, someone who has his blood and mana flowing through his veins."
Now that threw me off. How was I related to an ancient Indian wizard? Yet I felt a flicker of triumph at gaining the exact leverage I needed. I exhaled slowly, carefully weighing my next words. "And if I refuse?"
The potbellied man shifted uneasily behind her, clearly anxious. Mrs. Patil's expression tightened visibly. "Then your friends will pay the price for your stubbornness. Make no mistake, we do not wish to harm innocents, but the value of our goals is greater than any single individual."
Her words settled heavily around the room, chilling in their implied threat. Panic surged again briefly before I forced it ruthlessly down. My poker face might have wavered, but I continued on with the negotiation.
"I'll need proof they're safe," I finally said calmly. "Show me they're unharmed, and we can negotiate further."
Mrs. Patil studied me silently, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she nodded reluctantly. "Very well. A fair request. I will arrange it shortly, but be warned, Rigel. Do not mistake our willingness to negotiate for weakness. We are committed to obtaining the inheritance, one way or another."
She turned sharply and swept away from the room. The potbellied man shot me a nervous glance before scurrying quickly after her. The door slammed heavily behind them, leaving me once more in suffocating silence.
I exhaled shakily, sagging against my bindings. My mind raced frantically, desperately seeking a solution. I first thought about what I had learned from her words. I had some leverage, some information, just enough to buy time and perhaps the freedom of others, but not for me.
'I had to escape and free the others. Still, this feels like a carefully prepared room, so other safeguards would be in place besides the chain. Brute force likely wouldn't help me. Not that I can likely get out of the chain anyway...' I thought, though it wasn't as easy as it seemed. Yet, without access to magic, bound tightly, isolated from everyone…what options did I have?
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AN: 54+ chapters on P.atreon: p,atreon.com/light.novel.addict