FOUR (A)

Zenon experimented with a lot of things over a month to satisfy his curiosity and hunger for knowledge. He learned a lot of new uses of Imperium Materia, such as cutting anything in a cleaned slice no matter how hard it was, or more exactly dividing the molecules of Matter to cut them.

He also experimented on living things like rats and chickens. He used different uses of his first-class spell, such as changing their shape, crystalizing their blood, and separating their body in two.

Bloody and gruesome, the experiment could be called animal abuse, if it had existed in this world. Zenon didn't mind brutalizing the body of an animal for his pursuit of knowledge, thoughts like that would only hinder him from his purpose and goal.

###

In the midst of Zenon's activity, a hurried knock downstairs interrupted his concentration. He went down to see, curious who was the person knocking so hurriedly on his door. When he opened the door, Lor instantly grabbed him on his shoulder, a clear panic was plastered on his face.

"Zenon you must help Kevin!" Lor hurriedly said.

"Why, what happened?" Zenon asked a bit puzzled by the abrupt situation.

"He was taken by the town's guard."

"Why? What did Kevin do that the town's Guard took him?"

"I don't know, the only thing I know is that Kevin accepted a delivery job for someone. I also heard some rumors that the content of the package he was delivering was stolen goods from the caravan of the noble that had previously been raided by the rebels."

"What! That meant that Kevin is probably accused of being part of the rebels!" Zenon hurriedly said. "This is bad! If the noble is involved, Kevin will never be proven innocent. Nobles don't care what happens to us, as long they think you're involved, they will execute you even if you're innocent."

"Then what should we do?" Lor's face became gloomy after hearing that. "We must do something to help him!"

Zenon put his hand on Lor's shoulder and tried to calm him. "Don't worry, I will try to talk to the noble who is in charge of this town."

"Huh? How? You know that not anyone can meet up with the nobles." Lor asked, tilting his head to the side. "Especially if you don't set up an appointment. They will ignore you, or even worse capture you for disturbing a noble."

"Don't worry, I'm not a normal person, I'm a One Star Mage now." Zenon reassuringly said. "We both know that Mage is respected in this kingdom, so I believe they will give me some face and meet with me."

"Ah! Yes, that's true, I almost forgot that you're a One Star Mage now." Lor's face brightened a bit hearing a piece of good news. "I guess that's the only thing we can do. I hope you can convince them that Kevin is innocent."

"Yeah me too. Wait here, I will prepare and wear something more presentable."

"Okay, you do that I will wait for you here."

Zenon went upstairs to change his clothes. He opened the closet to find the Robe that he normally wore when still attending the White Rose Academy. Gently holding it in both hands, he examined the white and black garment, adorned with an intricate design featuring a White Rose on the shoulder.

The robe represented a complex mix of emotions for Zenon. It symbolized the excitement, pride, and sense of accomplishment that came with his early days at the White Rose Academy—a moment that remained etched in his memory as one of the most cherished.

However, it also served as a stark reminder of one of the most devastating experiences in his life: his expulsion from the academy. The pain of that event had driven him to make choices he now deeply regretted and suspected he might continue to regret for the rest of his days.

Zenon shook his head vigorously, determined to dispel the haunting memories that had resurfaced. Swiftly, he shed his ordinary attire and donned the long black and white robe that reached nearly to his feet.

Clad in the robe, paired with his long hair and freshly groomed face added to his mature and authoritative demeanor. The transformation was not merely in attire but also in the bearing of a true Mage.

When Zenon came back downstairs, Lor's eyes widened at Zenon's complete change in demeanor to just wearing a robe. Truly living up to the saying Clothes Make the Man.

"Come on, Let's hurry as we don't know what they're doing to Kevin," Zenon said wasting no time.

Lor followed Zenon without saying anything putting his complete trust in his childhood friend.

  ###

Zenon and Lor had arrived at the northern section of the small town, where the Mansion of the noble assigned to oversee the small town stood proudly. The mansion's walls were constructed entirely of sturdy white bricks, its roof fashioned from the resilient wood found only in the Curse Forest, and its windows crafted with glass, presenting an imposing and well-fortified presence in the town.

A formidable orange brick wall encircled the mansion and its grounds, effectively barring any unauthorized access and shielding the estate from prying eyes of passersby. This imposing barrier served both as a deterrent to trespassers and as a means of preserving the privacy and security of the noble's domain.

Zenon and Lor stood together before the imposing metal gate, where several guards maintained a vigilant watch for security reasons. They were waiting for their request to be approved by the owner of the mansion.

As the minutes ticked by, it became evident that the noble didn't consider Zenon an immediate priority. They waited for half an hour, a duration that underscored the noble's perceived lack of urgency in meeting Zenon. However, when the request was eventually approved, it was Zenon alone who received permission to meet with the noble, leaving Lor behind

Inside the luxurious living room of the Mansion, Zenon uncomfortably sat on a white couch, waiting for the noble named Christoff Ironbash. Zenon waited for another 10 minutes before the Noble met him.

Christoff, with his brown, ponytailed long hair, sported a physique that deviated from the usual noble appearance. His muscular build was far removed from the typical image associated with nobility. As a Two Star Knight, his presence exuded the aura of a formidable warrior capable of taking on even the most formidable of adversaries, perhaps even a troll.

"Good Afternoon Baron Ironbash." Zenon stood up and bowed his body a bit, to show his respect. "I'm grateful to the Lord for accepting my sudden request to meet personally."

"No need for formality, please sit down." Christoff humbly said. "May I know the reason for your visit? I'm sorry for being direct, but I'm quite a busy man."

"No, I understand completely." Zenon hastily replied. "I apologize for my intrusion. However, I've got a request that might be a little out of the line."

"What is it? Please don't be too reserved and speak freely, I will promise to do my best to meet your request. After all, it's a request of a Mage." Christoff said with his reassuring smile.

"I heard disheartening news about the rebels raiding one of your caravans, May I know if that's true?"

  "Sadly, it is. A lot of my loyal men die in their attack." Christoff said with a saddened face. "It's hard even imagining bringing the news of their death to their family. Seeing their faces crying in devastation filled my heart with anger. That's why I promise to their grave that I will avenge them even in my death. But may I know why the Mage asked this information?"

Zenon couldn't help but feel a bit surprised by the nobleman before him. His previous image of nobility had been tainted by stereotypes of selfishness and greed, but seeing Christoff, a Two Star Knight, with his strong and honorable demeanor, caused him to reevaluate his preconceived notions.

"Uhm... you see my lord…" Zenon paused for a second hesitant to voice his request, afraid of angering the Noble in front of him. However, thinking of his childhood friend he gathered enough courage to ask him. "One of my close friends was… captured by the Town Guard this morning. I know that I have no proof of his innocence, but knowing him, I can confidently say that he was mistakenly accused. However, please allow me to clarify that I'm not requesting the lord to release him blindly. All I want is for the lord to investigate the situation properly, if my friend was indeed a part of a rebel, I have no more to say."

"Mistake you say?" Christoff's smile disappeared. "Then I must thoroughly investigate the situation. After all, we don't want innocent citizens to be accused wrongly."

"Thank you, my Lord!" Zenon bowed his head once again, this time deeper, to show his gratefulness for the kindness of Baron Christoff. "I will remember the Lord's favor and make sure to pay you twofold!"

"Don't worry about it." Christoff smiled once again bringing back his humble demeanor. "If you have no more thing to say I will now go back to my duty."

"I understand!"

Christoff went back to where he came from, seemingly his office. Then one of the servants, a woman with black long hair, wearing an outfit of a maid escorted Zenon outside. 

When Zenon walked out from the Big Metal Gate. Lor instantly walked to him, curious of the result of his meeting.

"How did it go?" Lor asked hurriedly. "Did the Lord say they will release Kevin?"

"No, I can't request something like that without proof of Kevin's innocence." Zenon shook his head. "This matter is not simple, that they can just release anyone. All I can ask them is to thoroughly investigate the problem before giving their final judgment."

"I see, I hope they truly investigate."

"Don't worry, based on my observation of Lord Christoff, he is not a typical noble who is greedy and selfish. He mourned for every soldier he lost in the raid of the rebel, I think he's an honorable Noble and someone who keeps his promise. someone like him will surely take this matter seriously."

"Really! I guess Kevin still has some hope." Lor happily said. "I hoped that Kevin behave after this incident."

"I'm sure he will."

"HAHAHAHA!" The two laughed together while making their way back to their perspective residence

  ###

In the late night of the very next day. Zenon was in the middle of his experimentation when another loud knock interrupted him. Two times in two days he got interrupted, a rare occurrence of his daily activities.

"What is it this time?" Zenon softly whispered a bit annoyed by the frequency of him being interrupted. "Is it Lor? I hope nothing bad happens again."

When the knocking didn't stop, instead became more chaotic, he hurriedly went downstairs to check the situation.

However, once he opened the door, dozens of soldiers who wore metallic armor all over their bodies, instantly apprehended him on the ground. In the chest plate of their armor was a symbol of Sword and Shield, the symbol of the Ironbash Noble House.

One of them was even a One Star Knight, and in the background, a man could be seen watching. He wore a Robe with the exact same design as a Sword and Shield on his shoulder, a clear indication that he was employed by the same Noble House. The man was a Mage prepared to use magic if Zenon resisted.

"What is happening?!" Zenon screamed while the soldier incapacitated him on the ground. "I think there's a misunderstanding!"

The soldiers ignored him and continued walking inside the medicine shop of his grandfather. They searched the house in a chaotic manner, or more like they were destroying the house instead of searching.

"What are you doing!" Zenon became alarmed by this, every item in the medicine shop was a precious item because his grandfather used them when he was still alive. Every time he saw the soldiers breaking the bottles, boxes, and medicine cabinets was like he was being stabbed in his heart. "Please stop this! I know Lord Christoff! Let's talk and I'm sure the misunderstanding will be cleared easily.

Finally, the One Star Knight kneeled down and whispered to him. "Who do you think ordered us to capture you and search your house?"

"You mean Lord Christoff is the one who made this order? But why?" Zenon asked bewildered by what he learned.

"Why? Because you're a fucking rebel that's why!" The Star Knight kicked him in the face resulting in him losing consciousness.

###

Upon regaining consciousness, Zenon slowly opened his eyes. At first, he saw only blurry images, but as time went on, his sight steadily recovered its clearness. He moved his head around taking in the place that he was at.

The room air was thick and damp, laden with a musty odor that seemed to cling to one skin. The only source of illumination is a single flickering torch mounted on a moss-covered stone wall, casting eerie, dancing shadows that play tricks on his senses.

The walls of the room resembled the cold, rough stone of a dungeon, seemingly closing in around Zenon and instilling a sense of confinement and claustrophobia. His eyes were drawn to a single entrance, where a heavy wooden door, reinforced with metal, served as the sole barrier between him and the outside world.

When he looked up, he noticed both of his hands were restrained, chained to the wall by what appeared to be stone handcuffs.

Zenon's head continued to throb with pain, and the lingering dizziness left his vision spinning. He struggled to regain his full composure, the disorienting sensations making it challenging to assess his current situation and surroundings. 

"Hello!" Zenon screamed with his weak voice. "Is there anyone there?!"

He waited for a bit, yet no one came.

"Anyone! Please someone answer me!" Zenon still had no idea about the current situation.

When he was about to try calling once again, he stopped. He heard footsteps coming closer. It was not loud, yet could be heard echoing around, maybe due to the eerie silence of the dungeon itself.

Zenon quietly stared at the heavy door as it was the only entrance through the room. Soon the door opened, and a familiar man walked inside.

"We meet again." Christoff smilingly said. "How is your feeling?... Nah no need to answer that as it is obvious, you're not having a nice night."

"Why?" Zenon softly asked.

"What?" Christoff moved closer to him because he didn't quite hear Zenon. "Can you please repeat what you said?"

"Why?" Zenon repeated his word, but this time more clearly.

"Why you ask?" Christoff's smile became even wider. "Because you're a rebel."

"What do you mean? I don't understand." Zenon looked up trying to see Christoff's face. "Why did I suddenly become a rebel?"

"Why? Well, don't ask me, ask your friend." Christoff flicked his finger signaling someone from outside. Soon one soldier walked in dragging someone who was badly hurt and beaten, someone very familiar with Zenon.

"Kevin?" Zenon softly whispered.

"Now, Kevin, I'm going to ask you the same question." Christoff turned his back to Zenon and slowly walked closer to Kevin. "Tell me Kevin… is he the one that ordered you to deliver that package filled with stolen goods?"

Kevin didn't answer and stared at Zenon as if he was saying sorry with his eyes. Christoff slapped Kevin when he didn't answer him.

"I'm gonna ask you one last time." Christoff pulled Kevin's chin so he could stare him directly in the eyes. "You better answer, this is your final chance. Is he the one who ordered you to deliver the package filled with stolen goods?"

Afraid, Kevin timidly nodded his head.

"No, no, no… I want you to say it with your own voice, so your friend can hear it." Christoff said unsatisfied with Kevin's answer.

"Y-yes… he is the one that o-order me." Kevin complied, his voice a bit muffled due to his injury.

"What are you saying, Kevin!" Zenon forced himself to shout.

"See, I did not order my soldier to catch you without proof, after all, we don't want to wrongly imprison innocent citizens," Christoff said with a hint of sarcasm. After that, he instructed the soldier who brought Kevin. "Take that one and throw him outside. As a noble, I need to keep my promises."

Kevin was dragged outside by the same soldier and left Christoff and Zenon alone in the dimly lit room, or more like a dungeon cell.

"Why?... Why are you doing this to me?" Zenon asked with a pinch of anger in his voice. The betrayal of one of his closest friends hit harder than he imagined. "We barely met, what is your reason for doing this?"

"What?... Why?... HAHAHAHA! Because this is what you deserve! You lowly peasant!" Christoff who was previously composed, went hysterical. His true self finally opened for Zenon to witness. "How dare a mere lowborn like you question a nobility! Is it because you become a Mage? Even if you become a high-level Mage, your reeking blood will stay the same! You dare say in front of me that I made a mistake. HAHAHA! Now, who do you think made a mistake in our situation?"

"What? You did all of this because I said you caught the wrong guy?" Zenon asked, bewilderment plastered on his face. "Yes, I indeed made a mistake. I thought you were different from other Nobles, but in fact, you're one of the worst."

"You still don't understand your situation." Christoff became composed once again as if his previous action didn't happen. "Maybe you're thinking that you can still escape using your magic once your mana returns. But, let me extinguish that ray of hope. That handcuff that chain you is not a simple handcuff. It's made of Anti-Magic Stone which will absorb your mana and release it in the environment."

"What! Why do you have an Anti-Magic Stone? The Council of Magic banned the use of Anti-Magic Stone a long time ago!" Zenon couldn't believe that someone was this crazy to go against the supreme order of the Council of Magic. "Are you not afraid that the Council of Magic will rain their wrath towards you when they find out?"

"Ignorant buffoon, truly befitting of a lowborn like you." Christoff mockingly said. "Do you think the Council of Magic, no longer uses Anti-Magic Stone? How do you think they captured mages that went rogue?"

"Don't tell me?"

"Ahh, you're not that stupid after all. As expected of someone who reached a One Star Mage. Yes, that ban is only for the use of peasant like you, after all the Council of Magic don't want something that can threaten their authority used by anyone."

Despair finally succumbed Zenon's heart. Without his magic, he had no way of escaping this imprisonment. And those who he knew didn't have the power to free him.

"That's it! That's what I have been waiting for!" Christoff became excited after witnessing the change in Zenon's face. "I always love it when someone falls in despair when they realize they don't have a chance of escaping from me… Anyway, it's getting late, you and I need some rest as my soldier finds fascinating things in your house. Sleep, tomorrow we have a lot to discuss."

Christoff left taking with him the only source of light inside the cell, leaving Zenon in complete darkness. Zenon became numbed after the conversation, he didn't know how could he get passed this difficult situation.

He believed Christoff that the handcuff on his hand was indeed made of Anti-Magic Stone, as he felt it absorbing any mana that went inside his core. Still, he wanted to try using his first-class spell hoping some miracle to happen.

Luckily his innate trait didn't need mana to activate. He studied the molecule inside the Anti-Magic Handcuff. The structure of its molecules had no difference in other solid matter, giving him a bit of hope of escaping his dire condition.

He observed his mana core absorbing mana in the environment. After a second, the Anti-Magic Handcuff would do its work and dissipate the mana inside his mana core. However, this was enough.

Zenon Magic was different than other magic as its mana consumption was based on how long he controlled his mana. Therefore, he had a single second to use his first-class magic.

He released a mouthful of air relaxing and concentrating. This was an arduous task as he needed to time his use of magic perfectly for it to work. Finally, the moment the mana entered his mana core, Zenon hastily activated his first-class magic.

"Imperium Materia." He hurriedly whispered.

In an instant, he detached a single molecule from another. As a result, a microscopic slice appeared on the surface of the Anti-Magic Handcuff. It was so tiny that no one could notice it, yet Zenon smiled as this could be considered a success. With this, he had a minuscule chance of escaping this nightmare…