Condemned Sorcerers

The day slowly bled into nightfall, bringing darkness upon the underground prison. The only source of light came from the row of torches hanging on the wall.

Kalliope opened her eyes to the faint orange light of sunset beaming across the dungeon floor. A smile graced her lovely face. 'It's almost time…'

"Hey." Suddenly, a playful voice came from the cell across her. "You're awake now, little girl?"

It wasn't that dark yet so Kalliope could still make up the person's appearance. She was a red-haired lady who was dressed rather vulgarly. Her long hair burnt ever so enchantingly against her black halter neck gown which hugged her voluptuous figure in the right way, showing all her curves nicely. The woman was both gorgeous and seductive.

Kalliope raised an eyebrow. She stood up and walked towards the prison bar. She smiled knowingly, "Evie Tempest."

Evie smiled and curtsied. "My lady."

Evie Tempest was known as the 'siren witch', due to her enthralling beauty and disarming voice that could beguile even the strongest, most discipline person and put them under her mercy. Her natural born talent was her voice but, her magic speciality was mind control and illusion.

She was, however, a non-elemental witch which was a disadvantage in direct combat against elemental sorcerer. Sound travelled through air, but if the air was frozen, disrupted by fire, diverted by wind, or deflected by a water barrier, then her voice would be rendered useless.

"I thought you would still be in Redwood, indulging in your infamous harem."

"I was," Evie twirled a strand of her hair coquettishly. "Until a handsome professor came and took me away."

"On the back of a white horse?" Kalliope asked with amusement as she leaned sideways.

"Ugh…I wish," she groaned pitifully. "Why can't men be a little romantic for once in their life and fulfill our girlish dream? So far, they only did the boring part…giving flowers. I mean…yes, it's also my dream but it's not as grand as riding on a white horse, preferably a unicorn."

She scoffed as she thought back on that day. "Do you know what your professor came with?"

Kalliope sniggered at Evie's young girl heart. Nobody knew this childish part of her. Despite her sexy appearance, she was actually a hopeless romantic.

Kalliope had encountered Evie in the past when she was doing an assignment and Evie had kindly helped her. They had gotten to know each other during that one trip.

"Enlighten me."

"A fucking broomstick," Evie answered with a straight face. Disappointment was all over her face. "He rode on a fucking broomstick. How much more common can he be? Thank God he didn't dress up in a black robe and pointy hat."

Kalliope shook her head helplessly. "Now, I know why your name is on the wanted board."

"'Cos of my dangerous beauty that can ruin a nation?" She winked seductively.

Kalliope felt disgusted as she mustered a smile. "'Cos you're crazy. I would kill you myself."

Evie pouted. "How evil. I thought we're friends."

"She didn't even hesitate to kill the whole student body last night. What makes you think she share any compassion towards you?" An old languid voice came from beside Kalliope's cell.

The old man's curly hair was rugged and he dressed simply in a brown tunic, grey pants, and a pair of black boots. Despite his simple outfit, different kinds of magical rings adorned his ten fingers. Some of the stone showed its lustre under the faint light.

"The explosion last night was caused by you?" Although it was a question, the old man sounded sure. Meanwhile, Evie's eyes gleamed with excitement as she looked admiringly at her little friend.

Kalliope returned his question instead, "And you are?"

He laughed. "Oh…where are my manners? This humble one is called Dozahr, My Lady."

Kalliope's eyes glinted when she heard his name. Her lips lifted slightly but it was only for a quick second. She looked dispassionately at Dozahr.

"Nice to meet you, Sir Dozahr, and thank you for teaching those sorcerers a lesson back then, especially Dilwyn Nox."

"Hohoho…my reputation precedes me. It's an honor that you've heard of this old man, My Lady." His skinny hands gestured in a curtsy manner despite him sitting down. All the while, laughter accompanied his action.

Though she had been but a babe at that time when Dozahr had been a part of the high council, his story was well-known among the students.

They spoke of his betrayal, that he had tried to harm his own people with black magic that he had obtained from making a contract with a demon.

And with that, he had been accused of attempting to open a portal that connected Zarronium with Orhan, the demon realm.

However, before all this, Dozahr had been one of the best among the seven sorcerers representing the council. The thing was challenging other's seat was permitted and thus, many had tried to defeat Dozahr to take his place as the second-in-command after Helliot. One of them was Dilwyn Nox. He had been third in rank before Dozahr was charged with black magic crime.

"Let me guess, the black magic crime was a fluke and they actually imprisoned you because they couldn't handle losing their pride?" Kalliope asked.

Considering their arrogance, Kalliope reckoned they would have fabricated a fake crime and pinned it on his head to strip Dozahr of his rank. How come they hadn't realized Dozahr had black magic all along and then suddenly boomed, they had found out about it before the royal duel? How convenient!

The old man chuckled. He fiddled with his ring as he spoke unhurriedly, "No, it is the truth. I wielded black magic."

For the first time, Kalliope was dumbstruck. Dozahr laughed upon her reaction.

"I was imprisoned because they were afraid of changes. They didn't have the balls to question why," As Dozahr began explaining, his eyes burnt with malice. There was hatred imbued in every word he spoke.

He chuckled in ridicule. "Just because it's dark doesn't mean it's scary. Just because they said so doesn't mean there's a monster under your bed. It's black magic. Does it equal evil?"

He scoffed. "On what basis? It's black magic. Incantation on the pages of grimoire, same as earth magic. If it's not chanted, it's just writings. In the end, the one who holds the power to turn it bad is the enchanter."

"I. did. not. harm. anyone." He stressed each word with conviction and rage. "It was merely a research. I caught a Gozurak and channeled its power. I wanted to see how it works, if it would be possible for us to learn and utilize it as a form of defence."

"Because who can guarantee it will always be this peaceful?" He shook his head in mockery.

"We were hunted down by humans and driven away to Zarronium all because we couldn't rely on earth magic since the great elemental spirits don't allow their power to be used for hurting humans. That can already prove how inconvenient earth magic can be."

"Now, what if the exact same thing happens again in the future, only worse? Demon, maybe? The real deal. What if they found a way to bridge into our world after all those years?"

He squeezed his shoulders together and flailed his arms in a ridiciously way. "Should we fight them, relying solely on earth magic? We could've found their weakness or even better, a more powerful source of magic if we weren't so scared to understand their black magic."

Dozahr garnered Evie's and other prisoners' laughter with his scornful remark. "No wonder the demons had a blast back in the day while they lived among us. They didn't need to do anything because from the start, most of us are already short-minded. So damn easy to manipulate."

Kalliope remained silent. She personally had no qualms with practicing dark arts. If given a chance, she would try to study it herself. It was interesting to hear Dozahr's thoughts. It did hold some truth.

"It's ironic…"

"What is?" Dozahr lifted a brow.

Looking at a random direction, Kalliope absentmindedly said, "They condemned you for researching black magic. But now, they're nurturing a Gozurak themselves."

He laughed in self-deprecation. "I put my faith on the wrong people and got my own research stolen instead. I know it's the same Gozurak I had back then. Never mind, I've given up long ago."

Closing his eyes, Dozahr seemed to reminisce about the old days. "I already lost count on how many years I've been here. Without magic. Surviving like rats in the sewers. There's no way to escape."

"You shouldn't have created an anti-magic field in the first place, Sir," One of the prisoners chirped in.

Dozahr leered contemptuously at the prisoner. "Are you kidding? I was still a member of the high councils. Even now, I want to contribute for our race although I no longer have the chance."

Then, he cast Kalliope a grave look as he began reprimanding her, "But not you, Kid. I'm sorry you got thrown down here. However, you tried to harm your fellow classmates. Why?"

Kalliope stared at him apathetically. Her eyes held no expression like two bottoms of black hole, obscure with mystery. She took him by surprise when he, an experienced wizard, couldn't decipher her thoughts, not even a mere guess.

"It's none of your business." Her voice was cold and tinged with indifference.

Dozahr sniggered sarcastically. "I just hate to see such talent like yours go to waste."

Kalliope's eyes remained affixed on him for a moment before a small giggle escaped her lips. Then, her laugh became louder as though everything was a mere joke to her. Dozahr knitted his brows.

"I never plan to rot down here, Old man."

With that, a daunting smile graced her thin lips ever so ominously. It brought shivers down the prisoners' spine.

The sun had set.