Jellal couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This had happened before? There was a war coming? And they were going to stand idly by, only acting after bloodshed? Saving only a few on the chance nothing could be done? The teen’s mind swirled and a sick, acidic taste boiled in his stomach and burned at his throat. His eyes burned as though they were dry, yet warm tears streaked down his face. This was too much.

Jellal wasn’t sure how long he sat, shoulders slumped, while the rest of his body shivered and threatened to collapse. Eyes dazed finally focused on a set of hands placed nearby, tapping rhythmically as though to attain his attention. Numb, the blue-eyed boy grasped onto the rhythmic sounds of the taps and let his eyes focus on Murad’s enormous fingers.

“Evidently, that was too much information for you to process. At least you’re not wheezing. Feeling any better?” asked Murad plainly. He reached off to the side and retrieved another spoon which he dipped into a glass and with extreme care brought it in front of Jellal. Based on the color, Jellal assumed it was water and didn’t bother questioning his captor, instead leaning forward and sipping the refreshingly cool liquid. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he had become throughout the whole ordeal.

The liquid brought a calm serene over Jellal; something he didn’t anticipate. For a moment, there was a flare of worry he had taken in something that wasn’t water. It instantly dissipated when Murad took a sip from the same cup he drew the spoon from.

Jellal, in his stupor, came to the realization that he could do nothing about his current circumstances. Murad had taken him and, most likely, wasn’t going to bring him back to his home. There was a war waged by giants which was inevitable – at least from what Murad had stated. Finally, he was completely and utterly alone with more questions than his mind knew what to do with. The teen’s wandering mind wanted nothing more than to curl up and return to that stupor, but some deep, curious part of him tugged back to his bombardment of questions.

“You… said you weren’t going to tell me,” muttered Jellal. Murad shook his head in response while taking another drink of water. With a satisfied sigh, Murad resumed.

“No. Personally, I thought it was going to be a waist of time, but things didn’t go according to plan with you,” stated Murad, setting down the glass and now looking mildly perturbed but fascinated at the same time. He folded his arms indignantly and leaned back in the chair.

“If… well… could you tell me why? I mean, what was the plan? Other than taking me to wherever you were going to take me?” asked Jellal numbly. There was little else that could surprise him at this point. He dared the fates and took a chance in pressing further into Murad’s plans.

“Well, initially, my intention was to alter your memory in such a way that you would believe you were simply out in the forest and elected to rest for a time. There were other elements I intended to add, but that fell through rather quickly. Frustrating, if you ask me, but informative,” sighed Murad, eyes catching the blue-eyes of the boy.

“Frustrating? Wait, is that what that feeling was? Like being grappled by vines?” Jellal asked, now putting together a few of the pieces. Murad’s eyebrows raised and he gave a curt nod.

“That is one description of the spell’s effects. And yes, frustrating. I didn’t anticipate the spell not taking effect, but that’s to be expected given your abilities.” Jellal felt his heart beginning to quicken in pace again.

“My what?” asked the boy.

“My dear boy,” said Murad in an exasperated tone. The giant leaned forward, unfolding his arms, until he was dangerously close in Jellal’s personal opinion. “You’re a Theurgist – a wielder of the arcane, magic. This is the reason the spell had no effect on you. Did you not know?”