"Him?" Nadia asked, trying to clarify this very unusual request. 

Arx gave her a shove. "Now."

No more questions; Nadia got to work. She unbuckled the belts around his chest to free the clothes that clung to his skin. The man flinched under her touch, attempting to grab her. He might have, too, if it weren't for the straps tethering him to the medical bed. 

Her eyes widened, as did the rest of the Healers when they witnessed the black spot pulsating on his chest. It grew and shrunk in beat, his heart hammering rapidly.

Cold hands to sweaty skin, Nadia summoned all her magic into this one spot. Green fought against black, the spot on his chest pushed against her. A hex?

"Keep Healing him!" Nadia shouted over the thief's screams. She glared at the five other Healers. "I can't repair his injuries and remove this simultaneously."

While the others repaired every cell this black thing destroyed, Nadia worked to remove it. It had the same warmth, yet it felt nothing like magic. Even stranger, she could feel something else, too. It was fainter and weaker, mingling with the black spot and her healing magic. It wasn't coming from the other Healers. She couldn't figure out what it was. 

Very quickly, her arms became sore.

There was a faint whisper. The soreness in Nadia's arms faded away as the voice continued speaking. Her eyes darted around the room, desperate for its source. No one was talking, not even the man on the table, who could do little more than groan in pain. The voice was so clear, yet she couldn't understand the words. They were spoken so quickly in a language she didn't recognize. 

Finally, the black spot released its hold and vanished with a bright, white light. Nadia fell back, suddenly feeling dizzy. 

"Are you alright?" Emery asked as he caught her, feeling her shake in his arms.

She nodded, dazed. "That was…strange." To put it lightly. 

Curious, Emery wanted to ask her more, but Arx had stepped forward. This wasn't over.

"How are you feeling?" A compassionate question, but his tone betrayed his words.

Breathing hard, the thief's arms strained against the straps that held him down. Strong again, he tugged at them, releasing himself, and grabbed Arx by the throat.

Soldiers aimed their guns, and the Healers stepped back. But Arx remained calm. The thief had no weapons; they had made sure of that. Before the thief could do anything more, Arx grabbed him by the wrist, hand glowing red and persuading release as Silas's skin began to burn.

The thief stumbled back, giving Arx an opening to slam him down hard against the table. "Understand that our law dictates that vermin like you be sent straight to the gallows, and the only reason you're still alive is that I made it so." 

The thief grunted in response. His voice was venomous as he demanded, "And why is that, Dagan?" 

"My General is dead, and some valuable art is gone. Explain."

"Sounds like someone killed your General and stole your painting."

Arx closed his eyes but otherwise didn't react. "If you value your life, Ezterrian, you will answer my inquiries in detail."

Silent, the thief stopped struggling. Arx released him. 

Guards stood at the doors and blocked the windows. It wasn't a prison, but it might as well have been. Arx had taken extra precautions with the Ezterrian thief, despite the fact he couldn't utilize magic.

He leaned back on his cane. "If you so much as move, I will end your life," Arx warned, watching as the thief's eyes scanned around the infirmary, looking for a way out. "Who killed General Marx Duke?"

The thief was silent a while longer before finally saying, "I don't know." 

Arx was unamused. "Name?" 

"Excuse me?"

"Your name. What is it?"

"Silas." 

"No last name?"

"Not one you need to know."

A smile flashed across Arx's lips, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. With a slight nod, he said, "Nice to meet you, Silas. My name is Klavier Arx. I specialize in fire magic, head of the Vazeer division in the Carpathian military. Are you familiar with the Vazeer?"

"The Vazeer would be the most sinful creations on this Earth."

The reply made Arx chuckle, which was an odd sound coming from the older man. "I suppose to the outside world, we would seem akin to demons. You will find no mage more connected to magic's light than a Vazeer." Tapping his cane, Arx got to his feet. "So I hope you understand your situation. The way I see it, Silas, you have two options. One, comply with me and I let you go home. Or two, I increase your internal temperature by one degree until I get answers. You can decide if you live or die."