บท 77: Canary

Eventually, Michael is allowed to awaken, but, as soon as he does he realises that something was terribly wrong... The first he notices is his body's occasional unconscious twitch, most likely caused by his constant electrocution. He hoped it wouldn't be permanent, but when he tries to sit up from wherever he was being held he found that... He simply couldn't.

He couldn't move his body at all! Only able to open his eyes and that was the extent of his power... He thought that this might've been some sort of sleep paralysis or some consequence from how he was treated during his capture... But, he soon learned that it was neither...

"Get up." a cold feminine voice orders from the side, his body immediately moving in response to her orders. He stands, only now realising that he was wearing ragged clothes that were in worse conditions than the thing's he'd received at the academy. Not only that, but he was standing in some kind of cage? By the looks of it, it'd been hastily installed in some sort of throne room, it was currently empty aside from his visitor, but... Just how long had he been unconscious?

"Good. You're awake." the woman who Michael now identifies as Sheffield states, a grin plastered across her face which made him want to hit her.

"What is your name?" she commands with crossed arms.

Michael cringes as he feels his body respond to her words, giving his full hated name. "Michael Hunt."

"Who is your Master?"

"No one." his body says, causing the woman to crook a brow.

"Is that so?... Well, who summoned you?" she mutters, unable to really comprehend a Familiar of the Void going against their master.

"Louise Valliere." he answers all while cursing himself for being unable to resist. He tries to shake his body in order to gain some degree of control, but only manages to erratically move his eyes, something that Sheffield doesn't miss.

"Hmm? Oh? You still possess some resistance even while under the ring's control? Is this an effect of your runes, or simply your willpower?" she mutters before beginning to make commands again. "Punch yourself in the face."

*Smack!*

Michael's body fiercely punches himself as hard as possible, his natural self-preservation forgotten as his muscles strain to do their best to follow Sheffield's command. His vision goes blurry for a moment as his fist lands on his own jaw, but his body forces itself to remain standing.

Sheffield giggles at this, "Gandalfr, if you were freed, would you kill me?"

"Yes."

"Do you currently want to kill me?"

"Yes."

Sheffield slowly nods, "It seems that we'll have to break you before sending you out. Can't risk letting a vengeful Gandalfr free, can we?" she remarks as she loudly claps her hands, causing a man-servant to stride into the room.

"Report to Lord Cromwell and Wardes that Gandalfr is not ready to be sent out yet... Oh, and send me some tools from the dungeons." she grins.

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One hour later :

Michael is still standing straight in his cage, inwardly dreading what'll soon happen to him. It was clear Sheffield wasn't a 'kind' person. But seeing her ask for torture instruments made him feel physically sick... Not that he could vomit without express orders from his new 'masters'.

Why the fuck was this even happening to him!? What did he do to deserve this!? He'd been hit by a fucking truck in his apartment, sent to this shit world almost dead, enslaved with mind-altering runes, then forced on the run as a criminal!

Thing's hadn't really even improved after that! With him almost getting killed by thieves not long after his escape... Redfield was fine, but Antomiers!? Left in ruins by a giant fucking tornado! It's as if everything he touches turns to shit! And most of the time it isn't even his fault! Even his run-in with Wardes was just complete bad luck... The one time Michael was journeying to Gallia and Wardes just happens to be flying overhead!?

...

He'd thought that things would get easier with this Dota levelling system, but aside from keeping him alive, the challenges he'd been faced with had only increased! And now here he was, waiting for his torturer to return. This would be shit, but, he still held out hope that he'd escape... And once he did...

Eventually, Sheffield did return, and she brought along her friends... One guy who was clearly Cromwell from what he remembered from the Anime, and that piece of shit Wardes.

"Oho? I can see what you mean, Sheffield. His body is ours but his eyes tell another story." Cromwell chuckles, examining Michael head to toe while rubbing his chin in intrigue. "Shall I use the ring again?"

Sheffield shakes her head, "The Ring of Andvari doesn't work like that. This is the extent of its power over Gandalfr." she states while tapping the cage with one of her rings.

Wardes frowns, "Then, what of my mission? I cannot take a threat with me on something so important."

Sheffield nods, "I agree. Which is why we'll break his will. I train both his mind and body for Reconquista, ah, my tools have arrived." she says as the group hears the squeaking wheels of a trolly approaching.

The manservant from earlier pushes a catering cart that'd been covered in many horrific-looking tools. Still bloody plier-like tongs, strange knives, branding irons, and a litany of other things Michael was unable to identify. Just looking at the cart made him want to cry and beg for forgiveness, but even that option was barred from him.

Wardes slowly nods as he examines the table, "I feel that I should remind you, Gandalfr possesses some form of healing. I am unsure in which form it takes, but it seemed very effective from what I have observed." he explains, sending a pitying glance at Michael.

"If you felt bad then let me go you fucking psycho!" Michael mentally screams, inwardly flailing about like a bull in a china shop in an attempt to rid their control over him.