Chapter 15 : Afternoon

“Ugh!” cried Fiona as she dropped down and sat on a bark-less fallen tree trunk “Did we seriously have to hike out miles and miles just so we could get to nowhere! We couldn't have just done this shit in the backyard!?”

“No, there's a good chance that things are going to get intense. And I'd rather not risk damaging the house.” explained Anton “Besides, a little exercise isn't going to kill you. And honestly, if that little walk was too much for you then you're going on an exercise routine immediately.”

“...Well, it's not like I'm dying or anything.” grumbled Fiona as she looked up at the impressively large tree they had stopped to rest near “I just don't get why we had to come all the way out here? I mean one open field is as good as any, right?”

“Thank you.” said Anton as he took the bottle of water Kianna handed him “Just trust me, Fiona. Coming out this far was important, even if it doesn't seem like it.”

Fiona cocked an eyebrow and smirked as she took the bottle of water Kianna handed her.

“Wait a second... You got some kind of bullshit plan rolling around in your head right now, don't you!?” she quipped as she twisted the cap off the water bottle.

“Always.” grinned Anton as he looked back at Mica.

Following his gaze, Fiona's smirk grew as she took in the sight of the struggling shinoccubus.

Mica was once again wearing her armored boots and bracers, and was dressed in a two piece set of form-fitting, purple colored athletic clothes that she had borrowed from Kianna.

Having been wrapped tightly around the shinoccubi's more endowed figure, the thin cloth material that the shorts and tank top were made out of was clearly being stretched to its limit, yet it still held up well enough to work.

“You know, for somebody who really doesn't want to be treated like a dog. You'd think she'd put more effort into not acting like one...” mused Fiona before she took a swig from her water bottle.

“You would think that, wouldn't you...” mumbled Anton in a tired tone.

“C'mon guys, give her a break!” chastised Kianna as she gave Mica a sympathetic look “She's just desperate, and scared...”

“No, she's stupid!” exclaimed Fiona with a laugh “Don't act like she's just getting bullied out of nowhere here, Kianna. That dumb bitch immediately started threatening everybody as soon as she was healed and could move again, and then was stupid enough to try and take off the moment the backdoor was opened!”

“I know...” sighed Kianna as she dropped down on the fallen tree and sat next to her sister “But it's not like she's actually trying to fight us anymore, all she wants now is to go home.”

“Yeah, and that continues to prove my point that she's stupid.” snapped Fiona as she gave her sister a condescending smile “This dumb bitch can't wait to race home to her death!”

“Hard to argue with the facts, Kianna.” said Anton as he gave her a reassuring smile “Don't give up though.”

A sudden, frustrated grunt drew their attention back to Mica.

Having apparently fallen over in her efforts to escape, the kiochi was quickly getting back to her feet as she continued to dig in her heels and angrily yank on the light chain.

Anton, Fiona and Kianna all shook their heads in unison as they watched her slip again and fall over sideways before crashing to the ground in a heap of flailing limbs and tail.

The shinoccubus was about fifty feet behind them, and was struggling to free herself from a thin, orange-colored light chain that connected a shackle-like light collar around her neck, to a cuff that hung around Anton's left wrist. Strapped around her face was a glowing orange light version of the ninja-like mask gag that was complete with its head-harness.

“Ugh, the poor thing...” mumbled Kianna as she watched Mica begin to whip the chain up and down in frustration “She really is just stupid...”

“Yep...” drawled Fiona as Mica began to scream through her gag and yank back on the unyielding chain.

“Why don't we go ahead and give her some water before we get started.” said Anton as he raised his hand and began to reel in the shinoccubus by making the chain links disappear back into his palm.

Mica nearly tripped forward as she was forced to move closer to Anton. Digging in her heels, she leaned back as far as she could in a vain attempt to keep from being pulled along. Failing to anchor herself, she began to desperately attack the chain with the bladed spade at the end of her tail.

Growling loudly through her gag, she viciously struck at the concentrated aura again and again by thrashing her long, thin tail wildly both around and above her body.

“...She better put that fucking tail away before she gets over here.” muttered Fiona as she narrowed her eyes at the kiochi “Why don't you just lock it up again?”

“Because if I did that she wouldn't have the temptation to attack one of us with it.” said Anton as a thin smirk took form on his face “And then I wouldn't get the chance to discipline her when she eventually does make that mistake.”

“...Oh c'mon, seriously?” grumbled Kianna as she glared up at Anton.

“Ah, yeah. That makes sense.” nodded Fiona “I can totally understand that. Little bitch needs to be disciplined as much as possible after all.”

“You two do realize that constantly disciplining her isn't going to make her like us more, right!?” exclaimed Kianna as she pointed her ears straight back in irritation “And you know she's not going to protect us if she hates us!”

“She will if she's too afraid not to.” said Anton.

Fiona pointed her finger at him as she looked at her sister and nodded in agreement.

Kianna sighed in frustration and shook her head as she pulled another bottle of water from the tote bag she had brought with her.

Even after she had stopped being pulled forward, Mica continued in her futile fight against her restraints. Planting her feet about fifteen feet away, the kiochi stubbornly kept pulling back on the chain as her eyes became locked with Anton's.

“...Thirsty?” asked Anton as he arched an eyebrow at her.

Mica's eyes immediately shifted to Kianna and the bottle of water she held before darting back to Anton. With an exasperated sigh she let up on the chain and dropped down to the ground with a huff. Folding her legs in, she sat cross legged and hunched in on herself before glaring at him and then each of the dark elves in turn.

“Aw! Such a well behaved little puppy girl!” teased Fiona as she smiled broadly “Look! She sits before you even have to tell her to!”

Mica began to tremble with rage as she arched her tail up high above her head and pointed the tip of her spade at the dark elf. Flexing the barbs at the base of her spade she quickly shifted her eyes to Anton before going back to glaring murderously at Fiona.

“Oh! I think she wants to stab me!” laughed Fiona as her ears pointed themselves straight upwards “Well isn't that just the cutest thing ever!”

“Fiona, will you quit it!” exclaimed Kianna as she stood up and made to move towards Mica.

As she got within striking distance of the kiochi's tail, Kianna stopped and stared at the blade for a moment before looking down at Mica herself.

“Please put your tail away.” she said softly “I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just going to give you some water.”

Mica narrowed her eyes as she stared at her. After a moment of stillness, she looked away and with a tired sigh, coiled her tail up behind herself and laid the bladed spade down against the ground.

“Thank you!” said Kianna as she quickly closed the distance between them and handed Mica the bottle of water.

Mica gave her a frustrated but thankful look before turning and glaring at Anton.

“...Are you going to stop cussing at me?” asked Anton.

Mica's glare never faltered as she nodded her head once.

“Are you willing to admit that your behavior during this little trip has been childish and wrong?” asked Anton as he folded his arms over his chest “And are you willing to apologize for all the things you've called me today?”

Mica had to stop herself from crushing the bottle of water in her hand as she began to rage again. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she shut her eyes and held them closed as she nodded.

“...Alright then.” nodded Anton as the gag disappeared from between Mica's teeth.

The shinoccubus said nothing for a moment as she stared at Anton and shifted her newly freed jaw back and forth.

“Apologize, and the rest will disappear as well.” stated Anton.

“...Fine. Whatever. ...I'm sorry for everything I said.” declared Mica in a dry and monotone voice “My behavior was childish, and I was wrong.”

“Good enough. Thank you.” said Anton as he nodded and dispelled the harness from around Mica's head “You can go ahead and enjoy your water now.”

Snarling in anger, Mica looked away from everyone before twisting the cap off of her water bottle with far more force than was necessary, and making to gulp it all down in one go.

Fiona went to say something but was stopped short as Anton glanced back at her and shook his head. Immediately understanding that play time was over, the dark elf slumped forward in a huff, planted her elbows on her knees and rested her cheek in her palm as she narrowed her eyes at the kiochi.

As Mica finished her water, she crushed the bottle in her fist and took a quick look around the field she had been led to.

This area had at least a few hundred square acres of open land that was surrounded by groves of medium sized oak trees along three of its sides, and had one massive live oak here near its center. As she ran her eyes along the treeline, her brow creased in agitation at her inability to escape from the chain and collar that connected her to Anton. If she could only make it into those trees she could easily evade even him. Or at least she could, if she could use her teleport ability that is. Unfortunately, she still couldn't access her pool of mana since it had been locked away by the ring of silver-laden steel that was currently hanging around her neck.

Functioning in a similar manner to a closed electrical circuit, mana flowing out from a person's mana pool would normally travel throughout the body in a continuous cycle before eventually circling back to the mana pool itself. This allowed mana to be readily available whenever it was needed.

When locked in place on a person, a manabinder would disrupt this circuit by redirecting the mana to itself, and thus stopping the flow. There was technically a threshold to how much mana a given binder could hold back at one time, and if more mana than it could handle was forced against it, then in the same vein as an electrical fuse, it would become overwhelmed and burn out.

Although she wasn't fully aware of just how the technicalities of a manabinder worked, Mica still understood enough to know that to escape one was difficult and required a large amount of mana, far, far more she would be able to produce herself. Essentially, unless she happened to find a random set of bolt cutters in this field, her mana would remain thoroughly trapped.

Shifting her eyes away from the trees, she looked at the ground around her for a moment before glancing up at Anton.

She was a little surprised to find him watching her with an unusually soft look on his face, almost as though he were feeling concern or even sympathy for her. Turning away from him she sighed out of her mouth and narrowed her eyes.

“So you said you were gonna test me, and that you'd give me a chance to earn my freedom.” she began as she refused to look at either him or the two dark elves “So I'm guessing you have some kind of challenge in mind? Is this where it's gonna happen? Or no!?”

“It is.” nodded Anton “I'll explain the “challenge” in a moment. Before that though, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you.”

Looking back up at him, Mica couldn't help but to study his face for a moment.

“...Okay?” she mumbled “What do you want to know now?”

“Well, I've seen that you know how to use a teleport ability.” started Anton “But that's the only ability I've had a chance to see you use. So I'd like to know if that really is the only one you can use?”

Mica blinked and scowled at him.

“What!? Like I'm going to tell you shit! If you really think I'm just gonna give up all my secrets like nothing then you're outta your mind!” she declared “If you wanna see what I can do then take this bullshit ring off of me and I'll show you!”

“That's exactly what I intend to do.” said Anton “But I want to see how well you can preform all of your abilities. Which is why I want to know which ones you can use, so that way I can be sure to pay attention for them.”

“...Wait?” questioned Mica as her face became thoughtful “Are we gonna fight again!?”

“Something like that.” said Anton “Like I said, I'll explain in a moment. But first, I'd like you to answer my question. Is teleport your only ability?”

“...No.” said Mica as she folded her arms over her chest “It's not.”

“What else can you do?” asked Anton.

“...I don't have to tell you.” mumbled Mica as she looked away and coiled her tail in loops around herself “That's not fair!”

“Hm, in a way you're right. Technically you don't have to tell me...” said Anton “In that same grain though, I don't technically have to give you a chance to go free either. So why don't we make a compromise that'll work for both of us?”

Mica glanced back at him before looking away again.

“What do you have in mind?” she asked as she shifted in her seat and used a coil of her tail to scratch the back of her left shoulder.

“I'm going to ask you if you know an ability. Whether you know it or not, you will answer truthfully, and if you do know it, then I'll get to ask you a single question about that ability.” explained Anton “If I don't ask about an ability, then you don't have to tell me that you know it. Once I'm done with my questions, then I'll explain the “challenge” to you, and you will get your chance to go free.”

“...How do I know that you'll really let me go if I win your challenge?” questioned Mica “I'm just supposed to trust your word on this?”

“More or less.” said Anton with a shrug “You're free to ask Kianna and Fiona whether or not I'm trustworthy if you'd like. Though, ultimately, you really don't have any better options so it's a mute point either way.”

Mica's expression became thoughtful as she stared at a section of the ground directly in front of her. After a moment of stillness she glanced up at Kianna with questioning eyes.

“...He's never lied to us before.” declared the dark elf “I guarantee he's not trying to trick you.”

Mica nodded slowly and sighed through her nose as she turned back to Anton.

“Fine!” she exclaimed as she glared at him “Ask your questions!”

“Alright then.” nodded Anton “Since I already know you can teleport, I'll just start with that one. How far is your range? And by that I mean how far can you go in a single jump?”

Mica's face scrunched up in thought as she mulled this over for a moment.

“I don't really know for sure...” she mumbled “I'm guessing about..., maybe 20 feet at full max? Or something like that? That's like really pushing it though.”

“Mm hm. That would be about average for someone your age.” said Anton with another nod “Alright, next question. Can you use a shadow walk of any kind?”

Mica blinked and gave him a perplexed look.

“A what?” she asked “What do you mean by that?”

“I'm asking if you can melt into a shadow and travel through it.” explained Anton “Or if you can melt yourself down into a shadow so as to move around that way?”

“Oh, that. No, I can't do that. Which sucks because that shit is so fucking cool!” exclaimed Mica “I want to be able to do that, but I don't even know how that shit works.”

Anton couldn't help but to grin at her sudden enthusiasm.

“Well, I'm not sure about the full mechanics of the skill either. But from what I understand it's pretty advanced, and very dangerous to learn.” he answered.

“Why is it dangerous?” asked Mica.

“Because you can't breathe while in or as a shadow. So you can only maintain that form for as long as you can hold your breath.” explained Anton “So if while learning the skill you slip into a shadow, and can't figure out how to get back out in time, you'll suffocate and die.”

“Oh, crap!” exclaimed Mica as her brow creased in thought “Yeah, that's kinda scary...”

“That's the main reason why it's not an ability that all shinoccubi learn.” said Anton “As far as I know they can all do it, but not all of them are willing to take on the risks involved in learning it.”

“Right...” mumbled Mica as her face became thoughtful again “It's really cool... But still...”

“Mm hm, anyways, getting back on track.” said Anton “Can you cloak yourself? As in become invisible?”

“...Yeah!” sighed Mica as she grimaced in annoyance “Technically, yes...”

“Hm. Judging by your enthusiasm. I'm guessing you can't move while you're invisible?” asked Anton.

“No, I can't...” grumbled Mica “I look like I'm made out of water if I don't hold still. It sucks!”

“Ah, yes. That's a common problem.” nodded Anton “It has to do with shifting through different light intensities. You can learn to work around that. But it does take a lot of focus and practice to do it right, and even then, you can slip up if you're not constantly paying enough attention.”

Mica stared at him for a moment before narrowing her eyes.

“Seriously... It's crazy how you know so much about all this.” she stated as she tilted her head to the side “You really are some kind of shinoccubi fan boy. Aren't you?”

Anton chuckled while shaking his head.

“No, I'm really not. What I've said before is literally the case. I've had to deal with your kind quite a bit over the years.” he explained “And again, as I've said, it's always easier to counter something when you understand how it works. Hence my effort to study shinoccubi and their abilities. ...Lucky thing for that too, as all that knowledge will be useful now that I have my own little shinoccubi to play with.”

Mica's face immediately scrunched up into a scowl.

“And from what it's sounding like, there's going to be quite a bit you'll still need to be taught...” continued Anton “At least I shouldn't have to worry about any big surprises out of you.”

“You don't have your own anything you fucking dick!” snarled Mica “I don't belong to you!”

“Not yet.” said Anton “I'll be fixing that soon enough though.”

Mica stared at him for a moment before turning her scowl towards the ground. She hunched in on herself as she began to slash at the grass around her with the blade on the end of her tail.

“...Hm, I think one more question should be enough. After that we can get started.” said Anton as he watched the kiochi destroy a dandelion with her spade “How does that sound?”

“That sounds great!” exclaimed Mica as she looked back up at him “I can't wait to win and go home!”

“That's the spirit!” chuckled Anton as he grinned at her “Now then, for the last question. Can you create a vorpal weapon? Or form any weapons out of your shadow? In other words, can you make a weapon out of darkness?”

Mica froze and blinked at him as her eyes went wide.

“...Wait, what!? We can do that!?” she exclaimed “Ah, man! That would be so sweet!”

“Okay, I'm going to take that as a no then...” laughed Anton “There really is going to be so much for you to learn. You'll be a brand new shinoccubi before you even know it. ...Well, so long as you don't go home today.”

Mica eyes softened as she looked off at nothing.

“...Even if I do go home, I can still learn how to do all this!” she mumbled as she shifted her gaze downwards “It's not like I actually need you to learn any of this! My parents can teach me! ...Or I can just learn it all on my own! If I have to...”

“You can certainly try.” said Anton “And I'm sure you'd be able to figure out a few things. All of these abilities will come naturally to you after all. And now that you know about them it shouldn't be too hard for you to stumble through learning them, in theory at least. What will be difficult for you is understanding where your limitations are, and then finding the perfect motivation to go beyond them.”

Mica shifted her gaze to him and narrowed her eyes.

“Right, my limitations.” she grumbled sarcastically “What are you even talking about? As if you're some kind of “guru” who knows my “limitations” and how to find some “motivation” for them!”

“I do though.” said Anton “I know exactly how to motivate you.”

“Right, sure!” scoffed Mica “And how are you going to do that!?”

“Simple.” said Anton “I'll just use your will to live.”

“...Wha? So all you're gonna do is threaten me then!?” exclaimed Mica.

“Me? Oh no! No, I don't need to threaten you.” chuckled Anton as he shook his head “No, I just need you to want to learn as badly as you want to live. So in other words, I need to help you to understand that you don't have a choice anymore, Mica.”

“...And what do you mean by that?” questioned Mica “Why don't I have a choice anymore!?”

“Well, to be honest, I've already begun to answer both of those questions.” stated Anton “I started by bringing you out here. So I could show you why you don't. You see, Mica, by the time we're done here, you will fully understand exactly just how limited your options really are.”

“...What the Hell are you talking about!?” exclaimed Mica as she leaned away from him.

“You'll see, soon enough.” said Anton as his face became sympathetic “For now though, I think we should go ahead and get started with the, “challenge” as you put it.”

Twisting to the side, Anton grinned as he moved to face Kianna and the dark elf immediately perked her ears up as she smiled back at him.

“Kianna, could you bring me that bag please?” said Anton as he pointed to the bag in the crook of her arm “I need something out of it.”

“Of course!” chirped Kianna as she crossed the distance between them and held the tote bag open for him.

“Thank you.” said Anton as he reached into the bag and rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a roll of thin string and a locking, shackle-like cuff.

The cuff was made of a hard yet pliable rubber that coated a thin metal frame. Several small seal-covered strips attached to its side indicated that it had some magical components in its design.

Mica's eyes widened at the sight of the cuff before narrowing in anger.

“What the Hell is that!?” she exclaimed as Anton unlocked and opened the cuff.

“It's an incentive.” said Anton as he looked down at her “And a major part of the “challenge” you're going to face.”

“...Is that thing going to enslave me!?” exclaimed the kiochi as a slight tremor marred her voice.

“This? No. This is just part of an invisible fence. Set to max, of course.” said Anton as he held up the cuff “This is going to be locked onto your ankle. Or your wrist, if you'd prefer that. And what it'll do is give you an incapacitating electrical shock that'll render you unconscious if you move more than 1000 yards away from me.”

“...Okay! Why in the name of Hell would I ever wanna wear that then!?” exclaimed Mica.

“Because this is your “challenge” and the only way I'll be willing to let you go free.” said Anton “Put this cuff on, and I'll remove the light chain and manabinder from around your neck. You'll be able to move freely and use your abilities again. So long as you stay within the 1000 yard range at least.”

Anton tossed the opened cuff to Mica who caught it by wrapping it up with her tail. The shinoccubus brought the cuff closer to her face and gave it a look over before turning back to Anton.

“This will be a two part challenge that'll last an hour in total.” explained Anton “For the first half an hour your goal will be to free yourself by getting this key.”

Anton raised the key for the locking cuff up so Mica could see it clearly. He then tied a length of the thin string around the key. Making a loop out of the remainder of the string, he tossed the loop over his head and let it come to rest around his neck.

Mica's eyes were locked onto the key as it now hung against Anton's chest.

“If you can get this key and unlock the cuff, then you're free to go. You can leave and I won't chase you or try to stop you.” said Anton as he tapped the key “I won't actually attack you during the first part of the challenge either, I'll only defend myself whenever you attack me.”

“...Okay. That sounds easy enough. So what happens if I don't get the key in time?” questioned Mica.

“If you fail then we'll move on to the second part of the challenge.” continued Anton “In the second half of the hour your goal to get the key will remain the same. However, things will be escalated by the fact that I will actively start attacking you, and I will now have my own goal as well.”

“...Alright. So what is your goal supposed to be?” asked Mica as she furrowed her brow.

“To catch you.” said Anton with a grin “From that point on my goal will be to catch you by grabbing hold of your tail. So you'll now have to risk trying to get the key while at the same time avoiding all my attacks as well as being captured. This is not going to be easy for you, even with your abilities, so, to make things fair. If you can run out the clock and avoid being captured then I will unlock the cuff and you'll still be free to go. In this way I'll know for sure that you'll be able to survive on your own.”

“...Wait, what do you mean by survive?” questioned Mica “What's that supposed to mean!?”

“By that I mean your family.” explained Anton “If you can somehow escape from me, then you'll be able to escape from your family when they attack you. And they will attack you, Mica. You have no reason to doubt that.”

“Oh, right, sure.” mumbled Mica as she digested everything that had just been told to her “...So what exactly is the catch here?”

“...I'm sorry? What do you mean by that?” asked Anton.

“I mean this whole thing sounds too easy.” stated Mica as she gave him a look that was full of suspicion “It's like you're just trying to let me go. So what's the deal!? Where's the catch!?”

Anton chuckled as he slowly shook his head.

“You're right, Mica. I am trying to let you go. I am literally presenting you with an excellent opportunity for you to earn your freedom.” explained Anton as he crossed his arms and looked down at the kiochi “Because when you lose, and you have been caught... I want you to feel it. I want you to know it, to believe it. And I want you to fully understand, that you never stood a chance.”

Mica remained stoic as she stared back at him.

“When you fail, Mica, and you will fail, I will become your Master.” said Anton as he matched her stoic expression with his own “And you will acknowledge that, and accept it.”

Mica was still for a moment as she assessed him. A scowl spread across her face as she spoke.

“You really think this is over already!” she hissed through her teeth as she raised her tail and the cuff above her head and pointed her spade at him “You seriously think you've already won!”

“Yes, I do.” said Anton as he kept his eyes locked to her's “But you're more than welcome to prove me wrong.”

“Oh! I will!” declared Mica as she dropped the cuff from her tail and caught it in her outstretched hand “I will go free! And then I will go home and straighten all this bullshit out! ...First though, I'm going to wipe that smug look off your face by beating the living shit out of you! And I'm gonna enjoy every single minute of that!”

“Hm, is that right? Well then...” nodded Anton as a broad grin slowly spread across his face “Good luck with that!”