Maurice touched the rune to bring up an image of the cell holding his new favorite prisoner. President Bluff made a big deal about refusing to use the man’s sobriquet when announcing the capture. “He’s not some big shot ‘Lord Dragonbane’, this guy is a Hector. Have you ever heard such a name? Stupid name for a stupid man, that's what they say.” It went on like that for some time. The takeaway was that Martin Bluff didn’t like Hector and no one should honor the guy by using his title or sobriquet.

  That was fine with Maurice. He wasn’t worried. A Xian Lord might be a potent entity, but this was Abyss Penitentiary. No one escaped. Every prisoner wore a metal collar forged with customized runes to suppress their power. The more physically imposing ones wore cuffs and anklets as well. Hector had the full complement of suppression tools, suppressing his cosmic energy and reducing his physical might.

  Those shackles were placed in the presence of the Sage of Restraint, so the ritual would be nigh impossible to break. That was only one layer of security. There was also a generalized area of effect ritual that weakened everyone on premises who didn’t possess an exemption token keyed to their unique presence. Every internal wall was similarly reinforced. And the external wall carried an immense rune chain that declared all who were committed to the penitentiary were unable to leave. Reality itself bent to that law.

  The spell cast on the outer wall was on occasion a problem. From time to time, a political prisoner needed released. The runes didn’t account for extenuating circumstances, so it wasn’t easy to get an inmate outside. The authorities essentially had to smuggle each paroled individual past the wall. If it was so challenging for those in charge of this place, it was literally impossible for those incarcerated here.

  This Hector might need released one day. If a Dragon one day threatened Maya, they would need to smuggle the prisoner through the barrier and make sure he agreed to fight on their behalf. The man had a transit sphere, so it wasn’t as simple as arguing ‘you will die if you do not kill the beast’. Understanding the need to ensure future cooperation, Maurice intended to build a rapport with his prisoner.

  His plans for that were already underway. There were so many special favors that could alleviate boredom and make time easier to serve. He intended to offer special food, alcohol, and alone time with women – other prisoners or willing guards. Every prisoner had access to the library, but Maurice could bring in books that matched Hector’s tastes. And let him have furniture for his cell that would distinguish him from his fellow prisoners.

  No one preferred imprisonment, but Maurice had no doubt he could make it tolerable. Then, once Hector became accustomed to the special treatment, they would begin playing games together. Chess or cards or dice, it mattered not. Maurice would discover what game Hector enjoyed and gamble for what vice the man most valued. They would have fun and trade stories.

  When the day came, Maurice or his successor would release Hector to save their world. There was a good chance the man would feel he owed something to his warden. World saved. Hector could escape after without bringing down any consequences on the prison staff.

  The very first thing Maurice intended was to give Hector some Tian wine. The Xian loved that. Certainly Lord Wei cherished every bottle. Yet Hector had yet to touch the gift basket. Upon waking and grasping his situation, the Xian Lord simply sat down and began to cultivate.

  It should not have been possible in here. The only source of cosmic energy available to their prisoners should be food and drink provided by the staff. The generic mechanisms of the penitentiary wrapped prisoners in a shroud that prevented the movement of any energy. The collar on Hector served the same purpose but was specific to cosmic energy. His wrist and ankle shackles prevented his powerful body from harming anyone with physical violence. Every movement was brought down to a mundane level and then further cushioned.

  Yet Hector pulled cosmic energy from out of nowhere at a steady pace. There was no use of aura or domain. Nothing on the mental band. He hadn’t consumed any resources. It was a fascinating puzzle to solve at a later time. The issue before Maurice at the moment was that his first gift had been rejected. No, actually it was worse than that. A rejection would be a natural reaction of someone reacting to their change in status. Hector ignored the wine because he saw no value in it.

  The ten days it took his latest guest to awaken had been filled with confident plotting. All of those plans fell flat the moment Hector awoke and dove into his impossible cultivation. It was five days later and Hector had yet to do anything other than sit in place. The man didn’t even sleep. Granted Lords didn’t need sleep, but why would one wish to be constantly awake while incarcerated? Were not dreams a form of escape?

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Daily, guards inquired if he wished to emerge for meals and recreation time. He responded every time with a subtle shake of his head. The man was a damn stereotype. Not the one of the arrogant Lord throwing around orders and demanding to speak to the warden. Maurice knew how to deal with that sort. Hector was the other stereotype: the Xian who sat motionless for a decade while he cultivated atop a mountain. How was he supposed to win the favor of a man like that?

  Well, if the man wouldn’t leave his cell, then he would need to have guests. To test the waters on how Hector would react to an interruption of his cultivation, Maurice instructed a guard to allow their other Xian guest freedom of movement in the area. Sure enough, less than an hour later Lord Wei walked up to the bars of Hector’s cell.

  “It is customary to ask what crime one has committed to be here,” Wei said.

  Hector briefly cracked an eye. “Is that right? You share first.” The tone carried a wisp of amusement. That was a good sign.

  “I was born to the wrong type of father,” Wei said.

  “And who might be the wrong type?”

  “A Xian God.”

  Both Hector’s eyes popped open. “I believe God is what they call the level above Lord?”

  “Arrogant as every Amaratti I ever met. In the rest of Tian, level ten is called Immortal. Your people use a different word and expect everyone to accommodate you. And for some reason, every foreigner from another world does.” Despite his words, Wei gave the impression that he was enjoying the conversation.

  Hector stood and walked to the bars. “Is your father the Zing Emperor?”

  “Indeed. My father is God Zhao Xi. I am his chosen heir, Immortal Zhao Wei.”

  “Well met, Wei. I am Hector.”

  “You do not wish to stand on your title?”

  Hector laughed. “I’ve collected enough titles that they just embarrass me.”

  “Many titles? Do entertain me with the tale, Hector. I find myself terribly bored in here.”

  “They call me the Lord Dragonbane. Also the Sage of Chaos.”

  Wei made an amused sound. “A Xian Sage? How novel.”

  “I haven’t been recognized by the College of Sages, so I understand it is a provisional title. But it may carry some weight since the Sage of Conflagration was the one to name me.”

  Maurice almost choked on his own saliva when he heard that claim. An overly ambitious Xian claiming to be a Sage would be nothing more than an ego on display. If there was any truth to Conflagration naming this man, that would change all of Maurice’s assumptions. Though it was well known that the Sage of Conflagration had no interest in the business of his peers. Why would he become enamored enough of a Xian to grant him a name?

  “And will you share with me the crime they charged you with?”

  Hector winked at the other man. “I killed a Dragon.”

  “Metaphorically?”

  “Quite literally,” Hector said. “How grateful would your father be to have you returned?”

  “It has been a great many years since I saw my father, but he should be most grateful. I am his eldest son and heir. I do not know if my position as heir is intact, but in all the time I have been held hostage, he has not sent the warriors of Zing to raid across the multiverse. Surely he still holds some affection for me if my position as hostage remains effective. If ever the Arahants decide to release me, I expect he might even shed a tear of joy.”

  Hector nodded. “And if I brought you to him, would he grant me a boon?”

  Wei gave an easy smile. “If we speak of dreams, they may as well be grand. Let us say he will appoint you chief advisor and grant you leave to wed one of his daughters, making you my brother-in-law.”

  “I speak seriously, Immortal Zhao Wei. If I bring you back to your father, would he send an army to participate in the Reconquest?”

  The insistence of Hector caused Maurice to rub his forehead. His newest prisoner was far from the serene saint he appeared. He was delusional, believing he would escape once he built up his energy reserves. The man had been empty when he arrived, so of course he hadn’t discovered the inviolability of his restraints yet. This would work itself out in the long run. Once Hector learned he could not escape, his reactions would become more in line with what Maurice expected.

  On the mirror in front of him, Wei gave his answer to Hector.

  “If your question is serious, I will answer in the same spirit. The emperor would lose much face if he did not adequately recompense you for your service.” Wei bowed his head with an ironic quirk of his lips. “May you deliver me home soon, Lord Dragonbane.”

  “My reserves are still low. Give me another week,” Hector said.

  Amazon (free to read if you have Kindle Unlimited).