C2 Chapter 2: The Duke of Massa

Scrutinizing the sun’s position and realizing I was already late, I sped toward my destination, Haven Port. I was anticipating a strong beratement from my father for taking too much time on something so simple, like obtaining schoolbooks.

The hustle and bustle of Haven Port of Massa stole my vigilance, from the dealers and brokers to the polished ornate decoration of the city guard armor.

Very rarely was I left alone or allowed to traverse the city streets unaccompanied. I'd mostly been tutored at home by a variety of professors in everything from Languages to Science to History (ever-changing) and Martial Arts although on limited occasions I snuck out to visit the city itself.

It was during these late-night excursions into this beautiful city that I finally was introduced to the seedy underbelly of our society and the great injustices carried out by those with influence on those without.

Within all the kingdoms of the established world, slavery was commonplace and led to the bulk of society being retained and degraded with no voice in how their lives were lived. This marketplace was no different, amongst the range of wares on sale were chain gangs of males and females being directed to different ships to be guided to unknown corners of the Kingdom. I winced at their undetermined futures, wishing I could change everything.

I sought out my father's entourage and noticed them arranging to board the grandest-looking ship in the port. Haven Port was an hour's ride from our house by carriage and was nestled on the brink of massive cliffs that allowed advantageous docking.

The immense vessels, built with tall masts and vast sails were able to swiftly traverse between the ten great cities of the Privell Kingdom and it was just a three-day journey to the capital. Where I would begin my studies as a sorcerer. I could hardly hold in my excitement.

I tried to stealthily navigate the path into the midst of my father's faction, but it proved too difficult to go unnoticed with his sentinels circling and pushing their way down the port as people tried to get a closer look at the women in the dark azure dresses standing behind my father.

In the irritated tone only, a parent can muster.

"Oh Oliver, you took forever at the library, you must not stray from the protection of the guard, and we are due to embark on our voyage shortly!"

He didn’t inquire about what books I attained or anything, just reprimanded me for being late even though the ship hadn’t even started the boarding process.

"Sorry Father, I was distracted in the market by all the amazing wares," I replied justly.

My father's eyes opened wide, a small mischievous grin plastered over his face, "Looking through the market for a star attraction to start your collection, Oliver?" He nudged me jokingly with a harsh elbow to the ribs. “This would be a first.”

I glared at my father in response, "You know my impression about slaves besides you have more than enough to take care of all of us."

"Ha-ha, who proclaimed that's a bad thing, son." My father gave me his most mischievous smile.

I hated the predatory expression on my father's face as he leered at the two women standing by his side. He proceeded to seize the arm of one of his attractive Djinn nearby and dragged her into his chest forcefully.

"Son, you'll have to deal with slaves and Djinn as part of your day-to-day life at the academy. Also, to keep up pretenses, you must have a few in the future as my heir. They are a way of life."

"You know father, I have no plans on acquiring a slave or Djinn to boost my power." I bit back, "The practice is archaic and barbaric, we have all the dominance we will ever need in our blood, we don’t need to leech it from others, especially women."

With a condescending gaze my father retorted, "Don't be so naïve son, these two sluts augment my power to a level few in the Kingdom can match!"

As he spoke, he clutched the subdued collared brunette from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist, his hands inching closer to her chest and squeezing her visible breast through the tiny silk dress she wore. The woman hurt by my father’s actions didn’t even let out a whimper which spoke of years of abuse he had subjected her to.

My father had never been this forward in public, but he was making his point loud, clear, and beyond contestation. His mischievous grin told me he had won the conversation for now. I dropped the conversation after his look.

With proximity to these two ladies, I could feel the overwhelming connection all Sorcerers feel in the presence of a Djinn (a magic vessel), I could feel it but was unable to tap into it.

These women were already broken by my father and only he could siphon their magic reserves for his personal use. I felt great sorrow for all women unfortunate enough to be born with magic.

Once tested, women with the gift of magic were enslaved until twenty-one years of age as house slaves and then handcuffed to their owner with a magical device called a Vsage Crystal. A very powerful relic which blood binds them through a special collar and cuffs to the bondholder.

Gifted females hold a greater source of mana to refill their magic but lack the control when they are younger to wield that magic safely. With the Vsage Crystal, a gifted woman is permanently bound to one sorcerer who can mine the mana of a Djinn to produce overpowering magic.

Unfortunately for the sorceress, the collar prevents her from expelling her magic supply. Once the mana well is full a Djinn must be reaped, this prevents overloading her and killing her. The reaping of a Djinn is not a pleasant task for her and can be quite painful, the more powerful a Djinn is the more reaping must be done to control her magic. All forms of giving pleasure help reduce the mana well at different stages.

As the bond holder the sorcerer, when reaping his Djinn is provided with a significant short-term boost of mana. Gifted women are extremely rare, and Vsage Crystals are even rarer in the Kingdom.

The King keeps a close eye on all Vsage Crystals to maintain tight control over who can enslave a Djinn with most only going to the wealthiest of his Sorcerers. My father, the Duke of Massa, was one of those exceptional sorcerers and used his influence to procure not one but two of his very own.

My father’s Djinn’s, Grace, and Julia were both now in their forties but still appeared in their early twenties due to the magical bond. Even though their gift already granted them longer lives, the inhumane magic function lent a boosted vitality to both the owner and the bonded pair which meant that they would be forced to endure an even longer life at his sadistic whims.

Both Djinn’s were beautiful beyond measure but through years of abuse, their eyes had glazed over like an animal that had been captured in the wild and thrown into captivity. They had lost the will to fight.

My father liked to degrade them by putting leashes attached to their collars for easy access. With the eternal link of the Vsage Crystal and the mastery of his magic, my father could easily control their bodies, and their magic and bend both to his will.

I grimaced at the pain she might be feeling. "Father, that’s enough, can’t you see that she is suffering," I pleaded on deaf ears as he callously rubbed his fingers over her nipple through the dress watching it harden with a sardonic satisfaction.

Noticing a spark from her closed crimson lips, "It seems Grace here is keen for a reaping. I feel her mana pool overflowing, once we get assigned our cabins we will take care of your little problem, won’t we my dear?" he bellowed as he casually felt up the back of her dress and nibbled behind her ear knowing that would drive her crazy. Grace whimpered and tried to shift behind my father to his amusement as he held her leash.

Fortunately, she was rescued from her plight by the appearance of a youthful porter dressed in a sleek brown uniform. "Your Grace, your luggage and property are safely aboard. We will disembark shortly so please begin to board at your leisure." The young man's nerves trounced his need to inform the other guests of the boarding policies as he swiftly climbed up the dock and vanished from view.

"Well, you heard the young lad, all aboard everyone!" my father announced. With a slight smirk and in hushed tones he nudged me in the ribs, " There is a little something Ethan managed to procure for this journey... Son, don't waste it.”

Without looking back, he sauntered up the plank and onto the ship deck with his Djinn trying to keep up with his pace as he held their leashes firmly. Ethan, my father’s confidant/steward looked at me with a mysterious grin before hopping up onto the gangplank. I slowly walked up the plank behind my father, contemplating what my father deemed worthy of a gift for me. The rest of my father’s faction including a few new slaves ascended the gangplank after me.

Everyone was met by a buoyant, elegantly dressed captain, who greeted my father with bravado that diminished quickly after feeling my father’s subtle aura. Soon the captain developed a nervous stutter, "Welcome aboard your Grace, it is such an honor… Thank you for dignifying us with your presence… you honor us...as our guest."

The captain felt an unknown force more powerful than three times gravity weighing him down as he suddenly was on bended knee not of his own volition but by the power emanating from my father’s aura. After a few breaths of time, the captain was able to stand up and bowed with a noticeable bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

"Indeed, that’s wonderful, now lead me to my quarters, I have urgent business to attend to, and I expect nothing less than the best this ship has to offer," my father ordered in a pompous way.