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Who was this man, this wretch, to make such requests of Zim? Zim would do as he pleased. The idea rattled in his head, but his outrage calmed, replaced with—caring? He nodded and looked at Ava. “Perhaps you are right. This man, a beast now, has no answers. Perhaps we can show him a shred of mercy.”

“Your magic cannot be returned. However, I grant you this.” Zim touched Kru’s hand and a symbol appeared on the back. Kru’s eyes went wide, warmth rushing over him—that tingling, that sensation of power running through his veins. Oh, how he missed it. “A simple reading light rune. May it serve.”

"Ava, call the brute. Return this thing to its proper place. I'm done." "Yes, my lord." Ava murmured, slipping out. Kru had done it! He held still, the knowledge, the new power, threatening to burst free! No one else could know, no one else was worthy. Jur's portal summoned him; he would answer.

Tam entered the room. The place was too large, unsettling; it made his neck hair prickle. He didn’t recall leaving, so why was he here? “Take this one back to the cells. Care for him. Report his condition. I would know how he survives.” Zim said. Tam nodded, lifted the man, and made for the door.

As the brute left, Kru slung over his shoulder, Ava stood in the door. She nodded, mouthing a silent “thank you,” and then vanished. Zim’s eyes glazed over, mind hazy. He shook his head as Kry entered, breaking his trance. The old, plump woman had a small, crumpled scroll clutched in her hands.

"What do you need, Kry?" Zim asked. "I brought the files, my lord. Tam said you needed them. Sorry it took so long, they were buried deep." "I asked for no files." "He said from deep cell 9?" Zim waved her off. "The brute makes many mistakes. Begone." He vanished in a wave of smoke and light.

Tam walked down the stairs, liking down more than up. Less work. Good. The guy on his shoulder squirmed, giggled. He was annoying, and Tan didn’t like that. Tam stopped, looked around—nobody. He pivoted. The guy's head cracked off the wall, body went limp. That was better. Simple. Tam liked simple.

Kru's eyes opened, goosebumps pricking his skin. Rough stone floor ripping at his clothes. He rolled to his knees, smiling, awash with joy. A pat on his hand and the light rune filled the room like a candle. His heart pounded. A chill ran down his spine. Eyes widened, darting around. Kru screamed!

Punching the door, his knuckles ripping and tearing. Grabbing the small barred window. Across the hall was cell 9. He shoved his arm through, reaching, screaming for the guards. It was no use. Kru fell to the ground, exhausted. The light rune faded. Alone in the darkness, a whisper began to laugh.

"Ava?" Kru begged, but darkness offered no reply. He touched the rune. Light glowed, showing a rotting pallet, a waste hole, a trickling tube. All a prisoner could need, unless that prisoner was Kru. With a thump on his head, bread fell between his legs. Standing, seeking the window, again—nothing.

He measured time by bread drops, yet knew not how long they were. Hunger was the enemy that bound his mind. He fought it, studying his new cell. A box. Nothing to challenge his thoughts, nothing to get him closer to Jur. Anger would crush him if not for hunger. He languished in his eternal solitude.

He lost count. Was this day 24 or 224? Mind — foggy. Thoughts strained. Day’s light came and left, but no sun pierced this vile cell. Yet he was Kru, his will was power! He could escape. Master his mind! Head ached, pounded, throbbed. “Ava! Help me!” he cried. “Who is Ava?” replied a small voice.

“You are Ava.” His voice burned, raw. “I heard… saw you in the tower.” “I do not know this tower.” Her voice cold. “Lies. Show yourself, why play games?” Winds swirled across the cell. Kru pushed to a corner, fear rippling his skin. “I do not lie.” Softer this time. “Tell me! Tell the truth!”

“Are you Jur? Reborn!” Kru crawled, eyes raised as if he could see the sky, searching — pleading! Thunder cracked, and the room quaked, raining down rocks. Laughter exploded, echoing, rising! Kru fell clutching his ears, curling up. A cold silence. A whisper, “You know so little and see even less.”

"Mock me‽ I know the secrets of Jur. I can stop his deadly machines. Only me. No. You are not Jur, I see now… you are—" The answer was there, yet the more he grasped, the further away it got, a butterfly floating beyond his fingers. "—show me how you get out." "You already know." The voice faded.

A mad refrain in his mind. “You already know.” Walls grew frigid. Drips froze the pipe. Cold biting his skin, he focused on what he knew. Magic. Shaking hands waved the light rune on and off. Magic required power, and the only power was him. A prick in his block—it was a—whisper. He needed a roar.

He pushed at his bonds again, straining, pouring power into the light. It grew brighter until his will gave out. He broke focus, waving the rune off, but the searing pain remained. As he blinked, the room flashed before him, darkness and light battling back and forth. With no victor, Kru battled on.

The light scorched his vision and into his soul. He fell back, splayed out on the ground, staring at the ceiling. His eyes, locked open by searing pain, couldn't close. Spots danced in his vision, colors swirling. Fading, as always, but this time, for the first time, Kru smiled. For Kru beheld Jur.

It ignited on the walls, light dancing across the stone. The rune had brought him a script he knew. Cherished. The words of Jur. They etched the cell, top to bottom. No space spared. Reading this gift would cost him, burning his vision. He cared not. He had the time, and with it the will to endure.

His eyes bled, he read on, draining power from the rune to feed his desire. Letters became words, then sentences, and meaning took hold. He'd once prided himself on his knowledge, but now saw it as a mere drop in the ocean. This was not the portal, but a machine of Jur, and now, it belonged to him!

The aroma of lavender and orange was the first thing to reach him, rousing him from sleep. He sat up in bed and instantly he knew this room. Yet something was… off. The walls were too bright, and if you peered hard, translucent. Gears grinding away. Still, there was no mistaking it. Kru was home.

Cold nipped at his bare feet. He paced the room, noting all in its place. The dresser, desk, murals, they were there, impeccable in detail. Yet, it was all touched by Jur. The gears were faintly turning. He faced a mirror. Sunken eyes, straggly hair, pale, blotchy skin. He was not touched by Jur.

He was in the machine, but for what purpose? His studies of Jur paled before this. He found clothes; dressed and headed for the door. A cold wind struck, and he winced, for woven into it he heard a whisper. Not the cold, echoing one from the cell, but that was warm and tugged at his heart. His wife.