EnglandxReader - CHAINED Ch2

CHAINED
—Magic is everywhere, you just don't realize it was there.

Chapter 2: The Apprentice

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You stared out the window of the tower blankly. It had been three days since you were held captive by the Dark Mage. No, they hadn't torture you or hurt you in any way or form, they actually fed you and they gave you a nice room to stay in, which you didn't quite expect. But they were being cold, they never say a word to you, and whenever they pass by, they would look at you like you were some disgusting outcast from an unknown land. They weren't treating you like a person, they were treating you like some animal or a pet that they had to treat responsibly.

It had been three days, but you hadn't seen the Mage at all. Arthur Kirkland, was it? You were wondering, but you guessed that he was busy, too busy to pay a visit to his captives, of course.

Just when you were going to go back to your daydreaming, the door was opened, revealing a soldier standing straight in front of your room.

"Get ready, Master Kirkland wants to see you."

Surprised by the request, you jumped up from your sitting position and quickly got ready. No, it wasn't that you were excited to finally see him after three days or anything, but you just wanted to know if he finally changed his mind and let you go or the likes.

You rolled your eyes. Like that was even possible.

Following the large muscular man through the halls, you looked around the tower and found out that it was actually quite beautiful. The walls were decorated by golden and silver frames of different kinds of paintings, crystal lights hanging on the ceilings, walls ornamented by exquisite carvings and table decorations. It was fancy, all in all, not what you had expected from a Dark Wizard's tower.

He stopped in front of a big, dark oak door. "Master Kirkland is inside. Mind your manners."

You shot a glare at him, but decided to keep your anger to yourself. Taking small steps, you went inside the room.

Dozens of bookshelves were scattered around the large room. They were big and tall, and it left you wondering just how many books were there in that room. You walked quietly around, trying not to make a sound from your heels in the dead silent room. You noticed there was a big glass window behind a desk, which you guessed was the Wizard's, but he wasn't there. Deciding to take another look around the room while searching for him, you turned around, just to find him standing there right behind you.

Seeing your surprised face, he smiled. It was strange how the smile actually looked warmer than the smile you saw three days ago. "See something you like?"

"N-No. I was just looking around," you stuttered. The Mage was wearing the same black cloak like he did back then, and in his hand was a book so thick you'd die if you were to read it. He walked past you and sat behind his desk, opening his book and started reading, ignoring you just like that. You were somehow irked, but you managed to spurt out, "I heard you were looking for me."

"Yes, I was," he said, his eyes not once leaving the giant bundle of paper in front of him.

"What do you need me for?"

He put his book down in annoyance. "Will you be quiet for a moment? Let me read in peace for a while."

"What? But—"

"I said, WAIT for a moment."

You were irritated, but you didn't want to get mad. Who knew if he might actually let you go? You couldn't make him hate you now.

After what felt like hours of standing there, he finally marked his page and closed the book. You were surprised, though. In a short amount of time, he had managed to finish nearly half of the thick book. It was an impressive reading skill.

The Mage looked at you with his bright green orbs. They looked less intimidating in the daylight. "So, [Name], was it? How do you enjoy your stay in my tower?"

You bit your lip, trying to keep looking uninterested. "It was fine, I guess."

"Good, because you'll be staying here quite long, I think."

There was a short pause after that.

"I was thinking of making you my apprentice."

You looked up at him. "Excuse me?"

"My apprentice. That way, you can be a little more useful to me. If you just stay here and sit in your room all the time you'd be like a pig that eats all of our food supply while being as useful as a rock."

You were ready to throw your shoe at him, but you kept your calm. He was right at some point.

"So, from now on, you will be accompanying me in my studies and be my assistant at work. And," he paused, looking at you sharply. "You have to call me Master Kirkland."

You glared back at him. "I will—"

"...You can got back to your room now, I will see you tomorrow. Dismissed." He shook his hand and returned to his reading, signaling you to go. As irritating as he was, you couldn't do a thing about it.

With an exasperated sigh, you left him and returned to your room.

***

You had just finished your dinner, and it was late. You couldn't sleep somehow. You weren't feeling tired. Maybe it was because you hardly ever done anything since you started staying in the tower. Maybe what the Mage said was true, after all.

Seeing that nothing would bring you to sleep now, you stood up and decided to take a walk around. It was good to know the tower a bit better, maybe even to find some hidden holes to escape or something.

You walked through the halls. The place felt so empty and hollow in the night, it almost felt eerie. Fastening your steps, you finally reached the gardens. Since you haven't really had a good look at it before, you were amazed at how beautiful it actually was. There were flowers adorning the lawns, and a fountain was there in the middle with benches around it. You could hear the sound of crickets and birds humming in the night air, chorusing with the water streaming from the fountain. The moon was not full, but it was bright and pretty. It reflected beautifully on the water pooled in the fountain.

When you were enjoying the peaceful silence, you hear soft laughter from somewhere behind you, beyond the bushes. It frightened you at first, since you couldn't tell if it was someone or something there. Gaining courage, you decided to take a look.

What you found clearly was not what you expected. There, under an old maple tree, was Master Kirkland, talking and laughing to himself. To himself.

Finding it hilariously funny, you couldn't hold back a laugh and giggled. The Magician was startled and turned around to see you there, laughing at him. You were going to hide, but it was too late, he already saw you.

"Y-You...?! What are you doing here so late at night?" he stuttered. You never thought he actually could.

"I couldn't sleep, so I decided to walk around. Then I found you, chatting and giggling to yourself." You were going to add 'like an idiot', but decided to stay safe and keep that to yourself.

Even in the dim light of the moon, you swore you saw him blush crimson. "I wasn't giggling to myself. You must be hearing things."

"I was fully awake, and I still am. You were. Just admit it."

Finding no use to deny it anymore, he gave up. "Fine, I did. But it wasn't to myself, you know."

"Really, Master Kirkland?" you asked in a mocking tone, putting your hand on your hips. "To who, then? Faeries?"

"Actually, yes."

"What?"

"Not only the Faeries, but also Unicorn and Gnome."

You looked at him wide eyed, like he just grew another arm on his head. "...W-What?"

"No need to believe me. Most people don't," he said casually, turning away from you. You weren't sure, but there was a spark of sadness in his voice that masked it from his usual ignorant tone. Feeling a bit sorry, you walked up next to him.

"Well..." you started. "My mother used to tell me stories about Faeries and Pixies and all kinds of magical creatures when I was still small. I stopped believing in them now that I've grown up, I guess."

"You should keep believing them, because they're real. It's just not every people are able to see them, so they get misunderstood quite often."

You looked at him from the corner of your eyes. His face was calm, and he was looking at the air softly like there really was something there that was talking to him that moment. By looking in his eyes, somehow you were sure that he wasn't lying. Perhaps Faeries really were true.

"Really? Then, can I say hi to them?"

"Why not?" He suddenly brightened up, startling you in the process. He was smiling, and it was a different smile than the one you saw a few days ago. It was a sincere smile. "They're right here!"

Awkwardly, you raised your hand and waved to the air. "H-Hi!"

"No, they're here! To your left, not there!"

"O-Oh! Sorry! Hi!"

"By the way, this one is my best friend. I call him Flying Mint Bunny! Say hi to him!"

You spent nearly an hour playing with the Mage's invisible friends, and without you noticing, the sky had become darker and it was getting late.

"Maybe you should go take some rest. We're going to have some work tomorrow and you'll need energy for that."

Finding his suggestion true, you said your goodnights and went back to your room in glee. Snuggling into you blankets, you closed your eyes and grinned foolishly in your sleep.

That Mage actually wasn't as bad as you originally thought. He actually had humanlike natures, just like you and everyone else. He wasn't just pure evil, and maybe, just maybe, things wouldn't be as bad as you first thought.

...Maybe.

To be continued...