The Imperial Palace's high-security detention facility was designed to contain threats that conventional prisons couldn't handle—magical criminals whose abilities posed dangers to both guards and fellow inmates. As I sat in the center of a cell lined with aetherite-infused barriers that could neutralize even peak Ascendant-rank power, I found myself reflecting on how completely Jack had outmaneuvered me.
"Not even twelve hours," I murmured to myself, studying the intricate runic patterns that covered every surface of my confinement. "From the most powerful Guild Grandmaster in the world to accused demon contractor in less than half a day."
The irony wasn't lost on me. The same magical suppression technology that I had helped fund through guild research grants was now being used to ensure I couldn't escape or communicate with the outside world. The aetherite barriers hummed with constant energy, creating a field that made even basic magical techniques impossible to maintain.
