An old man opens the gate to the Hearthorns mansion and welcomes the white hair man from the carriage.
"Welcome back Marquess."
"Move the cage inside and tell everyone not to disturb me."
The old man bows as the marquess enters the mansion. Entering the door, he was welcome by servants lined up on the right and left welcoming him back. He walks up the stairs to the second floor, entering a room filled with books and a desk at the center. He sat down in his seat, opening his drawer, revealing a drawer full of surgical knives and media bottles filled with black liquid. Upon gazing at this collection, he smiles, feeling joy as he glazes his fingers across the bottles and knives. A moment later, someone knocks on the door, snapping out of his mesmerization.
"Sir, the item is moved into the mansion."
The marquess walks out of the room, and tells him "Call the medical team to meet in the 2nd floor medical room. I deal with the slave."
"Yes sir."
He walks down to where the cage is placed, and removes the cloth covering the cage. Zephyrine, who is now awake from the slumber, is now sitting in the corner of the cage, on guard.
"Now now little one. You have nothing to be worried about, this is a safe place for you."
As Hearthorns opens the cage, he reaches his hand to grab Zephyrine. Taking the opportunity Zephyrine attempts to bite his hand, but Hearthorns quickly retracts his hand. With the opening Zephyrine quickly jumps out and runs towards the door. He reaches the door and tries opening it, but it does not budge. He continues to bash on the door for the slightest bit of hope of escaping. Hearthorns stands up from the floor and snaps his fingers.
Two people in black clothing appear from the ceiling and pin Zephyrine to the ground.
"I told you there was nothing to worry about, yet you still attempted to harm a noble. Thus by the rules of the empire, you are to be punished by any means of the noble's wish. Take him to the medical room."
"Yes sir", both people in black respond and bring Zephyrine to the medical room while retraining movement in his arms and legs.
Up the stairs to the second floor, they enter a large room with bright lighting from the ceiling and they strap him down to the surgery table in the center of the room.
"Do you like this room?" Hearthorns asks while walking in.
"Even if you don't, it doesn't matter. Since you'll be here for a long time." he said with a smirk.
"Finding slaves as young as you are is extremely rare at the auction. Most slaves are grown men or women, who have become a burden and are thrown onto the street with no one to care about them. While newborns are thrown out and left to die since many are not able to raise them. While someone like you is just lucky."
"What are you trying to say?"
"What I'm saying is that in this world people like you are of no worth. Without being sold off, there is no way for you to even enter the city. If the family you were born into didn't care about you, then you wouldn't be here today."
"So?"
"Well, telling you all of that was pointless. You just have to understand that you are born in the sea of exiles, there will be no one out there to look for you. From the information that I received, it is likely that your parents are already dead. Funny isn't it."
"You! What is there to be called funny? They risked their lives to save me." Zephyrine yelled as his eyes waters up and slowly become red.
"Is it not funny? You became their downfall and now you are going to be punished for attempting to harm a noble. But fear not — you'll be a part of the great miracle that will eradicate the world of the fiends."
"What are you going to experiment on me?"
"Oh? It seems that you have some pretty good hearing there."
"What is that experiment zern–, whatever it was called."
"It's Experiment Xenerus and you are the main character in this experiment."
"Well if I'm going to be experimented on, then at least tell me what this is."
"I don't see the purpose of telling you, but I also don't see the harm of it either. If you must know then have you heard the rumors that the fiends seem to believe in a deity."
"What?!" Zephyrine's eyes widen, surprised by the fact that the mindless, hostile monsters believe such a thing as a deity.
"YES!" Hearthorns yells as he grows in excitement and slams the surgery table.
"A while back, there was a picture that spread through the high commands and nobles, depicting fiends bowing to a stone tablet. Many researchers have theories that they believe in some kind of god or deity."
"That doesn't mean they have to bow to a god or deity. That just doesn't make sense."
"You know I like your personality. You are still able to speak calmly while being restrained and waiting for punishment. Well you are right, but even if it is not some being of transcendent or godly power. It could be a more powerful fiend. It could be some random ritual they do. There are so many possible answers, but I thought to myself, why don't I just make something that covers all possibilities."
"And what is that idea?"
"Create a fiend that is completely under my control."
Zephyrine was shocked by the idea, as many people just believe that fiends are monsters that have been alive for a long period of time and have spread out to cause chaos. Turning someone into a fiend is just foolish and impossible. Fiends just turn to a puddle of black liquid after they are killed.
"You are going to turn me into one of those disgusting creatures?!"
"Yes. That's the idea."
"That is impossible! And you are doing nothing but betraying humanity!"
"Oh no no no no. I'm just simply trying to solve the issue. If I can turn you into a fiend that is much more powerful and dominate the fiends, everything will be solved."
"You disgust me!"
"There is nothing to be disgusted by, young man. Now that I think about it, you have yet to tell me your name."
"I don't want my name coming out of your disgusting mouth." Zephyrine spit at Hearthorns' face.
"Doesn't matter. If this experiment succeeds, then you'll be known as Xenerus." He takes out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping off the spit and throws it onto the floor.
"Don't you dare touch me or else your hands are coming off!"
"Don't worry little one. You won't feel the pain during the experiments."Hearthorns snaps his fingers and walks in people in white clothing, fully covered from head to toe.
"Doctor, please put on the suit during the experiment" one of the people came up to him holding another white suit in his arms.
"Fine" Heathorns say as he grabs the suit.
"Also put him out."
"Yes sir."
The person in the white suit approaches Zephyrine with a bottle. Attempting to fight back Zephyrine plans to bite them once they get close enough, but two others grab his head and force his mouth open. The person opens the bottle and pours it down his mouth. Refusing as much as he can, he refused to let the liquid down his throat. The people in white covered his mouth and nose, trying to get the liquid down. He faints from lack of oxygen and the liquid flows into his stomach.
The last thing Zephyrine heard and saw was Hearthorns saying "have a good night sleep, Xenerus."
Thus the experiment begins.