He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter One Hundred and Forty Eight - Setting Future Paths

They reunited in the abandoned house they had claimed on entry to the city, which was located just outside of the slums, however there was now one more to their group.  Jasper was seven years and three months old.  He came from the Village of Townsend and was a Healer apprentice. But he really had not liked the Teacher, who was also a Healer and he did not like being a Healer.  The people who wanted him to use his magic on them were mean and never said thank you.  His mama said good people should always say please and thank you.

Away from the clinic and away from the people who made him feel worthless and lonely, Jasper had turned into a chatty, brighter boy and had become especially attached to Wulfgar.  They would have gladly taken him to his home and attempted to reunite him with his mother, but his home no longer existed.  They suspected that he might even be somewhat aware of this as he did not ask to return to his Mama nor his Village.  In the end, it was decided that the boy should return to the surface with them.  The boy wore himself out once more speaking without pause and eating whatever they fed him, before settling into Wulfgar's lap and succumbing to sleep.

"Did you kill him?" Oswyn asked after the boy no longer demanded their attention.  He had no doubts that they had dealt with their former tormentor somehow as Saewulf had become unlocked from his child state and there was an air of peace about him.

"No," Saewulf admitted.  "But he will never harm another child or adult for as long as he lives.  And he will ever be aware of that."

"He got off lightly, then," Oswyn said, disgruntled.

Wulfgar shook his head.  "He is suffering a similar fate to what Saewulf suffered for many, many years." Oswyn appeared confused so the man explained further.  "His mind has been locked into a state like Sae's child state.  But he will never escape it.  I still am not sure how you managed that."  He directed this last sentence to Saewulf. 

"The secret is in the venom," Sae replied, vaguely.

"What about the lost children?" Leif asked.  "After visiting the Mage Hall and... not finding Vitalous, we went to the place where you were formerly held.  However, it has been abandoned.  Not even the refugees have sought to occupy it."

"I don't know," Sae said honestly.

"I'm not sure Vitalous had anything to do with that," Elyas mentioned.  The others looked at him with questions in their eyes.  "Think about it.  The man never attempted to add to your ranks after... he felt his 'experiment' was complete.  He also spoke of his regrets allowing you to be used by others. I believe he took us from the S-class to the clinic on purpose to gauge our reactions when serving the rich.  And at a similar time to those disappearances, he obtained a new apprentice, Jasper, who shared his abilities.  It is too simple to blame that upon him as well."

"That and he spoke as if he had a hand in starting this war," Lewin added.  "I think you are right, Elyas.  But if not my... that man, then who?"

"The handlers," Wulfgar replied.  The small bundle in his arms stirred and he found himself stroking the child's back.  It reminded him of those brief moments in which the younger him had comforted the tiny Saewulf after they had been thrown into the cells.  It was a bright memory in amongst suffocating dark ones reminding him that as horrible as his past was, there were times that he would not want to forget.

"Yes, there were one or two we did not get the chance to kill," Oswyn mused.

"It would be difficult to find them," Saewulf admitted.  "I don't wish to leave anyone to that fate, but how would we know where to begin to look?"

"They won't be in the city," Wulfgar said.  "Too many soldiers and patrols."  They all remained downcast for a while, the situation seeming hopeless.