Chapter One Hundred Twenty Eight

The next morning revealed his new title again, and he grinned to see it, more aware and happier to see it. Fell asleep with it on, I guess. Grateful for the esoteric and firm self-control, if not quite understanding how that would affect him, nor did he understand what it meant to have an 'intimate control' of losing and gaining body parts. Donno if I wanna … try it either… but I guess I could do it as I heal and lose my legs each night?

Happy with his new and welcome title, he turned to what the title seemed to be focusing on: his resistance to negative effects. And my enslavement is exactly that! Over the next couple hours before muster was called, Joe wrestled with the collar and while his pain control helped mitigate what the collar could do to him, both mentally and physically, it seemed the extra little bit of resistance he'd gained was still insignificant against the might of the collar, even as fresh blood littered his floor and 'bed' liberally.

That did not daunt him, however, as over the next week, he spent each morning and evening actually physically wrestling with the collar. By the end of the week, he had to concede defeat with much more hope and fervor as he continued with his original plan, more certain of it. He also now regularly started each day in the infused state, spending a good half an hour each morning after muster meditating to put himself into infusion. He also now began to keep his legs permanently, hiding them by tying them back up against his thighs inside his baggy pants and tied off at the knee to the prosthetic itself. It was an uncomfortable week, although Joe's definition of uncomfortable had radically changed. The first few days were a struggle, but soon Joe found ways to sit and move that grew more natural as time went on, for whatever definition of natural a man missing his lower legs could be called. Nor did he really learn much of what it meant to have 'intimate control' over losing and gaining limbs. To be frank, his focus and drive was too much on what was soon to come, so his exercises of various kinds became rote, his thoughts barely upon them. For those that he'd practiced for quite some time, his efforts continued to improve his skills, but for things that required experimentation and deep thought, such as understanding the benefits of his new title, they were very poorly executed.

And each day, Joe awoke with a mounting tension and excitement that grew throughout the day, and each night the tension receded only slightly. By the end of the week, Joe was struggling to hide the anxious buzzing energy that bounced through him behind a façade of continued boredom. Then, he went to bed one night, woke, and was met with what he was hoping for, the sound of a caravan and low muted voices of sullen quiet slaves punctuated by louder boisterous calls of guards and staff coming from deep within the forest.

Joe found himself staring at the forest with avid attention bordering on obsession, his fixated hope wiping away any attempt at subversion. The small group of fellow slaves around him calmed and then grew silent, noticing his ardent stare and soon all were following his gaze. They all watched on silently as the caravan marched into the clearing, coming towards the place it usually stopped. One of the guards stepped forward and took off towards the slave master's home. Joe jerked to awareness at that and quickly glanced around, realizing that he'd been staring hard at the incoming new group of slaves. Joe settled back into his work, ignoring the others and unconcerned with their stares as most tended to do so when the new slaves came in.

plans even as he worked to change his language skills back to the local language. He then shifted slightly to face towards Dulan.

"Dulan," Joe spoke softly under his breath and the man shivered, jerking slightly, coughing, then shifting to look under his seat as if to find something poking him as an explanation for his actions.

Those around him shifted, but mostly ignored him, their focus still very much on the new poor saps to soon join their ranks. Dulan shifted a few times to position himself for a more private conversation as well before continuing the conversation.

"Yes, Great One and Honored Eccentric. How may this one be of service to your Greatness."

Joe frowned, grimacing a bit at the overly subservient response but finding urgency to be of greater importance and continued, "If you and all these here could help me. I'll need a distraction."

"Now? Great One and Honored Eccentric?"

Joe continued his frown, this time now in thought, "No. Please just watch me. I'll give a signal. Something to let you know when to begin. I know you cannot do much. But just enough to catch the attention of all the guards and slave master… just for a moment."

Dulan nodded, cautious, "Only I?"

"If the others are willing, I would appreciate it."

Dulan stifled a nod and Joe simply finished the conversation, "Thank you."

Joe then shuffled through his language setup again, deafening his ears once more for his own protection. Then, he turned back to watching the proceedings. Dulan turned back to the others, calling them in closer and Joe only caught the beginning of the conversation before his language skill cut off. From what he could see, they all seemed eager to help out. Grateful, he turned back to look at his status and quickly noticed that his MP was lower than half, his infused state he'd started in the morning and was still maintaining sucking his MP dry. He clenched his teeth, thoughtful for a time, worried at his lips a bit, then finally committed. I'll need all the MP I can get. He quickly dropped his infused state and settled into a meditative one. My MP will almost be back to full by the time I get my infused state set back up!

* * *

Ilyelanralo rose with languid grace more rooted in boredom than any attempt to maintain some kind of dignity. He stifled a sigh for the man who'd entered to warn him of the coming caravan. Propriety must be met but sometimes Ilyelanralo found those who served him to be rather inept, failing to understand that a large caravan of almost a hundred people would make quite a lot of noise. Still, propriety and all that, so he simply waved the man off after the report and followed after before the man even finished the report. The guard rose back up then scrambled to lead when he saw Ilyelanralo already moving towards him.

Arriving outside, Ilyelanralo took a look around the camp and saw that most were watching the new caravan for entertainment was scarce in this small camp removed from cities. Ilyelanralo found his eyes searching the camp before settling on the eccentric. A rush of conflicting emotions swelled with that: anger at himself and the eccentric for having the man plague his mind, frustration for being unable to break the man, a deep fear, and finally a professional pride that was finding a firm root in stubborn desire to accomplish the task set before him.

The crowd around the eccentric watched the caravan with avid eagerness as all did while the eccentric played at boredom, carving at a piece of wood with his poor stone tools as he always did. Ilyelanralo felt his eyebrows knit, narrowing in confusion as something seemed off. He continued staring carefully, but found nothing he could point specifically to. Despite that, something nagged at the back of his mind and he soon was thoroughly distracted by the eccentric and his party as he walked across to the field to the caravan.

Pleasantries were exchanged and light banter between him and the caravan merchant bounced back and forth but Ilyelanralo could not find any peace, more and more of his attention drawn to the eccentric and the group that surrounded him. Even as the pleasantries came to an end and Ilyelanralo invited the merchant back to his home as was customary, Ilyelanralo found the strange oddity surrounding the eccentric's group to itch at him. Ilyelanralo's thoughts shifted from curios indifference to burning worry.

By the time the invitation had been set and they were soon returning towards his home, Ilyelanralo found his peace robbed of him and he paused in his walk to turn and look back at the group of slaves. He simply stood and stared, the caravan master polite enough to wait by his side, the merchant's eager ingratiating comments dying out to allow Ilyelanralo his space. Soon, the whole camp grew quiet, the soft murmuring surrounding everything silencing. All that remained was the soft susurrus of wind brushing leaf, branch, and cloth. Yet, Ilyelanralo did not move. He felt no peace. He couldn't place it, but something burned into his psyche that all was not as it seemed, and finally Ilyelanralo turned to the guard by his side.

"Bring the eccentric and his guard. They will accompany us."

"Yes, sir."

The guard ran off, heading towards his duty and Ilyelanralo felt only a slight relief because the soft twist of tension still seemed to continually build up. But that small hint of resolution only reinforced Ilyelanralo's concern and he slowed to allow the eccentric to join him at their side.

* * *

Joe remained rather oblivious to what was happening since his back was to the events as the slave master and caravan merchant walked towards the slave master's house, focused deeply on his meditation to regain his infusion state. The sudden tension in the men and women surrounding him, however, made things deeply uncomfortable for Joe and he realized things had changed, even deep within his meditative efforts. Despite that, he knew he had to continue focusing on meditating until two guards arrived at his side. One was the older guard assigned to watch him at all times. The other was a guard Joe recognized only in passing who typically lounged around the camp's intake area. He knew little of that guard.

Still, two guards arriving at your side was enough to draw the attention of most any person but Joe was rather desperate to return to his infused state. Still, he knew he couldn't ignore him so desperately tried to maintain his focus while leaving the dregs to deal with the two guards. Joe set down his piece and stared up at the two men in irritated confusion; the confusion real, the irritation feigned.

"What do you want?" Joe grumbled, knowing the guards would not understand him.

The unknown guard offered a brash growl and grabbed Joe by the arm and yanked at him to pull him to his feet. Joe grimaced with angry frustration, his efforts immediately destroyed as all his preparation to return to infusion collapsed. The older guard glanced at the newer guard and raised an eyebrow in humor before shaking his head slowly, hiding his disapproval of the younger guard. That didn't stop the older guard from speaking softly under his breath.

The comment caused the slavers around Joe to laugh softly which really didn't sit well with the younger brash guard and the guard dropped Joe's hand to cuff several of the slaves that had laughed. Joe's frustration at loosing focus vanished and he stepped fully into the moment, moving forward and snapping a hand out to grasp the guard's arm.

Both guards reacted with shock and no little fear, the older one stepping back while also preparing his weapon. The younger seemed to freeze in place, paralyzed by fear. Joe simply shook his head then released the younger guard's arm. The guard did something, spewing out a few phrases that seemed apologetic mixed with a couple others Joe couldn't get a read on before turning and fleeing rather rapidly from the group back towards the slave master. Huh… guess he's 'leading' me back? So that can satisfy the command of the collar? Maybe? Seems… to be pushing it… Joe simply stood there watching him go before turning to look at the older guard.

The older guard nodded respectfully, with a wary look. Joe nodded back. The guard stared back at Joe for a bit before waving him towards the slave master and Joe turned to look at the man. It took everything in him not to look at the box full of slave collars that had been brought out. Joe stifled a deep sigh and took a step forward. The older guard watched on, nervous before falling in behind him. Joe hobbled as best he could, walking on his knees towards the slave master's home, cursing under his breath the whole way.

The small crowd of slaves that had aligned with him burst into soft conversation even as the slave master watched on with narrow angry eyes. He shouted out something, loud and angry which caused a shout of pain to come out, shifting to a shriek that didn't end. The cry startled Joe and he looked over to see the young guard that had run away curled into a fetal position, crying out in pain as his collar swirled in wild uncontrolled spirals and twists from his neck. Joe kept his interest hidden, but struggled to turn his eyes away from what the guard's collar was doing. It was one of the few times Joe was able to watch the collar at work without also being under its affects, either in pain or pleasure, or at least faking the feelings. Nor did he feel much guilt for the afflicted, the guards' behaviors having poisoned him to care for most of them. Except for this guy… Joe thought as he glanced at the man who'd been assigned to watch him. Been reasonably polite… Joe remembered his actions over the past few weeks before turning his focus back upon the writhing collar, able to watch on with clinical curiosity. Huh… interesting...

The collar spun and twisted in wild undulations as it took on almost three dimensional fractal patterns surrounding both the head and torso of the guard, although the collar tended to alternate in its undulations and very rarely encompassed both the head and torso. The guard didn't seem to notice, his hands held up as if to grasp his head in pain but instead clawed at the air around his head a good half an arm length away, never really getting close to his head or the collar.

A soft touch on his shoulder from the guard behind him snapped Joe out of his focus and he jerked back to see the guard behind him with a hand on his shoulder. Joe's reaction, however, caused the guard to leap back and hold up his arms defensively, even has he prepared weaponry. Joe simply nodded and turned back to following after the slave master, the man already pretty far ahead of him. Joe didn't speed up, but found himself unable to think of any reason to stay or change. The command was too obvious and too easy to understand, so his collar was rather insistent on him obeying it. In only a few steps, Joe found himself passing the threshold of the mansion, cursing that he was entering at the one time he didn't want to be inside. All the collars were outside.

* * *

He stood watch behind the eccentric, a horrified tension welling up within him even as he stared at the man. He'd always felt resisting the collar was folly, and so had buckled down rather quickly after he was first enslaved. But now, seeing how the eccentric was making a mockery of all that the slave master attempted, there was a small part of him rooting for the eccentric. But even that small part ate at the back of his mind as his collar felt the resistance and twisted through his thoughts, binding him to the will of the slave master.

He did his duty, however, as his collar would not allow for any other option but to do so, watching the eccentric with duty bound eyes. It was tense, and terrifying, for he could tell the eccentric was driven but unhappy to be here, like all slaves. But he didn't know why he felt with absolute certainty that the eccentric wished to be elsewhere at this exact moment. And his thoughts bent towards helping the man even as the collar twirled softly with growing agitation at his rebellion.

* * *

The repast with the merchant, often an enjoyable experience for Ilyelanralo, ground on with interminable annoyance. Ilyelanralo struggled to maintain decorum with the visiting merchant, his thoughts more on the eccentric even as concern itched at the back of his thoughts. There was no peace for Ilyelanralo, only the irritation from a certainty that the eccentric plotted something. However, Ilyelanralo could not discover the plot for his life and fearful anxiety only ratcheted his irritation higher.

* * *

Joe stood at attention in the downstairs open audience room while the slave master entertained the slave merchant. Joe kept his face smooth but struggled to maintain his calm as he clenched hidden fists behind his back. His fists clenched, then relaxed, as he used them as biofeedback calming movements even as his mind struggled through failed plan after failed plan. Joe didn't even really notice much of what was going on, his thoughts too twisted up in the current situation.

Not much I can do. None of the slave collars are here… Joe struggled to keep his head forward and his gaze locked straight across from him, refusing to glance towards where his controller nor where the box of slave collars usually were. So… is this a bust? Should I give up? Try to do it next cycle? The thought almost made Joe break his blank face as fear and horror welled up inside of him, rejection against the idea and fear of being able to survive so long. Already, Joe could feel the fragility of his will held together only by what felt like glass. But what can I do? Should I risk it now? If I screw up…

His thoughts remained lost in a twisting mindscape lacking any solidity to make a choice on until a single realization hit him. The kids! They…. Three months? Out there like that? Even if I bring food… but then… Joe could only imagine the horror of what they were going through these past few weeks already, and the horrific smell that must be in that small enclosed space by now. And muscle loss… can't be too good for much longer, right? That's…

Joe's fear and uncertainty melted away in the face of the kids' necessity and he grit his teeth a few times before breathing deep and firming his choice. It has to be now. But even with that thought, fear swirled up through his gut, despite knowing he had to commit. However, that commitment brought with it an uncertainty and massive consequences for failure. And if he were being a little bit honest with himself, his main motivation to commit came in the gibbering fear of staying another three months and being able to survive. His fragile hope was already only surviving because of the hope that he would soon be free.

Joe felt the weight of the decision compress him, the uncertainty and fear almost shattering his resolve and freezing him to inaction, while his desperate panicked need to be free warred against careful thought. His breath grew a bit uneven despite his struggles to keep it hidden and the walls around him seemed to close in. Panic began to rise, insidious, before Joe felt a soft touch on his shoulder; the hand of the older guard assigned to him. That broke Joe from his paralysis and fear and Joe turned to look at the man. The man nodded once, calm but sweating for some reason. Joe stared at him for a time and turned away. I don't have time for this! I need…

He immediately dropped into his mediation. This was basically the perfect time for this; a waste where he could do nothing but stand. So, he turned to prepping his efforts. Clarity of a kind that seemed almost divine draped his thoughts to an utter calmness. It is now. That crystal moment was enough to focus him, and he dove into constructing exactly what he wanted for his body, his mind, even his very soul. How he wanted his mana to help him, how he wanted it to protect him, and how he wanted it to develop his capabilities. Absolute certainty of effect melded with a crystal clear idea of what his body was supported by exactly how it could be accomplished came together in a unity that just was. Joe didn't know how long he remained there, staring at as close to a perfect understanding of what he wanted, but the immaculate beauty of the perfect ideal simply mesmerized him for a time until suddenly, something jarred him aware, shifting thought to physical reality. He saw the slave master and the slave merchant standing, walking past him even as the guard that had just helped him placed a hand on his shoulder once again. Joe's head moved in slow motion, and certainty swelled. I'm ready… his body reacted so slowly, but his mind moved with speed. His status window flashed up directly in front of his gaze, shifting with him even as he turned to look at the leaving slave master and merchant. Nice… MP back to full. OK. I can do this. It'll work.

Mana flashed, from his core, a perfect sphere erupted outwards, full and complete in all directions. Still, some few imperfections could be seen, if he really wanted to be nit picky, and he did, but only made note of them in passing so as to keep his focus on allowing the mana to swell out and prepare him. His mana flashed outwards, a massive portion flashing up towards his spine while the rest spread out to his body and limbs. A final decently large size flashed outwards in a direction Joe could not comprehend, going somewhere else. He caught that for the first time, curious, but also recognizing it as something relatively new, not in that it had done so, but in how large it had been. Thought that had been just… heat waste… or something like that… maybe still is? But… much bigger than before, right? Really wasteful… but… learning something new, so that might be it? But curiosity had Joe consider it and pack that small piece of information into the back of his mind as something unusual.

Joe turned his attention back to the mana as it flashed outward throughout his body and he smiled to see it settle almost seamlessly into his body, the mana flashing into his skull, sensory organs, and brain shortly after. And with a very pleasant but expected surprise, without even a hint of pain. That… was one of my best yet! Wonder how long I took to do that? Joe wasn't able to tell how long it had taken, the lack of a sun or watch leaving his curiosity unsatisfied. Still, the feeling settling on him was both familiar and surprising; it settled with a greater comfort than he'd really ever noticed before. He flipped his status open again and felt shock settled over him as his MP remained almost rock steady, only dropping a single point over a couple seconds. His HP hadn't even dropped at all, either, and wonder hit Joe as he almost flared his infusion to ratchet his stats up as high as possible, curious at just how efficient he had been able to achieve this current fusion, but caution immediately stopped him. Not a good time to be doing testing… idiot.

The guard's hand on his shoulder pushed slightly, urging Joe to move, and Joe allowed himself to be moved. He stumbled forward until his thigh stump suddenly lurched into movement, catching his fall then shifting to a smooth gait; as smooth as possible as someone with no lower legs could. Right… no legs… why am I still not used to this. They all wandered out of the slave master's villa and the tension and fear that Joe had felt vanished with the relief of his returned infusion and at the sight of the box of slave collars still sitting outside at the collaring station. That relief vanished rather quickly when the soldier assigned to collar the new slaves stood and lifted to box of collar balls, turning towards them as he prepared to return them to the villa. The peace he'd gained in his moment of meditation vanished.

* * *

Dulan sat with his people, staring back towards the slave master's villa with an avid gaze and an uncertain tension that twisted ever tighter in his core, heightening his heart and breathing. Uncertainty left him chewing a lip. Do I make the distraction now? Wait? What…

Suddenly, the eccentric came out of the villa trailing the slave master and merchant and Dulan turned his gaze, searching for the eccentric's eyes but the man seemed utterly focused upon the collaring station, and the slaves there. Dulan glanced to the station, but found nothing of meaning before looking back at the eccentric. The eccentric's face showed a panic and Dulan looked back. The slave's had all been collared and the soldier collaring the slaves was standing, returning to the villa with the collars. Dulan's gaze darted back and forth between then soldier and the eccentric, certainty swelling within.

"It's now or never, lads! We need to do it now. But… a change of plans."

The slave's who'd surrounded him rustled in nervous preparation but froze with his last statement, some looking at him with great concern. Dulan noticed and nodded.

"I don't know the eccentric's plan, but I think I know some part of it. We need to charge the guard with the slave collars."

Protests rose up rapidly, wild and furious, but whispered and soft, "We can't!"

"That's suicide!"

"We won't make it three steps."

"I'm already locked up!"

Several others agreed with the last man's assertion, already unable to move and one even toppled to the side. Dulan grimaced, cursing. The man's fall would draw the guard's attention like moths to a flame.

* * *

Joe ripped his gaze from the guard holding the collars and desperately searched for Dulan, hoping the man was ready. If he wasn't, Joe could cry out his name, but that would just as likely only draw attention to himself, even if the man made a great outcry. His short stature from missing legs didn't help, and Joe had to shuffle through the crowd while still favoring the side that would draw him near the soldier carrying the slave collars. But even that intent was enough to draw a subtle burn to his neck and Joe struggled to rip his thoughts away from his intentions. He failed spectacularly, only able to keep the collar quieted so it at least didn't begin its wild flailing tentacles around his head and torso, but he could feel it squirming along his neck. It sensed something, and didn't like what it was feeling from Joe's thoughts.

Joe, for his part, ripped his thoughts away from the guard and tried to simply think upon searching for his 'friend,' Dulan. That little thought helped calm things down, yet it did not bring any peace to the collar as it writhed across his skin like a twisting serpent. Joe grit his teeth then blanked his thoughts, and the collar slowed, but still twisted in a slow undulation around his neck.

Throughout all this time, Joe's eyes darted, searching for a gap through which he could see Dulan and make eye contact, and when he finally found line of sight through the walking crowd, Joe saw that Dulan had already risen to his feet with the crowd of other men and women around him. Joe felt some relief that only grew when Dulan glanced back at him and Joe simply nodded once, firmly. Dulan stared back himself, then replied with a jerky nod of his own. Joe struggled to keep the frown from his face, but worry grew. What's… he just has to make noise. What is he doing?

* * *

The worry that gnawed at Dulan's throat evaporated when he finally caught a glimpse of the eccentric. The eccentric looked relieved to catch his gaze, and Dulan's fear evaporated before the man's certainty and relief. The eccentric still has a plan! Hope blazed and strength welled up in him and he stood tall, the first time in a very long time.

"He's ready! He said go."

The other slaves that had bickering all suddenly silenced then most of them all grinned. One added a feral snarl to his glee.

"He said go? He's ready! He really has a plan?"

Dulan nodded, "He's ready. And he has a plan. And I know it's the guard with the slave collars."

One of the more flighty slaves writhed, "He didn't ask us to strike at the guards!"

"Yeah," said the one with a feral snarl, "but he's going to."

The first continued to writhe against the collar that bound him, "How! How does he?"

The man's fear shifted to rage and he grunted hard until a soft sudden pop was heard and all turned to look at him, worry and surprise rising up. The collar around the man writhed in wild tentacles and yet the man still stood, fighting against the collar with savage abandon as blood flowed from eyes, nose, and ears. He roared and took a step forward, and the collar stabbed in wild abandon into torso and skull but with perfect precision. Not too deep as to cause damage, but the pain slammed the man insensate and he stumbled. But a wild roar came again and the man stood, stepping forward as if struggling against a mighty river.

The man with the feral grin roared his own approval, "Yes! Hahaha! One last charge of the mighty Ganrell."

Ganrell turned himself, feral grin growing, and took a mighty heaving step forward, pushing alongside his insensate companion. Several others joined in the slow snail like charge, while many others collapsed, groaning despite their efforts.

The wild loud cries were enough to draw the attention of all around them, but the attention was of a kind that only enraged them as the guards laughed along with the slave merchant. The slave master simply sighed and shook his head, disappointment visibly showing. That only furthered the rage. The humor and dismissal of the crowd rapidly changed when two figures proved much different.

Dulan grimaced and turned back from the men behind him. They would fail, the collar's control too absolute. He knew the collar was too much for him as well, and could only guess at how the eccentric was able to resist. But there was one trick he'd learned and he would use now. The eccentric wants me… he needs me… for some reason! I go to aid my fellow… and he truly needs me! Dulan waited a few moments until the guard with the slave collars had stepped forward between him and eccentric, then stepped forward in a quick jog, even as his mind desperately attempted to ignore his target between him and the eccentric. The eccentric needs me! Yes. He needs me. I must arrive quickly, to help him. The eccentric needs me. All between us must not stand.

Dulan charged, and beside him another lither figure swept forward, fingers twisting in a wild strange dance. The woman beside him laughed, wild and free.

"We're all gonna die!" she cried out.

Dulan grinned, "Would that but be the case!"

* * *

The guards who'd been laughing suddenly flinched back in fear even as two somehow escaped the collar's control, speeding across the field. The guards fumbled their weapons into their grip even as they struggled to come together in some defensive line. The slave master, however, frowned. He glanced around at his guards in pure disappointment, absolutely unafraid.

Joe turned his gaze from the slave master and glanced back to the guard carrying the slave collars. He took a step forward, soft and more of a shuffling slide, placing himself in the path of the slave guard who was carrying the collars. The man carrying the collars stumbled away from Dulan and his charging friends a few steps, surprise and horror driving his stumbling more than any actual lack balance or poor footing. The guard, in his panic, slipped the box of slave collars under his off arm without too much concern for them as he focused purely on getting his weapon out. He shuffled in place, box under his one arm pressed against his side while also waving his weapon in agitation, struggling to choose where to flee to for a few moments before a loud bark of command came through the wall of noisy commotion.

Joe felt his focus ripped towards the individual who had taken command and saw the slave master standing, almost bored with an embarrassed subtly angry look on his face. The guards all turned to look at the slave master for a moment before turning back to stare with some agitation at the two charging slaves then quickly relaxed. The two charging slaves were frozen in place, unmoving and unable to react. Even their facial expressions were frozen, snarls of rage, bitterness, and no small amount of fear twisting their faces into a rictus freeze.

Joe saw Dulan, along with another woman charging at his side, frozen in place and could only be grateful for what they had done for him. If he did not act fast, their punishment would be monumental. Joe sighed softly and took a soft step forward, shuffling in place and moving closer to the collar balls all while thinking diligently about seeking a better place to view the impending action. Many others around the area also moved similarly. He stifled his anger and struggled to work on finding a new solution, his old plans now rather useless.

The slave master ignored the audience, even as guards and many other slaves shuffled to get a better view of what was to come. The only slaves that did not do so were Dulan and his companion, frozen in place, and the others who had begun the commotion with Dulan. They remained ineffectual, still stuck mostly in the place where they'd all been sitting, although they still moved with slow massive effort. Joe could only glance at Dulan and the man beside him with pained gratitude.

The crowd that had been walking with the slave master spread out in a ring to watch what was going on, hiding Joe's own movement as well but none really watched him. All eyes were on the slave master as the man moved forward.

Joe didn't understand what the man was saying, but there was a certain frustration lacing the man's voice, as he shouted out in anger. Joe assumed it was directed at the two men, but quickly realized who the slave master's first target was when all the guards in the area immediately moaned and collapsed to the ground in pain. Most quickly curled up in fetal positions as cries of pain ripped from their mouths while some of the older stronger guards collapsed to knees and bowing forward in a curl while groaning.

Joe's eyes tore back to the guard holding the box of collar balls and cursed slightly when the man proved one of the weaker, dropping everything and collapsing to the ground. The guard proved lucky, narrowly missing self-impalement from his sword even as it clattered to the ground. The box bowed under the tension of the guard's sudden full body clench before it twisted and tilted out of the grasp of the guard. Most of the collars remained inside the box, but a good couple hundred scattered across the ground around the man's feet before a pile formed, scattering slightly, from where the box first fell. It bounced and twisted before falling over on its side, leaving second massive pile spilling out of the box.

Joe felt gleeful hope swell and rapidly took several steps forward, aiming for the larger pile then found himself freezing to a stop, struggling against his collar. He immediately stopped and struggled to calm himself. Not doing anything! Nope! Just.. wanna watch.. yeah! Gonna see what's happening! That's… Joe turned his gaze back to the slave master, watching on as the slave master continued to yell at the guards around the area. Joe searched frantically and saw some guards on the far side also collapsed on the ground but obscured by several people in front of him, including the slave master still berating his guards.

I wanna see those guards! Yup… gotta move to see them… blocked line of sight! Gonna just take a couple steps… Joe mentally calmed himself and prepared his thinking, then took a couple slow steps to the side, keeping his MP and mana infusion in reserve while just happening to put himself closer to the hundreds of collar balls scattered across the ground. He very much did not think about them, his mind desperately trying to remain focused on the guards far off to the sides. When they came into view, he stopped, knowing another step would likely not be allowed, or at least deeply questioned by the collar. He considered for a bit, convinced himself he could get a better view with just another step, but found that even as he lifted his leg, it would not move. He grimaced, cursing. Still too far. Gotta get… His entire body froze, and he felt panic rise until he brutally suppressed it.

What's wrong? Just watching the show! Just the show! Relax… just a cool show. Don't … nothing else is going on… I like watching interesting new things. Important to learn and grow… to understand… His mind rattled through a dozen reasons and ripped his focus away from the collars scattered just a few steps away from him. Control returned in fits and starts, his collar twisting under his neck in a subtle movements, obviously discomfited by Joe's thoughts, but the moment was too visceral and immediate for Joe to be able to truly convince himself of his innocence. His thoughts continually flashed to his freedom, hope welling up, rebellious of his attempt to remain inconspicuous to the collar. His emotions roiled, and he found himself frozen in place, unable to move closer at all.

* * *

Ilyelanralo sighed with bitter frustration over the poor response of his guards. The fools moved as if they would actually physically engage with the slaves. Even if the two that were running forward proved a surprise almost as impressive as the eccentric, there was no need for any concern at all. Ilyelanralo watched on until the slaves had come almost too close and finally took control. Fools! Have they learned nothing? Did they so easily forget their position? The collars?

Ilyelanralo focused upon the two charging slaves and barked out a command, "Freeze!"

The two slaves froze in place, their collars immediately accepting both his intent and his authority, the two unable to move at all. The slaves would soon receive their punishment, but what first must be remedied was the disappointing response of his guards.

"Guards! How can you… this…" Ilyelanralo bit his statements off, genuine disappointment so sharp welling up within him, "Is this truly the best you know how to respond? Your only resolution is to physically beat the problem? These slaves are precious! And cannot be damaged. Is this not understood? Your command over them is absolute! I gave this too you, yet you still fail? What foolishness! All guards! Pain!"

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Ilyelanralo cut off his speech, turning from the guards, all of them collapsing to the ground in intense pain. More would be needed later, especially amongst the leadership. But for now, this uprising needed nipped in the bud before any of the other on watching new slaves could gain any ideas. Ilyelanralo flicked a glance towards the eccentric's crowd in the distance, seeing a surprising number still moving and, apparently, still attempting to charge although the collars' might proved effective, hamstringing their ability to move or interact. Seeing the eccentric's entire crowd responding gave him pause, and he glanced back, staring at the eccentric for a time, searching for any duplicity. But as always, the eccentric proved to be shadowed depths, impenetrable. He showed to the world a false distress, false concern, for his people, staring at them across the field. He will need to be dealt with! There is no surprise in his gaze… he knew this. He must be broken… and now break ... And idea came to Ilyelanralo and he turned away, looking back at the struggling slaves, his heart calmed and peace settling deeply within. Break him through his men! Ilyelanralo shook his head, disappointment returning once more even as knowledge of what he must do offered relief and a path forward. Why can he not learn? His place is written in stone. There is only pain in resistance. Does he not understand I want only what is best for him?

Ilyelanralo turned his focus back to the slaves resisting across the field and quickly brought them under his control as well.

"Freeze!" came his command, soft, just loud enough for them to hear, and bitter at the unruly unwillingness to learn and grow, even as all the men aligned with the eccentric froze, joining the two frozen in mid charge in the middle of the field.

* * *

Joe found himself stuck in place, unable to move closer even as his mind railed at options locked away from him by the betrayal of his own body. Despair, overwhelming what hope he had, swelled up within him, and fear began worming its way through him, painting his face with its visceral existence. The slave master suddenly glanced back at him, and Joe struggling to keep staring ahead, trying to ignore the man. The gaze remained for a time before the slave master turned away. A few moments later, the slave master barked out another command, and the rest of the slaves in his group all froze up as well. Joe grimaced.

No time… running out… gotta… His mind raced through possibilities but could not find a reason to get closer. The one attempt at even kneeling proved inadequate as he froze up part way down, and had to stand again in frustration. He turned his thoughts back to how he'd gotten the balls from the villa in the first place, but no attempt proved valid. The tension of the moment interrupted his thoughts too much or just plain made it almost impossible to keep his thoughts from what he was truly attempting. And each attempt only agitated the collar more and more. Its very weak and subtle coiling around his neck even now was shifting to a very visible agitation as tendrils twisted and coiled off of it, brushing against his neck, chin, and chest. Some even wafted out far enough Joe could see the tendrils brushing out past his chin and cheeks, just coming into range of his gaze.

Not good… not good… not good… if the slave master sees… this… Joe agitation grew, which formed a very poor feedback loop with the collar, further increasing its agitation as well, and Joe found himself clenching his teeth and loosing time attempting to calm himself and the collar. But nothing worked, the cries of his friends only driving his anxiety higher and even now was beginning to draw attention from a few of the people around him. Their glances and shifting away was bad news and Joe finally threw all caution to the wind. Gonna be seen… way… what…

His mind whirled, struggling to figure out what he could do. That proved a massive mistake as the collar went berserk, and Joe immediately blanked his mind, his teeth clenching in agitated spasms and several people around him quickly stepped away. The cries of the people around him drew the attention of the slave master, and Joe felt despair well up within him. No! NO no no no no no nononononononononono…. The slave master stared at him for a bit before disappointment and sadness washed over the man's face. The slave master spoke a few words, shook his head with sadness, and turned away from Joe back to the men and women who'd made the commotion.

* * *

Ilyelanralo heard a quiet commotion behind him and turned back to see the eccentric frozen in place, unable to move even as his collar whirled in wild agitation around the man's head and upper chest. The eccentric's agitation was obvious for all to see, even if the man remained silent and attempted to control his face. Pain and despair welled up within the man and Ilyelanralo simply sighed before shaking his head in faux disappointment for all to see, although inwardly, giddy satisfaction of accomplishing his task flared as the moment at last presented itself. Finally! Finally! This … he will break… I can work with this!

"You should have learned. You should have submitted. You should have found your right place. You should have accepted who you were. Do you not understand? It is better this way! I know it is better this way. You must learn to listen to your betters. It is the only way! I know, more than you could ever. But now, you will learn the only way you have allowed me to teach you."

Ilyelanralo stifled his sigh, and pretended to steel his heart against the despair and pain the eccentric would soon feel, while also feeling only relief that it would come to an end and he could finish with a job well done as he turned back to the eccentric's friends before him. With his back to the eccentric, he found it a struggle to hold the smile off his face.

"Pain."

Ilyelanralo continued his punishment of the rebellious slaves, allowing them to wallow in their pain before he then turned his gaze to all the guards around him.

"Have you learned nothing, fools? You have no need to rely on weapons or fists! Control is in the collar. Nothing else is needed!"

Ilyelanralo stared at them for a few more moments before sighing in frustration then sighing a second time in a more controlled release seeking calm.

"Learn from this wisely! Release. Now stand and prepare. Today will be… a long day, for all!"

The guards stood, still dealing with the after effects of pain, while the slaves still rolled across the ground. It seems… I can use these against them. He turned to look at the two slaves that had charged across the field.

* * *

Joe found his eyes staring towards the slave master as the man walked towards the group of people who'd ultimately sided with him. The slave master chose Dulan and the woman at his side, both rolling on the ground as pain twisted through them. He then came to a stop beside Dulan and the woman before pausing. He stared down at the two, rambling a bit more, then turned to look back at Joe. Joe found it almost impossible to keep his face the blank indifference he'd carefully kept as the two stared at each other. And Joe quickly realized the slave master knew. Joe struggled, keeping his face blank and playing to his insanity despite the realization of what the slave master now knew, drowning in the panic that left him without control.

The slave master called out again, waving a hand before a guard, still dazed from the pain, walked up and dropped a sharpened length of wood into the slave master's hand. The slave master continued staring at Joe before turning the sharpened not spear not sword downward and pressed it slowly into Dulan's guts. The man screamed. Joe grit his teeth in twisted rage and turned his gaze away, hiding his rage from his face until he was able to tear his gaze away from the slave master. And out of the corner of his eye, he saw the slave master turn away as well, raising the stake and plunging it down once more, bringing out a fresh scream from Dulan. And despite what was happening to Dulan and as much as Joe hated what the slave master was doing, even hated the man; Joe could only thank him as the rage washed away the panic

* * *

Ilyelanralo turned his gaze away from the eccentric, focusing back upon the eccentric's friend below him, satisfaction welled through him. It was the moment, he felt it, knew it deep within him. The eccentric would flare in one last brilliant resistance before failing as they all did, and he would make certain that the breaking would be complete and irrevocable.

* * *

Klannard stood, his grizzled grey haired head shaking away the pain the slave master had commanded against all the guards. It washed away slowly, even as his legs shivered and wobbled. And rage burned, deep within. But decades of subservience to the collar had taught him well and he kept his thoughts blank, simply allowing blank undirected rage to wash over him. A glance towards the slave master gave focus to his rage and his collar writhed around his neck, tightening slightly, but he remained calm, another trick he'd learned, and simply turned away to brush himself off. His collar calmed almost immediately.

A deep sigh flared his nostrils as he turned his gaze to the source of all the recent problems at the slave camp: his current personal charge, the eccentric. The man remained as inscrutable as ever, somehow resilient in his rebellion and somehow able to keep the collar quiescent despite his obvious anger and rebellion. The man stood watching the slave master, frozen in place for a time, then began moving away. His movements were strange and erratic. And then epiphany struck, as he saw the man frozen in place once again. The collar! He kept his surprise hidden but shock and confusion did roil through his body. He … is affected by the collar… yet he still is able to fight against it. What is happening?

The eccentric then moved away and threw himself once again before tumbling to the ground. Klannard's eyebrows knit, then understanding slammed home as Klannard's eyes widened. Something over there… the collar is restricting him, but why… He glanced around across the ground the eccentric sought to gain, searching for the eccentric's goal, then back at the eccentric. What is his game?

* * *

Joe shuddered in relief as the slave master turned away from him and back to Dulan, then guilt as Dulan's cry rang out once more. Guilt roiled, twisting its way through his thoughts before it was quashed immediately under Joe's iron will which had returned due to sudden relief of a second chance. Some angry self-berating slipped through as well before Joe crushed that as well, setting it aside for another time when he could afford it. Almost lost it all… there… I'm an idiot!

Even as Joe calmed, the collar did as well, although it still writhed like a snake eating its own tail around his neck. Joe felt its concern, but simply ignored it. His thoughts turned back to his desire then immediately blanked his thoughts as the collar reacted again. He then turned to other options before a soft smile came to his face. Easy… I want to get on the ground. How do I get down to the ground?

The collar, still agitated, writhed on his neck, but no more than usual for the current time as Joe's thoughts only desired to get on the ground. Joe tried walking towards the collar balls again but found the collar too agitated to allow him to move towards them. He even simply tried to kneel where he was currently at, but the collar rejected that as well. Joe took a soft step away, and the collar didn't react at all. Joe's thoughts quickly twisted with new possibilities. Oh! Maybe… Don't think! Don't think! Don't think! No… not… Joe's mind emptied of thought and simply calmed. The collar writhed, unwilling to calm. Joe's feet shuffled away another two or three steps. Joe's mind remained thoughtless.

Suddenly, he took two quick side shuffling steps to the side, rapidly moving back to his previous position. Wanna see… why did I go this way. Just wanna see.

The collar writhed but did not react until Joe returned near to his previous position. Immediately, his legs locked again and he was unable to move any further. Joe didn't push it, simply accepting it and trying to place a feeling of contentment firmly at the forefront of his thoughts. But he very much didn't think of anything. He glanced back the way he'd come from, searching for anything until he found a small stick on the ground. He dismissed it, then remembered his whittling hobby. May… don't think! Joe immediately and quickly slipped towards the stick on the ground. Need to work on my next piece. Can't afford to waste time! Wanna get it done!

That took him a good four or five very long strides, closer to ten or fifteen on his knees, away from the piles of collar balls and from his previous position. When Joe picked up the stick, he turned back around and immediately sought to return. Wanna get back fast! Don't wanna miss anything! Really wanna see what happens next! Joe rapidly increased to a waddling sprint to return to his place before taking his largest leap and tilting forward slightly. His leap was very low to the ground, his legs dragging behind him and the tilt forward allowed his knee prosthetics to just barely skim above the ground, not hitting the ground only because of the slight tilt forward he'd put his body into. For his arms , he slapped them around behind his back and gripped forearms in as hard a grasp as possible. Not thinking… just want to return quickly. Gotta get back …

His collar proved too cunning and reacted, forcing a stop to his return by attempting to freeze his body in place. Even so, it was too late, Joe would still stumble quite far past his previous location and the collar seemed to have picked up on that or some stray thought in his mind, but Joe simply grinned, relief and joy flooding through him. Too la… don't think… don't think… don't think! Joe quashed all thought and emotion, although it still proved a bit inadequate as some slipped through.

His collar reacted a second time, immediately pulling a leg forward and the prosthesis that Joe had created for his knees to walk on slammed into the ground, catching against it and tilting him even further forward. Joe grinned even further. This is really gonna hurt! Should do a tumble! Would damage myself pretty badly! Could snap my neck… death… His thoughts raced along possible paths and the collar begrudged him his evaluation. His arms came forward to turn his face plant into a somersault and Joe immediately evaluated things. His arms slammed to the ground and turned him to the side, twisting his face plant into a side tumble that sent him twirling across the ground in a roll. Joe kept his glee hidden, blanking his thoughts as much as possible as he found himself soon sliding into the outskirts of the collar balls scattered around where the box had fallen and the guard was just now uncoiling from the pain.

One of the balls slid under his collar, slipping passed it even as he slid and rolled over it. Joe grinned and whispered.

"I claim myself!"

* * *

Ilyelanralo froze, a sensation welling up within him as an infinitesimal slice of control was taken from him. He immediately turned towards the tents, eyes searching through the tents for any clues. Someone hiding? Unseen?

* * *

Gunlan jerked awake from deep sleep, frowning as he felt control slip from one of his slaves. He groaned and shuffled through the many he found until he found it linked to the eccentric. A sigh escaped him and he rolled back over. I'll have to have a talk with that slave trainer. Interrupting me at such times...

* * *

Another ball slid nearby and came close and Joe whispered another claim of himself before grimacing in a curse as the ball proved too far. The collar reacted however, and tendrils began twisting outward as they perceived Joe's attempted rebellion. Joe could see little of any of the tendrils behind him, but he saw one slide across the ground and disrupt a ball. A rapid claiming and Joe grinned in feral joy even as relief welled within. The ball merged in with the tendril and rapidly slid up it like an engorged meal in a snake's belly. The collar flared more, growing in agitation.

Joe continued sliding along the dirt and came to another ball. But claiming at exact moments proved difficult while tumbling so he simply mentally shouted out claims for himself repeatedly and sometimes felt a ball morphing to join his collar. Joe grinned with each feeling of an increase in his claim. Soon, another four slid under him and came in contact with the writhing tendrils and Joe claimed himself once again. Six… six… Joe felt at his control but felt nothing like what he needed. He cursed, but focused as he rolled forward another single loop and landed on another five balls. Relief swelled through him and he quickly claimed himself another five times, his control growing and the hard wall that blocked him growing ever more ephemeral. Still… not enough! That's… eleven! Didn't… I had… eight, right? Or something? I should…!? If I need double… sixteen… or triple at twenty four. Just... more!

More is better became his motto, and he hoped against hoped that he had aimed himself with enough force to tumble into the larger pile of collar balls that amassed beside the tumbled box that had contained them. He tumbled a bit more then felt, more than saw, a pile of hard marbles against the back of his neck. He grinned with feral glee even as worry itched at him, it felt a bit smaller than he'd thought it was, but focused purely on claiming himself. I claim myself. I claim myself. I claim myself. Each ball sucked into and morphed, becoming a part of his collar, but he felt his panic rising. I claim myself. I claim myself. Even as he didn't allow himself to do anything but focus on claiming himself, a small part of his mind twisted in growing panic and worry at how long and slow the process was. I claim myself. I claim myself. Another part of his mind tried to count, coming up with eight or nine extra claims. With the eleven I had... NO! I claim myself. I claim myself! He forced himself to focus on claiming, iterating through it. And even if he was close to triple now, a part of him worried with fear at how long it was taking. Even now, he could tell something was wrong with the sense of atmosphere around him. No! Too long… I… I claim myself with all balls touching my collar!

With relief, Joe dozens and dozens of balls slam home into his collar, drastically increasing his claim, and he tried to shift, disturbing the pile of balls he was in to make more fall, but found himself utterly frozen. Still, it was ok, as claiming of the balls left an empty space for more balls to fall into. I claim myself with all balls touching my collar! Another couple dozen claims punched through into his control, and he waited, feeling more balls tumbling down. I claim myself with all the balls touching my collar!

This repeated another two times, and Joe felt certain that he had close to a couple hundred, if not more new collars now in his control, but even as he stretched his thoughts out in rebellion against that which controlled him, he felt himself hit a firm wall. A quick push proved it firm and Joe felt his panic rise. How! I have… so many! Is… A sudden fear rose, even as a realization hit home and Joe writhed in fear. Did they increase… security or something… more worried? Made it… stronger… this… nO!

The panic spiked his rebellion and Joe found himself unable to move at all. He struggled to reach out with his hands to grasp and pull in a few more balls, but his hands hardly moved at all, and what little they did, they were too slow. Even as his hand stretched towards a small pile of balls, Joe heard the commotion and the shrieks of the slave master behind him calling out. More… I need… please… just…. A few more, right?! Joe's eyes flitted everywhere in panic, hope curdling before overwhelming despair even as his body betrayed his efforts, remaining frozen in place.

What did not, however, was his collar, now writhing with purpose, some of its points already jabbing down painfully into his shoulders, arms and chest. But he felt nothing, his mind only on struggling to capture more balls. His eyes stared at a few, directly in front of his face, but impossible to reach, which only spiked his despair. Another ball shot across the scene in front of him, bouncing off of one of the stationary balls there and his despair deepened. No! Come back… another… Then a thought hit, a grasp at hope. What made… His eyes dipped down to see the collar writhing below him, stabbing into his chest and towards his arms and he could feel it smacking into the back of his neck.

Hope swelled even as his eyes widened. I claim myself with all the balls touching my collar! This time, the hit Joe felt was massive, as what felt like hundreds burrowed into his collar and Joe felt some hope again, even as he called out for another claiming of all balls, another couple hundred hammering home into place, but definitely less than the previous. Joe grinned even as he claimed himself once again, only feeling about a dozen balls claimed, but he continued, each claiming dropping by almost an order of magnitude until he was only gaining about ten or fifteen, then even less.

Joe slammed against the wall of control he felt once again, and felt it bend, then snap back into place with a rigid rebound that left Joe dazed and in pain, his mind somehow echoing in pain. He took a bit to come back, his thoughts daze, before he began again to grasp desperately at any balls around him. But even as he did so, he was only gaining a couple, maybe five at the max, each time, and he knew it wasn't enough.

Suddenly, boots marched into view and Joe grew even more frantic, fear quickly spiked and panic began overwhelming him again, even as he remained paralyzed in place. One boot came forward and pushed him back just enough so Joe could look up into the guard's face, finding his older personal guard staring down upon him. Joe stared back up, horror and despair welling through him before the guard flicked a gaze down at his feet. Joe followed the man's glance and found three balls pressed up against the man's boot. The man slid his foot forward and pushed it directly into Joe's neck, even as he leaned down to grab Joe.

Joe breathed in surprise and relief and claimed himself three more times, but the panic remained. It wouldn't be enough. The guard looked at him knowingly with pity, lifting him and then turning towards the pile of collar balls surrounding the gasping guard who'd carried them, dragging Joe with him towards the pile of balls slumped against the tumbled crate used to contain them. Hope surged and Joe didn't even need to struggle to keep his grin hidden, his body hung face down as the guard dragged him across the ground while his collar writhed wildly.

* * *

Gunlan froze, his turn in bed arrested by another loss of control. Having already realized who was being contested, Gunlan realized it was the eccentric once again. Curiosity roused, but remained a distant future problem he had no desire to explore. However, when several more massive losses of control occurred, Gunlan immediately sat up, rage swelled as he fought against and steeled his control of the eccentric. Who dare's steal from this Patriarch!

* * *

Ilyelanralo's gaze towards the tents immediately stopped when the sense of direction proved wrong and he spun around, zeroing in on the direction from which control was lost. Direction was never a significant feedback from the collars, being very general until it was quite close. In fact, anything beyond a small city and the direction became nebulous and difficult to pinpoint. Add in planes and entirely different cradles, and direction vanished in a haze beneath all the other sensations. Still, this close, he was able to tell the occurrence were not in the direction of the tents and that was only because it seemed to be behind him. Even as he did so, control slipped even further, as more and more of it was lost to the same control collar. As it continued to grow, Ilyelanralo quickly tried to start a count. How many so fa… one… two… three more… added to the first… what, maybe three? Or was it fou… one, two, three, four, five… that… About twelve? Thirteen? Ilyelanralo stared with worry but the loss of control stopped and he calmed. Or maybe ten eleven total if I overestimated my initial count… Regardless… no slave here has more than two or three except the eccentric! His calm from the number of losses quickly evaporated before the knowledge that the eccentric was the one being stolen, even as this time, the loss of control was a massive swell.

Rage surged through him even as his gaze turned from searching for possible infiltrators to simply seeking for the eccentric. Who! Who is stealing the eccentric! Is it that fat bastard who would… Ilyelanralo's gaze found the eccentric, frozen to the ground and unmoving, the collar whipping wildly around the eccentric revealing the eccentrics current rebellious state easily, although Ilyelanralo could tell the collar was struggling to understand the state of the eccentric's rebellion. Another massive loss of control spiked his worry and rage even as his rage found a target: his closest, oldest, and most trusted guard who was tasked to guard the eccentric. This guard dragged the eccentric across the ground towards the pile of collars in storage piled up against their spilled container. He! He would betray me! Does he seek to steal the eccentric from… no… not him… who… wait? His thoughts immediately turned as the eccentric's collar continued to rage in wild reaction to the man's rebellion and his own personal rage shifted towards confusion. No. The eccentric wouldn't be in rebellion against… why is his collar reacting like… He should… Confusion vanished as fear of the unknown swelled and confusing slammed home. Fear spiked even further through Ilyelanralo and though he didn't really understand what was happening, he knew he was somehow losing the eccentric. No! NO! The fool!

Thought turned to immediate action and Ilyelanralo called out to the eccentric's guard, "All guards! Freeze!"

Every guard in the area froze, unable to move, including the guard hauling the eccentric.

* * *

Joe's smiled, his grin feral with joy, then he heard a loud panic stricken shout before he suddenly stopped moving. His guard remained in place, but Joe could not understand what was happening. His eyes darted, searching for what little he could see in a face down position being dragged by what was essentially his collar. Still, the height proved enough and he was able to see the guard that had been carrying the collar ball box in front of him suddenly tip over then fall. Realization struck, and Joe felt panic and despair swelling. No! No! NO!

* * *

Ilyelanralo had acted with quick efficiency and fear settled when he saw the guard freeze and stop the eccentric's forward movement. Ilyelanralo remained in place for a time, carefully studying the eccentric before sighing with some relief as no more losses occurred. He took the time to consider carefully with fear laced concern. What… what is happening? Who is here… how? Ilyelanralo cut his thoughts off as he glanced around where the eccentric was with some fear but focused on what currently needed to be done. He centered himself, taking the time to pause and consider his options, then acted, stepping forward with caution. His mind raced with appropriate responses while trying to maintain control.

So first… "You," Ilyelanralo pointed at the closest guard to him, "Run and get the eccentric's control artifact! Now, and quickly! Klannard, bring the eccentric away from the… Bring him to me."

Nothing happened for a time, although the two guards he'd commanded did begin to react with panic and pain. Confusion quickly vanished as Ilyelanralo grimaced, realizing he'd never released the guards from their paralysis. Amateur mistake! I cannot afford such at this time! Ilyelanralo smoothed his grimace and waved out a hand.

"All guards, released."

* * *

Klannard struggled to keep his rage undirected even as his collar began to kill him, two conflicting commands bringing him death as he failed to accomplish one or the other. He kept his eyes down for if he dared to look up at the slave master, he feared that he'd fail in keeping his bitter rage against the slave master hidden from the collar. He stepped forward, pulling the eccentric with him, hoping the eccentric could still enact his plan.

* * *

Joe felt the guard pull him away, and panicked horror flooded him. NO!!! Please no!

* * *

"When will you learn your place, eccentric," Ilyelanralo offered with patient grievance, "I know your place. I know your position. I am the expert and superior. Why can you not learn such simple things? Why resist what is natural… the norm!? You cannot resist this. Believe me. I have what is best in mind for you. The sooner you can accept this, the sooner you will find peace and happiness! And trust me! You can have happiness, if but you would accept it! Can you not see this?"

Ilyelanralo spoke on, struggling to maintain his patience and kind care for the recalcitrant and rebellious fool. Could he not see? It really was for the best! Maybe… a peace offering. Ilyelanralo took a step forward, an astonishing act of humbling himself, one that might even be seen as embarrassing, yet Ilyelanralo felt it was a necessary method to establish a connection which might finally connect, possibly even dispel the rebellion that bathed the man's heart.

* * *

Dulan remained frozen in place, unable to move or even groan. He couldn't see easily where he was to grasp much of what was happening but it was enough to realize the eccentric had failed. He could only watch on with a growing and overwhelming despair as the guard pulled the eccentric closer and closer to the slave master. And the despair proved to be even more overwhelming than the pain of the stake still embedded into his gut.

* * *

Joe watched in despair as the last of the collar balls slipped from his sight and panic took full flight, his mind falling to gibbering fear at what was coming. His panic drove him to hammer against the massive wall that sealed his freedom. The wall shuddered and shook under Joe's panicked attacked, but it remained.

* * *

Gunlan groaned when the first hammer slammed home against his control of the eccentric, blood erupting from ears, eyes, and nose. Almost, his mind buckled under the shattering hammer of an attack and his thoughts blanked before he quickly firmed. Greed and bitter hatred for any who would steal from him kept him fighting more than anything else, and each hammer home sent Gunlan reeling. And each hammer undid him.

* * *

Ilyelanralo came forward one more step, allowing two but no more, and waited the last few moments until the guard had arrived, bringing the eccentric before him. In pity, Ilyelanralo offered the eccentric his dignity.

"Hold him up. Do not drop him upon the ground," Ilyelanralo commanded Klannard.

At least some respect. Ilyelanralo stared down at the eccentric and the eccentric finally looked up at him, panic overwhelming his features and Ilyelanralo released a deep sigh of despair, concern swelling as he shook his head and stared down at the man.

"Can't you see? You have chosen a path of fear. Failure. Despair! Accept your place, and you will be so much happier!"

The eccentric stared back up and the panic faded to be replaced with utter rage, so powerful that even Ilyelanralo was a bit taken aback. Eyes widening, Ilyelanralo stared at the man for a time before responding.

"Why do you rage so? This is the natural order? Can you not understand? Accept your place?"

The man continued to stare at him in a rage and Ilyelanralo closed his eyes before raising a hand to his forehead in consternation. He remained so for a time before looking down at Joe. How can I reach him. Does he not understand? The certainty and glee he'd had that the man would finally break shattered under the man's burning hatred and he struggled to find a path forward. His thoughts whirled and finally decided on one last possibility. Lowering himself even more, Ilyelanralo knelt on one knee next to the slave and tried to show his deepest compassion, a hand coming up to caress the eccentric's cheek.

"Please! Trust me! This… I know how best to mold you. Can you not see?"

* * *

Panic flooded through Joe, wiping all thought from him as he found himself dragged to the center of the field, his frozen body unmoving even as mentally his will raged in wild effort against the wall binding his freedom. Inwardly, wild action and fear ripped any peace from his mind while outwardly, the field was utterly silent but for the monologue of a voice he'd long learned to recognize. Bitter fear swelled. A set of feet came into his sight and the slave master spoke to him for a time, and Joe found he could do naught but look at his feet. He'd failed. He'd done his best, and all options were lost to him, but despite that, his fear hammered at the wall that remained, ethereal and veil like between his own freedom and captivity. By now, his collar had gone wild, whipping around him like spastic snakes snapping in fear at any near them. The wall held, however, and the collar flailed as wildly physically as his mind did against the wall.

The man spoke again, and Joe found himself lifted up so he could look at the slave master, the collar somehow releasing enough control to allow him to look up as well, either sensing no meaning in Joe's efforts than to simply look at his master or the slave master taking actual control of the collar. Joe felt the fear swell, panic fully setting in. His master stood before him, and Joe found himself with no recourse. His master spoke again, compassionate and caring, and Joe felt a small part of himself seeking any source of kindness. Maybe…

His mental hammering of mental wall binding his freedom slowed and died, fading away even as despair swelled further.

* * *

Gunlan groaned under the effort, pain swelling even as his headache grew worse. He struggled against the wild hammering chipping away at his control, growing ever more dazed and pained until finally the attack slowed and ended. He shuddered in relief, then raged before suddenly stopping with a grunt as the pain from his angered shout echoed through his mind, exacerbating the pain. His thoughts grew dazed, even as he struggled to remain ready. Please… no more… be done.

* * *

Despair flowed through Joe but then a brittle, wild, and final hatred welled within him even as rage overwhelmed what little control he had left and he stared back at the man who looked upon him as if he actually cared. A bastardized version of a caring grandfather who ground down a man to nothing only to remake him into some twisted robotic slavish doormat meant only to become another set of hands for a lazy entitled bastard.

The man knelt before him, looking even more compassionate as his hand came up to caress his cheek. The rage he had knotted, twisting and cleared his mind almost immediately, his thoughts once again turning their entire energy to any possible freedom. He didn't know what would happen now, with the slave master now knowing what had happened, but he knew any chances he had after this moment would be essentially non-existent. His mind twisted, seeking any option; any hope, when a though came. A memory sparked, hope flared, and it took everything in his entire being to keep his face raging, hiding the hope that now burned through him, flaring even brighter. The wall is almost down… I can… maybe just a bit more! Then…

Just an itch! Just itchy… need to scratch… His hand started rising up towards his neck, then froze for a bit. Just an itch, then I can tear out this bas… Joe froze his thoughts even as a snarl of rage twisted his face further and his arm remained frozen in place. His collar spiked in wild response, twisting around him and punishing him with stabs, slices, and tears. Joe felt almost none of it. Just an itch… Joe began, hoping but found the collar was less forgiving this time, or his thoughts were too transparent, and his arm remained frozen. Joe grimaced and tried again, but found himself still stymied, and rage, being incompatible with patience, shattered his control and he chose violence. Right! You asked for this!

His hand punched through the resistance, struggling to rise ever closer to his neck, pushing against the collar even as a headache and pain began to form. It feels… harder! Why… He pressed, refusing to give up as this chance was likely his last. The headache grew even as his thoughts went fuzzy, but he rejected the collars efforts, struggling to keep any semblance of thought even as it slowly faded from existence.

* * *

Gunlan groaned. Not the eccentric, too. Why does he fight now! At any other moment, Gunlan would have immediately punished the eccentric's efforts, but the pain he felt fighting against whatever thief had tried to steal the eccentric from him made his mental control more fragile than lacework crystal. Gunlan almost martialed an effort to punish the eccentric, but then simply made a mental note to punish the man later. Gotta… be ready if they try again!

* * *

The guard raced towards the villa, slipping into the side door and crashing into the wall without care, his body driven to a dangerous wild speed by his collar. His only desire was the command enforced by the collar to quickly return with the eccentric's control artifact.

* * *

"This struggle is futile! It truly is! Find peace in submission and the work… the good work your master will give to you! Please!" Ilyelanralo begged, his heart breaking in his efforts to reach out to the man.

Yet, the eccentric's rage remained unfettered, swelling and growing, even as he continued what seemed to be ever more futile efforts to connect with the man.

"Can you not see? If you continue to fight this hard, the collar will break your mind! You will be nothing but a flesh golem. Mindless and obedient! You do not want this, eccentric! Please, believe me!"

Still, the man raged, and his hand began to reach forward, empty palm cupped slightly. Ilyelanralo found himself slightly shocked, wonder flowing through him. Does he seek to attack me?! But it soon became apparent shortly after as the man's hand climbed towards his neck, reaching almost half way their before stalling, the collar going wild and restricting the man.

Ilyelanralo shook his head, his own despair swelling as he saw the eccentric reject the great opportunity offered him, "You must stop. Please! You only hurt yourself more. Can you not see? You can do nothing to the collar. You cannot even touch it! Do you think to rip it from your neck?"

The eccentric ignored him, the collar stabbing and punishing the eccentric all across his body, then his hand pushed forward once again, the effort now a struggle as the eccentric ignored the collars command with besieged effort. Ilyelanralo shook his head.

"What you do… that is impressive, eccentric, but you cannot touch it! You cannot remove it or do any such thing! Please if you continue to fight the collar… see? Already you succumb to the collar's geas. Your thoughts vanishing to nothing before the collar's might. The collar will … it cannot be beaten!"

Ilyelanralo pleaded upon deaf ears, even as the eccentric's conscious was slowly evaporated by the collar.

* * *

Joe pushed on, bringing his hand closer to the collar at every opportunity he could, stopping only when he felt his conscious being pushed too hard for him to maintain thought. The struggle became a moment of infinite time, all other thoughts and sensations vanishing before his efforts. His only existence was his neck, his hand, and the collar between the two. He entered a moment of blind focus, all other concepts vanishing before his efforts to accomplish his will: his hand upon his neck.

Ironically, the slow loss of conscious calmed his emotions, distancing them from his thoughts and he was slowly able to regain a form of equilibrium which returned more and more of his thoughts and with it the ability to thinking clearly and calmly. Soon, his thoughts only had a single mantra that played over and over again. Just an itch! Just an itch… my neck is itchy! Want to scratch. So itchy. Just gotta scratch… a small brush. That's all.

The thoughts and returned calm released his hand to move upwards, even as his collar's wild tentacle undulations slowed, then calmed slightly, although it still writhed in discomfort around Joe's neck. And Joe simply thought: an itch.

* * *

Ilyelanralo continued to cajole the eccentric, calming the man and trying to bring the man to his proper place. His efforts seemed to be bearing fruits, and Ilyelanralo sighed with some relief, allowing a small smile to come to his face as the man calmed, but then the man's hand started to climb to his neck once again, even as thought and conscious returned to the eccentric's eyes. Ilyelanralo found his eyebrows knitting in consternation and a twinge of concern formed. What… should I… For a moment, his thoughts twisted in uncertainty. I'm getting through to him… but… discipline… or mercy… I'm not…

As his thoughts The eccentric's hand made it to the collar then scratched against his neck for a bit, before turning sideways to grab his own neck in a cupping action, leaving room between his neck and the palm of his hand. Ilyelanralo thought little of it, only surprised by the eccentric's strength even as the eccentric dropped his gaze to the ground. Ilyelanralo smiled to see the first signs of acceptance and submission.

"It truly is impressive that you are able to do such things. Your strength… your fortitude… your will and mind! You are incredible! Bend it to the benefit of your master and you will gain so much! Can you not see? It is a good life! An excellent one! You should see…"

Ilyelanralo's thoughts blanked even as his words cut off. Another sliver of control was lost, and as close as the two were, Ilyelanralo knew exactly who he'd lost control of. Ilyelanralo stared at the eccentric in incomprehensible horror.

* * *

Joe finally got his hand to his neck even as the slave master rambled on. Raising his hand to his neck grew easier as he calmed, a path to hope lit like a beacon before him, fragile and desperate but it was enough to keep his thoughts carefully curated for the collar. But despite the calmness of his current thoughts, deep within, terror gibbered wildly. His collar, however, calmed even as its stabs and tears at his body, neck and head slowed. Luckily, the collar stayed away from his face. His hand, close to his neck, also suffered attacks from his calming collar but he ignored the strikes, pushing towards his neck.

When he got his hand to his neck, he paused, considering his options before finally turning his hand sideways to essentially cup his entire neck almost like he was choking himself, his thumb raised up on one side of his neck while his fingers ran around to the other. He continued to scratch his neck softly with his neck until he'd situated his hand against his neck, his palm cupped to leave a space between his palm and neck even as his fingers continued to brush slightly against his neck.

He almost started, then paused, his mind carefully considering wisely curated and vague thoughts even as the reasons swelled then were cut off before fully forming. Even then, it was enough to rile the collar up again, slightly. But Joe moved, turning his gaze down to hid his eyes, not for fear of what the slave master would think, but that Joe would struggle to resist the collar's command if he was certain of what the slave master would demand because of the slave master's body language. And he was pretty certain of what the slave master would say once he began. But if he wasn't looking and couldn't see the look on the man's face to interpret it, he hoped he could ignore at least the voice commands as he'd done so before. But he couldn't think about it to express it or consider it more than in a cursory fashion, the collar too aggressive and responsive in his current situation.

With a soft breath, Joe inhaled while also pulling a collar ball, one of the four still in his inventory, out into the palm of his hand resting against his neck. He felt it rolling across palm then melting into the collar even as Joe whispered out.

"I claim myself."

The slave master, who'd been chatting with excited compassion, suddenly came to a stop, frozen. Joe didn't wait, and another ball popped out into the palm of his hand and melded with the collar.

"I claim myself."

Suddenly, the slave master called out in wild surprise laced with obvious horror, and Joe struggled hard to convince himself. Must be a monster coming! Gotta do this fast… then I can defend myself! And protect my value! The collar almost instantly calmed at that, utter agreement with its imperatives calming it quickly. Joe was almost tempted to test the wall blocking his freedom once again, but decided he could fight mentally any time. He had to take the chances he needed now, and ripped out another ball into his palm.

"I claim myself!" the whisper this time was almost too loud but he didn't care, rushing to the next collar ball.

The slave master's cries became panicked and his shouts demanding even as he felt the guard yank on his back, pulling him up wildly. Joe grit his teeth and tried to keep his calm but the collar was already spilling out in wild tentacular horror, one spike of the collar punching directly through the palm of his hand. He winced but immediately igorned it. One more… then… He pulled out the last collar ball then frowned when it refused to come out. Consternation welled then realization hit and he bit off a curse as he widened the cup to put more space between his palm and his neck, wincing as his pierced palm scraped down the collar spike but focused and then immediately pulled out the ball once again.

"I claim myself."

Relief swelled through him at accomplishing his task, even as worry replaced that relief as he began his next task: freeing himself. His will reared upward in wild rage with no little amount of terror and horror gibbering in madness behind it. I am MINE!

* * *

Ilyelanralo felt another sliver of control lost and the horror that had frozen him broke and he leapt back in horror, fear shredding any control he had. He fled back a few steps even as he screamed out.

"How… what are you …. STOP! Eccentric I comman…" Ilyelanralo ended his attempts, cursing his own folly and he glanced around, but the slave guard still had not returned with the eccentric's control artifact. Fear and panic ripped meaningful thought from his mind and Ilyelanralo screamed out for any help. Another sliver of control vanished, and panic forced a foolish and meaningless command from his mouth.

"Stop him! Now! You must stop him!"

Every guard within hearing range turned and began sprinting towards the eccentric, even as the guard holding eccentric up ripped him back and up, turning the eccentric to face him.

* * *

Stop him? How? What am I to stop? Klannard growled with frustration at the vague command even as his body lifted the eccentric up. There was nothing the eccentric was doing that he felt the eccentric needed to stop doing. The panic of the slave master's command fed through to the collar and it fluttered wildly around him, driving him to somehow act upon the command, even if it was meaningless. Seeing the eccentric's hand against his neck, Klannard decided removing the man's hand was something that might calm his own collar's demands, and he reached out to rip the eccentric's hand from his neck, sliding it as best he could down the spike that impaled it. The spike from the collar writhed at the end, and it did not slip from the palm calmly, wriggling with wild undulations as the eccentric's hand came off the spike, shredded even further by the erratic movements of the collar. Klannard ignored how it came away too easily, even without effort as the eccentric allowed Klannard to remove his arm. It was enough to calm the demands of the collar. Still, Klannard watched on warily, unhappy at how easy it had been. He was also very decidedly unhappy to see the eccentric's palm completely healed in a flash as soon as the eccentric's hand was free of the spike. His numbers! How… so high!

* * *

Ilyelanralo backed away in horror. No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NONononononono!