" Two days.At least. We rescued you two days ago. We've seen it dozens of times. Someone awakens a particularly violent affinity and fall into a coma. A bit surprised nobody found you so far but its also not terribly uncommon. " Connor heard, the voice unfamiliar and definitely not Oswald. Clearing his vision with a single plain hand he took a look at surrounding humans. He was being carried on a sled which, judging by the scent in the air, was being pulled some especially large dogs.

"Shit"

Connor had been unconscious for 25 minutes when Oswald decided that he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, and that Oswald was going to leave. Cold but Oswald was a scorpion after all, survival of the fittest and abandonment were in his nature. Using a degree of gentle Earth magic, he placed Connor into the basement and promptly left him there alone, covered by a coarse blanket. Using his rather dextrous tails to close and lock doors as he went on his way out. Jess the shadow cat was now slowly tiring out and falling into a gentle sleep among the shadowed corners of the house. A sigh breaking the silence before he asked, " Do you want to come along?" and when the little creature immediately leapt up on top of Oswald himself before curling into a small shadow-filled ball and falling asleep, " Silly kitten, let's get out of here. And yes. I will not immediately throw Connor to the wolves. Even if the clueless prick deserves it."

Oswald left Connor alone in the house, slumbering away under the effects of his magical overload. He was curious as to the talents of his friend given how thoroughly he was knocked out despite beast's natural resistance to affinity backlash. After all, Oswald had awakened 2 greater affinities and wasn't knocked out at all.

It's something to think on later. Now, time for the great question, Jungle or Desert?

Where oh Where do I want to hunt for levels. And advancement. And learn more of my magic.

Sure, Connor may be an idiot who for some reason never read into the whole " requires no Classed awakening ritual to attain magical abilities" doesn't mean that I am as aware of my magic as I should be. Actually.

At this point Oswald settled down. He needed to think about this tactically. He had 2 greater level affinities for magic. He stopped walking away from the house and began trying to understand his magic, pulling up his skill sheet.

Skills: English- Greater understanding of the Human language English

Mana Manipulation- Grants greater understanding of mana and it's uses/movements

Mana Sense- A natural sense for mana

Minor Shadow manipulation- A mutation of the Dark affinity allowing for greater manipulation of shadows

Affinities:

Greater Dark Affinity: Grants greatly increased perception and use of Dark element

Greater Earth Affinity: Grants greatly increased perception and use of Earth element

Minor Mind Affinity: (Granted by Innate Ability) slightly improved perception and use of Mental Magic

" Alright, Jessica." Oswald spoke, after a short while, startling the kitten out of her rest." Sorry. Just thinking out loud. I possess three magical affinities." At the animal's renewed attention and pointed look he admits, " I DID lie to Connor. Aight. Sorry.I didn't mean much by it just didn't think it would be wise to expose my Ability at the moment.To someone who I while FEELING close to him have only recently attained enough intelligence to trust just recently. But anyway. My strengths, similar to his, lie with magic. So that is what I will focus on for today."

Earth manipulation being the simplest way to increase his magical skill and knowledge, Oswald settled in for a long day of practice.

Earth. Stone, dirt, sand, etc. I can manipulate all of it using magic.

Well, what is magic? It is fueled by mana and mana also exists naturally in the world.

So magic is mana given.... what? Intent? Purpose? Shape? Is that it?

After a full day of testing out his magic. Experimenting with the nature of magic itself. And mana sense getting to level 5. Oswald returned to the house to rest and checked his notifications.

Earth Manipulation leveled up x4

Mana manipulation leveled up x3

Mana sense leveled up x5

Skill aquired

Meditation- Enter a state of extreme focus and stillness multiplying effective use of the Wisdom attribute by 1.5

" Now that seems like a useful skill! Right, Jessica?" Oswald asked his feline companion still resting after her daily hunts. She had left and killed multiple rats, mice, and birds while he was meditating, lining them all up near her on top of his carapace.

"Good choice. Rest while we can, tommorow we level."

" You can say that again." The same gruff voice said, echoing around Connor's still aching skull. With a groan, Connor began to sit up taking stock of his situation.

Six others were present on the sled. The previous speaker was a hevaily muscled giant of a man reaching easiily 7 feet tall. He wore an an wodd mix of colored leathers and what appeared to be scale armor covering the majority of his body. He had an odd mace-like object with an especially long haft and bladed spines around a cylinder of a bizarre green metal. His skin was painted in countless rainbow-hued tattoos in a strange language Connor had never seen, but he could clearly sense the oerwhelming mana amounts flowing through the runes on his skin. Another was covered in a heavy cloak, but the presence of a quiver on their back lead to the assumption of them being the group's archer. Before he could turn and get a clearer view of the other 4 humans present on the sandsled he was yanked back to the sled's surface from chains and manacles around each limb and his neck.

" Now, now boy. Can't have you out and about. There's monsters around, gotta get you to Camelot safe and sound. Can't be having the merchandise be damaged on arrival. It's gotta be sold. You're worth a pretty penny 'round these parts. King Arthur's got's a hell of an arena in the desert. I have a good feeling about you, think I'll be placing a couple bets in your favor for the tourney's. Just don't fight back now and be a good little slave on our way back, won't be long now. " The crude giant said, holding onto the end of Connor's chains with a grin as he pulled them tighter and tighter.

Connor. May I have control for a moment?

It was the not the cold apathy in his other half's voice that tipped him off. It was not the undercurrent of near infinite rage he felt coming across their soul. It was the affinity that gave it away. Golden flames stopping just short of reality conjured instinctively by the wrath of the other-Connor.

Will you get us killed?

Never. But we are a noble beast, Connor. WE ARE NOT A PET. I AM NOT A SLAVE. And neither are you.

Be careful will you. I don't think I can survive this world alone.

The moment of the switch was obvious. The manacles and chains went first. Golden fire bursting from the entirety of Connor's body, evaporating the chains, the nearest 2 slavers, and the sled itself. It kept going, unrestrained, burning away an illusion nobody had been aware of. His true from unveiled to human sight for the first time, Connor stood tall, defiant to the surrounding world. A tall maroon tail, crimson hair, 4 arms, slitted eyes, and a new height easily matching the giant. Nothing could stop the fire now. He would continue burning the sunflames until nobody survived. His captors prowled around the outside not daring to enter, yet occassionally sending an attack to be devoured by the flames. The giant shoved one of his cloaked companions into the flames as a test before deciding to remain outside. That didn't keep the rest safe as another was suddenly dragged into the flames invisibly.. The standoff lasted for several minutes before the beast suddenly fainted. Collapsing to the ground without a whiff of mana remaining.

I watched as the monster's odd golden flames finally died out. Never seen one of them skin shifter's before. Lucky the fiery bastard was a weak, pathetic slave-bound beast.Still. Got a hell of a fight in him though, be worth a pretty penny to the noble's or the king. Blessin' o' Heaven to the highest bidder when Slaver Scott comes a callin'. Everyone knows I get the best of merchandise.

"Sasha. Go pick up the prissy bastard. You're the last o' ma crew. Ya better not die while were only an hour from Camelot. How else can be expected to make up for my losses."

"B-B-But he-he's-"

"GO! Ya worthless slut. I shoulda bought yer sister. Wonder if she's still up for sale, right beauty she was. Even if a little young, not a large problem nowadays, is it?"

Ah. Right beauty... Still! Back to business for now....

Now, I have fresh meat for the slave fights. An assessing eye is needed to be a great slaver and I'm the best in the business. This little beastie's got promise as a battle bitch in the King's arena.

" Get a move on! Yer wastin' daylight!!"

Connor came to, once again, in chains. Temporarily ignoring the wrathful cries of his other half he took the moment to look around. His surroundings were a dull rust-colored sand and clay cell. 4 walls and no doors.Well, who can say magic is bad for prison security.

Camelot. That's hat the slaver called this place before-

Before I disintegrated the sled and several people who were riding on it. Speaking of. I need control again. We must not be chained.

Well, can we be chained for a moment to think? How long were we out?

I DONT KNOW, CONNOR. But we must not be chained.

Once more the flames from deep within Connor began to burst forth again, this time not waiting for permission. The chains were once again evaporated into thin air by the heat of the fire.However, showing a measure of control not seen before the flames stopped after the chains were gone.

"Well hellooo there my new strange friend. I hope you like to fight as much as you seem to. Welcome! To the King's Arena" a voice said, coming from nowhere yet echoing all around as a nearby wall fell out wth a thud.

" And NOW! LET THE MAGE OF THE KING PRESENT. THE NEWBIE ROYALE. A BATTLE ROYALE WHERE OUR WONDERFUL CONTESTANTS ARE LEVEL 5 OR LOWER. THIS WEEK WE HAVE 6 PRISONERS, 3 GLADIATOR SLAVES, AND A SPECIAL NEW CONTENDER. AN UNIDENTIFIABLE SKIN-SHIFTER WITH A POWERFUL FIRE AFFINITY. BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HIM REGARDLESS OF HIS CURRENT LEVEL 1 STATUS FOR HE IS SUUUURRRRREEEEE TO BE A THREAT, TONIGHT. AND NOW. WE.

BEGINNNNNNNN!!" The same voice from before now echoing around the entire coliseum that Connor found himself in.

"Damn. Just what the hell have we gotten ourselves into?"