"Darling?"
The call spontaneously made Calian turn his head immediately. He looked at his spouse's face closely. Wolvin's facial expression, which was usually always bright and full of energy, now looked extremely pale due to the effects of the anti-magic and mana cuffs binding him.
"Yes, Wolvin?" Calian replied softly, his tone of voice implying deep concern.
"Can you do something about these cuffs?" Wolvin asked in such a weak voice. "This thing is truly causing me pain."
Hearing the soft plea from the person he loved the most, Calian did not answer the request with empty words of comfort, but immediately answered it with action.
He raised both of his hands, which were also handcuffed, and aimed them right at the cuffs binding his spouse's wrists.
I hope my power can stop the mechanical or magical functions of these cuffs! Calian thought hopefully, focusing his concentration and stamina. He could not bear to see Wolvin so tormented by the anti-magic and mana cuffs.
Stasis!
Calian activated his [Time Loop] power in his mind and tried to freeze time on that specific object, stopping all the functions and magic flow inside the cuffs. A very faint and almost invisible ray of purple light enveloped the cuffs on Wolvin's hands for a few seconds.
And what happened next, his time magic worked perfectly. Wolvin could clearly feel that the heavy object on his hands was no longer absorbing his mana. The painful pulling sensation inside his body instantly disappeared.
"Darling, this thing... is no longer absorbing my mana!" Wolvin reported, his breathing beginning to steady.
Hearing his spouse's words, Calian felt incredibly relieved. Without wasting time, he immediately focused his stamina to turn back time on his spouse's body. He restored Wolvin's physical condition back to the way it was before the cuffs were put on.
The Night Wolf youth gasped softly as he felt the entire flow of mana in his body fully replenish in a matter of seconds. His pale face was now bright again.
"Thank you very much, Darling." Wolvin said, immensely relieved, smiling back at his husband. "My body is fit again like before. The mana in my body has also fully recovered."
"It's my duty to protect you." Calian replied gently, softly stroking Wolvin's hair. His face then turned more serious. "But, let those cuffs remain binding your hands for now. We must keep acting as if we are helpless. We will only take action when the time comes."
Wolvin nodded in understanding, not wanting to ruin what had been so neatly planned by his husband.
To facilitate their movements later, Calian once again focused his power. This time, he used his [Time Loop] power to manipulate the iron chains connecting the cuffs on Wolvin's hands as well as his own. He accelerated the process of time on the metal up to decades into the future, causing the thick chains to undergo an extreme rusting process.
The once sturdy iron now turned brownish and porous at its joints, brittle and ready to be snapped at any time.
"Wolvin, both of our cuff chains are already corroded as a precautionary measure." Calian said in a very quiet voice. "So, don't move your hands too forcefully, or the chains will break prematurely."
That instruction was immediately answered with an understanding nod from his spouse.
....
Time continued to pass, creeping slowly. However, all the people imprisoned in the underground dungeon had absolutely no idea whether the sky outside was still bright or if the day had turned into night.
The atmosphere there was very tense. There was no sound of laughter, no sound of people chatting, no smiles of happiness in that place. Here, there was only enveloping darkness, accompanied by the crackling of fire from the torches hanging on the stone walls serving as their only view amidst the silence in despair.
Inside their cell, Calian offered his thighs as a pillow for Wolvin to rest his head on.
The Night Wolf youth slept quite soundly on his husband's lap, feeling safe under the protection of the man he loved so much.
Be patient for just a little longer, Wolvin. Calian thought as he looked down, gazing intently at the face of his spouse who was sleeping peacefully. Together with everyone kidnapped in this place, we will surely get out of here safely.
However, behind that expression full of love and tenderness for his spouse, the purple-haired youth's eyes glared sharply toward the dark corridor. He harbored a burning anger toward those kidnappers. Calian swore to take their lives one by one.
Not long after, Wolvin's sense of hearing caught a sound coming from the corridor. He immediately woke up and slowly rose from his sleep.
"Darling, there are many footsteps heading this way." he whispered right near Calian's ear, promptly giving a report.
Hearing his spouse's report, Calian nodded in understanding. "Yes, Wolvin. Return to acting normally so they do not get suspicious."
Instantly, both of their facial expressions changed again. Calian lowered his gaze, while Wolvin slumped his shoulders once more, putting on a weak expression exactly like a prisoner who had lost all hope.
Just as Wolvin reported, the sound of marching footsteps began to echo along the underground corridor, until finally, those people arrived and stood right in front of their cell door.
Calian glanced toward the corridor. There, he saw the eight kidnappers who had captured them earlier standing in front of their cell. However, what caught his attention the most was the presence of a middle-aged man dressed very neatly and escorted directly by four armored soldiers.
Seeing that sight, Calian's suspicion was proven true. There was an imperial official directly involved in the network of missing person cases that had been occurring in Gias City.
Even though he was engulfed in mounting anger upon seeing the rottenness of these officials, Calian remained calm to ensure his plan went smoothly.
The neatly dressed man looked down disdainfully at Calian and Wolvin, who appeared helpless on the cell floor.
"Are these two the new goods you managed to capture this morning?" he asked in an arrogant tone.
"Yes, Sir!" answered one of the kidnappers, the man who had previously threatened Wolvin, with a sycophantic attitude. "The two of them claimed to be Rank E adventurers who were lost. Since they do not have any connections whatsoever, I think they are highly suitable to be used as mining slaves."
The neatly dressed man smirked, his eyes scanning Calian and Wolvin's physiques with an evaluating gaze as if selecting livestock.
"Good! Their physical quality is quite decent!" the man said in satisfaction. "The Great Master will surely be very proud of all your performance today!"
The man then turned around, looking at the kidnappers and the soldiers escorting him.
"Quickly get them out and bring the two of them along with all the other prisoners to the meeting place! We will select and distribute all of them there!" he ordered sternly.
"Yes, Sir!"