In increments, over the course of a few hours, the screams died down to nothing. Waver was left alone during that time - or so it seemed - for him to get used to his conditions. But his turn came eventually, with the door opening and three individuals in black coming to release him from the cage. One of them, far taller than Waver, snatched him up by the wrists before he could begin to crawl out. Wordless, they moved him to another room, where they were able to latch the center rod to the table they seated him at. He could move, albeit little, and the red glow was menacing indeed.

The tall man, once setting Waver in his seat, flanked the door. The third occupant never said a word, settling into a place in the corner to watch, long dark hair tied out of their face.

The man who came to stand before him was lanky, shorter than the first. His voice was roughened from smoking. "We'd like to make this quick and easy, boy," he murmured lowly, his eyes on Waver's face. "Where are your father's Mystic Codes? Where is the key to his vault?"