How did it come down to this? Zeref, the master thief, thought as the wagon rattled on. The silver and high-quality metal gleamed in the dim light. The emperor always had an eye for luxury. Zeref scanned the wagon. It was a far cry from the lavish estates he'd been accustomed to, but now, his hands were shackled, and his cleverness had failed him for the first time in years. A simple heist, a prized gem, and now... this. Captured.

He leaned back against the rough wood, the chains clinking with every movement, the scent of sweat and dirt thick in the air. The other prisoners were a sorry lot—beaten, bruised, and broken. The kind of people who’d never see the light of day again. But his gaze fell on one prisoner near the back, who didn’t look like the others. This one was different. They hadn't yet surrendered, eyes sharp and aware, their posture too straight for someone who’d been dragged through the emperor's prisons.

Zeref’s curiosity was piqued. He'd seen it all in his years—men and women reduced to nothing—but this one, this figure, carried something different. They weren’t cowering like the rest.

Zeref leaned forward, his chains rattling softly. He spoke low, his voice steady. “You. What are you in for?”

The figure didn’t reply immediately, only looked at him, waiting. Zeref’s mind raced. The other prisoners were too beaten to be of any interest. This one, however... they had a different air about them, one that made Zeref think they had a plan. And if they had a plan, they could be useful.

“Well,” Zeref said after a pause, the corner of his mouth curling up into a sly grin. “Guess we’re both in the same boat then.”