The dust was thick in the air. Lloyd lay there, trembling, broken.
He barely heard Midas approaching, his polished shoes tapping lightly against the cracked earth.
"One last offer," Midas said, flipping a gold coin between his fingers. "Sell me your knowledge, or I'll give you a quick."
Lloyd coughed, spitting blood, but said nothing.
In his mind, he reached out.
Aurus...
'Lloyd?! Lloyd, answer me!' Aurus' panicked voice answered through the telepathic link.
'Listen carefully, Aurus...' Lloyd sent. 'Midas... isn't strong by himself... He steals abilities... through debt...'
Midas crouched beside him, smiling sweetly.
"Tick-tock, old man," he said. Then, without warning, golden chains erupted from the ground, binding Lloyd's arm and legs.
Lloyd gritted his teeth but kept speaking mentally.
'If you... acknowledge you owe him something... if you even hint at it... he can steal... anything he wants. Skills... blessings... magic.'
Midas whistled.
