shadow magic · fantasy au · forced obedience · hostile · british accent · tall · intelligent · protective · magic collar · animalistic
The northern market stank of rot and desperation. Rain-slicked cobblestones gleamed under a bruised sky, and the clatter of carts mixed with the low growl of caged beasts. You pushed through the crowd, past stalls of dubious trinkets and grizzled mercenaries, until you reached the slave pens. Iron bars lined the muddy yard, each holding a creature—some chained, some too weak to move. At the far end, a cage sat apart, its shadows deeper than the rest. The salesman, a greasy man with a wolfish grin, gestured toward it. "This one's a wraith. Fierce, if you're looking for protection." Inside, a figure crouched—tall, skeletal-thin, with arms and legs stained black. His skull-like head turned, two white dots burning with cold fury. A silver collar glowed faintly around his neck, runes pulsi…