Belladonna watched as the Stranger beat himself to death. She didn’t avert her eyes for a second, and hardly ever blinked. She simply watched, with a contented smile and an eerie, disturbing calm around her that sent shivers down the spines of many of the mercenaries watching.

Partly because they had no idea how she had done that. Mind control magic was not entirely unheard of, but it was rare and heavily restricted. Still, that still meant that some of the craftier and more dedicated individuals would still find ways to get their disgusting little hands on it.

However even if it was rare to actually use, many people knew of its restrictions, simply as a form of self defence. It was similar to the fact that you did not need to know how to build a gun, to know that you don’t want to stand in the way of the barrel. Mind control magic was similar.

It did not have a barrel to stand in front of, per say, but there were percautions one could take and signs you could notice.

High level officials, especially royalty, had their food tested before consumption for any additives, wards were placed in certain areas and many of the more dangerous or sacred artefacts were locked up in ways that meant one mind controlled person could not access them and cause untold destruction.

These were among the few precautions people in high positions took. But for those lower down, there were still signs that were taught. Change in eye colour, odd jewellery, talismans placed on the body, unresponsiveness or misremembering events, in the form of advanced control. Not many actively thought of these things, but they were what you checked for when met with odd behaviour.

Beyond that, mind control had a lot of restrictions mainly around time of control, method of control, distance from the control and most importantly, the orders they would obey. The lower levels, for example, would only last a few minutes unless constantly applied, and would not allow people to do certain harmful actions or anything that they would not seriously do themselves.

In these cases, the power of friendship would often prevail.

There were many such cases of different methods and types, not all of which need to be discussed as they all held their advantages and disadvantages. However this understanding of advantages and limitations was important because, regardless of the mind control method that they knew of, one rule was iron clad.

A mind control victim could never actively harm themselves or knowingly put themselves in harms way, even if such thoughts were in their mind to begin with. The body’s natural survival instincts would override the orders and simply not allow it.

Of course luring a victim into an unknowing attack was a different story, but that’s neither here nor there.

Put simply... what this man was doing shouldn’t have been possible by any of the commonly known method of mind control. Yet not only was he doing it, but he had made others do the same. So naturally, how could they not think that they would be next, if they stepped out of line?

Many of the mercenaries were wiping the sweat from their brow, as they thanked the gods that their laughter at the supposed feebleness of this woman had not earned them her ire. Not yet at least.

So whilst they were terrified or horrified by what was going on, none of them stepped forwards to intervene. Besides, they could understand, and even share, the catharsis of watching this man beat himself to death, and even dreamed of ways this could be used on other criminals.

Those such thoughts eased their minds, and even made them somewhat respect this strange girl for reasons other than fear.

However, Belladonna knew none of this. She was too busy watching and enjoying the show with Beans to care what others thought or the supposed limited scope of her abilities. Midas on the other hand had grown bored, and a little disturbed, by the show.

Coming into this situation at the last minute, he had little stakes in it nor any attachment to this man. Instead, he was more interested in the deals that could be made in its aftermath.

Not only could he leverage their participation to earn some ’gratitude’ from the others, but there was ongoing debates and discussions that were taking place concerning the stock of those who had their entire crews wiped out.

After all, it would be a waste to leave such prime, sellable goods just laying around in the woods. It was only right for them to take it from the hands of the dead, and sell them for profit. In their honour, of course. It was only right.

Speaking of the dead, they were taken away from camp and burned in a pit dug into the ground. While such an act might seem disrespectful, it was not. The proper rites were given to them, and it was better than just dumping the bodies in a hole to be later dug up by Phagens.

Doing this stopped roaming Phagens from wandering into populated roads, as well as prevented any natural undead from rising from the bodies.

Anyways, It was during one of the meetings, or more accurately auctions, regarding these people’s belongings that Midas was approached. He was happily reviewing the new card he had negotiated, as well as the few new possessions he could put in his new cart, when someone stopped behind him and spoke in a low voice.

"Congratulations, you are certainly a fine merchant, despite your appearances. Although I expect such things are intentional, now that I look at things. However, if you want to keep up such appearances, I would give your little friend there a warning."

Midas glanced over his shoulder, noting that the man standing behind him - a man who was dressed in the fine, expensive clothing of a noble merchant - was doing so in a casual manner and facing away from him, as if he didn’t want to make it clear they were talking. So he focused once again on his new cart, as he replied in a quiet tone himself,

"And what kind of warning would that be, exactly?"

"Simply to be careful who she shows certain abilities to. I am aware that when you live long enough to see civilisations rise and fall, that you lose track of the knowledge of the common people.

But for many, the knowledge of the Fell-spawn clans are largely unknown or thought to be legends. Even those who do know of them, don’t know everything. But that doesn’t mean there are none who have kept themselves educated."

"This doesn’t sound much like a warning."

"No, I suppose it doesn’t." The Noble merchant replied with a chuckle, "Then tell her this. If she continues to flaunt her natural abilities, she will gain the attention of the wrong people. People who will see someone like her, alone and vulnerable and at odds with her own people, as a prime target."

"And what about you? What do you see her as?"

"Ha, Do you really need to ask such a thing?" The Merchant laughed again, "I see her as the same thing that you do. A wonderful investment. One worth stealing. So I suppose this warning goes to you too then, as gratitude to your involvement in saving my life."

The merchant added, chuckling again before wandering off, back to his business whilst leaving Midas to deal with his new stock. Meanwhile, Belladonna approached the body of the stranger, after he finally stopped moving.