As the morning's earliest sunlight crept over the castle walls, the old man made his way to the dungeon with his staff in his hand, followed by a guard behind. The silence was oppressive as he walked down the dungeon passage, punctuated only by the distant clanging of chains and the footsteps of Erian and the guard.
Erian's destination was the cell of the captured prisoner, the one from with his wrist sliced off, one the ones who had stolen the Jewels of Magic. The old wizard's eyes burned with fierce determination as he approached the cell. He would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
The prisoner, his wrist still bandaged from the previous day's encounter with Koven, looked up as Erian stood in front of the prison gate.
The prisoner wore his face with a mask of defiance. Anger!!
Erian's eyes locked onto the prisoner's, their gaze piercing at each other. The gate was unlocked by the guard and opened. Erian only stepped forward an inch. He raised his staff, and the air began to vibrate with the weight of his magic that the guards moved a step backward. Erian hit the staff on the ground with spells from his mouth and the prisoner's eyes began to glaze, his pupils dilating as Erian's hypnotic spell took hold. The prisoner came under the control of Erian
After a sigh, ...
"Why did you come to steal the Jewels of Magic? Erian's asked with his voice low, while his eyes glowed.
The prisoner's mouth opened, his words slurred. "M..M..Ma...Master… sent us" Unable to resist Erian's magic, he replied to Erian's question.
"What do you plan to use them for?
"Only the master… knows… what to use them for"
"Where did you take them too?"
The prisoner groans coarsely, his eyes glowing in response to Erian's hypnotic spell "We are suppose to return back to the Dark Tower with it"
Erian's eyes narrowed. "The Dark Tower?! Erian staggered backward and hold the dungeon gate for support. The guards reacted to help Erian. Erian raised this staff to signal the guards to stay back.
Erian's eyes dim slowly, the colour in his eyes fading gently. At this moment the prisoner began to struggle and shake his head.
In a dash, Erian looks up and his eyes brighten red again. "Who is your master?"
… The prisoner falls to the control of Erian again, his mouth opening slowly.
Who is your Master?" Erian repeated. The prisoner's tongue became visible. AHH!! Trying to speak, but his throat seems to be cut off.
The prisoner's response was barely audible. "Mal.. Mal… ?!!! He couldn't complete his words and suddenly, his body began to burn, flames erupting from his skin and from his face, as he cries in agony.
If the Jewels are taken to the Dark Tower, it's must be someone catastrophic behind this and to kill him to stop him from revelation. Erian's grip on his staff tightened.
The old man's eyes snapped back into focus, his gaze clearing. Erian's spell had broken already as the prisoner burns, but the old wizard can't watch him die. He walked close to him and cast a spell to bind the flow of his death from stopping. However, the spell burst, failing. The prisoner burned like lava melting. Erian stepped back, and could only watched the prisoner burn in agony. The cell field with exchoing cries. The guards jumped into the cell.
"Don't touch him!!! Erian raised his staff. They all stared and watched the prisoner burn into melted lava with his clothes. Irritating, After that,...
Erian exited the cell, with his staff as support as he walked. As he did, he couldn't shake the feeling that a darker pending loom is set to fall on the kingdom or the throne.
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The old wizard made his way to the dining hall, where King Arin II was breaking his fast, his face grave with concern. The king's expression was troubled when he saw Erian burst in as usual, and he nodded for the maids and guards to leave.
"Good morning, Erian," King Arin II said, his voice laced with worry. "What news of the retrieval?"
Erian walked slowly with the aid of his staff, his back hunched in pain. King Arin II sensed pain of work, knowing the old sorcerer doesn't have the youthful strength to use magic for a long time. Humbly, King Arin II rose from his seat and helped Erian sit.
The King enquired if Erian was okay. Erian nods after "Thanks" and…
"He's dead," Erian said, his voice barely above a whisper. "the one he served, placed a curse on him, to prevent betrayal and we don't know yet, who it is."
King Arin II's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his face. Erian looks at the king and…
His expression was grim. "The prisoner spoke the truth, King Arin. I conjured ancient hypnotic spells of our forefathers.
The jewels are to be taken to the Dark Tower as he said, he also revealed to me that his master... his master's name began with 'Mal... Mal something...' and he could say no more. The curse took hold, and he was consumed by flames."
King Arin II's face paled. "The Dark Tower. The king was stunned and shaken like as if a horrible memory restruck. He then began to pace around.
"What do we do now? Sending our soldiers to the Dark Tower would be suicidal. They cannot withstand that level of magical force."
Erian's eyes dropped, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his years. "I fear I am not fit for this task also, Your Highness. The curse that afflicts me... it weakens my mental energy that I can only perform but one powerful spell a day, lest I exhaust myself."
King Arin II's expression turned resolute. "Then, what now? He sat down. After time flied. Time filled with silence in the whole room. Erian spoke, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Let us beseech the Oracle, Your Highness. Let us summon a new army of magical ability to discover what must be done to vanquish this darkness."
Should we seek the counsel of the Foundational Oracle again? The last time we did it. Can we afford to lose people again?
"We won't lose people this time, your Highness. I promise you. If it's magic, a new band of magical warriors, one that can counter this dark force can be formed again with the help of the Oracle. All I need, (Erian coughs)... All I need is your approval to do this again." Erian spoke.
After, a while, King Arin II looked up "We have no choice. So, you have my approval. A new band from the Foundational Oracle. Do it, Erian" The King nodded.
A short chapter but chapter 4 shall precede.