Carefully, Gabriel eased the grate back into place, the metal protesting with a muted creak. Landing with a soft thud, he found himself amid the castle’s waste, its nauseating stench assaulting his senses. Without hesitation, he ripped a fragment from his shirt and tied it around his face, in a meagre attempt to reduce the stink.

The sewer enveloped him in an all-consuming darkness, so profound that the mere concept of light was like an ancient myth. “How am I to walk if I can't see a thing?” he muttered. Only an echo replied. A surge of regret washed over him for not having the foresight to bring a torch. It would be too risky to go back to the surface and find one. I’ll have to make do.

Guiding himself with trembling fingers against the moist cobblestone walls, Gabriel walked. After only a few steps, his head collided against stone. Piercing pain flared across his forehead. Instinctively, He placed his hand over the injury, gently massaging it in an effort to ease the throb. He blindly reached out with his other to feel his surroundings.

The tunnel's low ceiling coerced him into a painful half-hunch, every movement echoing the weight of the losses he'd borne. Every footfall was a descent further into oblivion. The utter blackness sharpened his remaining senses to an almost unbearable intensity. Whispered drips of water from unseen sources sounded like distant cries, and the uneven path beneath his feet felt like an unending series of treacherous pitfalls. He'd learnt that given time, human eyes could adjust to the dark, finding light even in the bleakest of places. But here, in this abyss, there was no light to be found, and each tentative step carried the weight of the unknown.

Memories of those he'd lost seemed to haunt the very air he breathed, making the journey not just a physical challenge but an emotional gauntlet. Gabriel's heart ached with the cavernous gaps left in his life. His mother's warmth, absent. Janus's wisdom, missing. Sarah’s innocence, Jessinta's laughter, Lovren's camaraderie; all gone. These memories were fragments of another world; echoes from a distant, fractured past. His existence had been uprooted, torn apart, and flung into chaos.

A fierce resolve ignited within him, and he refused to let it extinguish, even though he was covered in blood and grime. “They’ve taken everything from me,” his voice was barely more than a whisper. “By Ash, I’ll make sure all those responsible bleed.”

The flame of vengeance, burning white hot inside him, became his compass. He would seek retribution for his mother and Sarah. Even if I have to align with Ash. The oppressive darkness enveloped him, becoming his new realm, and he surrendered to its embrace.

Gabriel's footsteps resonated in the void as he journeyed deeper into the abyss. There were no signs or markers to indicate his position. Leaving him with nothing but his thoughts. He saw the light fade from the eyes of the men he'd slain, their souls departing. He was unfamiliar with their stories, ignorant of their past deeds. I killed them. Who had I taken them from? What lives did they live?

The unanswered questions only led to more. What was that sensation I felt during the fight? It was a transformation that eluded comprehension. He'd heard of warriors succumbing to a battle frenzy when death lurked, but this was different. The world had seemed to warp around him, shadows stretching and weaving, granting him a strength and agility he'd never experienced before. I never should have won that fight, even with the man being surprised and injured. It wasn’t luck, it was something more. Something unnatural. "Am I one of Ash’s chosen?" he muttered into the void. If I am, a death sentence awaits. Then again, I’m already being hunted.

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Exhaustion gnawed at Gabriel's bones, and every fiber of his being screamed for a moment's rest. Every part of him yearned for respite. However, the muck underfoot and the palpable dread hanging in the air kept him from contemplating even a brief pause. He pushed forward, the passage of time blurring as he trudged onward, his only company the rhythmic cadence of his footsteps; left, right, left, right. He counted each step, hoping it would not only distract him, but also serve as a rough gauge of distance.

In his mind’s eye, he visualized the imposing stone fortifications, letting them guide him through this endless black expanse. Every junction and bend in the tunnel tested his resolve, presenting a choice of which route to follow. He adheres to his initial plan, traversing the same central tunnel. Guided by logic, he pressed forward at every turn.

Fatigue pressed down on him, each step causing his muscles to protest. He favored his uninjured leg, compensating for the pain of his injured ankle.

With the castle located centrally within the city, he estimated the tunnels would stretch roughly four miles to an exit outside the city. Given the direction he believed he was taking, he surmised it would lead towards the city's eastern periphery. How far the castle stood from the eastern wall, however, he could not precisely tell, but he formed an estimate from prior glimpses of the cityscape. I should arrive any minute now.

With his hand in front of him, he touched a solid object before he could slam into it. He felt cold steel bars blocking any further passage. “It’s a dead end.” Panic clawed at his insides as he wondered if he'd become entrapped in this subterranean maze.

Frantically, he pulled and pushed, striving to break free, but the obstacle remained unyielding, leaving him breathless from the exertion. Feeling the gaps with his fingers, he gauged the distance between the bars. The spacing was scarcely wider than his hand's breadth. It might just be wide enough for his slender frame. Bracing himself, he started to contort and snake his body through, each bar pressing painfully into his skin. The metal squeezed against his ears as he tried to pull his head through.

Frozen in place, Gabriel stayed in an uncomfortable position for too long a time. Pressure built in his head, and he felt his breath becoming shorter. He found himself immobilized—Am I trapped?

Gabriel mustered the will and energy for one last effort. He pushed hard against the unforgiving metal. Just as he was losing all hope, he felt a sudden give. Stumbling backward, he landed heavily in the disgusting sludge. His revulsion was too much; he retched, overcome by the overpowering stench and his ordeal.

Taking a deep, tremulous breath, he mumbled to himself, "That must have been the outer boundary of the city walls. I've finally passed it."

As he continued, he stumbled upon another manhole, slightly larger than the one he'd descended from earlier. Pressing his back firmly against one wall, he wedged his feet against the opposite side. Using both his legs and back, he pushed himself upward in a tense, climbing motion.

The overhead grate was stubbornly sealed shut. Without hesitation, he took his dagger and wedged it into a gap, leveraging with all his might until a muffled pop rewarded his efforts. As he eased it open, a gust of fresh outside air kissed his face. When he peered out, he saw the distant silhouette of the city walls bordered by an expansive stretch of land leading to a dense forest. With effort, he hoisted himself out. Pain shot up his legs, and spasms racked his back. Drained, both mentally and physically, he took a moment to steady himself. Relief remained elusive as he escaped the city. He knew he couldn't afford to pause for long.

The horizon now flaunted the first blush of dawn, a sight that would have been breathtaking under different circumstances. Birds danced in the morning sky, their silhouettes contrasting with the ever-changing hues of sunrise. His city was painted with the golden luminescence of the new day, its majestic towers and roofs shimmering in the soft light.

Yet, as poetic as the scene was, it only intensified the stab of pain in his heart. A solitary tear escaped his eye, knowing he had to leave his home and all that he knew. Determinedly, he ventured into the forest, unsure of what fate awaited him.