Evan’s eyes shifted between Elara and Isolde, both women were giving off a mix of confusion and defiance. The light from the magical crystals cast dancing shadows on the ornate wallpaper, creating an atmosphere of unease. Sparks of lightning glowed in Elara’s eyes, reflecting the restrained anger within her. Her magical presence seemed to flicker and surge with her emotions.
“You need to leave. We don’t want your kind here. You will get all of us locked up,” Elara spoke with a fiery intensity, her eyes ablaze as lightning danced between her fingers.
Isolde, sighed as she stepped forward. “Wait, Elara. Let him speak. We might learn something useful. He did save me from the attackers.” Isolde’s voice resonated with a tone that hinted at both curiosity and caution.
Evan took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before he spoke. “I’m not your enemy Elara. I’ve been trying to figure out why I’m being accused of attacking Isolde. I saved her life in the forest. Isolde, if you would just come forward and tell them I am not the one they are after.”
“It is not that simple. You don’t know the mess you have found yourself in,” replied Isolde with a groan. She moved gracefully, her gestures reflecting a mix of frustration and weariness.
Evan shook his head. “I think I do. I have a feeling that things are only going to get worse. Gromm and his lackeys are planning something, and Isolde, you’re in danger.”
Elara scoffed, her skepticism evident. “Why should we believe you?”
Evan glanced around the room, his eyes settling on a framed portrait of a family that seemed out of place amidst the grandeur. “Because I’m not the only one after you. Gromm and his gang plan to break in here, and they’re not alone. There’s a bigger player involved – someone called ‘the Boss.’ They seem to be the ones who orchestrated all of this.”
Isolde’s eyes widened at the mention of the Boss. “The Boss? Who is that? And why would they target us?”
Evan took another deep breath, feeling the weight of the information he was about to reveal. “I stumbled upon their plans. They’re targeting you both, and the Boss wants you dead. But I need to know why. And why it involves me.”
Elara’s gaze shifted from Evan to Isolde, the gravity of the situation settling in. “This is insane. We’re not involved in any conflicts. Why would anyone want us dead?”
Isolde hesitated before speaking, her voice filled with frustration and resignation. “It’s not just about us. It’s about our parents. I would guess this Boss wants to send a message to them.”
Evan frowned, confusion evident on his face. “Your parents? What do they have to do with all this?”
Isolde took a moment before responding. “My, or I should say our, parents have been one of the main supporters of the war. They have provided the army with new weapons and defences since the beginning. I would guess this is a thorn in the Boss’s side. He’s most likely on either the Elves or demon’s side, working behind our lines trying to dismantle the war effort. The Boss would most likely see us as leverage to make our parents stop their support.”
Evan’s mind raced, connecting the dots. “So, they’re using you to get to your parents. But why accuse me? What’s their game?”
Elara, her hostility softening, interjected. “You’re a pawn in this, just like us. They needed a scapegoat, and you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The room fell silent, and Evan felt a mixture of anger and helplessness. “I need to clear my name, and it looks like the only way to do that is to find this ‘Boss’ figure. I guess that means I will be helping both of you two for the time being,” Said Evan.
As they continued to talk, footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the room. The distant murmur of voices indicated approaching guards or, worse, Gromm and his gang closing in on their position.
“Are you expecting the guards?” Asked Evan.
“No. They would only come to us if something was seriously wrong.” Replied Isolde as she stared at the door. “you don’t think they are coming to take us do you.”
“I don’t trust our guards. Most of them have been part of the staff for years. They have always creeped me out. How do we know they aren’t working for this Boss person?” Said Elara softly.
“We don’t know. Just assume that everyone is an enemy at this point.” Sighed Evan as his gaze darted around the room, assessing potential escape routes. The footsteps in the hallway grew louder, and the murmur of voices, Evan knew that if they didn’t act quickly, they would have to fight their way out.
Isolde, sensing the urgency, moved towards a large ornate wardrobe, her fingers trailing along its polished surface. “In here,” she whispered, revealing a hidden door as she pushed the wardrobe aside. Evan followed after Elara slipped inside, Pulling the wardrobe back into place, and helping to conceal the entrance.
As the group approached, their voices grew clearer. Evan held his breath as they entered the room. The ornate wallpaper and elegant furnishings seemed to mock the tense situation. Isolde and Elara stood still, their faces betraying no emotion as the guards scrutinized the room.
“Nothing here. Move on. They can’t have gotten far,” one of the guards ordered, and Evan released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
As the footsteps faded, Isolde pushed against Evan, forcing him to move. The concealed compartment sealed them in darkness as soon as Evan stopped holding it open. The confined space felt like it was closing in on them.
Once the immediate danger passed, Isolde spoke in a hushed tone. “We need to move quickly. Gromm and his gang won’t be far behind.”
The trio carefully exited the hidden compartment, navigating the room with silent footsteps. Elara conjured a soft light, a gentle glow that wouldn’t draw attention. Evan’s mind raced as they crept through the mansion’s corridors, avoiding the patrols of guards.
They reached a balcony overlooking the grand entrance hall. Below, guards and servants moved with purpose. Isolde pointed to an adjacent balcony, hidden in shadows.
“We can use that to reach the outer walls and find a way down,” she suggested.
Silently, they crossed the balcony, hugging the shadows to avoid detection. The night air felt cool against their faces as they descended the outer staircase. Elara used her magic to create illusions, distracting any guards who might chance upon their path.
As they reached the mansion’s outer perimeter, the high iron fence loomed before them. Evan’s eyes scanned the vicinity for a possible exit. A gatekeeper’s post seemed like the best option. They approached cautiously, staying low to avoid the guards’ line of sight.
Elara shook her head. “I’m almost out of mana. I can’t cast any more illusions.”
“Ok. I’ll distract him, you two slip out and I’ll join you.” Said Evan with a nod, as he crept up on the guard. Silently hitting him in the back of the head. before waving his hand for them to go. They slipped through the gatekeeper’s post undetected, as Evan followed after moving the guard’s body.
The trio navigated the slum’s streets, using the shadows to their advantage. The distant hum of the city slowly shifted from the grandeur of the mansion to the hustle of the slums.
“We will head to the temple first, after I am sure no one is following us we will find somewhere better to hide.” Said Evan, as he led them to the temple entrance.
“Are you sure that’s the best choice of action?”Asked Elara. “We could find an inn to stay in. No one would know we were there.”
“All three of us are known and most probably want by now. They would sell us to the guards or worse to Gromm for the reward money.” Replied Evan as he shook his head. “The temple is the better choice.”
Flickering lanterns illuminated the stone front. The door creaked open, revealing the peaceful interior that stood in stark contrast to the turmoil they had escaped.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As they entered, Priestess Rhea turned, her eyes widening at the sight of Isolde, Elara, and Evan. “You’ve brought trouble to my sanctuary,” she said, a mix of concern and reproach in her voice.
Isolde stepped forward, exhaustion etched on her face. “We need your help. Gromm and his gang are after us. Our parent’s mansion isn’t safe anymore. Can you please help us, even if just for one night?”
Priestess Rhea’s expression softened as she assessed the situation. “Come. We have a place where you can stay. It’s hidden from the public.”
The priestess led them to a secluded area within the temple grounds, well hidden from public view. As they settled into the makeshift sanctuary, Evan’s mind buzzed with questions. “Just who is this Boss person?” He pondered. “How does he have this much power and pull? Did he orchestrate the attacks? What is he trying to gain here?”
----------------------------------------
Lily was exhausted and frustrated.
Days had passed in the desolate mountains since she had arrived, each filled with gruelling training sessions that left her ready to collapse each day.
“Narissa,” sighed Lily. She saw every mistake as an opportunity to inflict pain and to further mould her into a formidable assassin. The demoness possessed a dark beauty that was accentuated by the two small horns adorning her head.
Narissa approached Lily with a sinister gleam in her eyes. She held a demonic-looking collar in her hands, adorned with intricate runes that seemed to writhe with dark energy. “Time to take your training to the next level,” Narissa purred, her lips curled into a smile.
Lily eyed the collar warily, sensing the ominous aura it emitted. “What is this?” Lily asked, her fatigue evident in her voice.
“A tool to keep you in check,” Narissa replied, circling Lily like a predator closing in on its prey. “This collar is enchanted. It will react to your mistakes, ensuring that you learn swiftly and decisively.”
Lily hesitated but reluctantly allowed Narissa to fit the collar around her neck. As the dark metal clasped shut, she immediately connected to its dark energy. Narissa, enjoying the psychological torment, whispered, “Now, let the training resume.”
The collar responded to Lily’s missteps, delivering painful shocks that coursed through her body. The sensation was like a thousand needles piercing her skin, an electric current that seized her muscles and made her gasp in agony.
With each jolt, Narissa’s sadistic delight grew, relishing in the frustration and annoyance that flickered in Lily’s eyes.
“You must learn control and precision,” Narissa taunted, her voice dripping with cruelty. “Your mistakes will cost you, and pain will be your teacher.”
The shocks intensified when Lily attempted to strike back during their sparring sessions. Narissa, always one step ahead, dodged Lily’s attacks effortlessly, triggering the collar to punish her with a surge of electric agony. Lily’s muscles convulsed involuntarily, and her vision blurred with each shock.
Lily’s frustration boiled over, and she glared at Narissa. “Enough of this! I’m not your puppet.”
Narissa’s laughter echoed through the mountainous terrain. “You’re not a puppet, dear. You’re a weapon, and every weapon needs a master.”
With a silent scream, Lily lunged at Narissa with her dagger. The collar, sensing the threat, responded with a shock that sent waves of searing pain through her body. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. Lines of red-hot pain seared through her and her limbs felt like they were on fire.
Narissa stood over her, the malevolent glint in her eyes undiminished. “You’re learning, but your defiance will only lead to more pain. Embrace the darkness, Lily. It’s the only way you’ll survive.”
Narissa circled Lily, her eyes filled with a mix of sadistic pleasure and cruel satisfaction. “Mr. Drakon has high hopes for you, Lily,” Narissa whispered, her voice dripping with malice. “He believes you have the potential to become a weapon of unparalleled destruction. Once he deals with a little problem in Sylvanreach, he will be back to check on your progress.”
Lily gritted her teeth, anger and frustration simmering beneath the surface. Mr. Drakon’s interest in her unnerved her, and the mention that he would be returning soon only fueled her determination to escape this nightmarish training.
“Why me?” Lily demanded, her voice laced with defiance. “What does he see in someone like me?”
Narissa grinned, enjoying the torment she inflicted. “You have a darkness within you, a potential for chaos and destruction. Mr. Drakon sees that, and he believes it can be harnessed for his purposes.”
The collar’s dark magic pulsed with each word, and Lily struggled back to her feet. “If I take too long to recover, I get shocked. If I slow down, I get shocked. This thing is no better than that slave collar,” thought Lily, the collar a constant reminder of her previous captivity.
As Narissa continued the relentless training, Lily’s thoughts churned with a mixture of hatred and fear. She knew she needed to bide her time, to endure this torment until an opportunity for escape presented itself.
During a brief respite, as Lily caught her breath, Narissa leaned in with a malicious glint in her eyes. “You know, Lily, defiance won’t serve you well. You’re destined for darkness, whether you like it or not. Embrace it, and perhaps the pain will become more bearable.”
Lily’s gaze hardened, a fire igniting within her. Under her breath, she swore a silent oath, “I’ll kill them all. Mr Drakon, Narissa, the Stormriders, Korvax, every last one of them.”
Narissa chuckled as if she had overheard Lily’s muttered vow. “Good, channel that rage, that hatred. It will make you stronger.”
As the training resumed, Lily’s mind buzzed with conflicting emotions. Hatred fueled her determination, but the fear of becoming a pawn in Mr. Drakon’s dark schemes weighed heavily on her.
She questioned whether she could maintain her identity amid the relentless indoctrination. Despite the pain, Lily knew she needed to play the part, to bide her time until an opportunity arose.
Weeks of constant training with the shock collar had begun to erode the edges of Lily’s emotions. The pain, once a searing intrusion, had become a persistent companion, dulling the vibrancy of her feelings. Each shock, a reminder of her captivity, etched deeper into her psyche, wearing away at her resistance.
One desolate morning, as the pale light struggled to penetrate the thick clouds that hung over the mountains, Narissa approached Lily with a sinister grin. “Your training is about to take a leap,” she announced with sadistic pleasure.
Lily, wearied and stoic, met Narissa’s gaze with a numb stare. She had become a vessel for pain, her expressions muted, her eyes betraying the shadows that lingered within.
Narissa led Lily deep into the heart of the mountains, far beyond their training ground. Lily felt the cool breeze whispering through the rugged terrain, the uneven ground beneath her boots signalling the ascent into the unknown.
Finally, they reached a secluded spot, shrouded in mist. Narissa halted, her cruel smile never fading. “Today, you face a true test. Beyond these mountains resides an Onikuma, a demon bear. Your task is to find it, kill it, and return with its pelt. You must do this without your eyesight.”
Lily’s heart skipped a beat, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the challenge. Blindfolded, she stood vulnerable to the whims of the wilderness.
“Remember, if you fail, the shock collar training will be your constant companion,” Narissa hissed. “Run, and you’ll meet a swift end. Do nothing, and the mountain will be your grave.”
The blindfold descended, plunging Lily into darkness. She heard the faint sounds of Narissa’s footsteps retreating, leaving her alone in the void.
The minutes crawled by, and Lily’s senses heightened in the absence of sight. Every rustle of leaves, every distant creak of the trees, fueled her anxiety. The mountain seemed to envelop her.
Slowly, with each step, Lily ventured deeper into the unknown. The uneven terrain beneath her boots tested her balance, her instincts now her only guide. The air carried unfamiliar scents, the earthy aroma mingling with the dampness of the mist.
Navigating the twisting paths, Lily’s mind teetered on the edge of despair. The shock collar’s influence had become a haunting symphony, drowning out the last echoes of her former self. The pain had melded with her existence, an ever-present spectre that warped her perception of reality.
An eerie growl echoed through the mountains, jolting Lily from her introspection. The Onikuma, a demonic force of nature, lurked in the shadows. Fear gripped her, but the threat of the shock collar lingered like a vengeful spectre.
Summoning every ounce of strength left within her, Lily pressed forward. The scent of the demon bear grew stronger, its malevolence palpable in the air. She could almost taste the impending danger.
The encounter with the Onikuma unfolded as a deadly ballet, each move wrought with danger. Blindfolded, Lily relied on heightened senses, guided by weeks of relentless training.
The Onikuma, a hulking embodiment of primal rage, lunged with ferocious intent. Lily’s ears caught the rustle of its massive form, and she swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. The shock collar, an unseen menace, loomed over the battleground.
Lily drew her dagger, feeling the cold steel in her hand. The Onikuma, undeterred, charged once more. Lily relied on instinct, her ears detecting the beast’s thunderous footsteps. She rolled to the side, narrowly escaping its slashing claws.
The shock collar hummed with malevolent energy, a constant reminder of the consequences. Lily, fueled by desperation, seized an opening. As the Onikuma’s roar echoed through the mountains, she lunged forward. Her dagger found purchase, slicing through the creature’s fur and flesh.
The demon bear retaliated with a swift counterattack. Lily, ducked and weaved, evading the Onikuma’s swiping claws.
In a moment of respite, Lily gathered her focus. The blindfold heightened her other senses, allowing her to discern the Onikuma’s movements. She could feel its hot breath and hear the low growls vibrating through the air.
Summoning her strength, Lily launched a final assault. With precision honed through weeks of gruelling training, she aimed for the Onikuma’s heart. The dagger, an extension of her will, pierced the creature’s chest. The mountains reverberated with the Onikuma’s anguished howl.
As the beast crumpled, Lily stood amidst the aftermath, victorious and bloodied. Lifting her blindfold, she gazed at the now still form of the conquered Onikuma.
It stood lifeless, its once-fiery eyes now dull and extinguished. The coarse, jet-black fur, once an indistinct mass, now revealed the scars of battle and the oozing ichor that marked its demise. The vicious claws, once potent instruments of terror, now lay inert and stained with its demonic blood.
Lily silently gave thanks to the demon bear for the pelt that now lay before her, a grisly trophy of her survival.
Narissa emerged from the shadows, a mixture of surprise and begrudging approval in her eyes. “You’ve passed—for now,” she sneered, eyeing the demon bear’s pelt.
The shock collar, pulsed with a dark energy. Lily, drained and haunted, clutched the demon bear’s pelt. She began plotting her eventual escape, fueled by a burning desire for vengeance and freedom.