He grabbed one of the healing salves and hurled it at Elron. The glass bottle shattered on impact, spraying glass shards and the cooling fluid across his wounds. Elron unconsciously winced but felt the immediate relief as the liquid soaked into his skin.
“Now, where did I put those damn drugs? They should be—”
Just as Silvester picked up a round pill from the cluttered table, a flaming green sword bursted through the wall, impaling him with a violent hiss.
“F-Fuck! What is this?!” Silvester cried out, frantically trying to pull the searing blade from his shoulder.
The sword seemed to respond, a low voice growling, “Die,” as it ripped upward through his collarbone in a brutal arc, nearly severing his head from his body.
Silvester's body collapsed to the floor, lifeless. A pool of dark blood quickly spread beneath him, while the sword hovered in mid-air, its green flames casting an eerie glow across the room.
“Tired... must... sleep,” the sword murmured before clattering to the stone floor, the flames flickering out as it landed with a dull clang.
It was then a surge of power and knowledge erupted in his mind.
You have leveled up.
You have leveled up.
You have leveled up.
You have leveled up.
You have leveled up.
You have leveled up.
Elron's mind buzzed as the dozens of options unfurled before him, a dizzying array of possibilities. His body, mind, and spirit worked in unison, instinctively sorting through the choices, searching for those that aligned with his deepest desires. Time seemed to stretch impossibly long. Every selection felt critical, shaping not just his power but his very future. What lasted only a few seconds in reality felt like an eternity of careful deliberation, each choice settling into place like a puzzle piece.
Hours passed. Elron jolted awake, his breath ragged and his body aching. His eyes darted around the dimly lit room, and they soon landed on the grisly sight before him—Silvester's dismembered body sprawled across the floor, blood pooled beneath him. Elron let out a strained laugh, his mind trying to grasp the madness of what had transpired.
With trembling hands, Elron worked at the ropes binding him, slipping free after several attempts. His body felt surprisingly intact, though phantom pains lingered in places where Silvester had tortured him. With a deep breath, he pushed the agony to the back of his mind, forcing himself to focus on the present. His gaze landed on the bloodied bastard sword lying beside the body, still and silent.
He picked it up cautiously, and the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a strange awareness settled over him. The bond between him and the blade was immediate and undeniable. It pulsed through his being, stronger and more permanent than any weapon he'd ever bound before.
But how? How had this bond formed without the usual ritual—without a circle, without physical contact? None of it made sense. And yet, the connection felt irreversible.
Elron swallowed hard, realizing the weight of the situation. He could throw the sword into the deepest river or canyon, and somehow, he knew it would return to him. It was his now, whether he willed it or not.
As he held the sword up to the candlelight, its age and sinister craftsmanship became evident. The hilt, handle, and pommel were forged from a black, almost void-like material, absorbing the light around it. The blade itself appeared to be steel, but when tilted just right, an unsettling green sheen shimmered across its surface, as if the metal held something unnatural within. It exuded a malevolent aura, a weapon that had seen more death than honor.
As captivating as the new sword was, Elron knew he had to focus. He ran his hand along the wall, searching for an escape. After a few moments of careful exploration, his fingers brushed against a loose stone. With a slight tug, the wall slid away, revealing the exit.
“Elron!” Slyra cried, nearly tackling him as she kissed his cheek.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
He blushed, taken aback. “Woah, now. Give me some space, I—”
Before he could finish, she smacked him across the face. “You’re an idiot! Next time, listen to me.” She smiled, though, and her expression softened.
Kael, sitting nearby with his spellbook, closed it and got to his feet. “Glad you made it back,” he said, giving Elron a firm slap on the back.
The three stood in a brief pause, Kael raising his torch to illuminate the room where Elron had been held captive. The eerie tools and malicious remnants of Silverster’s work were enough to leave them speechless for a moment.
Kael ran his hand across the table’s dark instruments. “I knew that human was scum,” he muttered.
Slyra glanced down at Silverster’s lifeless body with disgust. “They all are,” she spat, her voice cold.
Elron stayed silent, struggling to rebuke their words. After what had happened, he felt a small but undeniable part of himself agreeing with them. He couldn’t shake the unease settling in his gut.
Kael inspected Silverster’s body after Slyra had picked it clean of valuables. He hesitated, then asked, “What happened in here?”
Elron bit his lip, his eyes dropping to the floor. “That’s a story for another time.”
Slyra turned her head to Elron, her expression filled with disbelief and a tinge of pity. “So, what do you want to do now?”
Elron gripped his new sword tightly, its weight somehow comforting. “I want to finish our exploration and leave.”
Kael gave a firm nod. “Good.”
Slyra, however, looked at the two of them like they’d gone mad. She could only imagine the horrors Elron had endured in that room. Losing their guide—treacherous or not—left her unsettled, and yet her companions seemed unfazed. Still, she said nothing, biting back her thoughts.
Elron pointed the blade toward the partially collapsed wall. “I want to see what’s beyond there.”
The group moved toward the damaged section. Kael bent down, examining the singed stones. “These are serious burn marks,” he noted, plucking a piece of stone from the wall. “The wall’s pretty thin though. I could blast it open with a couple of mana bolts.”
“Go for it,” Elron said, stepping aside.
With a flick of his wrist, Kael launched two bolts into the wall, blowing open a path just wide enough for a wiry elf to squeeze through. Elron ran his hand down his blade, igniting it with a soft flame before slipping through the hole.
Slyra followed, though she quickly found herself stuck halfway through. She wriggled, trying to free herself. “Damn it.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, amused. “You sure you’re a rogue? You’re supposed to be nimble.”
“Help me, you fuck!” she snapped, glaring through her hair.
Kael chuckled and gave her a gentle push with his boot, shoving her through the hole. He followed after her, still laughing, but the mood shifted when they heard Elron’s voice from the center of the room.
“Hey, you two. Come check this out.”
The space they found themselves in was unlike the ruins they had just traversed. It was a natural cave, with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites jutting from the floor. A scorched path led to the center, where several braziers surrounded an ancient stone coffin.
Kael moved his torch over the coffin, attempting to decipher the sigils etched into its surface. “This... feels like too much adventure for me.”
Slyra wandered over to a stone tablet, eyeing it curiously. “You get the best treasure an adventurer could want, and now you’re scared? Come on.”
Elron approached another raised block, his eyes catching on a twisted black staff leaning against it. “Kael, there’s a staff here.”
Kael’s excitement overcame his nerves. He hurried over, appraising the staff with wide eyes. “This... this is incredible. It boosts primary stats and reduces mana overexertion.”
Slyra called out from across the room, holding up a small dagger. “I found something too.”
Kael rushed over, practically glowing with anticipation. “Oh wow, just like the staff. It boosts stats and seems to have a poison effect.” He paused, clearly considering something. “You know, I—”
“No,” Slyra cut him off. “You can’t have it.”
Kael scoffed. “I wasn’t asking!”
Elron’s voice cut through the bickering. “I want to open it.”
Both Kael and Slyra turned to him. Kael’s face drained of color. “No way. That thing gave me the creeps the moment I walked in here.”
Slyra looked from the coffin to Elron, then back to Kael. “Come on, let’s see what’s inside. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I am not opening that,” Kael insisted, backing away.
Slyra, annoyed, grabbed him by the ear and dragged him back. “You’re outvoted. Help us.”
Kael hesitated, casting one last appraisal spell. Relief flooded his face. “There’s a spell on it... something way beyond my level. This thing isn’t opening, no matter what we do.”
Elron studied him closely. “Are you sure? There could be treasure inside.”
Kael shook his head. “I’m positive. It’s sealed with powerful magic.”
Slyra shrugged, satisfied with the answer. “Fine. Let’s get out of here then.”
Elron lingered for a moment longer, staring at the coffin. Eventually, he sighed. “Yeah... let’s go.”