Lyra

After what felt like an endless walk, we finally emerged from the dark, cold dungeons. Along the way, I witnessed horrors I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy—or maybe I would, if I’m being honest with myself. Perhaps I’m not as kind as I like to think. The sights we passed made my blood run cold. Starved, strange creatures I’d never seen before reached out from their cells, their bony arms extending through the bars, begging for food, water, or a swift end to their suffering. Their large, tired golden eyes flickered in the shadows when the dim light of Lucius’s lantern brushed across their faces. Those eyes still haunt me. I just hope Kaela will be safe until I’m able to free us both—and I hope Valerian is safe too. Although, he’s probably the last person I need to worry about; he’s already faced death once, and I doubt there will be a second encounter for a very long time.

The stairs before us stretched on, seemingly endless, and the passageway was narrow. Lucius walked behind me, occasionally nudging me forward, urging me to hurry. He wasn’t as violent as I had feared, but there was something strange about him, something I couldn’t ignore. Each time he touched me, even the slightest brush of his hand against my shoulder, he would immediately pull out a handkerchief and obsessively rub his hands clean. It wasn’t just me—he seemed disgusted by mortals. His skin was peculiar, a stark contrast to his pale, smooth face. His hands were red and raw, the skin peeling as if he were constantly shedding like a snake. It was clear he washed his hands regularly—no, constantly—yet he still felt compelled to clean them whenever he touched me.

This was valuable information. I needed to keep my eyes wide open, absorbing every detail about this place and the people I encountered. These small observations might be crucial when the time comes for us to escape.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we emerged into an open space—another corridor, though this one was ten times larger than the cramped dungeons we had just left behind. The vastness of it made it feel almost like we were outdoors. Tall, grey pillars stretched endlessly, and above us, moonlight streamed through a round glass window and several smaller ones on the sides, casting pale beams onto our path. The space was eerily silent, with only the echo of our footsteps to accompany us. This corridor—or perhaps it was better described as a hall, given its immense size—was a soulless, dreary place. The walls were a dull grey, the same as the pillars, which were plain, unadorned concrete, devoid of any ornamentation or color. The floor was equally uninspired, with grey tiles that blended seamlessly into the walls and pillars. The entire design was utterly tasteless. I may have been a slave for most of my life, but even my eyes had grown accustomed to beautiful things, and this place was anything but.

After what seemed like an age, we finally left that drab hall and entered a somewhat more appealing room. It was a bedroom, furnished with a king-sized bed, and a wooden floor that led to a balcony overlooking a quiet city, its buildings crafted from white stone. Unfortunately, there was a barrier covering the windows and the entrance to the balcony. It was invisible to the naked eye, but any properly trained mage could sense its presence. Escaping through the window was out of the question, as I had no affinity for barrier magic.

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“As much as I would love to stay and chat with you until morning, I’m afraid my celestial essence is running low. I need to return to Elyria to replenish it. While I’m there, I should probably fetch some surgical instruments for when we meet again,” Lucius said with a sly smile, clapping his hands before promptly wiping them with his handkerchief.

An arcane circle materialized before Lucius, and from it emerged a man—a man I knew all too well.

“You called, Lord Lucius?” he said, kneeling with his head bowed.

“Yes, I did. What was your name again?” Lucius asked, tilting his head slightly.

“It’s Merron, sir. Merron Laureffet.”

“Ah, yes! How could I forget?” Lucius exclaimed cheerfully, though his voice did not match the disinterest in his eyes. “You will watch over this one until my return. You are not to lay a hand on her unless she misbehaves, understand?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Do not let her leave this room, and be mindful of what you feed her,” Lucius instructed. “She may have lean proteins like hard-boiled eggs or fish, but avoid salmon. You can also give her berries and some greens, like broccoli. And please, no salt. In fact, skip the seasoning altogether—she’ll manage without it. Make sure she drinks plenty of water. I need her in perfect condition when I return.”

“Understood, my lord.”

“I’ll be back in three days. I bid you all farewell.” With those words, Lucius muttered something in the Elyrian tongue, and his body disintegrated into golden dust, vanishing from the room. I was left alone with Merron Laureffet, a mage from the academy.

“Why do you bow to him?” I asked, my voice tinged with anger.

“Oh, it’s the slave girl! What brings you here?” he responded, unusually chipper, as he cast an enchantment around us to block any sound from leaving the room. “Now we can talk.”

“Where are the others?”

“Most are dead, some are locked up, and a few have joined the other side,” he explained nonchalantly.

“And I guess you joined them too? Have you no shame?”

“Eat or be eaten, sweetheart. It’s amusing that a slave would speak of shame. Didn’t you sell yourself as a child for fine silk and a few coins?”

“That was the past; I’m no longer a slave. And, for the record, I’m here of my own free will.”

“Really?” he replied, surprised. “Then perhaps we can help each other.”

“Why would I ever help someone like you?”

“Because I’m your only chance of getting out of here alive,” he said, his smile fading. “I’ll return tomorrow morning to discuss the details. And do not even try to escape—it will only alert those who imprisoned you, and we don’t want that.”

With that, he left the room, the barrier automatically sealing the exit behind him. There was truly no way out. All I could do was wait for morning and see what options remained.