The night was still, the cool air filled with the faint hum of magical wards woven into the grand walls of the Concord’s central palace. Two elite guards stood at their post outside the main corridor leading to the Vault of Detention, their ornate armor gleaming faintly under the soft light of enchanted torches. Their watch was routine, but the tension in their stance betrayed an unspoken unease.

“Been quiet tonight,” the taller of the two said, his voice low.

“Too quiet,” the other replied, shifting his weight. “You hear what they’ve been saying? About the ship?”

The taller guard shook his head. “Rumors. Always rumors. You know how it goes. Some new threat, some renegade, and suddenly the whole palace is in an uproar. Nothing ever comes of it.”

“Still,” the other guard muttered, glancing down the corridor, “you’ve seen what the Apex has been doing; diverting resources, increasing patrols. Feels different this time.”

Before the taller guard could respond, there was a faint, muffled sound—like the rush of wind in a sealed room. He frowned, turning to his companion. “Did you—”

Darkness swallowed them.

Vesper crouched behind the unconscious guards, the faint glow of the magical wards reflecting off her blade as she sheathed it. Her movements were precise, silent, as she gestured to Berndhardt and Erik to follow.

“Quick and clean,” she whispered, glancing back at them. “Just the way I like it.”

Berndhardt grinned, hefting his axe. “Clean’s not really my style, but I’ll give it a shot.”

Erik stepped over the guards’ prone forms, his crimson-tinged eyes scanning the corridor ahead. The wards lining the walls hummed faintly, casting a subtle web of light over the polished stone floor. He held up a hand, his voice low but commanding. “Stay sharp. We’re not in the clear yet.”

Oswin appeared from the shadows behind them, his robes flowing like liquid smoke. “The wards are sophisticated,” he murmured, his fingers brushing the air. “But they’re designed to detect brute force, not subtlety. As long as we don’t trigger anything obvious, we should be fine.”

Berndhardt smirked. “Subtlety, huh? Not really my strong suit.”

Oswin raised an eyebrow. “Then perhaps you should let me lead.”

The group moved swiftly and silently through the palace’s winding corridors. The air was thick with magic, the faint hum of the wards a constant reminder of the Concord’s vigilance. Erik’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his senses sharp as they navigated deeper into the heart of the palace.

Vesper glanced back at Erik. “You sure about this? Walking into the Concord’s stronghold isn’t exactly subtle.”

Erik’s gaze was steady. “They took my father. I’m not leaving without him.”

Oswin stopped abruptly, his hand raised. “Wait. There’s a convergence of wards ahead. If we trip it, every guard in the palace will be on us in seconds.”

Erik stepped forward, his voice calm. “Can you disable it?”

Oswin hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he studied the web of magic before them. “Not without drawing attention. But the ship…”

Erik nodded, closing his eyes. He reached out with his mind, the hum of the ship resonating faintly in his thoughts. “Can you handle this?”

The ship’s response was immediate

The wards flickered, their light dimming briefly before stabilizing. Oswin let out a breath, his expression one of cautious admiration. “Impressive.”

Erik didn’t respond, his focus on the path ahead. “Let’s move.”

They reached the final corridor leading to the Vault of Detention, its entrance guarded by a massive set of enchanted doors. Intricate runes pulsed across their surface, a barrier of both magic and steel.

Berndhardt whistled softly. “That’s a lot of security for one cell.”

Vesper frowned. “More like a prison for something they’re afraid of.”

Oswin stepped forward, his fingers tracing the runes. “This is advanced. Aetherian influence, but modified by the Concord. I’ll need time to unravel it.”

“We don’t have time,” Erik said, his voice sharp. “The longer we’re here, the more likely they’ll find us.”

Oswin hesitated, then nodded. “Then let’s make this quick.”

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He began working, his hands moving in precise patterns as he unraveled the layers of enchantments. The others stood guard, their weapons drawn, the tension in the air palpable.

As Oswin worked, Erik’s mind drifted to the image of his father in the cell, the pale features, the faint glow of the runes surrounding him.

With a final flick of his wrist, Oswin stepped back as the runes on the doors dimmed and faded. The massive doors creaked open, revealing the Vault of Detention’s interior. The air inside was cold, heavy with the weight of powerful magic.

Erik stepped forward, his eyes scanning the room. At its center, encased in a shimmering field of light, was his father.

The sight of him sent a jolt through Erik’s chest. He took a step forward, his voice barely a whisper. “Father…”

But as he moved closer, the shimmering field flared, and a deep, resonant voice filled the chamber.

“Intruders detected.”

The group froze as the air grew thick with energy. Erik’s heart pounded as he drew his sword, the blade thrumming with power.

Berndhardt grinned, his axe at the ready. “Finally. Something to hit.”

The shimmering field around Erik’s father flared brightly, and the air within the chamber seemed to ripple. From the edges of the light, shadows began to coalesce; writhing and shifting as they took shape. The magic in the room pulsed, growing stronger with every heartbeat.

Oswin stepped back, his voice low and urgent. “This isn’t a defense mechanism, it’s a summoning ward. Something’s been left here to guard him.”

Vesper drew her daggers, her stance shifting. “Guard him from who?”

“From us,” Erik muttered, his crimson eyes narrowing.

The light within the field exploded outward, forcing the group to shield their eyes. When the brilliance faded, a towering figure stood before them. It was humanoid in shape but utterly alien in its design. Its body seemed forged from a mix of metal and shadow, with glowing runes etched into its armor. Its eyes burned with an unnatural green fire, and a massive blade rested in its hand.

The creature’s voice was a guttural growl, layered with magical resonance. “You are not permitted. Leave now, or be destroyed.”

Oswin’s face paled as he studied the creature. “This is Aetherian craftsmanship, but... corrupted. It’s been twisted into something else.”

The creature took a step forward, the ground trembling beneath its weight.

Erik’s hand tightened around his sword. He glanced at Oswin. “Can we break the field and get to my father before it kills us?”

Oswin shook his head. “Not without time and you’re not going to get much of that.”

Berndhardt hefted his axe, a grin spreading across his face. “Good. I was starting to get bored.”

The creature roared, the sound shaking the walls as it lunged toward the group, its blade swinging in a wide arc. Erik dodged to the side, the strike missing him by inches and leaving a glowing scar in the stone floor.

Vesper darted forward, her daggers flashing as she aimed for the joints in the creature’s armor. Her blades struck true, but instead of piercing, they rebounded with a sharp clang. The creature turned its burning gaze toward her, raising its massive blade for a crushing blow.

“Move!” Erik shouted, intercepting the strike with his own sword. The impact sent a jolt through his arms, but he held firm, his blade glowing faintly as it absorbed the force of the attack.

Berndhardt charged from the side, his axe cleaving into the creature’s leg. The runes on its armor flared, and Berndhardt was thrown backward by an invisible force, crashing into the wall with a grunt.

“This isn’t working,” Vesper muttered, her movements a blur as she dodged another swing. “Its armor’s too strong!”

Oswin raised his staff, chanting under his breath. A bolt of crackling energy shot from the tip, striking the creature square in the chest. It staggered but didn’t fall, the runes on its body glowing brighter as it seemed to absorb the energy.

“It’s feeding on magic!” Oswin shouted. “We need to think of something else!”

Erik’s eyes flared crimson as the demon’s voice echoed in his mind, mocking and eager. “Finally, something worth fighting. Let me out, and I’ll show you what real power looks like.”

“Not now,” Erik growled under his breath, his grip on his sword tightening.

“Come on,” the demon purred. “You’re outmatched, outgunned, and running out of time. Let me help, Captain.”

Erik hesitated, the creature’s next swing forcing him to roll aside. He glanced at his father, still encased in the shimmering field, his features pale and unmoving. His resolve hardened.

“Fine,” Erik muttered. “But we do this my way.”

The flames erupted around him, a mix of crimson and emerald, casting eerie shadows across the chamber. His sword glowed with dark energy, the runes on its blade shifting as the demon’s power coursed through it.

The creature paused, its burning gaze fixed on Erik. For the first time, it seemed to hesitate.

“Let’s finish this,” Erik said, his voice low and filled with menace.

With a roar, Erik charged the creature, his blade moving faster than before, each strike leaving cracks in its armor. The demon’s laughter echoed in his mind, spurring him on. Vesper and Berndhardt flanked the creature, their movements coordinated as they exploited the openings Erik created.

Oswin focused on the field surrounding Erik’s father, his hands moving in complex patterns as he worked to dismantle the enchantments. “I can break this, but you need to keep it off me!” he shouted.

“We’re working on it!” Vesper snapped, narrowly dodging a swipe from the creature’s blade.

Erik leaped onto the creature’s back, driving his sword into the gap between its shoulder plates. The runes on its body flared, and it let out a deafening roar as the blade sank deeper, cracks spreading across its form.

With a final, thunderous roar, the creature collapsed to its knees. Erik twisted his blade, the demon’s power surging through it, and the creature shattered into fragments of metal and shadow. The pieces clattered to the ground, the runes on them flickering and dying.

The room fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating. Erik staggered back, the flames around him fading as he caught his breath. Vesper and Berndhardt moved to his side, their weapons still at the ready.

“Is it dead?” Berndhardt asked, nudging a fragment with his boot.

“For now,” Oswin said, his voice strained. “But we don’t have much time. The Concord will have felt that.”

Oswin turned back to the field surrounding Erik’s father, his hands moving quickly as he unraveled the final layers of the enchantment. With a flash of light, the barrier dissolved, and Erik’s father collapsed into his arms.

“Father,” Erik said softly, his voice filled with both relief and uncertainty.

The older man’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze unfocused but filled with recognition. “Erik… you came…”

Erik nodded, his jaw tightening. “I’m here. Let’s get you out of this place.”

The group turned toward the corridor, their escape ahead of them; but the sound of approaching footsteps and clanking armor reminded them that the battle wasn’t over yet.