The crisp mountain air grew warmer as Hammond, Leonard, and Nathan finally entered the village of Principium at the brim of Prin Peak. It was a place that had once been simple—a humble farming village nestled in the shadow of the towering peaks. A place they loved to call home. Now, the quaintness seemed marked by the unmistakable signs of Kazzorak’s influence. Strange machines hummed in the distance, faint sparks of blue magic lighting up the sky above the busy streets.

The sharp scent of metal, oil and arcane forgery lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy smells of the village. The big river that ran through the city that was once a pristine, dark blue color had turned muddy and dirty. The bridge leading over it was not a quaint, wooden one anymore, but rather reinforced with steel plates and bolts. It wasn’t the same place Leonard and Nathan had known as children, but it was still home.

They walked in silence through the narrow streets, their boots crunching over the frozen snow as they made their way deeper into the village. At first, no one seemed to take notice of them. The villagers went about their business, many of them toiling away in the workshops or walking between the stalls in the marketplace. But as they passed by, the crowd’s energy shifted subtly. Heads turned. Conversations quieted. The presence of the three Spellbreakers, their gloves shimmering faintly with runes of power, had not gone unnoticed.

The tension in the air was palpable. They could see the fear behind the curious gazes. People began to shuffle nervously, looking around as if deciding whether to stay or to flee. It was subtle at first, a glance here and a movement there, but soon enough, the villagers began to move quickly. They ducked into their houses, pulling shutters closed, and the street grew eerily silent.

Leonard glanced around, his eyes narrowing. "What’s going on? It feels like everyone’s scared of us."

Hammond chuckled softly, his voice carrying a reassuring calmness. "Don’t worry. They’re just normal folk, trying to keep their heads down. They don’t want trouble. The sight of Spellbreakers, especially with the mark of Kazzorak’s forces hanging over them, can be enough to make anyone nervous."

Nathan eyed the villagers warily, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "Are we really causing that much of a stir? Just for showing up?"

Hammond gave a knowing smile. "They’ve seen the change happening in their town, Nathan. The Kazzorakian regime has brought fear and uncertainty.”

Nathan shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tightening around the fabric of his coat. "But why are they acting like this? We’re here to help, aren’t we?."

Hammond's expression softened slightly as he looked around, seeing how the villagers began to duck into their houses, pulling shutters down and avoiding eye contact. "Yes, they’re just afraid," he said, his voice calm. "People know something’s about to happen here, but they don’t want to get caught up in the middle of it. Fear has a way of making even the most innocent seem dangerous."

The tower rose ahead of them, a massive structure that stood out against the bright landscape. Its blackened stone walls loomed ominously above them, casting long shadows. Two guards stood at the base, looking like sentries in the distance. As they neared the tower, the guards' eyes locked onto the trio.

"Stop!" one of the guards shouted, clad in iron armor while raising his hand and brandishing a spear. "This tower is off-limits. Turn back now."

Hammond motioned for Leonard and Nathan to step back as he stepped forward. His calm demeanor never wavered as he faced the guards. "We’re here to see Darmas. We have business with him."

The guard’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t think we’ll just let you walk in and see the prisoners. I’m not stupid, pal." He glanced at his companion, and the two guards took a step forward, blocking the path even more obviously than before.

Leonard crossed his arms, his gloved fingers curling slightly. "We’re not asking," he muttered, stepping forward.

Hammond raised a hand to stop him. "Patience," he murmured. "We don’t need to make enemies of these men."

Nathan, standing behind Leonard, clenched his jaw. He was clearly unsettled by the tension. Leonard was annoyed, ready to show the two guards who they are dealing with but he knew deep down that Hammond was right. They needed to focus on their goal, not unnecessary conflict.

With a sigh, Hammond turned back to the guards, giving them a warm smile. "My friends here are a bit eager," he said, his tone easy and nonchalant. "But we’re not looking for a fight. Just let us through, we will grab our friends and we won’t cause any trouble."

The guard didn’t seem convinced. He tightened his grip on his spear, his stance defensive. "This tower is under the control of Kazzorak’s forces. You’re not going anywhere, not you nor those two kids you brought along. Now scram!"

Leonard’s patience snapped. He threw a quick glance at Hammond, and without waiting for approval, he surged forward, fist raised. As his gloved hand connected with the ground, the power of Motionless surged through his body. Ice shot up from the ground in jagged spikes, rapidly encasing the guard's feet. The sudden burst of cold left the guard frozen in place.

Nathan followed suit. He stepped to the side, closing the distance to the second guard. A flick of his wrist sent a fireball erupting from his hand, striking the guard in the chest. The fireball didn’t cause serious harm, but it sent the guard stumbling back, disoriented and panicked. He crashed to the ground, unable to regain his footing as the flames dissipated.

The fight was over in seconds.

Hammond glanced at both guards, now incapacitated but alive. He gave a small nod, indicating that they had done their job well. “I wanted to try one more time, but you know what? They didn’t seem much for talking anyway." he said, moving past them with a wave of his hand. "See you on the way out, gentlemen."

They continued their ascent up the tower, the stairs creaking beneath their feet as they climbed higher. The air grew colder the higher they went, the temperature dropping as they moved away from the warmth of the village. They finally reached the top floor, where a large, open room awaited them.

In the center of the room stood Zeke, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. His body bore the marks of their previous encounter—cuts and bruises that had yet to fully heal. He met their gaze as they entered, his lips curling into a grin.

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“So that’s what that commotion was about…I knew you’d come,” Zeke said, his voice low and confident. “It’s good to see you again. You see, last time we didn’t exactly get to exchange pleasantries. My name is Zeke Fygar, and if things go my way today, you won’t need to remember, as it’s the last thing you’ll ever learn”.

Leonard’s eyes immediately went to the fresh injuries on Zeke’s body ."Looks like you’re still healing from last time," he said, his tone almost mockingly sympathetic. “I’m Leonard, the greatest Spellbreaker this world will ever see! And this is my friend Nathan, you know. The one you ambushed like a coward?”

Hammond stepped forward, keeping a careful eye on the situation “Enough of this meaningless exchange. Give us the key and we will be on our way.”

Zeke’s grin deepend as he snapped his fingers. HIs chains came to life, curling and snapping through the air. “Afraid to lose your pups, mister wolf?”

Hammond sighed as he looked at the bandages on Zeke’s body. “Very well. Leonard, I am certain you will take him on and win this time. Show me the efforts of your training.” Leonard punched his left palm, grasping it as cold magic surrounds his closed fist. “Today you’ll see that your previous attack was nothing but a fluke, we’re Hammond’s priced students after all! The great Leonard shall face you head on!”

“I’ve been waiting for this,” Zeke said, his voice dripping with malice. “Let’s see if you’ve recovered fully since we met, punk.”

Leonard stepped forward, cracking his knuckles through the Spellbreaker gloves. A faint glow emanated from them, the lingering energy of Motionless humming softly as he clenched his fists.

“You’re about to find out,” Leonard shot back, his voice steady but fiery. He spread his feet into a fighting stance, his muscles tense with anticipation.

With a flick of Zeke’s wrist, one of his chains lashed out, its bladed end slicing through the air toward Leonard’s chest. Leonard barely had time to react, ducking just as the chain whipped past him, leaving a faint whistle in its wake. The blade embedded itself in the stone floor behind him, cracking the surface.

“You’re faster than last time,” Zeke sneered. “But not fast enough.”

Leonard didn’t bother with a retort. He did not feel faster, but rather had the feeling that Zeke was slower. Instead of replying, Leonard took a wide stance, slamming his fist into the ground with a roar. The power of Motionless surged through his body and into the stone, and a line of jagged icicles erupted from the ground, racing toward Zeke.

Zeke leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the icy spikes, but Leonard was already on the move. He darted around the icicles, closing the distance between them. His right fist glowed as he aimed a punch at Zeke’s ribs, forcing him to block with one of his chains. The chain wrapped around Leonard’s wrist, and Zeke yanked hard, pulling Leonard off balance.

“You’ll have to do better than that!” Zeke taunted as he swung his second chain in a wide arc.

Leonard gritted his teeth and twisted his body, using the momentum to pull free of the chain. He ducked under the incoming attack while tilting his head, feeling the sharp edge of the blade graze his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. The sting fueled his determination.

“Fine,” Leonard growled, wiping the blood from his face with his sleeve. “Let’s turn down the heat.”

He slammed his fist into the ground again, but this time he spun his knuckle around as it arrived on the ground. The resulting icicles shot in a curve, forcing Zeke to jump back toward the wall. Leonard followed up with a feint, pretending to go for another ground strike. When Zeke prepared to dodge, Leonard shifted his weight and leapt forward as he swung his fist upward, aiming for Zeke’s torso who tried to look for icicles on the ground.

The punch connected, and Zeke staggered back, coughing as the air was knocked from his lungs. Using the short stun, Leonard slammed the ground with both of his fists. Two icicles shot out from the ground, forming around Zeke’s arms and legs, only revealing his torso and head.

“This is for hurting Nathan!” Leonard yells as he surged forward, slamming his fist into Zeke’s gut. The impact echoed in the room, forcing a choked gasp from Zeke’s lips. “And this is for enslaving Baharor!” Before Zeke could recover, Leonard struck again—this time a left hook to his side, followed by an uppercut to his jaw.

As Zeke felt the impact, he mustered the last of his strength: “A…licia…” but to no avail; Leonard had knocked him unconscious. The victor stepped away, breathing a deep sigh of relief.

Hammond also seemed relieved. “I did not take you for someone who’d show this much restraint. Great job, kid. You took him out, and despite your anger showed mercy. You did great today”. Hammond looked around the room and saw a bunch of runed shackles hanging on the wall, next to their keys. He grabbed one of them, broke the ice that Leonard created with two quick flicks of his wrists, and shackled Zeke.

"That should hold him for now," Hammond said with a satisfied look.

Nathan approached, eyeing Zeke warily. "Couldn’t you have used his chain artifact for this? Shouldn’t we break it now?"

Hammond shook his head as he coiled the chains into a neat small bundle and put it away into his backpack. "No. I have a feeling they might come in handy later."

With that, they took the key from Zeke, who was now entirely defeated and unmoving. Hammond put Zeke on his left shoulder to carry him and led the way, unlocking the door to the next floor with the other hand.

They reached the final cell, where the prisoners were held. As the door opened, the prisoners looked up in surprise. Among them were Darmas and a woman with a hood over her head, who locked eyes with Nathan.

Nathan froze. It was Leyra—his childhood friend.

She lowered her hood, smiled warmly and rushed toward him, her arms open. "Nathan!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug. "I’m so glad you’re okay."

Nathan pulled away slightly. "Leyra, I—" He hesitated, unsure how to explain everything and confused as that was what he wanted to say.

"How did you end up here?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.

Nathan glanced at Hammond, then back at her. "I wanted to learn to properly cultivate magic, just like my father did. So Leonard and I sought out a master... and we found Hammond."

Leyra blinked in surprise. "Hammond? The old Spellbreaker?" She turned to Hammond, her eyes wide. "I thought nobody practiced that style of magic anymore. I also heard you stopped teaching!"

Hammond gave a small, amused smile. "You’re not wrong. But I’ve changed my mind, and they’re learning quickly."

Leonard grinned and stepped forward, arms crossed. "The name’s Leonard, and this is my friend Nathan! We’re the new generation of Spellbreakers! We’re gonna bring the art back to its full glory. Pleasure to meet you all!"

Leyra raised an eyebrow at Leonard’s boastfulness but couldn’t help but look impressed. "I’m Leyra. And is that so? You’ve got a lot of confidence, that's for sure. How many artifacts have you absorbed?”

“Haha, it’s not the amount that counts but the way you use it!” Leonard said, as he freed the rest of the inmates and flexed his muscles. The remaining men were seemingly impressed and clapped, Nathan as well as Hammond chuckled as Leyra rolled her eyes.

While she did not outwardly approve of Leonard’s boasting, the admiration in her eyes toward her saviours couldn’t be missed. "I’m glad you’re here," she said toward the trio. "I can’t believe we’re finally free."

Darmas stood, a knowing smile on his face as he exchanged a heavy but earnest handshake with Hammond. "It’s good to see you. And I see that you’ve brought some new faces."

"Ready to fight your oppressors?" Hammond asked, his voice steady and calm.

Darmas simply grinned. "Why do you think we’re chained up in the first place?"