The flickering light of Eldrin Hollowstone’s torch cast long shadows on the worn stone walls of the ancient ruin known as The Hollow Spire. The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth, mingled with the faint metallic tang of old blood. Somewhere in the distance, the faint drip of water echoed through the darkness, creating a haunting rhythm that set Eldrin’s nerves on edge.

“My master always told me never to do this alone,” Eldrin muttered to himself as he stepped deeper into the ruins. “But no one else can know this secret.” He took a steadying breath, remembering the hidden book he’d discovered in his master’s library—the one that spoke of a power buried in this very place, known as the Obsidian Eye.

Ahead of him stood an ancient iron door, slightly ajar, its surface rusted and scarred from age. As Eldrin pushed it open, the heavy, protesting groan echoed into the chamber beyond. The room was small, its cracked walls lined with ancient carvings depicting long-forgotten battles and rituals. In the center stood a crumbling pedestal, and atop it rested a small, obsidian orb, faintly glowing, with strange runes shifting across its surface, almost as if alive.

As he approached the orb, Eldrin felt a tingling sensation, a faint hum of magic pulsing in the air. He leaned in closer, the light from his torch flickering across the orb's smooth, glassy surface. The runes etched into it seemed to writhe, shifting patterns that made it difficult to focus. He gently reached out a hand, hovering his fingers just above the surface, feeling the warmth radiating from it.

“These runes… they're glyphs of binding,” he whispered to himself, recognizing the ancient symbols from his studies. “It’s containing something powerful.” Eldrin’s mind raced as he tried to decipher more, but he knew that without more time, the orb’s secrets would remain elusive. It was then that he became aware of the rest of the chamber.

Taking a step back, Eldrin swept his gaze around the room. The walls were adorned with carvings of ancient battles, depicting figures—both human and monstrous—locked in combat. He saw depictions of what appeared to be wizards holding similar orbs aloft, streams of energy connecting them to shadowy, monstrous forms. “So, this isn't the first time someone has tried to harness this power,” Eldrin muttered. “What did they capture?”

As he decided to leave the orb alone, Eldrin’s instincts prickled, sensing movement in the chamber. He turned just in time to catch a glimpse of something small and quick darting back into the shadows. His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively raised his staff, taking a defensive stance. The flickering torchlight revealed a small, wiry goblin emerging from the darkness, red eyes glinting warily in the dim light. The goblin gripped a crude dagger, his body tense and ready to attack.

“What are you doing here, big one?” the goblin demanded, its voice sharp and threatening. “This not your place!”

Eldrin’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his composure. “I’m not here to fight,” he replied cautiously. The goblin remained tense, his dagger still raised. Realizing the danger, Eldrin quickly began to cast Charm Person, channeling his magic into his voice. “I just want to talk.”

The magic washed over the goblin, and Eldrin saw the tension melt from its shoulders, the creature’s grip on its dagger relaxing. “Yes... talk,” it muttered, its tone suddenly softer, the hostility fading.

“Yes,” Eldrin replied with a smile, relieved that the spell had taken hold. “I’d like to speak with you. I’m looking for something hidden in these ruins, and I was hoping you could help me.”

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The goblin tilted its head, curiosity taking over. “Why you want the shiny thing?” he asked, pointing at the orb on the pedestal.

“Not this, I’m searching for a different secret,” Eldrin explained cautiously, “something very powerful. But first, I’d like to know—what’s your name?”

The goblin’s eyes widened, and his whole demeanor changed in an instant. “You… you want to know my name?” he repeated, his voice trembling with excitement. “No one ever asks my name!” He broke into a wide, toothy grin, the sharpness of his teeth almost comical in contrast to his obvious joy. “Ruk! My name is Ruk!”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ruk,” Eldrin said sincerely, lowering his staff. “I’m Eldrin, and I’m glad to have met someone as knowledgeable as you.”

“Eldrin,” Ruk repeated, nodding enthusiastically. “Ruk help Eldrin! Ruk knows many things! Knows all the dark places!” His excitement was palpable, and it was clear that the simple act of asking for his name had endeared Eldrin to him.

“Thank you, Ruk,” Eldrin said with a genuine smile. “I could use a friend who knows this place as well as you do.”

Together, they began to search the room, and it was Eldrin who discovered a hidden lever tucked behind one of the carvings. With a pull, the wall slid open, revealing a narrow passageway that led deeper into the ruins. “It looks like we’ve found the way forward,” Eldrin said, looking at Ruk.

They continued through the passage, moving deeper into the winding corridors of the Hollow Spire. As they traveled, Eldrin watched Ruk scurry ahead, the little goblin eagerly pointing out traps and hidden dangers that Eldrin would have missed on his own. At one point, Ruk stopped Eldrin from stepping on a pressure plate, and another time, he pointed out a series of small holes along the wall where darts would have sprung out had they not taken a careful step around them.

“See? Ruk keeps Eldrin safe!” the goblin declared proudly, flashing his sharp-toothed grin.

“Yes, you do,” Eldrin replied with a smile. “I’d be in serious trouble without you.”

They pressed on, and as they did, Eldrin couldn’t help but notice the way Ruk’s excitement grew. The goblin would often chatter about the dark corners of the ruins, pointing out carvings that he’d seen before and speaking of narrow tunnels where he’d once hidden from larger creatures. His childlike enthusiasm and genuine eagerness to help began to gnaw at Eldrin, a creeping feeling that tugged at his conscience.

The longer they walked, the heavier Eldrin’s heart became. Ruk wasn’t just a tool or a minion under a spell—he was someone who was, in his own way, trying to be a friend. Every time Ruk looked up at him with those bright eyes, filled with excitement and wonder, Eldrin felt the guilt gnawing a little deeper. This little goblin deserved more than to be someone else’s puppet, even if that someone meant well.

As they paused to rest for a moment, Ruk sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, carefully rearranging a few of his small belongings, his eyes flickering over to Eldrin now and then as if to make sure his new friend was still there. Eldrin took the opportunity to truly look at the goblin—not as a creature under his control but as an individual. He felt a pang of regret for not seeing it sooner.

Eldrin rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of his own actions. “How long have you lived here, Ruk?” he asked, more to break the silence than anything else.

“Oh, many years!” Ruk replied eagerly. “Ruk knows all the best places to hide, all the best places to find food. But no one ever wants to stay and talk with Ruk. They just try to stab Ruk or run away.” He paused, looking thoughtful. “But Eldrin different.”

The simple statement struck Eldrin harder than he’d expected. Here was this little goblin, brimming with life, simply grateful for someone who didn’t treat him like a monster. And yet, Eldrin had bound him with magic, stripping away his choice from the very beginning. The guilt, already heavy, became unbearable.

As they walked, the corridors widened, and soon, they stood before a larger, more imposing door. Eldrin paused, taking a deep breath, knowing he could not continue without setting things right. It wasn’t fair, and the bond he had started to feel with Ruk would never be genuine unless he released him from this magical hold.

“Ruk,” Eldrin began carefully, his voice softer now, “before we go any further, there’s something I need to tell you.” He could feel his heart pounding as he spoke, but he knew this was a moment that had to happen. “When we first met, I… I cast a spell on you.”

The little goblin looked up, his bright eyes blinking with confusion. “You used magic on Ruk?”