Yin slowly comes to consciousness and finds himself lying on a comfortable bed in a dimly lit room. He tries to sit up but a sharp pain shoots through his body, causing him to wince. A young woman with long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes enters the room carrying a tray of food.
"Hello there," she says in a soft voice, "I'm Isla, the healer who has been taking care of you. How are you feeling?"
Yin tries to speak but his throat feels dry, so he nods his head instead. Isla places the tray of food on the bedside table and hands Yin a glass of water. He takes a sip, feeling grateful for the refreshing drink.
"You were in bad shape when Ragnar brought you here," Isla says, "He thought you were beyond saving, but I managed to stabilize you. You're lucky to be alive."
Yin looks at her, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing he remembered was being shrouded in black energy and attacking Vargo and his followers. He didn't understand what had happened to him, but he knew he had to find out.
"Where am I?" Yin asks, his voice hoarse.
"You're in Dragon Hold," Isla replies, "It's the stronghold of the Pillars of Kaladan, the most powerful mages in the land."
Yin's eyes widen in surprise. He had heard of the Pillars of Kaladan before, but he never thought he would end up in their stronghold. He wonders what Ragnar wants with him.
"Why did Ragnar bring me here?" Yin asks, his curiosity piqued.
Isla gives him a small smile. "I'm not sure, but I think he saw something in you. He doesn't usually go out of his way to save someone unless he thinks they're worth something."
Yin thinks about what Isla said, trying to make sense of it. He had never met Ragnar before, but he had heard stories of his legendary strength and fighting prowess. If Ragnar saw something in him, then he must have a good reason.
Yin starts to eat the food that Isla had brought him, feeling grateful for the warm meal. As he eats, he wonders what his next move should be. He knew that he couldn't stay in Dragon Hold forever, but he didn't know where else to go.
As he finishes his meal, Isla takes the tray away and leaves the room. Yin lies back on the bed, his mind racing with questions. He knows that he needs to find out what happened to him and why he had been shrouded in black energy. He also knows that he needs to be careful, especially around the powerful mages of Kaladan.
Yin lay in Dragon Hold, his body finally able to rest after what seemed like an eternity of captivity. He slowly sat up, stretching his limbs as he took in his surroundings. The castle was eerily quiet, with only a handful of cleaners and servants moving about their tasks. The ancient walls creaked and groaned with every step he took as he made his way outside.
As he emerged from the castle, Yin was struck by the grandeur of Dragon Hold. The fortress was massive, and at its helm stood a colossal dragon statue, battle-scarred and imposing. The mages who guarded the castle were a motley crew, each bearing injuries and wounds of various degrees. Despite their battle-weary appearance, they moved with a disciplined precision that spoke of their training and experience.
Suddenly, a friendly tap on his shoulder interrupted Yin's thoughts. He turned to find Ragnar, a towering figure with an impressive build, standing beside him. "Hello there," Ragnar greeted him jovially. "Good thing you're awake. I was afraid you had died."
Yin was struck dumb by Ragnar's presence, too awed to speak. He managed to mutter a quiet "thank you" before Ragnar asked him why he had been captured. Yin hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should reveal the true nature of his captivity. Eventually, he settled on a partial truth, explaining that his village had been attacked and his loved ones slaughtered. He paused, tears rolling down his face as he mourned the loss of everyone he had ever known.
Ragnar bent down and placed a reassuring hand on Yin's shoulder. "Listen, boy," he said firmly. "It is a terrible thing that has happened to you. Your world has been burnt to the ground. You are right to be sad, but from the ashes, you must rise anew, stronger, so it doesn't happen to anyone else."
The words struck a chord within Yin, and he felt his resolve strengthen. "I have nowhere to go," he said softly.
"Then you stay here with me, with us," Ragnar replied, standing tall and proud. "Become a real mage who vanquishes the very evil that took away your home."
Yin nodded, sniffling as he wiped away his tears. "Please teach me to be strong," he said, his voice filled with determination.
Ragnar's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Yes, yes! I love that look," he exclaimed, tapping Yin on the shoulder with great joy. "Come with me. There is no time to waste."
Meanwhile as Kensei returned to the followers lair,He made his way through the eerie environs of the lair, filled with the aftermath of destruction left behind by Yin and Ragnar. His anger and frustration seeped from his pores as he ordered his men to search for the boys. The more they searched, the more apparent it became that they had vanished into thin air. With his emotions threatening to take over, Kensei continued on, passing by a room where Yin and Dilan had been imprisoned. As he walked deeper into the lair, he could hear the sounds of guttural growls and piercing shrieks emanating from behind six adjacent doors.
Kensei couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he made his way to the furthest door and commanded his men to open it. Despite their horror and reluctance, one of Kensei's followers slowly opened the door, revealing a pitch-black room that reeked of decay. Suddenly, the creature lurking in the darkness sprang forward, its long, razor-sharp claws glinting in the dim light. Kensei's follower let out a bloodcurdling scream as he was dragged into the room, his flesh being ripped apart by the creature's insatiable hunger. Despite the gruesome scene unfolding before him, Kensei stood calmly, speaking to the creature as if it were an ally. He knew that the creature needed to feed in order to regain its strength, and he also knew that he needed its help. As blood pooled out of the room, Kensei watched on, waiting for the creature to finish its meal. The air was thick with tension, as Kensei says "i would like you to do somethng for me".