For the first time ever, Monica was uncertain about Von. Had he been possessed by another demon? In truth, they might never know until he did something unusual. Maybe it was all the focuses he absorbed making him power hungry, but other than his consistent desire to be a knight, Von never desired power to have power. He was always kind to the other kids who weren't bullies and even to the bullies, he never sought revenge as long as no one was seriously hurt. Maybe the cave was at fault. Something may have gotten ahold of his body there or in this town. He didn't seem exactly like the old Von ever since he got here.
Despite her worries, she still wanted the side of the bed near the window. "Okay, V. let's see if we can really get to the dining hall before the dinner bell." With this, she walked to the obelisk at the end of the cavern and pressed her hands to the top. Coming in required a blood sacrifice, leaving did not. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared.
Knowing just where he wanted to go, Von pictured it in his head and attempted to teleport in front of the refectory. Strangely, nothing happened. Looking around, he saw no one attacking him, nor did he see anything to prevent him from leaving. He then extended his mind and aura into the cavern. Doing so, he discovered a barrier preventing any sort of magical movement from outside to inside or the reverse.
Was the cave a prison? Was Hellyne trapped here? He turned to ask, but before he had the chance, she shook her head. Knowing his question from so many students before him, she said, "The walls prevent anyone from entering and breaking the seal on the rift below. If they attempt to enter and are possessed or have demon blood within them, they can't enter. Luckily, I don't quite have enough to be banned from entering, though it sometimes takes it a moment or two to decide. The thing is a little persnickety. Just place your hand on the obelisk and you will move to the circle where you entered."
Reluctantly, Von did as she told. He had the desire to see how strong the barrier was, but if he broke it, he knew there was no way he could repair it. Placing his hand of the point at the top, he found himself in the clearing with the obelisk's mate. Monica was already several steps ahead of him walking toward the refectory. He ran to catch up with her at the edge of the trees and promptly took her hand before bringing them both to the double doors at the entrance to the grand dining area. The moment they entered; the dinner bell pealed three times signaling the start of the fancy dinner.
* * * * *
After the boy left, Hellyne's thoughts were torn. Was this boy really a human, or was could he in fact be a true vampire. His mastery of blood magic came so easily to him, and true vampires could walk in the day just like normal humans. She had heard the boy had defeated a demon lord and she felt its anguish in her part-demon blood. This would have been an extremely difficult task for a group of mages, but could a true vampire prodigy it? Possibly.... Of course, he had mastered several types of magic already, perhaps he will be a future knight-wizard, but he seemed too scrawny to ever be a knight.
The old scrolls told of knight-wizards who had only minor skill with arms while great skills with magic. Could the elders be grooming him to be one of these protectors? She would bring up the matter with the council. One thing she was certain about. She would not want to face the boy in arcane combat, despite his youthful appearance.
* * * * *
Dinner was as delicious as one could expect. The interesting thing here was they could eat free. All students enjoyed this luxury. This was nice as Von was able to order an expansive number of samplings from the appetizer list in order to try out what he might like. So far, he had settled on a number of treats, but he kept thinking about the meal at the Flooded Haven. It wasn't as fancy, but it reminded him of home more than these magical treats.
Monica, on the other hand, found the taste of the food here amazing. She had never seen nor tasted anything like it and she want more. Every meal here was a treat both visually and flavorfully. After finishing her meal, Monica looked at Von. "Since we did make it in time for the dinner bell, I guess you get the side of the bed closest to the window."
Monica's eyes sparkled with mischief as she finished her meal, thoroughly enjoying the unique flavors of the food in the magical realm. The culinary delights of the cavern of darkness had captivated her senses, and she couldn't help but express her appreciation.
"Von," she said with a playful smile, "since we made it in time for the dinner bell, I guess you get the side of the bed closest to the window." Her tone held a teasing undertone, and it was evident, Monica was enjoying the banter.
Von chuckled, realizing their friendly bet had taken an unexpected turn. "Well, I suppose I'll have the scenic view then. Just make sure you leave some space for the moonlight, won't you?"
The banter and laughter between Von and Monica continued as they left the refectory, making their way through the academy, and finally reaching the Flooded Haven Inn. The inn, nestled in the heart of town, welcomed them with the warm glow of its lantern-lit facade.
As they entered, the aroma of hearth-cooked meals and the comforting ambiance of a lively inn enveloped them. The innkeeper, a friendly figure with a weathered smile, greeted them. "Welcome back, young mages! The same room as last night or a new one?"
Von nodded. "Yes, the same room, please."
The innkeeper nodded in acknowledgment, handing them a pair of keys. "Right away. The musicians will be along shortly if you so desire, and there's still food remaining if you're hungry."
Monica grinned at Von. "Looks like we have a cozy night ahead. I'll race you to the room!"
With a playful twinkle in his eye, Von accepted the challenge, and the two friends raced up the creaky wooden stairs, he added a touch of temporal speed, but caught his foot on first one stair then another as Monica's luck shone through. Their youthful laughter echoed through the corridors of the Flooded Haven Inn. Both of them felt these shared moments of friendship and camaraderie were the best about the other. Once bathed, the two lay against one another sharing the light of the moon entering their window.
* * * * *
In the desolate expanse of the Fell Realm, where the very air resonated with the anguished echoes of tormented souls, an ominous event unfolded. Over the course of several hours, a small tear materialized in the fabric of reality, its origin concealed in the malevolent tapestry of the demonic landscape. The tear, an aberration in the cosmic design, pulsated with an eerie glow as it grew gradually, like a wound widening to allow the intrusion of an unwelcome visitor.
As the tear expanded, revealing a glimpse into the desolation beyond, a shadowed figure emerged. The air around the tear crackled with the energy of the Fell Realm, and the figure trembled with weakness as it forced its way through the rift. The shadowed entity, eager and excited, stepped into the barren lands with a deliberate yet faltering gait.
The figure, obscured in darkness, surveyed its surroundings with anticipation. The tortured souls within the Fell Realm emitted palpable energies, and the malevolent aura of the landscape enveloped the intruder. Despite the weakness clinging to every movement, the shadowed entity exuded a sense of familiarity with the desolation, as if it were a long-lost denizen returning to its forsaken home.
The tear in reality, now a substantial breach, revealed the figure to be a creature of otherworldly origins. Its form, though shrouded in obscurity, radiated an essence resonating with the torment and despair permeating the Fell Realm. The entity's arrival sent ripples through the desolation, unsettling the spectral echoes and stirring the restless spirits wandering the accursed lands.
As the shadowed figure continued to traverse the bleak landscape, a malevolent presence seemed to intensify around it. The very ground beneath its feet groaned in recognition, and the tortured souls, bound to eternal suffering, reacted to the intrusion with an eerie chorus of whispers and moans. The figure, weakened but driven by the dark purpose of vengeance, pressed forward with an eager determination, drawn by the familiar energies signaling both homecoming and conquest.
The tear in reality, having served as the portal for the shadowed entity, lingered like a wound that refused to fully close. The breach, now a gateway between realms, pulsated with foul energy, marking the arrival of a force seeking to reclaim its dominion throughout all the entirety of the Fell Realm.
The shadowed entity, once nameless and now fueled by a renewed purpose, reveled in the knowledge its identity would soon echo through the tormented corridors of the Fell Realm. As the force sought to reassert its dominance, the air quivered with the anticipation of impending malevolence.
The entity harbored a singular ambition — to make its name resound in every tortured soul, to be etched into the very fabric of the Fell Realm's history. The pitiful creatures inhabiting the accursed realm would soon bow before its might, and the name which they had forgotten would be on every wretched mind.
With an unwavering determination, the shadowed entity envisioned a future where it would lead the armies of demons to bring desolation to the world beyond the rifts. Using the knowledge which allowed him to pass back into the Fell Realm, the rifts which previously only corrupted those near them and allowed barely a few dozen demons to pass through to the bright world on any given day would become conduits of dark purpose serving as the cavernous passageways for his malevolent armies to spill forth and wreak havoc on the realms beyond. The shadowed entity, driven by ancient vendettas and a thirst for power, would soon be poised to unleash a cataclysmic storm upon the realms. He would then reclaim the essence of its fallen brother, Veknezimal, and in doing so, plunge the bright realm into an abyss of eternal darkness.
* * * * *