[In the parallel world]
The castle is perched on a hill, its dark towers looming over the surrounding countryside. The walls are made of rough, unpolished stone, giving the castle a foreboding appearance. The windows are narrow and slanted, like the eyes of a wild animal. The only light comes from the torches that line the walls, casting eerie shadows.
In the center of the main hall stands a massive throne, carved from a single piece of black marble. Upon it sits a figure cloaked in black, with long, skeletal fingers and eyes that glow red with anger. This is Lucros, the villain who rules this dark and twisted realm.
Having lost the star gem Lucros' rage builds, he pounds his fists against the stone wall, causing cracks to appear in the rough surface.
With a sharp bark of command, Lucros summoned his guards to bring him the path Witcher Mario . The guards hurried to obey, dragging the prisoner before Lucros' throne. With a rough shove, the guards forced Mario down to his knees. He landed hard, the impact reverberating through his body. His arms were wrenched behind his back, pinning him in place. Mario's gaze met Lucros' with a steady resolve. There was no trace of fear in his eyes, only a calm defiance. This quiet bravery only served to infuriate Lucros further.
"You dare to meet my gaze, insolent fool?" Lucros roared, spittle flying from his lips. "I could have you killed for such an insult!"
But Mario did not flinch. He remained kneeling, unflinching in the face of Lucros' wrath.
"Bind him to the chair and give him a thrashing," lucros commanded, his voice cold and cruel. His minion nodded and moved to carry out the order, a gleam of malice in his eyes. They grabbed Mario and bound him tightly to the chair, making sure he couldn't move a muscle. Then, they began to strike the victim with their fists . After Mario bled severely "Enough!" the Lucros yelled, waving his hand in a sharp gesture. His minions stopped their beating, stepping back from the victim who lay slumped in the chair, bruised and bloodied. The villain studied the victim, a cruel smile playing across his lips.
"Now where did the egg go, you insolent fool?" the villain snarled, his voice dripping with venom. His eyes flashed with rage, and he clenched his fists in an effort to control his temper. He leaned in close to Mario, close enough that he could feel the heat of his breath. "Tell me now, or you will regret it."
Mario groaned in agony, his voice cracking with pain. "I-I can't tell you," he stammered"
If you won't tell me, then you will pay with your life!" the villain roared, his voice echoing throughout the room. He backhanded Mario across the face, the force of the blow leaving a bloody mark on his cheek. He raised his fist again, ready to strike. "Tell me where the egg is, or you will suffer the consequences!" he bellowed, his face red with rage.
With a raspy, pained laugh, Mario spat out a mouthful of blood. Using his shoulder, he rubbed it across his lips, leaving a red smear on the fabric of his sleeve red. "You're too late," he croaked, his voice barely audible. "The egg has already hatched."
Lucros turned to one of his guards and said, "Fetch the warlock. I have need of his services." The guard bowed and scurried away, leaving Lucros alone with his prisoner Mario. After what seemed like an eternity, a cloaked figure appeared in the doorway. The prisoner's eyes widened in fear as the warlock strode towards them, his face shrouded in shadow.
The warlock bowed his head in deference to Lucros, his eyes cast downward in respect. "You called for me, my lord?" the warlock said in a deep, raspy voice. Lucros nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Indeed I did , I need you to search through the memory of the one you see before you," Lucros said, pointing to the prisoner. "He has information that I require, and I will not be denied."
With a nod of his head, the warlock replied, "As you command, my lord." He reached out and placed his hand on the prisoner's head, his eyes closed in concentration. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead. In his mind, he began to weave a spell of memory-reading, a complex and delicate process that required all of his focus. Slowly, the prisoner's memories began to unfold before him, like a storybook coming to life.One image stood out above the rest, a vision of a strange and wondrous world unlike any the warlock had ever seen.The warlock's eyes remained closed, but in his mind's eye, he saw a vision of a world unlike any he had ever known. Vast, rolling plains stretched out before him, dotted with towering mountains and lush, green forests. Great cities sprawled across the landscape, their spires reaching up towards the sky. A glittering blue ocean bordered the land, its waves lapping gently against the shore. And in the distance, a brilliant yellow orb shone brightly, illuminating the world with its light
The warlock knew he had to delve deeper, to learn more about this world called Earth. But as he probed deeper into the prisoner's memories, he sensed a strong resistance, a force that was determined to keep its secrets hidden. The warlock struggled against this barrier, his concentration focused on breaking through. But the more he pushed, the stronger the resistance became. It was as though a great hand was pressing down on his mind, pushing him back.
The warlock fought on, determined to uncover the truth. But in the end, it was no use.
The warlock's eyes slowly fluttered open, as though awakening from a deep slumber. He blinked a few times, the world around him coming into focus. As his vision cleared, he found himself looking up at the face of Lucros, his features stern and expectant. The warlock cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from his trance. "I have seen what you wished to know, my lord," he said, his words slow and measured. "I have gazed upon the world beyond, and it is unlike anything I have ever seen , "My lord," . "The prisoner's memories are indeed of another world, a world beyond our own
Lucros' anger turned to shock as the warlock spoke of another world. "Impossible!" he exclaimed. "No one has ever heard of such a place! Are you certain of what you saw?" The warlock nodded. "I am certain, my lord. It was as clear as day. The warlock took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking. "I saw a land unlike any I have ever known," he began. "A world of great beauty and wonder, I saw cities of great splendor . "It is a world beyond our comprehension," the warlock continued, his voice a whisper. "Their ways are strange and unknown to us
Lucros paced back and forth, deep in thought. "If this is true, then we must find a way to open the door,"
"I saw in his vision," the warlock said, "that it would take fourteen years for the door to open, for the barrier between the worlds to be lifted. Not even the most powerful witch in this universe can make it happen sooner. It is a matter of time and patience, my lord. A matter of waiting and watching, as the years slowly pass." Lucros' eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in thought. "Fourteen years," he murmured.