Alex, after a risky escape, rushes towards the castle, determination etched on his face, only to be abruptly surrounded by the royal guard. Accusations rain down on him like an unrelenting storm, branding him a criminal in the eyes of all.
"I'm innocent! You must listen to me! I need to speak with the king; there's a conspiracy underway," Alex shouts, trying to make his voice heard above the chaos surrounding him. However, his protests are drowned out by the stern commands of the guards, who, showing no interest in his words, escort him rigidly towards the dark abyss of the dungeon.
The tension is palpable as they drag him through the corridors, each step resonating with the echo of his insistence on innocence and the urgency of his message to the king. But the dungeon doors slam shut with a final roar, leaving Alex in the gloom, struggling against despair and planning his next move to unravel the web of lies that has ensnared him.
Meanwhile, Thalrion, maintaining his facade of loyalty to the kingdom, visits Alex in the dungeon under the pretext of gathering more information. The conversation between them is tense, with Thalrion deploying all his rhetorical skill to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
Thalrion: "It's a pity to see you here, Alex. However, your actions have brought things to this point. Have you nothing to say in your defense?"
Alex, despite the desperation and isolation, holds firm: "Everything I've done, I did for the good of the realm. There's a conspiracy against the king, and you're involved, Thalrion!"
Thalrion, with a cold smile, simply turns to leave, not before being summoned by a demon through a magical manifestation. This fiery hologram, a projection of a demon who seems to be the commander who killed Alex's mentor, Eldor, orders Thalrion to meet in a secret location to discuss matters of critical importance to his dark plans.
Without wasting time, Thalrion, ensuring there are no witnesses to his next act, conjures a dark portal in a secluded corner of his chamber. With skill and precision, he opens a door to a realm of darkness, a space between worlds where he can converse without being disturbed or observed. Through this portal, Thalrion slips into the darkness, leaving behind the known world to plunge into conversations that will determine the fate of all in the realm, with Alex, innocent and trapped, desperately awaiting an opportunity to reveal the truth.
Thalrion descends into the dungeon with a mocking smile on his face, relishing Alex's suffering.
Thalrion: "How does it feel, Alex? It seems your plans have miserably failed. Ready to accept your fate as a traitor and a criminal?"
Alex, keeping his calm, responds firmly: "Thalrion, I know it's you who's behind all this. Your time of manipulation has come to an end."
Thalrion rejoices in Alex's despair, enjoying his momentary triumph, when suddenly, a magical manifestation in the form of a hologram appears before him. It's Commander Ignis, the same one who killed Eldor, with his fiery gaze and imposing presence.
Ignis: "Thalrion, are the preparations complete? Our lord eagerly awaits the moment to manifest in this world."
Thalrion, showing respect but maintaining his arrogance, responds: "Of course, Commander. Everything is ready for his arrival. Soon, we will see the fulfillment of our darkest desires."
Ignis nods with satisfaction before disappearing, leaving Thalrion alone in the darkness of the dungeon. With a gesture of his hand, Thalrion creates a dark portal and steps into it.
Elren descends into the dungeon with an expression of disbelief on his face. He can't believe that Alex, whom he considered a reliable ally, is implicated in an attempt to kidnap Lyria, the princess of the realm.
Elren: "Alex, I never imagined you capable of such a thing. How do you explain this?"
Alex, urgently in his words, vehemently denies the accusations and points to Thalrion as the true culprit.
Alex: "I haven't done anything I'm accused of! Thalrion is behind all this, I assure you. He's been plotting in the shadows to sow chaos in the realm."
Despite Alex's denials, Elren remains unconvinced. The idea that Thalrion, a respected member of the royal court, is a traitor is hard to accept.
Elren: "I'm sorry, Alex, but I need evidence before I can believe you. For now, you'll have to stay here in the dungeon until I can investigate this situation more thoroughly. The kingdom's security is my priority."
Alex, with determination in his voice, reveals to Elren the cult's location and Thalrion's leadership in it.
Alex: "The cult is located on the outskirts of the realm, in an ancient forest north of the city. Thalrion is the leader and has been planning these attacks from there."
Elren nods, taking Alex's words seriously.
Elren: "We need to confirm this information. But before I leave, I must ensure Lyria is protected."
Determined to unravel the truth, Elren instructs his guards to stay in Lyria's room and protect her while he heads to the cult to investigate for himself. Hoping to unravel the mystery and save the kingdom from the growing darkness, Elren sets off for the forest, unaware of the dangers and revelations awaiting in the shadows.