I took a deep breath, the remnants of my grandfather's presence stirring something within me. The room seemed to grow quieter, the oppressive weight of the situation lessening just slightly.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the wards behind me. I felt the intricate weavings of magic, the familiar rhythm. Slowly, I began to draw the magic into myself, willing it to flow through me like a river coursing through a dry valley.
The wards sparked and crackled in response, their resistance weakening as I pulled on their power. A surge of warmth spread through my body, igniting a spark of hope. I opened my eyes, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
"I won't fail thrice." I whispered to the space the vision just faded from.
With a determined resolve, I pressed my hand against the wall, drawing more of the enchantment's power into myself. The runes flickered and dimmed, their light sputtering as they succumbed to my will. The air around me crackled with energy, the wards trembling under my mental assault.
I could feel the magic annihilating within me, a potent reaction sending tremors throughout my body. As the last of the runes failed, leaving a smoking trail of broken enchantments, I stood my ground. With a deep breath, I prepared myself for the next step in my escape.
"I can do this," I murmured, steeling myself for the challenges ahead. "I will not be broken. I will not let them win."
Focusing on the cells across from me, I prepared to repeat my miracle. But the sounds of boots interrupted my process. The boots carried a voice from down the hall.
"This feels like the source of the overload," the voice mused, the steps almost to the edge of my cell.
A man stepped into view, his hair black with streaks of red. His eyes—one hazel, the other grey—gleamed with an unsettling intensity. His face was framed by unusual mutton chops, giving him an eccentric appearance.
"You, sir, smell like Vex," the man said, his eyes looked passed me. His voice carried a hint of arrogance, undercut by genuine curiosity.
I struggled to stand, the density of his mana pressed against the enchantments in the other cells, almost overpowering their capability.
"Magnar Munthe?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, more out of surprise than certainty.
"Unless I am someone who with a death wish," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You almost crumbled this tower, earlier."
Pascal and Ulysses stirred, waking to the sound of our conversation. They both looked at the Allrquin with a mixture of awe and caution.
"I— I didn't mean to," I stammered, the weight of my failure pressing down on me once more. "I thought I could overload the wards and—"
"Instead, you reinforced them," Magnar interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "I, of course, compensated for such a possibility."
I felt my face flush with shame. "I just… I didn't know."
Magnar studied the cells for a moment, then sighed. "You've got the theory right, but your execution needs work. These wards are designed to absorb magical interference, not just repel it. Pouring more mana into them only strengthens their-"
I stepped forward, my voice filled with urgency. "The Grandwarden is under seige in Aetherhaven!"
Magnar knitted his brows, then squinted his eyes, "Quite audacious to interrupt,"
"Oh, you're Beswick's new squire." He realized, finally looking at me,
Magnar's eyes softened slightly. "Boy, the beast tide is nothing to be worried over, and this one's no different."
"This one is artificial! Activate my storage, I have proof!"
The air behind the guards distorted, and Magnar stepped forward, waving a hand. The guards, confused and uneasy, watched as he approached. He was an imposing figure, his robes shimmering with a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to shift with every step. His heterochromatic eyes locked onto mine with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"Irrefutable, I presume," he said, his voice smooth and confident.
The guards exchanged bewildered looks, unsure of how to respond to His actions. Magnar continued forward, his gaze sweeping over the room and the malfunctioning runes. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the guards, who reluctantly lowered their weapons and stepped back, leaving the corridor.
"Deceit will be met with an appropriate punishment. Show me your proof." Magnar commanded.
He floated a gentle string of chromatic mana from his fingertip towards my wrist. Once the space opened, I retrieved the chest Mister Larkin gifted me. Unfastening the couplings, I tore the lid open and spun the hefty box around.
"I'm certain that even you would be vulnerable to this many vexcrystals, Mister Munthe."
"I will slay you where you sit, unless you explain promptly."
"The beasts invading Aetherhaven, each of them have black ichor flowing through their veins and a one of these in their hearts. Their organs... mostly missing, but their skin is sewed from all manner of monsters and animals."
"What? No." Magnar squinted, his head tilted and his eyes shifted erratically as he searched for a memory.
Wasting no time on words, Magnar flicked the cell open and grabbed me by the collar. I quickly scooped the chest into my storage and closed the portal. He pulled me to my feet, almost dragging me along with him as he darted down the halls.
Together, we made our way through the winding corridors of the prison, my heart pounding with anticipation. I tried to speak up several times, but Magnar never payed any mind. We are leaving Uncle and Pascal, his grip firm and unyielding.
The cool night air greeted us as we emerged, but there was no time to savor my freedom.
"Hold on tight," he instructed, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
With a fluid motion, he conjured a circle of solid mana beneath our feet. I marveled at the sheer mastery of his craft. The circle glowed with an ethereal light, humming with raw power. I could feel the mana's solid form beneath my boots, only possible through remarkable transmutation integrity capable of withstanding immense physical stress.
"Cease whatever interference you are practicing," Magnar warned. "I need to conserve my mana."
"I wish I could interfere.... I cannot use magic."
With an annoyed expression, Magnar ignored me, unconvinced. He focused on his craft. The circle beneath us lifted, carrying us skyward. My stomach lurched as we ascended rapidly, the ground shrinking away beneath us. Magnar did not stop there. With a gesture, he encapsulated us in a protective barrier, the solid mana forming a sleek, aerodynamic shell around us.
The speed at which we traveled was nothing short of astounding. I had thought nothing could be faster than a gryphon. I guess a mere pack-animal never had a chance to compare to him. The landscape below blurred into a smear of greens and browns, the trees and hills blending into a continuous streak of color. The wind battered against the magic barrier, but inside, we were shielded from the roar.
I glanced at Magnar, my awe barely concealed. "Incredible," I muttered, more to myself than to him. "Solid mana transmutation capable of withstanding such stress... it's beyond anything I've seen."
Magnar's expression remained steadfast, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We needed to reach Aetherhaven yesterday," he explained, his voice steady despite the chaos outside. "Sebastian..."
I nodded, trying to cling to the shear surface of the platform. The force of our acceleration pressed me back, but I couldn't tear my sight away from the mesmerizing display of magical prowess surrounding us. Magnar's control over the mana was absolute, the construct responding seamlessly to his will.
We flew in deafening silence, the only sound the drum of wind against the shell. I stole a glance at the landscape below, trying to orient myself. The landmarks I had known were nearly unrecognizable at this speed.
I nodded, trusting his judgment. Actually, I had little choice but to follow his lead. As the minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the initial adrenaline rush began to wear off. The steady rhythm of our flight became almost hypnotic, lulling me into a state of contemplative focus.
"THERE IS A BLACK SWARM AROUND THE CITY WALLS," Magnar yelled, amplifying his voice with mana to overpower the roar of the air. "YOU'RE GOING INSIDE."
He split the pod into two, each of us in a separate dome. Mine veered right, landing inside of the city amongst a pile of rubble. The mana barrier around me shimmered and dissolved, allowing me to search for Master.