The next morning, Alistair went deep within the outskirts of Valoria, where shadows danced in the flickering torchlight and ancient secrets whispered through the stone corridors, Alistair found himself drawn to the catacombs. It was rumored that the kingdom stored powerful and valuable artifacts within these hallowed halls, believing that the bones of the dead empowered and preserved the sanctity of the place, accessible only to royals and the appointed caretakers. Supposedly, some of the artifacts and weapons are entrusted to the strongest soldiers during war.
The air was cool and heavy with the scent of earth, a stark contrast to the bustling training grounds. He navigated the labyrinthine passages with cautious steps, his torch casting elongated shadows that seemed to reach out like spectral fingers. The catacombs were a forbidden realm, off-limits to all but the highest echelons of Valoria's scholars and sorcerers. Yet, driven by a deepening sense of unease after witnessing the power of forbidden magic, Alistair pressed onward.
The stone walls bore silent witness to centuries of history, their surfaces adorned with faded murals and cryptic runes that spoke of forgotten ages. Alistair's heart quickened as he ventured deeper, guided now by a desire to understand the mysteries of the arcane that had haunted him since Leofric's tragic death.
At last, he reached a chamber unlike any he had seen before. Here, the walls shimmered with an ethereal light, as if infused with the very essence of magic itself. A pedestal stood at the center of the chamber, upon which rested a tome bound in leather that seemed untouched by time.
Alistair approached with reverence, his hands trembling as he brushed the dust from the tome's cover. The arcane symbols etched into the leather gleamed faintly in the torchlight, their meaning tantalizingly elusive. He opened the tome cautiously, as if awakening a slumbering beast.
As Alistair's fingers traced the ancient glyphs, a sudden surge of energy coursed through him. At first, it felt like a tingling sensation, but within moments, a searing pain gripped his body. He cried out in agony, the sound echoing through the chamber.
"Ah! What's happening?!" Alistair exclaimed, his voice filled with panic as the pain intensified. It felt as if his very essence was being torn apart by unseen forces. Another wave of excruciating pain washed over him, causing him to collapse to the cold stone floor, unconscious.