The moon slowly rose into the night sky, casting a pale glow over the fortress. The once imposing and threatening walls seemed to fade under the weight of the nighttime shadows. Alaric, still weakened by his recent battles, stood next to Kimpa Vita, silently observing the fortress. Infiltration was now their only option. A frontal assault was impossible, especially in their current state.
Kimpa Vita, impassive and calculating, decided to take the lead. She knew the subtle arts of infiltration better than anyone, and her magical skills as a NgangaNzambi would be crucial. The fate of Lira, Kael, and her fiancé depended on their success. A silent tension hung in the air—each breath felt too loud, each movement too heavy.
"Wait for complete darkness," she said firmly, her eyes fixed on the patrols along the walls. "Once total darkness sets in, we'll slip into the shadows. There's no going back if we fail."
Alaric nodded, exhausted but focused. The pain in his body was overwhelming, but he knew he had to hold on. The time for impulsive decisions was over. They had to blend into the darkness.
The night had fallen, enveloping the fortress in almost total darkness. Kimpa Vita and Alaric slid into the shadows, moving silently through the dense vegetation surrounding the walls. The torches on top of the ramparts cast shifting shadows on the stone, but their glow couldn't pierce the black cloak of the night.
Kimpa Vita focused for a moment, her face serene, then whispered an almost inaudible incantation. Her hands traced invisible signs in the air, releasing a faint current of energy. Celestial Strike. A subtle glow illuminated her staff as she cast the spell into the darkness, silently striking a guard posted at one of the entrances. The man collapsed without a sound, his body sinking into the arms of the night.
She turned to Alaric. "Stay back. You're in no condition for close combat. Let me handle the initial defenses."
They moved forward in complete silence, avoiding patrols and slipping between shadows. Every guard they encountered was eliminated with surgical precision by Vita. A simple gesture of her staff, a flash of divine energy that struck unseen, and the enemies fell like puppets with cut strings.
Yet, the oppressive atmosphere of the fortress continued to evoke a sense of dread. Each step seemed to stretch time, as if the shadows themselves conspired against them. Alaric could feel the fatigue consuming him, his mind drifting, and each new takedown made him doubt their success more and more.
What if we fail?
They finally reached a dimly lit guard room. Kimpa Vita crouched down and signaled Alaric to stay behind. She closed her eyes for a moment and murmured another incantation. Divine Ray of Double Strike. Two beams of light shot from her staff, simultaneously hitting two hidden guards in the corners of the room. The two men collapsed softly, cushioned by the silent magic.
"Move forward," she whispered.
They continued their progress, hearts pounding, the tension palpable. Every hallway seemed endless, every turn a new threat. The muffled sound of footsteps occasionally echoed, constantly reminding them of the enemy's presence.
At an intersection, Kimpa Vita stopped abruptly. An odd energy emanated from the ground—almost imperceptible, but strong enough for her to sense it. She crouched, closely observing the runes etched into the stone.
"It's a magical trap," she whispered. "If we step on it, the entire fortress will be alerted."
Alaric, still lagging behind, frowned. He no longer had the mental clarity to detect such things. Kimpa Vita, however, leaned in and, with a fluid motion, summoned a light breeze of energy that caressed the runes, deactivating them without a sound. Leap of Light.
"It's deactivated. Let's move."
Despite Kimpa Vita's masterful skills, the dread only grew. Alaric wondered how much longer they could avoid detection. Physical and mental exhaustion weighed heavily on him. The fear of failure, of capture, haunted every corner of his mind. His thoughts constantly drifted to Kael and Lira. Are they still alive?
They arrived in a large hall adorned with engraved stones when suddenly an echo reverberated. Voices echoed from the adjacent corridors. Kimpa Vita raised a hand, stopping Alaric in his tracks. Footsteps were getting closer. They hid in a shadowy alcove, controlling their breathing, hearts pounding.
The guards walked by slowly, scanning the area. Alaric tensed, ready to attack if necessary, but Kimpa Vita placed a hand on his arm, signaling him to stay still. The silhouettes of the guards disappeared into another corridor.
Kimpa Vita resumed their march, her movements precise, her spells calculated. Alaric, however, felt more disconnected with each passing moment. His mind struggled to stay focused, but he couldn't shake off the growing fatigue, the darkness swelling inside him. He no longer felt in control of anything. The world around him warped, every shadow seemed threatening, every sound amplified. He could no longer trust his senses.
They finally reached a cell. Kimpa Vita placed her hand on the door, sensing the presence of magic. She whispered a detection spell, searching for signs of life. Her face tensed.
"They're here," she said.
She cast a Rush of the Archangel, moving in a swift flash and opening the door with a burst of light. Inside, Alaric saw the weakened silhouettes of Kael and Lira, chained but alive. Relief washed over him, but he had no time to savor the victory.
In an adjacent room, they heard a scream. Kimpa Vita's fiancé. She turned to Alaric, eyes wide.
"He's in the other cell," she whispered, urgency clear in her voice.
She rushed toward the direction of the cry, but at that exact moment, a loud bell rang out throughout the fortress. The trap had been triggered.
Kimpa Vita froze, breath caught in her throat. The shadows around them seemed to close in, and distant voices began shouting orders. Their enemies now knew they were here.
Alaric, struggling to his feet, fixed his gaze on the door of the cell where Vita's fiancé was held. But all around them, hurried footsteps were getting closer. Their chances of escape dwindled with each passing second.
"We don't have much time," he muttered, barely able to stand.
Kimpa Vita, her face tense, turned to him, a fire burning in her eyes. "We have enough time to finish what we came here to do."
The sound of footsteps grew louder...