The three guards moved with quick steps as they led Eis and Keo through the dimly lit dungeon. The heavy clang of chains echoed off the cold, damp stone walls, accompanied by the soft creak of armor.
The flickering torchlight cast long shadows, distorting the shapes of the prisoners as they shuffled forward, the guards' glaives never wavering from their throats.
As they approached the first of several reinforced doors, the lead guard, a grizzled man with a scar running down the side of his face, produced a ring of large iron keys from his belt. He inserted one into the lock, the mechanism clunking heavily as it turned. The door groaned open, revealing a narrow passage beyond. They passed through, the door slamming shut behind them with a resounding thud.
A second door loomed ahead, this one marked with strange runes etched into the wood. The guard with the keys paused, turning to his comrades with a silent nod. One of the other guards, a hulking figure with a helmet that obscured his face, stepped forward and spoke a single word in a low, guttural voice. The runes on the door pulsed briefly, a dull red light flickering through the grooves before fading away. The guard with the keys then unlocked this door, and they moved forward once more.
"This is not the way to the execution platform," Keo's voice barely audible in the echoing corridor.
"Really? You're a genius," Eis retorted.
"Eis, your sarcasm isn't exactly helping us right now," Keo sighed, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"And you stating the obvious is an outstanding feat," Eis snorted. "Seems we're not going to die today."
"Both of you, shut up!" one of the guards barked, stepping closer and pressing the blade of his glaive dangerously close to Keo's neck.
Finally, they reached the end of the passage, where a wooden door loomed before them, reinforced with thick iron bands. Several keyholes lined the door, but instead of fumbling with the keys, the lead guard hesitated. He exchanged a brief glance with his companions before rapping lightly on the door—three measured, polite knocks that seemed almost absurd in the grim atmosphere of the dungeon.
"Come in," a soft voice beckoned from the other side.
Without hesitation, the guards obeyed, opening the door and ushering Eis and Keo inside.
Eis immediately noted the two other exits from the room, marked by similarly reinforced doors. His instincts sharpened, and he took in his surroundings with a quick, practiced eye. The soft carpet underfoot was the first oddity—a stark contrast to the cold, hard stone of the dungeon. The room was filled with bookshelves, a desk, and several chairs, all devoid of unnecessary decoration. It felt more like a scholar's study than anything else.
Behind the desk sat a man who seemed even more out of place. His short black hair was damp, as if he had just stepped out of the shower, and his clothes—silky blue and white—looked as though they belonged to a noble's wardrobe, not a dungeon warden's. The buttons on his shirt bore an emblem, though Eis couldn't make out the design. But what struck Eis most were the man's eyes—blue, calculating, and as cold as a winter storm.
"Good morning, gentlemen. My name is Janryc Ojyaqes, and alongside other responsibilities, I serve as the temporary warden of Stonehold's dungeons. By now, you're likely wondering why a busy man like myself would choose to meet with you here in my office instead of sending you straight to the executioner's block to entertain the crowd."
Eis and Keo exchanged a glance, both baffled by the unexpected turn of events. The confusion was mutual, but neither dared to voice it aloud.
Janryc picked up on their silent exchange and let out a weary sigh. "As I expected," he murmured, "but it's important to explore every possibility." His gaze shifted to the guards, who stood at attention by the door. With a nod from Janryc, they bowed and swiftly exited the room, leaving Eis and Keo even more bewildered.
"I wanted some privacy," Janryc continued, leaning back in his chair. "So we can have an honest conversation." He reached under his desk and retrieved a porcelain cup, filling it with water before casually waving a finger above it. Steam began to rise from the cup, curling into the air as the water heated almost instantly.
"Today was meant to be a day of celebration," Janryc said, his tone conversational as he added herbs to the steaming water. "The city honors the Queen's birthday, some heads roll for entertainment, and twenty brave young men and women enter the portal. You two were supposed to take the main stage in the first part, yet we are in a peculiar situation."
With another wave of his hand, Janryc formed an invisible dome around the cup, trapping the steam within. Eis watched in horror, his mind racing as he realized the man before him was effortlessly controlling elements. The implications of such power were terrifying.
Janryc paid no mind to Eis' reaction, focusing instead on his tea. After a few moments, he dispelled the dome, allowing the fragrant steam to escape as he savored a sip.
"However, this morning, someone killed four people who were supposed to enter the portal today. Peculiarly enough, counting you two, we have precisely four people to take their place. A fascinating coincidence, gentlemen, but I don't believe in coincidences." Janryc smiled. "One of these four replacements I can't question, the other I don't want to, and this leaves me with you two." Janryc slowly rose from his seat, moving behind Eis and Keo. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders, his grip deceptively strong.
Eis could feel his blood heating up, as if a fever had suddenly taken hold. He instinctively wanted to shrug off Janryc's hand, but it was as if all his strength had been drained away. The man's grip, though not visibly powerful, was unyielding. Glancing at Keo, Eis saw that he was in the same agonizing position, beads of sweat trickling down his face.
"But I know for certain that neither of you has the connections or the power to orchestrate the scheme my instincts are screaming is going on." He released their shoulders, and both men gasped for air, their breaths ragged as they tried to recover from the pain. Tears streamed down their faces uncontrollably, and the relief was palpable as Janryc returned to his seat, giving them a moment to collect themselves.
"As I see it, I am left in the dark, a situation I am rarely in," Janryc said, his eyes narrowing as he studied them, searching for any sign of deceit. But he found nothing, and this seemed to displease him.
"When you leave this room, you will be sent to the fort containing the portal. Once you enter the portal, your task is simple: get close to the two who will join you and extract as much information as possible. I don't care how you do it, but if they die in there, all the better. Should you fail in this task, rest assured your deaths will be excruciating if you manage to survive, of course."
Janryc paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them like a shroud. "However, if you succeed, you will find me a valuable ally—one who never forgets a debt." His expression softened slightly. "Do I make myself clear?"
Eis and Keo nodded obediently, trying to mask the tension in their voices. Janryc Ojyaqes arched an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "I think you're capable of using speech to some extent, so it's reassuring to hear you confirm my hopes are well-placed, isn't it?"
"Yes, Sir," they both echoed, their voices shaky.
"Good." Janryc dismissed them with a casual wave of his hand. Immediately, the guards reentered the room, seizing the prisoners by their arms and leading them out.
As they retraced their steps through the labyrinthine corridors of the dungeon, Eis and Keo remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts. They had narrowly escaped their own executions, but the future that awaited them seemed full of uncertainty.
Eis clenched his fists as they walked. 'If I manage to survive and make it out of the portal, I can turn everything around. I'll avenge Geb, uncover who fed him those lies, and make Narni pay for her betrayal. This is my chance, and I won't waste it. No matter what it takes.'
The guards led them through a different series of corridors this time. These paths were less heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was less oppressive, almost casual compared to the tension-filled cells they had left behind.
After what felt like an eternity, they emerged from the depths of the dungeon into the open air of the fortress above. The transition was stark—the oppressive gloom of the dungeon replaced by the bustling activity of a military stronghold. Hundreds of soldiers moved about, and their attention quickly turned to the two prisoners being led through their midst.
"Dead men walking!" one soldier jeered, eliciting a ripple of laughter from his comrades.
A military-grade carriage, stark and utilitarian, awaited them outside the fortress. The guards wasted no time in shoving Eis and Keo inside. The interior was just as bleak as the exterior—a metal box with benches bolted to the floor, devoid of any comforts or windows. It was clear this vehicle was designed for security, not luxury.
The carriage, led by two horses, moved down the road, and time dragged on. Keo sat lost in thought, while Eis' stomach growled incessantly, reminding him of how long it had been since he'd eaten. The guards, now armed with swords instead of glaives, kept a close watch on them, their eyes never wavering.
After what felt like another hour, the carriage came to a halt. Eis stretched his aching limbs as they were herded out, and Keo did the same, both of them eager to leave the confines of the metal box.
Before them loomed a fort unlike any Eis had ever seen. Siege weapons lined the walls, but instead of pointing outward to fend off attackers, they were aimed inward. The guards on the walls patrolled with a vigilant eye, not watching the horizon for invaders but rather the interior, guarding against something within.
The Kingdom's flags flew proudly from the ramparts, depicting a griffin on a white background, but the land surrounding the fortress was barren and lifeless for kilometers in every direction. Watchtowers dotted the distant landscape, designed to signal any breach of the fortress.
The guards leading Eis and Keo handed over their papers at the gate. The fortress guards, clad in black uniforms instead of the usual blue and white, scrutinized the documents before signaling for the gate to be opened. There was no mockery from these soldiers, only solemn respect as they passed through.
After clearing a second gate, the city guards who had accompanied them saluted crisply, their fists to their chests, before quickly departing.
As they watched the city guards disappear, both Eis and Keo felt a small measure of relief. Their former captors were gone, replaced by men whose demeanor suggested that things were about to change.
"My name is Sergeant Luan," a voice said, breaking the silence. A middle-aged man with a thick beard and a balding head stood before them. "Just Sergeant will do for you two. You look like you haven't eaten in days. I'm supposed to give you a briefing, but we can do that over lunch. Follow me."
The promise of food was enough to spur Eis and Keo into action, and they quickly fell in step behind the sergeant, their stomachs growling in anticipation.