(CHRIS' POV)
After I escaped from that dark-haired guy, thanks to Will's quick thinking, I sprinted up the stairs as if my life depended on it. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline surging through my veins like a wildfire. The corridor above seemed to stretch endlessly as I ran, each footfall echoing against the stone walls. When I finally burst onto the next floor, what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks.
Uncle William stood in the center of the room, surrounded by at least twenty men. His expression was calm, almost serene, as if this was just another day for him. Around him, a chaotic scene unfolded: nearly ten men lay scattered on the ground, unconscious or writhing in pain. I had always known Uncle William was strong, but this... this was something else. His sheer presence dominated the room, and even surrounded, he seemed untouchable.
"Don't underestimate this magician; he's powerful!" one of the men barked, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. I recognized him after a moment—Mister Conrad. He was guard on my cell before the dark-haired man replaced him.
"We'll attack all at once. Wait for my signal," he added, his voice barely concealing the edge of desperation. Despite the numerical advantage, they were clearly intimidated, and rightly so. Uncle William stood there like an unyielding force of nature, his eyes flicking over each opponent, assessing, calculating.
For a moment, nobody moved. The tension in the air was so thick I could almost taste it, like the bitter tang before a storm. And then, with a sharp nod from Mister Conrad, it all broke loose.
"Attack!" he shouted, his voice cracking through the silence like a whip. The men surged forward, a mass of steel and fury converging on Uncle William from all directions. I couldn't help but gasp, my heart seizing in fear for him. Almost twenty men, attacking from every possible angle—how could anyone defend against that?
But Uncle William remained unfazed. As the first wave closed in, he raised his hand and bellowed, "Water Curtain!" A massive circle of water erupted around him, spinning into a defensive barrier. The men who had been closest, weapons poised to strike, were thrown back as if they had run into an invisible wall. They stumbled and fell to the ground, their swords clattering uselessly against the stone floor.
The remaining attackers hesitated for a split second before renewing their assault. I watched, my breath held tight in my chest, as Uncle William shifted his stance, preparing for the next onslaught.
"Wind blast!" he shouted, his voice carrying a commanding authority. A gust of wind exploded outward from him, a visible force that sent the next wave of men sprawling. Some were knocked clean off their feet, slamming into walls with sickening thuds. Others managed to stay upright but were visibly shaken, their confidence eroding in the face of this overwhelming power.
"Just how strong is this man?!" Mister Conrad yelled, his voice high and strained. I could see the disbelief in his eyes, the way he gripped his sword tighter as if it was the only thing grounding him to reality. He had clearly underestimated Uncle William, just like everyone else.
"Wind eagle!" Uncle William's voice rang out again, clear and unyielding. Five currents of air shaped like majestic eagles soared through the room, each targeting a different enemy. When they struck, they cut through flesh and fabric like invisible blades. Blood splattered against the floor as the men cried out in pain, clutching at the new wounds that appeared on their bodies.
The room fell into a tense silence, the only sounds the labored breathing of the remaining men and the soft drip of blood hitting the stone floor. Those who were still standing exchanged wary glances, their previous bravado crumbling away. They seemed to realize now that they were not dealing with an ordinary opponent.
For a moment, Uncle William and I locked eyes. His gaze softened slightly upon seeing me, a flicker of concern passing over his otherwise stoic features. He was looking for Will, I realized. His eyes darted around, searching the room for any sign of him. When he didn't find Will, his expression hardened again, though I could see the worry etched into the corners of his eyes.
Mister Conrad noticed the change in Uncle William's demeanor immediately. His eyes narrowed, following Uncle William's gaze until they landed on me. A slow, predatory smile spread across his face, and before I could react, he was moving towards me, his footsteps echoing ominously in the otherwise silent hall.
"No," Uncle William muttered, his eyes widening as he realized Conrad's intention. He moved to intercept, but he was too late. Mister Conrad reached me first, grabbing my arm with one hand and pressing the cold edge of his sword against my neck with the other.
"Surrender now, magician, if you don't want to see the little miss' head flying," Mister Conrad hissed, his voice dripping with malice. The blade pressed closer, a cold kiss against my skin that made my heart pound even harder.
Uncle William froze, his eyes boring into mine. For a second, I saw something raw in his gaze—fear. Not for himself, but for me. He took a step back, and then, to my utter shock, he kneeled on the ground, bowing his head.
"I surrender!" he shouted, his voice breaking with a mixture of rage and desperation. "Please don't hurt that child."
Mister Conrad's grin widened, a cruel, triumphant expression that made my stomach turn. "That's what I want to hear," he said, his voice smug. "All of you, stand up and restrain the magician," he ordered, gesturing to the men who were still capable of moving.
They approached Uncle William cautiously, as if he might explode at any moment. Even on his knees, head bowed in apparent submission, he radiated an aura of lethal danger. Two of the men hesitated before stepping forward, ropes in hand. They bound his wrists tightly behind his back, their movements quick and practiced.
Mister Conrad turned his attention back to me, his expression softening in a way that felt entirely false. "Little miss," he began, his tone almost condescending, "I'm sorry it had to come to this. But you didn't say he was a magician. Sir Carson despises the kingdom's soldiers more than anything. So, you see, I had no choice." His eyes glittered with a false sincerity that made my skin crawl.
Before I could respond, he produced a length of rope and began to tie my hands as well. His touch was rough, and I winced as he pulled the knots tight. "Don't make any sudden moves," he warned, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me. "I don't want to hurt a child, but I will if you give me a reason to."
I glanced over at Uncle William, my eyes stinging with tears I refused to let fall. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. We were supposed to escape, to find Will and get out of this place. But now, here we were, trapped and helpless at the hands of Carson's men. And all I could do was pray that Will would find us before it was too late.