Chapter 19: The Return to Captivity
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The sensation of landing after teleportation was familiar to Azaymos, but this time something felt different. When the glow of the teleportation faded, they were greeted not by an open field or a strange new land, but by the cold, damp walls of a dark corridor. It smelled like rust and mold, with the unmistakable metallic tang of chains in the air.
Azaymos blinked, slowly taking in their surroundings. Stone walls. Iron doors. The faint, distant clink of chains. His stomach dropped.
Nox was the first to break the silence, her voice dry. "Let me guess... this is your idea of freedom?"
Rex, never one to miss a chance for sarcasm, stretched his arms wide, a grin plastered across his face. "Ah, the sweet scent of freedom. Fresh air, open skies, and… wait, are those chains?!"
Azaymos rubbed his temple. "You've got to be kidding me."
The corridor they were in was dimly lit by a few flickering torches hanging from the walls. Everything about the place screamed "prison"—the heavy iron doors with small barred windows, the rough-hewn stone floors, and the constant sound of chains clinking faintly in the distance. It wasn't just a regular prison—it felt like the kind of place designed to contain things far worse than any of them had encountered.
Rex kicked at the floor, the sound of his boot echoing down the hallway. "Is it just me, or do we keep getting ourselves locked up? It's like we have some sort of curse."
Nox snorted. "You mean you keep getting us locked up. I was perfectly fine with the idea of not being in a cell again."
Azaymos muttered, "So much for enjoying the 'freedom' of new worlds."
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The group started to explore cautiously, sticking together. It didn't take long for them to encounter other prisoners—some pacing inside their cells, others leaning lazily against the iron bars, resigned to their fate. The prisoners were a mix of species—humans, elves, creatures from other realms. All looked worn down, as if they had been here for an eternity.
One of the prisoners, a burly man with scars crisscrossing his arms, leaned against the bars of his cell, watching them with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "New arrivals, huh? Don't get too comfortable. You're not leaving anytime soon."
Rex grinned back at the man, waving cheerfully. "That's what they said the last three times, and look at us! Still going strong."
The prisoner raised an eyebrow. "You're either brave or stupid."
Rex's grin widened. "Why not both?"
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As they moved deeper into the prison, they overheard two guards standing at the end of the hallway, their conversation floating down to the group.
Guard 1: "I don't know why they even bother keeping us on patrol. This place is tighter than a dragon's grip. Nobody's getting out."
Guard 2: "Yeah, well, try telling that to the Warden. He's convinced someone will try something eventually."
Guard 1 laughed. "As if! The magic here is so strong, it's like locking up a puppy with a hundred-foot leash. No way anyone's breaking out of here."
Guard 2 shrugged. "I guess. Still, doesn't hurt to stay alert. You hear about that Phantom guy they brought in a few years back? Supposed to be some master thief. He's still in solitary."
Guard 1: "Phantom? Please. Even if he tried something, he wouldn't get past the front gates. The Warden's got eyes everywhere."
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Rex whispered, leaning closer to the group, "I'm getting the feeling these guys don't think too highly of their prisoners."
Azaymos chuckled darkly, "It's always the same. Overconfidence. The first thing to crack in places like this."
Nox shook her head, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe we should introduce ourselves. You know, show them what real prisoners can do."
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The cells themselves were surprisingly large, but they lacked any comfort. Just hard stone floors and iron bars. The prisoners inside them were a mix of the defeated, who had accepted their fate, and the defiant, who still glared at the guards and anyone else who passed by.
A nearby prisoner, a lanky elf with hollow cheeks, called out from his cell, his voice dry and brittle. "Don't try to fight it. This place... it breaks everyone eventually."
Azaymos glanced over, but Nox cut in, her voice low and confident. "It hasn't broken us yet."
The elf laughed, a sound devoid of any real humor. "That's what we all said when we first arrived. But you'll see... sooner or later, it gets to you."
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As they kept walking, they overheard more idle chatter between two other guards near the mess hall. The conversation was relaxed, their tone filled with boredom.
Guard 1: "Man, why'd we even sign up for this gig? It's always the same routine. Chain inspections, guard duty, rinse, repeat."
Guard 2: "Could be worse. At least we're not down in the pits like those poor suckers. I hear they've got their hands full with the fire demon they dragged in last month."
Guard 1 laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, but you ever wonder why this place exists in the first place? We got guys locked up here who could probably burn a city to the ground. If they're that dangerous, why not just, you know, get rid of them?"
Guard 2 shrugged. "Politics, I guess. The Warden says they're too valuable. Someone's gotta keep 'em alive. Though I wouldn't complain if a few of 'em went missing."
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Mara, quiet until now, observed the prison with her usual calm demeanor, her eyes studying the enchantments woven into the walls. "This isn't just any prison. The magic here is old... very old."
Azaymos frowned. "And very strong. It's suppressing our powers, just enough to keep us from being a threat."
Nox smirked. "They think this is going to stop us?"
Rex laughed, flexing his arms. "They haven't seen what we can do when we get serious."
But even as they joked, the weight of the place hung heavy over them. This wasn't just any prison—it was a fortress meant to contain the worst, and escape wouldn't be as easy as it had been before.
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As they reached what seemed to be the central chamber of the prison, the realization settled in. This wasn't a place they could simply fight their way out of. The runes on the walls and the overconfident guards weren't the only threats. Something darker and more dangerous lurked deeper in the prison, and they would need more than brute strength to get out.
But for now, the group exchanged knowing glances. They had been in tight spots before, and somehow, they always found a way out.
Azaymos smirked, his hand resting on the dagger. "So, what do we say? Time to break the unbreakable?"
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End of Chapter 19