Chapter 20
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The group spent the next few hours wandering the prison, moving quietly between the guards' patrols, listening, observing, and learning. The guards weren't particularly alert, and their conversations revealed more than they realized. While none of them seemed overly concerned with the prisoners, there were whispers of something important hidden in the depths of the fortress.
As they neared the mess hall, they passed groups of prisoners huddled together, speaking in low, hushed tones. They kept their distance at first, careful not to draw attention, but the snippets of conversation they overheard started to paint a picture.
"I heard it's locked up deeper than the Vault. No one gets that far," a ragged prisoner murmured to his companions.
"Nobody who's still breathing," another added grimly.
"The Phantom tried it once," said a third, his voice dropping even lower. "They say he's still locked in the lower levels, barely alive."
Nox raised an eyebrow. "Phantom? Sounds like something out of a bad story."
Rex snickered. "Sounds like our kind of guy if he's still alive."
Azaymos frowned, glancing over his shoulder as a guard passed by. "We need to find out if this Phantom is real—and if he's still down there."
Mara spoke up, her tone calm. "He's real. I can feel it. Whoever this Phantom is, he's not like the others."
Azaymos glanced at her, curious. "How do you know?"
Mara's gaze was distant, calculating. "It's the way they talk about him. Fear. Respect. He may be exactly what we need."
They continued their quiet exploration of the prison, coming across more prisoners, some of whom seemed more willing to talk. One, in particular, caught their attention—a frail old man with a tattered cloak. He sat in his cell with a knowing smile, watching them approach with sharp eyes.
"You're new here," he rasped. "I can always tell. The way you move, like you still think you can get out."
Rex grinned back. "You seem pretty sure we can't."
"No one leaves this place," the old man replied. "Not unless they want you to."
Mara stepped forward, her voice steady. "What do you know about the Phantom?"
The old man chuckled softly. "The Phantom? Ah, yes. He's still here, locked away in the deepest part of this place. Tried to steal something important, but they got to him before he could finish. Whether he's alive or not… that's another story."
Azaymos's eyes narrowed. "But you don't know for sure."
The man shrugged. "Nobody does. All I know is, he's the only one who ever got that far. That tells you something, doesn't it?"
They left the old man behind, walking in silence for a while. The deeper they went, the colder and darker the prison became, and the whispers of the Phantom seemed to follow them. There was something about this place that felt wrong—not just because it was a prison, but because it seemed to be hiding something far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.
"I don't like this," Nox muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Too many rumors, not enough facts."
Azaymos nodded. "We need to get deeper into the prison. If this Phantom is still alive, we need to find him."
Rex looked around, his tone more relaxed. "At least it's not boring, right?"
Azaymos smirked. "I suppose there's that."
As they continued, they passed by more prisoners, some pacing in their cells, others sitting quietly, their eyes hollow and lifeless. The longer they stayed, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. It was a place that felt like it was designed to break people down, not just physically but mentally.
Rex tried to lighten the mood. "You know, I was starting to get used to the idea of not being locked up. And now here we are, back in another cell. Talk about irony."
Nox snorted. "You should stop jinxing us."
Mara, ever calm, glanced at Rex. "This time, at least, we're not the prisoners."
Rex grinned. "Yet."
Azaymos ignored their banter, his focus on the path ahead. They had a plan, and they needed to stick to it. Find the Phantom, retrieve whatever it was he had tried to steal, and figure out a way to use the information to their advantage. But the deeper they went, the more he wondered what kind of person this Phantom was, and whether he could be trusted at all.
They came across another set of guards, standing idly by a set of iron doors. Their conversation was low, but loud enough for the group to hear.
"Why do we even bother keeping these guys locked up?" one guard grumbled. "Nobody's getting out. The magic's too strong."
"Tell that to the Warden," the second guard replied, rolling his eyes. "He's obsessed with security. Thinks everyone's plotting something."
"Well, can you blame him? After what happened with the Phantom?"
The second guard scoffed. "Phantom, shmantom. He's not going anywhere."
Rex stifled a laugh, nudging Azaymos. "These guys are really underestimating us."
Azaymos nodded but said nothing, his mind already working on their next move. They had to get to the lower levels, find the Phantom, and learn more about what was hidden in this prison. Whatever it was, it held the key to their next steps.
As they continued their journey, Mara's eyes kept scanning the area, as if she sensed something just beyond their reach. She didn't say much, but Azaymos noticed her quiet intensity. She was searching for something, something she wasn't ready to share yet.
For now, they had to focus. They were in one of the most secure prisons in existence, and their time was limited. The dagger's runes weren't recharged yet, and they couldn't afford to stay longer than necessary.
"Stay close," Azaymos said quietly. "The deeper we go, the more dangerous this place gets."
Rex flashed a grin. "Danger's my middle name."
Nox rolled her eyes. "No, it's not."
As they descended further into the prison, the air grew colder, and the whispers of the prisoners became quieter. The walls seemed to close in around them, the oppressive magic of the prison weighing heavily on their shoulders.
Azaymos took a deep breath. They were getting closer to something—he could feel it. And whatever it was, it would change everything.
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