Chapter 21: Descent into Darkness
The air grew colder as they descended into the lower levels of the prison, the stone walls becoming slick with condensation. The faint flicker of the few remaining torches cast long shadows, and with every step, the group felt the magic of the place pressing harder against them. It was as though the very walls were trying to crush their spirits, suppressing the latent power each of them carried.
"Anyone else feeling like the walls are closing in?" Rex muttered, his eyes flicking nervously between the distant shadows.
Nox smirked, though there was tension in her expression. "Just you. I'm sure we're perfectly safe."
Rex shot her a glare. "Yeah, right. I'm not getting 'safe' vibes here."
Azaymos didn't respond, his hand resting on the hilt of the dagger at his side. They had been moving deeper into the prison for what felt like hours, passing through levels that had fewer guards, fewer prisoners, but far more unsettling sounds.
It wasn't long before they found the first sign that this place was more than just a prison for thieves and murderers. A long, low growl echoed through the stone halls, sending a shiver down their spines.
Nox stopped, turning to the others. "Did you hear that?"
Azaymos nodded. "We're not alone."
They pressed on, their footsteps cautious, until they came upon a massive cell, its iron bars bent and twisted as though something had tried to tear them apart. Inside, hunched in the shadows, was a creature unlike any they had seen before.
The creature—twice the height of a man—was chained to the wall by thick, glowing chains. Its long, sinewy limbs were covered in dark, mottled fur, and its face was a grotesque mixture of human and beast. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, and when it saw them, it let out a low snarl, revealing rows of jagged, yellowed teeth.
Mara stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she examined the creature. "A Thryvan," she said quietly.
Rex raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is a Thryvan?"
Mara didn't take her eyes off the creature. "A long time ago, they were human. But exposure to dark magic twisted them, corrupted their bodies and minds. They're incredibly strong—strong enough to tear through stone and iron, but their rage makes them uncontrollable. That's why they were imprisoned here."
The Thryvan let out a roar, pulling at its chains, but the magical bindings held it in place.
Nox grimaced. "Lovely. And they just… keep them here?"
Mara nodded, her tone calm but serious. "They're kept here for a reason. And it's not just because of what they are—there's something deeper. Something that draws them."
Azaymos turned to her. "The artifact."
Mara nodded again. "Yes. There's an ancient artifact buried deep in this prison. Its power is immense, and it draws creatures like the Thryvan to it. Every monster in this place is tied to it in some way—they can feel its magic, and they're drawn to it, even if they don't understand why. That's why the guards are so determined to keep them locked up. If the monsters ever reached the artifact…"
She let the implication hang in the air.
Rex glanced at the chained Thryvan, his face uneasy. "So, we're going down there to steal something that even these things want?"
Mara's expression was serious. "The artifact is powerful. It could be the key to everything we need—but it's also dangerous. That's why it's been kept hidden here, and why no one has ever managed to steal it."
Azaymos crossed his arms. "Until now."
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The group pressed on, knowing now that their path would be even more treacherous. They were no longer just navigating a prison—they were walking straight into the territory of the creatures that had been locked up alongside the artifact. Every step they took brought them closer to something both powerful and terrifying.
As they moved deeper, the sounds of the prison grew stranger. There were no more idle conversations or the sound of guards patrolling. Instead, they heard whispers—faint, like voices carried on a cold wind.
Ahead of them, the corridor opened into a wider chamber, and standing in the center of it was something even more terrifying than the Thryvan.
It was tall and gaunt, its body shimmering like light refracted through glass. Its form shifted constantly, as though it wasn't fully solid, and where its face should have been, there was nothing—just a blank, featureless void. Around it, the air seemed to warp, bending the light and dark as it moved.
Rex let out a low whistle. "Now that is creepy."
Mara's voice was quiet, but there was a hard edge to it. "An Etherborn. Beings of pure magic. They feed on energy—any energy. They're drawn to power, and if you're not careful, they'll drain you dry."
Nox's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her weapon. "And we're supposed to get past that?"
Azaymos studied the Etherborn, watching as it moved silently through the chamber. "We don't have a choice."
Mara stepped forward, her eyes on the creature. "They're almost impossible to fight. Magic only makes them stronger, and physical attacks pass right through them. The best way to deal with an Etherborn is to avoid it. If we move slowly, stay in the shadows, we might be able to pass without drawing its attention."
Rex frowned. "And if we can't?"
Mara didn't look back. "Then we run."
---
The group moved carefully, sticking to the walls as they edged around the chamber. The Etherborn glided silently across the floor, its movements fluid and eerie. Every time it passed near them, they could feel the pull of its magic—a slow drain on their energy, as though it was reaching out to taste their power.
Rex gritted his teeth. "I can feel it. It's trying to take… something."
"Just keep moving," Azaymos whispered. "Don't use your magic. Don't give it a reason to notice us."
They continued, the tension building with every step, until they reached the far side of the chamber. The Etherborn hovered near the center, seemingly unaware of their presence, and for a moment, it looked like they might make it out unscathed.
But then, a sharp clink echoed through the chamber as Rex accidentally kicked a loose stone. The sound was soft, but it was enough.
The Etherborn's head snapped in their direction, its blank face turning toward them. The air around them grew heavy, the pull of magic stronger now, and the creature let out a soft, ghostly wail as it began to glide toward them.
"Run," Azaymos hissed.
They sprinted down the corridor, the Etherborn following, its wail growing louder as it fed off the magical energy in the air. Every time one of them tried to use their powers to fight back, the creature grew stronger, its form becoming more solid, more defined.
Mara's voice cut through the chaos. "No magic! It'll only make things worse!"
They turned a corner, racing through the narrow passageways of the prison, until finally, the Etherborn slowed, unable to leave the chamber where it had been bound by the prison's magic.
Breathing heavily, the group stopped to catch their breath. Rex shook his head, his hands resting on his knees. "I hate this place."
Nox glanced at him, her face pale but determined. "We're getting closer. We just have to keep going."
Azaymos nodded, glancing down the hallway. They had made it past the Etherborn, but they knew there were worse things waiting for them ahead. The air was colder now, and the walls seemed to pulse with a dark energy.
Mara stood quietly, her eyes distant as though she were calculating something. "The Voidwalkers will be next," she said softly.
Rex looked up, frowning. "Voidwalkers?"
Mara nodded. "Creatures from another dimension. They were never meant to be here, but something pulled them through, and now they're trapped. They move through the walls, through the ground, phasing in and out of existence. They're blind, but they can sense vibrations and sound. We'll have to be completely silent to get past them."
Azaymos glanced at Mara, his expression serious. "And if they sense us?"
Mara's eyes were dark. "Then we run. And hope we can outrun them."
The group exchanged grim looks. They had survived monsters, battles, and magical traps before, but this place was different. The deeper they went, the more they realized just how dangerous the prison really was. And they hadn't even reached the artifact yet.
But there was no turning back now.
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