The morning after their daring raid, Aldara sat alone in her modest room, tucked away in a quieter district of Lunaris. Her fingers traced the lines on an old, worn map of the city she had spread across the wooden table. The lines of Lunaris' streets and districts blurred as her mind wandered back to the previous night. Breaking the Guild's anchor point was a victory, but it came with a bitter realization—this was just the beginning. There would be no easy end to their mission.
A soft knock at her door jolted her from her thoughts. She looked up as Dorian slipped into the room, his expression grim.
"We need to talk," he said, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Aldara felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "What happened?"
Dorian ran a hand through his hair, his eyes weary. "Word's spreading fast. The Guild felt the impact of what we did—they're rattled. But… there's something else."
Aldara's heart pounded. "Go on."
Dorian hesitated, his gaze flicking to the window as though checking for eavesdroppers. "Someone tipped off the disciples of Vaelor. They know about the anchor we destroyed. They've already tried to seize one of the Guild's other anchor points, hoping to disrupt the First Magic and claim it for themselves. But the Guild was ready. There were… casualties."
Aldara's hand clenched into a fist. The disciples were an underground faction within the Guild, an elusive and dangerous group who believed that the First Magic should be unleashed, not contained. They were ruthless, driven by an obsession with ancient power, and Aldara had heard rumors that they believed the First Magic would grant them unimaginable control.
"What kind of casualties?" she asked quietly.
Dorian looked away, his jaw tight. "Both disciples and civilians. The Guild's guards fired on anyone who approached. I don't think they cared who they hit, as long as they kept control of the anchor. There were innocent people caught in the crossfire."
Aldara closed her eyes, a surge of anger rising within her. The Guild's grip on the First Magic was poisoning Lunaris, twisting the very fabric of the city and leaving its people vulnerable. Their control, built on fear and secrets, had bred only violence and division. And now, because of the disciples' interference, innocent lives were being lost.
"This can't continue," she said, her voice hardening. "If we keep going after the anchors, the Guild will only become more ruthless, more desperate. And the disciples… they'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
Dorian nodded. "Exactly. That's why we need to find the Guild's hidden records. There has to be something we can use against them, something that will force them to back down without triggering an all-out war."
Aldara's mind raced. The forbidden archives had been heavily protected, filled with spells and knowledge the Guild guarded fiercely. But she remembered whispers of another place—a vault hidden even deeper within the Guild, a place where only the highest-ranking council members were allowed.
"The Vault of the Forgotten," she murmured.
Dorian's eyebrows shot up. "You know where that is?"
"I don't," Aldara admitted. "But I know it exists. The Guild's council keeps its most sensitive records there—accounts of rituals, failed experiments, secrets they've tried to erase. If we can find it, we might uncover proof of their corruption, something that will turn the people of Lunaris against them."
Dorian frowned, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "And how exactly do we get into a place like that? The Guild doesn't just leave maps to their deepest secrets lying around."
Aldara pulled the map of Lunaris closer, her gaze intense. "We don't need a map. We need a guide."
That Evening, in the Lower Districts of Lunaris
The lower districts were a maze of narrow alleyways and crowded marketplaces, filled with traders, fortune-tellers, and thieves. It was here, among the chaos and shadows, that Aldara and Dorian searched for their guide—Kael.
Kael had once been a promising apprentice within the Guild, a young mage who had shown great potential. But he'd been cast out after questioning the council's decisions, his disillusionment with the Guild's methods leading him to a life in the lower districts. He was one of the few people who had knowledge of the Guild's hidden vaults, and Aldara hoped he would be willing to help.
They found him in a dimly lit tavern, sitting alone at a table in the corner. His face was obscured by the hood of his cloak, but as they approached, he looked up, his gaze sharp and guarded.
"Aldara," he greeted her, his voice laced with suspicion. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Aldara took a seat across from him, motioning for Dorian to join them. "We need your help, Kael. We're looking for the Vault of the Forgotten."
Kael's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he quickly masked it. "The Vault? You do realize that's the most dangerous place within the Guild, don't you? They guard it with more than just spells. There are traps, wards, and ancient protections—defenses that only the council members know how to bypass."
"We know the risks," Dorian said. "But we're willing to take them. We're fighting to bring down the Guild's hold on Lunaris, and the vault holds the proof we need."
Kael leaned back, his gaze flicking between them as he considered their words. Finally, he sighed, his expression weary. "I left the Guild for a reason. They hide behind their power, hoarding knowledge and using it to control the city. If you're serious about this, I'll help. But I won't lie—the vault is no easy feat."
Aldara nodded. "We understand. Just tell us what we need to know."
Kael leaned in, lowering his voice. "The Vault of the Forgotten is located beneath the central tower of the Guild, hidden within a network of tunnels. It's protected by layers of wards, and only those with a council seal can enter. But there's another way—a back entrance known only to a select few. It's a forgotten passage, sealed off decades ago, but I know how to access it."
Aldara's heart raced. This was the opportunity they needed. "When can we go?"
Kael's gaze hardened. "Tonight. The Guild has increased their patrols since you disrupted the anchor. If we're going to do this, we need to act fast, before they tighten security any further."
Later That Night, Beneath the Central Tower
Aldara, Dorian, and Kael moved through the narrow, darkened passageways beneath the central tower, guided by the faint glow of Kael's light spell. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone, and the walls were covered in ancient runes that seemed to pulse with a faint, sinister energy.
Kael led the way, his movements quick and precise as he navigated the twisting corridors. Aldara followed close behind, her senses on high alert. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, the weight of the Guild's secrets pressing down on them like a physical force.
"Stay close," Kael whispered, glancing over his shoulder. "The path ahead is heavily warded. I can disable the traps, but you'll need to be quick. Once we're inside, we'll have only a small window before the wards reset."
Aldara nodded, her heart pounding. She could feel the dark energy of the wards pressing against her, a reminder of the danger that lay ahead. But she forced herself to stay focused, determined to see this through.
They reached a large, iron-bound door engraved with complex runes that pulsed with a faint blue light. Kael knelt down, murmuring an incantation under his breath as he traced his fingers over the runes. Slowly, the light began to fade, the wards dissipating as the door unlocked with a soft click.
Kael pushed the door open, revealing a vast chamber filled with shelves of books and scrolls, each one radiating a faint magical energy. In the center of the room was a large pedestal, upon which rested a tome bound in dark leather.
Aldara felt a shiver run down her spine as she approached the tome, her gaze fixed on the cover. The title was written in an ancient script, but she recognized the symbols—this was one of the Guild's oldest records, a chronicle of the First Magic and its use throughout Lunaris's history.
"Is this it?" Dorian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aldara nodded, her fingers trembling as she reached out to open the book. The pages were filled with accounts of rituals, experiments, and spells—each one detailing the Guild's attempts to harness the power of the First Magic. As she read, she felt a surge of anger and horror. The Guild had been using the First Magic to manipulate not only the people of Lunaris but also the very fabric of reality itself.
"This… this is monstrous," she whispered, her voice shaking. "They've been using the First Magic to control people, to bend their will. And they've kept it hidden, buried here in the darkness, away from the eyes of Lunaris."
Kael placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression grim. "That's why I left. The Guild isn't what it claims to be. They've corrupted the First Magic, twisted it into something dark and unnatural. But there's more here than just records. Look."
He gestured to a series of scrolls on the shelf behind them, each one marked with the symbol of the Guild's council. Aldara picked up one of the scrolls, unrolling it carefully. Her eyes widened as she read the words—the scroll contained plans, detailed accounts of rituals and sacrifices made to maintain control over the First Magic.
Dorian's face paled as he read over her shoulder. "This… this is enough to expose them. If we can get this information to the people of Lunaris, it could be the end of the Guild."
Aldara nodded, her resolve hardening. "We need to get these records out of here. The people deserve to know the truth."
They gathered as many scrolls as they could carry, carefully tucking them into their bags before turning back toward the door. But as they stepped into the corridor, a sudden chill filled the air, and a low, ominous hum echoed through the chamber.
Kael's face paled. "The wards—they're resetting. We need to move, now."
They sprinted down the corridor, the hum growing louder as the wards reactivated, casting an eerie glow over the stone walls. Aldara could feel the magic pressing against her, a dark, suffocating force that seemed to claw at her very soul.
They reached the main passageway, but as they turned the corner, they came face-to-face with a group of Guild enforcers, their faces twisted with fury.
"Stop them!" one of the enforcers shouted, drawing his sword as he advanced toward them.
Aldara felt a surge of panic, her heart pounding as she raised her hand, summoning a burst of energy that sent the enforcers stumbling back. But more were coming, their footsteps echoing through the corridor as they closed in.
"Kael, get us out of here!" Dorian shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Kael muttered a quick incantation, casting a shield of light around them as they ran, the enforcers' attacks glancing off the protective barrier. They burst through the final door, emerging into the cool night air, their breaths ragged as they sprinted through the streets of Lunaris.
They didn't stop until they reached the Iron Griffin, slipping into the safety of the hidden tavern. They collapsed into chairs, their hearts pounding as they caught their breath.
Aldara looked at the scrolls in her bag, the weight of their discovery settling over her. They had the proof they needed, the evidence that would expose the Guild's corruption and their twisted use of the First Magic. But the fight was far from over. The Guild would not take this lightly, and the disciples of Vaelor were still lurking in the shadows, waiting for their chance to seize the power for themselves.
But for now, they had taken a powerful step. And as Aldara looked around at her allies, she felt a spark of hope.
The resistance was growing. And together, they would bring down the Guild's dark reign over Lunaris.