"You pretended to be students," William accused, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and disdain, "just to kidnap me? You imbeciles!" The frustration and fear he had endured boiled over, fueling his defiance. He knew he was outmatched in a direct confrontation, but with Amber at his side, he refused to cower.
The apparent leader of the group sneered. "Indeed we did," he admitted, his tone arrogant. "But don't flatter yourself, boy. You're not special."
"What do you mean?" William pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"We're not telling you anything," the mage snapped. "In fact, we'll finish what those incompetent necromancers failed to do. We'll eliminate you."
He began to cast a spell, his hands moving with practiced precision, arcane symbols forming in the air before him. A surge of mana gathered, the atmosphere crackling with energy. It was a high-level spell, its power palpable. William felt a wave of apprehension, but Amber remained unfazed.
