The day after his conversation with old Master Magnus, Marcus embarked on his journey to Somali Island. When he arrived, as Magnus had instructed, he ventured into the dense forest on the island. The thick canopy of trees overhead let only slivers of light through, casting eerie shadows across his path. Master Magnus had told him that when he reached the center of the forest, he would find a great olive tree. That tree would mark the point where he needed to perform the spell Magnus had taught him. After hours of navigating the forest, Marcus finally stood before the towering olive tree. Its ancient branches stretched wide, and its silver-green leaves glistened faintly in the filtered sunlight. Marcus took a deep breath and began to recite the spell. As the final words left his lips, a brilliant White Star appeared above him, illuminating his surroundings and pointing the way forward. The star floated ahead, leading Marcus deeper into the wilderness. After a long trek, the star guided Marcus to the mouth of a dark cave hidden within the rocky face of a cliff. The cave was foreboding, its entrance yawning like the maw of a beast, but the star provided a faint light, giving Marcus the courage to proceed. As he ventured inside, the atmosphere grew cooler, then suddenly he saw many big black snakes all crawling toward him, attempting to strike him. But immediately Marcus did a spell that turned all of it into stones. Finally, Marcus came out of the cave. Now in an open place before him was a small but very deep river. Immediately, Marcus magically made a boat for himself, on which he started to cross the river. A few minutes later, while Marcus was still on the boat, suddenly a giant sea creature attacked his boat, knocking him off and into the water. Immediately the sea creature attacked him, while it felt damp against his skin. The creature's limbs wrapped around him, constricting his body and tightening around his throat. Gasping for air, Marcus muttered a desperate spell through clenched teeth, his voice barely a whisper.(Arcanum Reductis)! Breakdown! In an instant, the massive octopus-like creature shrank, its once-powerful limbs becoming frail and tiny. The grip around Marcus's throat loosened as the now miniature creature fell into the water, no longer a threat. Marcus coughed, his lungs burning as he gasped for air. He clambered back into his boat, drenched and exhausted, his body trembling from the encounter. His muscles ached, but he knew he couldn't stop now. As he steadied himself and resumed his journey across the river, the dim light of the White Star continued to guide him through the labyrinth of dark waters and jagged rocks. Finally, he reached the shore, the rocky banks signaling that the end of this trial was near. He trudged forward into another cave, its entrance marked by ancient symbols. The air inside was cold, and the silence weighed heavily on him. This was the cave where Emma, the carrier of the power of light, was imprisoned. As Marcus entered the cave, his exhaustion overtook him. His body ached from the battles he had fought, and his stomach growled in hunger. He spotted a smooth boulder nearby and sat down to rest. Within moments, fatigue overwhelmed him, and he fell into a deep, troubled sleep. While he slept, two female creatures emerged from the shadows. Their bodies were unnaturally tall, their skin covered in glistening, scale-like scars. Their faces were sharp, with fangs that extended when they grew angry or sensed danger. These creatures had been created by powerful magic, born from the blood of the six witches and wizards to guard the cave from any intruder. The creatures, however, were surprised. They had never seen a human before, much less a man. They approached Marcus curiously, observing him as he slept. For a moment, they forgot their purpose to eliminate any trespasser who entered their domain. One of the creatures, her expression softening, knelt beside Marcus. She tilted her head, her eyes filled with wonder and something else, a strange emotion she couldn't quite place. The other creature stood back, more wary, her fangs partially exposed as she watched her companion."This isn't right," the cautious one hissed. "Master told us to kill anyone who came near the cave." The first creature hesitated. But he is different. There's something about him… I don't think we should harm him. As they argued quietly,
Marcus emerged from his sleep, startled by the presence of the two strange female creatures standing before him. Their appearances were nothing like humans, yet something about them fascinated him. He quickly asked, Who are you? Where am I? The compassionate creature stepped forward, her eyes softening as she smiled at Marcus. "Don't worry," she said in a soothing voice, "you are safe here. We will assist you with whatever you need. She gently placed her hand on Marcus's shoulder, stroking his back. As her fingers brushed against him, Marcus felt an odd sense of calm wash over him, though his instincts warned him something was wrong. The other creature, clearly displeased, growled lowly and stormed away, disappearing into the shadows of the cave. At first, Marcus couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping into his mind, but as the compassionate creature continued to touch him, whispering soft words, she secretly cast a manipulative spell. Her magic clouded his thoughts, making him forget why he had come to the cave. Gradually, Marcus found himself drawn to her, captivated by her presence. Days passed, and Marcus no longer cared about his quest. He spent his time with the creature, living in a strange and hypnotic bliss. They shared intimate moments, wandering the sanctuary together, and Marcus seemed content in her company, oblivious to the danger lurking beyond. However, in secret, the other creature had consulted the six witches and wizards who had created them. She told them about Marcus and her sister's betrayal. Furious, the witches and wizards decided to act. They all appeared in the cave, their powerful presence making the ground tremble. When the compassionate creature saw them, she quickly broke the spell she had placed on Marcus. Marcus snapped out of his trance and immediately sensed the danger. His heart raced as he saw the six witches and wizards, accompanied by the angry creature, standing before him. One of the wizards sneered, "So, you dare come to our territory." Another witch's voice echoed in the cave, cold and menacing. "You've come to meet your doom." Before Marcus could respond, the compassionate creature stepped in front of him, facing the wizards. No! I won't let you harm him. What has he done? She pleaded. You betrayed us.