Elven Kingdom.
In the heart of the Elven Kingdom, deep within the shadowy palace dungeon, Mathea, a 17-year-old girl, sat shackled, her wrists raw from the cold iron cuffs. Weak and frail from days without food, she stirred on the damp stone floor, her body trembling from hunger and exhaustion.
When her eyes fluttered open, her mind was a blur of confusion. She couldn't recall how she'd ended up here or what had happened to her. All she could remember was her name. The rest of her life-her family, her home, her purpose-was a hollow void. One truth remained: she had been a prisoner in this dungeon for months.
On a day like any other, filled with silence and despair, a boy appeared as if from nowhere. He was about her age, his tousled hair and sharp eyes filled with urgency. "We don't have much time," he whispered, crouching beside her. "We have to leave. Now."
Mathea stared at him, bewildered. "Who are you?" she croaked, her voice hoarse from disuse.
"You don't know me?"
"Do I look like I know you?"
"Never mind. My name is Andrei," he replied, his tone insistent yet kind. "I'll explain everything later, but we have to move before they notice me."
With a few deft movements, Andrei broke her shackles. She winced as blood returned to her stiff limbs, but there was no time to recover. Andrei pulled her to her feet, steadying her as they hurried toward a hidden passage in the far corner of the dungeon.
With renewed energy surged through her, provided by Andrie's magic-infused blood. She shot to her feet with unexpected strength. This time, she stood steady as a rock, a sense of power humming through her bones. The vertigo she had anticipated didn't come. Her vision sharpened, her senses heightened, and the dull ache in her limbs had vanished as though it had never existed.
Adrenaline coursed through her veins, making her feel invincible. Her heart pounded in sync with this newfound vitality, each beat echoing the magic that now coursed through her body. But Mathea reminded herself not to get ahead of things-arrogance could easily get her killed in this place, especially with the dangers lurking beyond these walls.
Jogging across the dirt floor, her legs steady and her breath even, she followed Andrie down the dim, shadowed corridor. The boy moved ahead of her, his broad form cutting through the gloom with an unnatural grace. His footfalls were barely audible against the stone, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed his unease. He was alert, scanning the shadows as though expecting something-or someone-to attack.
The oppressive silence set her on edge. "Andrei, dude, why are you staring at the wall?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and gesturing toward a different direction. "We should go that way."
Andrie didn't so much as glance at her. Instead, he let out a low snort, his focus unwavering. The dismissive gesture sparked irritation in her, and she reached out to tug at his sleeves, trying to break him out of his apparent stupor.
"Hey! Snap out of it. I'm out now, remember?" she pressed, her tone light but laced with urgency. "You already rescued me. What's wrong with you?"
Andrie turned his cold gaze on her, his expression unreadable. "Are you out of your mind?" he asked bluntly. "You're still weak."
"I am not!" she retorted sharply.
Andrie's lips twitched, though it wasn't quite a smile. "Oh, dear cousin, you were weak as a twig earlier. Thanks to my magic, you have temporary strength for now. But it will wear off. Stop making a mess and let me think."
"Cousin?" she repeated, confusion flickering across her face.
"Why the hell would I bust you out if you weren't?" he snapped, as though the answer were obvious.
Her frown deepened, but she had no time to question him further. "Whatever," she muttered, crossing her arms. "You said there's a tunnel, right?"
"Yes," Andrie muttered uneasily, his gaze still fixed on the wall.
Despite herself, she couldn't resist a playful quip. "There's no place for attitude, dude," she teased, grinning at him. "We're in this together now."
"I already regret this." Andrie's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Keep your wits, Mathea, I risk everything to get you out of her, you owe me that much," he said in a low, gravelly voice. "You may feel powerful now, but that can change in an instant."
His words gave her pause, but only for a moment. "I know," she said softly, the grin fading from her face. "But I'm not wasting this second chance."
As they continued through the corridor, she felt a stirring in her core-a slow, insistent heat spreading outward. Her magic was waking, stretching after its long slumber. It had been repressed for so long, confined within the wretched cell that had voided any trace of her abilities. Now it flexed, pulsing just beneath her skin.
Still, Andrie remained focused on the wall, his sharp gaze calculating. "If you're thinking of doing what I think you're trying to do, it won't work," she said, folding her arms across her chest.
"Why not?" he asked without looking at her.
"Because that wall is six feet of solid concrete. This prison is for the worst of the worst," she explained, her voice steady. But as the words left her mouth, a realisation struck her like a hammer. "Oh my gods," she murmured. "They thought of me like I'm the baddest criminal here."
Her stomach churned as the weight of the truth settled over her. She remembered going to the township with her pet dragon, Janna, and then... nothing. The memory stopped there, a blank void where the rest of the story should have been.
Shaking the thoughts away, she turned her attention back to Andrie. "We'll have to fight our way out," she said, pacing. "But if you can, stun them instead of killing them. I haven't been tainted enough to be that jaded, you know? I'm not softhearted, but I want to make a difference. Violence isn't always the answer."
"Bullocks! King Jay's warriors are evil," Andrie replied flatly.
"I'm serious! I need my freedom. Janna is missing, beside some of them are my... friends. Well, not close friends, but one of them runs a bakery with the best cakes I've ever had."
"Shut up," Andrie snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin.
But she couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. "To be honest, I don't even think of most of the Elven as enemies, even though their commander's son locked me up. My real issue is with that boy and his stinky breath."
Her voice softened as she thought of Job, the one Elven she still trusted. "But if they try to kill me," she added, her tone hardening, "that's a different story."
Andrie said nothing, his gaze fixed on the wall as if willing it to move. His silence frustrated her, but she knew he was right. They had to stay focused. They had to get out.
Her heart thudded in her chest as her magic stirred, eager to be unleashed. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Mathea felt alive-and dangerous.
The passage led to a long-forgotten tunnel, dark and narrow, its air thick with the scent of damp earth. Their escape was almost thwarted when the clamour of palace guards echoed behind them, their shouts drawing closer.