Kael sat in the lavishly furnished waiting chamber of the Crimson Hall, his thoughts racing. Ardel's ultimatum hung over him like a storm cloud. He had known this deal was dangerous, but losing one crate of the powder had tipped the scales.
The door creaked open, and a steward entered, carrying a sealed scroll. "Lord Ardel has provided the details of your task," the man said, handing the parchment to Kael.
Kael broke the seal and unrolled the scroll. The instructions were as precise as they were daunting:
---
To settle your debt, you will retrieve the Tear of Veyrin, an artifact housed in the Blackspire Ruins. Deliver it to the Crimson Court within ten days. Failure will result in forfeiture of your life and possessions.
---
Kael stared at the words, the weight of the task sinking in. The Blackspire Ruins were infamous—a maze of collapsed towers, deadly traps, and rumored to be haunted by ancient guardians.
"Great," Kael muttered. "Why not just ask me to pluck the moon out of the sky while you're at it?"
The steward ignored his sarcasm and added, "A guide has been arranged to assist you."
Before Kael could protest, another figure entered the room. He blinked in surprise—it was Seren, the rogue who had warned him about Ardel just days ago.
"Surprised?" she asked, her smirk faintly amused. "You're not the only one who owes favors to the Crimson Court."
Kael groaned. "Let me guess, you're my guide?"
"Think of me as an insurance policy," Seren replied, crossing her arms. "The Court wants their Tear, and they want it fast. My job is to make sure you don't mess this up—or die trying."
---
By the next morning, Kael and Seren were on the road, heading toward the Blackspire Ruins. The journey was uneventful at first, the terrain shifting from lush green hills to barren, rocky plains.
Kael tried to break the silence. "So, what's your story? Why does someone like you work for the Crimson Court?"
Seren gave him a sidelong glance. "I don't. Not by choice, anyway."
He pressed on. "Debt? Betrayal? Some kind of scandal?"
She sighed, clearly reluctant. "Let's just say they're good at finding leverage. And if you're smart, you won't ask too many questions."
Kael decided to let the matter drop.
---
When they finally reached the ruins, the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the crumbling towers. The air was thick with unease, and even the horses refused to go any closer.
"This is it," Seren said, dismounting and drawing her twin daggers. "Stay close. The Blackspire isn't just dangerous—it's alive."
"Alive?" Kael asked, his voice tight.
Seren nodded. "The magic here is old, restless. It doesn't like intruders."
Kael gripped his satchel tighter, feeling the reassuring weight of the Ethercore and his tablet. "Well, let's hope my gadgets can handle it."
They entered the ruins cautiously, the broken stones beneath their feet crunching with each step. The air was eerily silent, save for the occasional gust of wind that howled through the hollow spires.
Kael pulled out the tablet, its glowing screen casting a faint light. He activated the map function, which hummed faintly as it synced with the magic around them.
Seren glanced at it, intrigued. "That thing's more useful than I thought."
"It's saved me more times than I can count," Kael admitted. "According to this, the Tear of Veyrin should be in the central tower."
"Of course it is," Seren muttered. "The most dangerous part of the ruins."
As they pressed deeper, the ruins came alive with traps—stone tiles that shifted underfoot, spears that shot from the walls, and shadowy figures that seemed to materialize from nowhere.
Kael's tablet beeped with warnings, allowing him to avoid most of the hazards, but his nerves were fraying. Seren moved with practiced ease, her blades flashing as she dispatched the occasional animated guardian.
When they finally reached the central tower, Kael was sweating and exhausted. The Tear of Veyrin rested on a pedestal at the center of the chamber, its surface glowing with a faint blue light.
Kael approached cautiously, the tablet scanning for traps. "Looks like it's safe, but—"
"Nothing here is safe," Seren interrupted, her voice low.
As Kael reached for the Tear, the ground shook violently. The pedestal split open, and from the depths of the chamber rose a massive stone golem, its eyes glowing with the same blue light as the artifact.
"Well," Kael said, backing away. "That's just perfect."
Seren drew her daggers, her stance tense. "You get the Tear. I'll deal with the big guy."
Kael hesitated. "Are you sure about that?"
"Move, Kael!" she shouted, dodging as the golem swung a massive arm at her.
Kael darted forward, his heart pounding as he grabbed the Tear of Veyrin. The moment his fingers closed around it, the golem froze, its glowing eyes dimming.
Seren stared at him, panting. "What... just happened?"
Kael held up the artifact, its light pulsing faintly. "I think it recognizes who's in charge now."
She shook her head in disbelief. "You're either the luckiest merchant alive or the dumbest. Let's get out of here before anything else wakes up."
---
Would you like to see what happens next as they return to face Ardel?