Darkness clung to Chase like a shroud. He tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy, unresponsive.
A throbbing ache pulsed behind his eyes, a dull counterpoint to the frantic hammering of his heart. He was disoriented, unsure of how much time had passed.Then, a flicker of light.
He blinked, his vision slowly resolving into the cold, harsh illumination of torches lining the walls of a narrow cell. The walls themselves were obsidian, polished to a mirror sheen that reflected his own distorted image back at him.
He was trapped.
The cell door, also obsidian, was reinforced with bands of dark metal etched with glowing runes. He could feel the magic humming within them, a potent barrier designed to contain something powerful. Like him.
A figure emerged from the shadows at the end of the corridor. Tall and imposing, clad in robes of midnight blue embroidered with silver thread, the newcomer exuded an aura of quiet authority.
His face was hidden behind a silver mask, but Chase could feel the weight of his gaze, cold and calculating."Welcome, Chase," the figure said, his voice a smooth baritone that resonated with power. "I am Councilor Marius. I trust your accommodations are… adequate."Chase struggled to sit up, his muscles protesting with every movement. "Where am I? What do you want?"Marius chuckled, a dry, humorless sound.
"You are in our custody, of course.As for what we want… let's just say you possess something of great interest to the Council."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Chase said, his voice laced with defiance despite his weakened state.Marius tilted his head, a gesture that somehow felt condescending even through the mask. "Don't play coy, Chase. We know about your lineage, your abilities.
You are a rare specimen, a valuable asset." "I'm not an asset," Chase spat. "I'm a student. I want to go home." "Home?" Marius scoffed. "You think you can simply return to your little academy after what you've seen, what you've learned? You are far too dangerous to be left unsupervised."
He gestured towards the obsidian walls. "Consider this a… protective measure. A way to ensure your… potential… is properly nurtured." "Nurtured?" Chase repeated, his voice rising in anger. "You call this nurturing? I'm a prisoner!" "Think of it as an opportunity," Marius said, his voice softening slightly. "An opportunity to learn, to grow, to embrace your true potential. The Council can offer you power beyond your wildest dreams, Chase. All you have to do is accept our guidance."
"I'll never join you," Chase said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at his insides. "I'd rather die."Marius sighed, a sound of weary disappointment. "Such a waste. You have so much potential, Chase. But if you refuse to cooperate… well, we have other methods of persuasion."
He snapped his fingers, and two more figures emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden behind identical silver masks. They carried strange devices that hummed with arcane energy."We can be patient,"
Marius said, his voice laced with a chilling promise. "But patience has its limits. Think about my offer, Chase. Think about the power you could wield.
Think about the alternative."With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Chase alone in the obsidian cage, the humming of the arcane devices a constant reminder of his precarious situation.
He was a prisoner of the Council, and his future was uncertain. He had to find a way out, not just for himself, but for Alora, and for everyone else the Council threatened. But how could he escape a prison made of magic and lies?