Dynasty's Tribrid

9| Say You know

The cramped cottage pressed in on us, the silence broken only by the ragged breaths of the pixie, now known as Dynasty. We'd explained the situation as best we could, the weight of Dom's cruelty settling heavy in the air.

"She... she made me forget," Dynasty choked out, tears welling in her oversized eyes. "I don't remember the mission, but I remember the fear."

Rage simmered beneath the surface of my calm exterior. Dom, once a friend, a kindred spirit, had become a monster, manipulating innocence for her own twisted agenda.

"We'll keep you safe," Shanti promised, her voice gentle yet firm. "But for now, you need to rest."

Dynasty drifted off to sleep, a fragile creature caught in the crossfire. We huddled together, strategizing.

"Giants guarding the castle?" May scoffed. "That's just great. They're like walking mountains."

"We need a plan," Essence said, her voice low. "A frontal assault would be suicide."

I traced the outline of the castle on a stolen map, a shiver running down my spine. "There has to be another way in. Tunnels, secret passages..."

"There might be," Zy chimed in, her eyes gleaming. "The old texts mention a hidden entrance by the west gate, activated by moonlight and a specific sequence of spells."

Hope flickered within me. "We can do this," I declared, a newfound determination filling my voice. "Tonight, under the cover of darkness, we infiltrate the castle."

The next few hours crawled by. We spent them training Dynasty to control her magic, a flicker of defiance replacing the fear in her eyes. As dusk settled, casting long shadows across the land, we made our way towards the castle, cloaked in darkness by Essence's magic.

Reaching the west gate, an imposing structure of iron and stone, we positioned ourselves. The moon, a pale sliver in the night sky, bathed the area in an ethereal glow. Zy chanted a melody under her breath, her voice weaving magic into the air. Runes, shimmering with an otherworldly light, appeared on the gate, swirling and rearranging themselves.

With a grinding groan, a section of the wall receded, revealing a dark passage. A wave of nausea washed over me, the air thick with dust and the scent of something ancient and damp.

"Ready?" Essence whispered, her eyes gleaming with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

We nodded, hearts pounding in unison. With a deep breath, I stepped into the unknown, leading the way into the heart of the enemy's stronghold.

The passage was narrow and damp, the air stale and heavy. We navigated by touch, the silence broken only by the rhythmic drip of water somewhere in the darkness. Tension coiled around me, a living entity threatening to strangle me.

After what felt like an eternity, the passage opened into a vast chamber. Cobwebs hung from the vaulted ceiling, moonlight filtering through narrow slits high above, casting grotesque shadows on the stone floor. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, a pulsating red gem resting upon it.

"The Blood Ruby," I whispered, a jolt of recognition hitting me. Legends spoke of its immense power, its ability to amplify magic, to manipulate life and death itself.

"This must be why Dom wants the wedding," May muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "To use the ruby during the ceremony, to solidify her power."

A cold dread settled in my stomach. We had to stop her. But how? The ruby pulsed with an alluring light, and a primal urge to reach out, to claim its power whispered in my mind.