CRIES OF A MAGE

Prologue

PART ONE: CONDEMNED TO BE FORGOTTEN

Seven long years had passed, yet the ominous aura that cloaked Cahosse Mansion lingered, unyielding. Its imposing form rose before the duo, casting a pall of dread that only served to deepen their fear. Ever since that fateful day, whispers had spread amongst the townsfolk, murmurs of a curse that hung over the mansion's threshold, of wicked spirits that slumbered within its walls, waiting to be unleashed.

The woman who led the way bore the scars of that night, etched into her face in lines of weariness and anguish. Her niece trailed close behind, her relentless struggle to break free of the ill-fated destiny that had befallen her that night a testament to her unyielding spirit. The darkness that consumed the mansion was like a malignant gift, a curse that the little girl carried with her.

They walked with measured steps, their eyes locked onto the looming double doors of the mansion, as if bracing themselves for what lay ahead.

Once, the old willow trees that surrounded the entrance had formed a verdant archway, with leaves that danced merrily in the breeze. But now, they hung desolate and forgotten, their broken tendrils trailing like strands of hair. As the duo approached the mansion's wide entrance, the air was thick with a palpable sense of disquiet, as if something sinister lurked in the shadowy depths beyond.

Allendra Cahosse's fingers were clamped so tightly together with a cruelty beyond her seven years that her nails were puncturing her palms, spilling blood. Her whole being was devoured by an unconquerable wrath that had shattered her life and evolved into a tragic sequence of events beginning in this estate. As she unleashed her fury, a surge of raw power emitted from her tiny frame, causing her body to crackle with energy.

Caught in Allendra's unbridled fury, her aunt Lena was helpless, like a pawn in the grip of an imperceptible force. Against her will, Lena hurtled towards the formidable doors of Cahosse Mansion, her body colliding with them in a thunderous boom that left ears ringing.

The hinges, long-unused and rusted, creaked and groaned, struggling against the force of the blow. But Allendra's power was too great to resist, the heavy double-wing door swung open with a deafening creak, unleashing a torrent of darkness and an icy draft that chilled Lena to the bone. Her body crashed mercilessly onto the hard, unforgiving stone floor of the dark entrance hall, leaving her gasping for breath and struggling to regain her bearings.

The air was thick with the musty scent of decay, as if the very stones and shadows themselves were steeped in the lingering essence of long-forgotten spirits. The oppressive silence was only broken by Lena's labored breathing, a harsh sound that seemed to reverberate off the walls and echo through the vast, empty space.

Allendra's torch flickered with a ghostly light, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls and lent a chilling ambience to the foreboding space. Lena couldn't help but feel as if she had entered a realm of darkness and terror, one where her worst fears could take shape and haunt her forevermore.

Allendra strode boldly through the threshold, her eyes smoldering with unyielding determination. Having come this far, she refused to let anything thwart her quest. She pressed on, her wrath and malice whipping around her like a tempestuous vortex. The deserted passageways echoed her footfalls, while a palpable sense of doom hung heavy in the air.

Lena struggled to rise, her body wracked with agony and her mind throbbing with a dull ache. Blood trickled from her lips, the result of the sonic wave that had slammed into her back mere moments ago. Allendra's powers far exceeded her own, and the realization made her tremble with terror.

As they ventured deeper into the mansion, the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, the weight of its dark history bearing down upon them. Alleyna, Allendra's mother and Lena's twin sister, had been a formidable psychic, much like her daughter. The thought of her restless spirit haunting these halls filled Lena with foreboding. She sensed the energy crackling around her and knew that something momentous was about to occur.