warlock way

Tower

The echoes of footsteps resonated through the vast, silent corridor, breaking the stillness that enveloped the place. Each step, firm and hurried, seemed to multiply in the immensity of the marble walls that rose majestically, disappearing into the shadows. The polished stone floor barely reflected the dim light filtering through the large windows, casting long shadows and creating a play of light and darkness.

The hallway, dominated by the grand architecture of ancient times, was adorned with towering columns that seemed to hold up a ceiling stretching high like a stone sky. Along the walls, statues of ancient and enigmatic figures stood in intricately sculpted niches. Warriors in armor, mages with staffs, and beings of inhuman forms silently watched the frantic pace, their vacant gazes imbued with solemnity. Some of the statues showed signs of wear from the passage of time, but still retained an authority that permeated the atmosphere.

From among those shadows emerged the figure of a woman advancing with purpose. She wore a blue robe that fluttered with each step, while its golden embroidery gleamed faintly in the dim light. Her skin, white like the marble surrounding her, contrasted with the intensity of her blonde hair, which fell freely over her shoulders. Despite her ethereal beauty, her features reflected slight unease; she was not worried, but something kept her alert. Her eyes, clear as the sky, scanned the corridor, searching for someone, while her footsteps echoed in a constant rhythm that seemed to mark the urgency of her mission.

Thus, she advanced until she reached the end of the corridor, where an imposing metal door loomed, adorned with intricate patterns of gold, red, and black that flowed across its surface as if telling ancient stories. The engravings, finely detailed, depicted scenes from the past; some portrayed battles, while others showed incredible creations. Each image, frozen in the metal, vividly told a story.

In the center of this artwork, a terrifying black metal ring stood out with unsettling intensity. Inside the ring were monstrous figures: a grotesque amalgamation of twisted tentacles, sharp claws, and flaming eyes, merging into abominable forms. From the ring emerged streams of black iron threads crashing into the ground, dramatically contrasting with the numerous red iron threads scattered across the floor, depicting a myriad of corpses.

The woman, upon seeing the images on the door, showed a trace of doubt on her face, but despite that, she advanced, and as she approached, the door slowly opened wide to let her in. Inside was a spacious room with a large round table in the center and multiple finely decorated stone chairs near the table. Almost all of the chairs were empty, except for one at the far end of the hall, where a figure in a crimson robe and a golden mask sat. Noticing the woman's arrival, the figure turned its head toward her.

"What troubles your mind to give you such an expression?" the figure remarked with a soft, calm voice.

"There was a setback with one of the shipments of apprentices heading here. They encountered an anomaly on their way," said the blonde-haired woman, her expression uneasy.

"An anomaly? What do you mean by that, Meredith?" the figure asked, curious about the event.

"Mage Aldric reported that while near the outskirts of the tower, close to the barrier, a being with the ability to control shadow magic approached his caravan. He detected it thanks to his affinity with that element and his Shadow Revelation spell. This being, according to the report, has the same, if not better, combat skills as Mage Aldric," Meredith responded.

"You're not telling me everything, Meredith. It's unlikely that other factions have found us, and if that were the case, we'd have an army of mages and all sorts of creatures at the various entrances to the tower. So, that being could only have come from within the tower itself. Tell me, Meredith, what does this anomaly look like, and what is it currently doing?" the figure asked, unwilling to continue with riddles.

"According to Aldric's description, it's a sphere of darkness about the size of a head. Unfortunately, that's all he told me. Moreover, the being has no intention of communicating, and what's stranger, dean, is that it wasn't after Aldric or his companions. Instead, it went to the carriage of the boy who passed the labyrinth test and is now floating above his carriage, following him," said Meredith, doubt creeping into her voice.

"A sphere of darkness, you say?" the figure asked again, now with a serious tone.

"Yes, dean, do you have any idea what it might be?" Meredith asked, curious.

"Yes, I do. It's no surprise you don't know, as that person is from a very distant past, almost as ancient as some of the images on that door. This event is unexpected; I didn't think they would be awake after so long," the figure commented, amused.

"Like that door? So, did that person witness the Dreadveil incursion?" Meredith asked, astonished and expectant.

"It seems you're well-informed about the stories of our world. Few are interested, given how much time has passed since that event. Over time, most believe them to be lies or myths, but let me tell you, what those stories recount is entirely true. Though perhaps what you've read isn't the full account of what happened, as some of them were destroyed or altered to prevent certain powers from attacking through their domain. But you can get a rough idea of the cataclysm that ravaged our world. As for that person, they didn't fully witness it, as they were still an apprentice back then, but even so, in such a situation, they managed to survive in their own way," said the figure in a serious, calm tone.

"It's a bit unsettling to know that such events took place in our world—so much death and destruction. But in the end, the mages managed to win and expel the enemy," Meredith said, cheerfully.

"Win? Haha, child, you still have much to learn. We didn't win. They left this world and closed the portal in the Valley of Terror. Why did they do it? No one knows. We only know that they arrived, sowed death and destruction, and then disappeared," said the dean with a heavy sigh, leaving Meredith with doubts and fear about what had happened in that era. Fortunately, neither she nor anyone else would ever witness such horror again.

"Let's leave those stories aside. We'll talk about them another time. For now, tell Aldric not to worry. That thing won't harm him as long as he doesn't interfere with its mission. As for the boy, he must have caught its attention for it to approach. Just act as if you saw nothing and continue with your duties. Also, warn certain mages in the tower not to try to kill it, as I don't want casualties even before the war begins," the dean said in a calm voice.

"It will be done. Now that this matter is settled, I'll take my leave; other duties await my attention," Meredith said, then turned toward the hallway. As her feet touched the exit, the large door began to close slowly while she continued on her way.

"One last thing: prepare that boy carefully; he could be useful in the future," the dean's voice reached her ears just before the door closed. Before leaving the place, Meredith glanced at the images on the door, then turned and, with determined steps, returned down the corridor from which she had come.