ELEMENTALS: The Tales Of Water

Aquis Laprez

Then the princess and the count reached the prison gates,which was like a fortress much secure even than the princess's palace. As the reached the palace the commander greeted them.

The Commander greeted them with a nod. His face was stern, and his eyes held no trace of humour that the princess was accustomed to. This was not a place for jokes.

Commander (gruffly): "Follow me, and stay close. The worst criminals are kept in the deepest cells to make sure they don't escape. It's... safer that way."

The heavy door groaned as the Commander led them inside, the sound echoing off the stone walls. The prison was dark and damp, the air thick with the scent of mildew and something far more sinister. Aisheya's usual cheerful demeanour dimmed as they descended deeper into the bowels of the prison, far below the surface.

Commander: "There are 12 criminals here. The worst of the worst. But the one you're after... Aquis Laprez... he's something else. Something far worse."

They walked past each cell one by one. The princess glanced inside, her curiosity quickly turning to discomfort.

In the first cell, she noticed deep scratch marks etched into the stone walls as though someone had tried to claw their way out. In the second cell, the sight of dried blood splattered across the floor sent a shiver down her spine. In another, long, jagged lines carved by nails crisscrossed the walls, each telling its own story of madness and desperation.

Princess Aisheya (whispering to Vikram, nervously): "What kind of place is this?"

Commander (gruffly, without turning): "Don't look too closely, Princess. These men have long since lost their humanity."

They continued down the corridor, each cell revealing something more disturbing than the last. The atmosphere was oppressive, and even the usually unflappable Count Vikram seemed pale and on edge, his eyes darting nervously between the cells.

Finally, they stopped at the end of the corridor, where a door stood isolated from the rest. Unlike the other cells, this one felt... different. It wasn't just that it was at the farthest end. There was something darker about it. Something cold and untouchable, like the air itself froze in its presence.

Princess Aisheya (frowning, counting the doors): "Wait... there are only supposed to be 12 rooms. You said there were 12 criminals."

The Commander turned slowly to face her, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

Commander: "Yes. Twelve rooms for the ordinary criminals. Three of them are elementals. But the one in this room... the 13th... is no ordinary man. This is where we keep Aquis Laprez."

The Princess and Count Vikram exchanged uneasy glances. Aisheya, despite her brave facade, could feel her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. This was the moment.

The Commander gestured to the guard stationed nearby, his voice low and steady.

Commander: "Open the door. Bring him out."

The guard, his face showing a mix of fear and respect, nodded quickly and unlocked the door with trembling hands. The heavy iron door creaked as it swung open, revealing a second door within. This one was reinforced with thick iron bars and chains, an extra layer of protection for whatever lay inside.

The Commander stepped forward, his voice barely a whisper now.

Commander: "Stay back. This... is the worst of them all."

Inside, a figure stirred in the darkness. Aquis Laprez, the man whose reputation had haunted the kingdom for years, was about to emerge.

As the iron gate creaked open, the sound echoed through the dimly lit prison corridor, each clang reverberating in the tense silence. The guards, their hands trembling slightly, moved slowly to bring out the prisoner. Aquis Laprez, the man who was once a legend, now a ghost of his former self, was about to emerge from the shadows. The Princess and Count Vikram stood, their hearts pounding, anticipation thick in the air.