Oath of a Guardian

Chapter 6: Choices

Raven slowly began to open her eyes. She noticed she was faced down, her body beyond the brink of exhaustion, sweat trickled down her entire body, her skin felt as if it was on fire, her head still throbbing not allowing her to even think one cohesive thought. Before she knew it her eyes began closing again.

The princess woke again to a cold breeze in the air, her eyes fluttered open for the felt something wet under her body she tried to rise using one arm as the other was placed underneath her to stabilize herself yet failed as she slipped on the puddle of liquid beneath her. The room was lit only by the two rays on sunlight that shined through the tiny cracks in the walls. It wasn't enough to see anything clearly but it reduced the darkness

"Ar...Arhaal?" She called out but no answer was given.

Raven as weak as she was tried to conjure up enough energy to get up but she couldn't as the extremely painful throbbing happening in her head. She raised her hand to push her palm to her temple hoping to relieve some of the pressure; she froze when she felt the wetness which was now in her hair dripping down the side of her face. It felt heavy against her cheek

"What is...?" She dragged herself towards the source of light and placed her hand directly where one of the rays was located.

"Blood?" She began anxiously looking for a wound in her blood soaked clothing but didn't find any. She leaned against the closest wall and forced herself to rise. She slowly started picking away at the walls removing the small loose stones surrounding the ray of light.

As the light hit the room when she noticed she was alone in what looked like a dungeon. "Arhaal?" Reality began seeping in as she began piecing it all together. Arhaal was missing, Cyrus was a blood mage and a few moments ago she was lying in a pool of fresh blood.

Another wooden door bursts open while the grey eyed guard entered. Sweat caused his short, thick, wavy black hair to stick to his face from all the constant running around in the academy. He believed he must have opened every single door and yet each and every room was empty

"Where is everybody? He said bending over heaving trying to catch his breath.

Where is she? Think Thomas Think! I will kill anyone that lays a hand on her I swear it!"

He continued down the long hall of doors that led him no where

"This is all my fault! I never should have left her!" He said exhaling as he leaned against the wall.

No, I'm not giving up, I got to find her

He continued down the halls of the enormous building until he heard footsteps one that caused the ground to tremble and the windows to quiver.

"This can't be good" He said as he swiftly entered the nearest room to him slowly and closing the door shut

The guard immediately lied down on his stomach and peeked through the bottom of the door. He watched as the footsteps became louder and the ground beneath him shook. There was also a sound of metal clashing against itself or other metal he thought. From what he saw first was green boots with black soles. He recognized them immediately as Arhaal's boots. He was just about to stand and open the door before yet another shake in the ground causing the guard to fall. He dragged himself towards the door and peeked through the crack at the bottom. This time he saw Arhaal lying flat on his stomach he was obviously knocked down as well.

A voice was then heard by the guard, a voice that both shocked and confused him. "Stand mage!" The voice shouted. Thomas was more than sure that that voice was not that of a human. It was hoarse, loud and sounded more like the growl of an animal.