Muffled footsteps emanated overhead, through the dainty wooden-flooring dust began to drift downwards. With each step, the boards eerily creaked bending under the weight. In the depths below, in shadows clutch only a slit of light cast radiating from under the cellar door, numerous figures laid. All wrapped in torn rags, wearing complexions of ghosts wearily they gazed above, no light shone behind their eyes, devoid something was lost. Bruises, lashes covered them, head to toe nothing was left untouched, shackled to the cobble wall motionless they hadn't moved, dust started to accumulate filling the room.

The sounds above slowly approached, stopped as the cellar's light receded, becoming quiet. Metallic thuds, followed by sliding and scraping came forth just beyond the door frame. Continuing the handle rattled, turning the door opened, as it did alone silhouette stood one of small stature. With a clap, the room shook its ground parted, various orbs of light crept up illuminating the surroundings with a fiery hue. Sniffing the air Reedrick smiled, looking at the chained. The room now visible had assorted tools, otherworldly objects lining the walls almost seething with a desire to cut these "tools" found no blunt edge.

Strapped around his belt, strange vials and brown sacks dangled as he walked past those chained, a pungent smell trailed behind. Still, it did little to them, filling their noises no response was given. Standing in front of a surgical table, Reedrick pulled it to the room's center, where one of the fiery orbs hovered, shining. Firmly extending the table's latch in place, he looked forward eyeing one of the chained, that of a young girl with frizzy brown hair. With brief steps, he drew in closer. Resting his hand on the girl's chin, parting her hair then pulled out a file intently looking at it before retracting back within his shirt...

With a toothy grin Reedrick, locked eyes "What's the matter?" ... Peering into her lifeless eyes, his face straightened "Are you ready to be reborn my dear?" As he spoke, the shackles became undone lifting her tiny body onto the table... Reedrick unbuttoned the torn rags, exposing her chest. Strange cavities resided, three small holes in the shape of a triangle encompassed the heart, these oval like indents pulsed with each heartbeat. Raven black, inscriptions lined the girl's chest, a curved pentagram circled the cavities. After inspecting what was inscribed, Reedrick pulled out three small vials from his belt each filled with a greenish substance.

Uncorking with a swift motion Reedrick poured them into the cavities, amassing the liquid glowed a deep verdant, slowly swirled... A stiff expression took root watching this, he pierced his palm dripping over the center cavity... Bleeding purple his blood interlocked with the green substance turning clear, the girl's pale complexion faded, her skin began to rejuvenate. A soft smile surfaced, then Reedrick pulled a black orb from one of the brown sacks... Within the orb white whips constantly danced, brimming a gentle warmth radiated from it, placing it over her heart Reedrick forced down. The strange object phased through her chest, slightly lighting up the bodies inside, then vanished.

Too did the inscriptions, cavities dissipate slowly fading. Reedrick stood, watching her body with a desperate aura biting his lip in wait... Blotches of gray began to form, accumulating around the child's faded inscriptions, legs and arms started to spasm violently while her pulse became rapid then suddenly flat-lined, lying motionless. Nothing else happened, her body laid dormant, clenching his hands. Reedrick took deep breaths "Damn it all." enraged he flipped the table, falling on its side along with the girl. His anger quickly subsided, stabilizing himself he continued, "I'll make it work, I just need that kid." Looking down Reedrick, opened a silver locket with pictures of a red-haired girl wearing a smiling face, nearly brimming with innocence.

...

Tugging coats, a foreboding gale rode past. Within its embrace, drowsy skies above to shallow depths of cities streets the various stalls, shops normally open, we're now shut. Left much of the scenery had been abandoned, the lonesome structures on either side rotting, crumbling seemingly forgotten even in a place where many had lived before, still do in its immediate surroundings. Along the roadside, trash of those who had come before, those who had stayed too long. Broken down wagons filled the street obstructing many to whom took that path, forcing many to adhere adventure go by foot.

Now husks, former shells of what used to be sullied. The buildings were strewn akin to a graveyard as if a powerful force of nature had tested man's creation... Perhaps it had. Walking through the valley of bones, forgotten two figures outfitted in long wear, both with obscured faces under cowl's. Steps evenly, their footwork matched not skipping a beat, the surroundings merely shrugged at. One larger than the other, slim traces of femininity came from the smaller going in silence, none deterred gaze from their forward advance. This place, still within the confines of freywyn this just but a speck in an unending valley of concrete, wood, on the horizon a massive spire could be seen. Towering overhead, striking the heavens it far surpassed the clouds with large coils dangling, connecting to the surface from unknown heights.

On the far edge, this deserted hole encroached upon the city's walls... Gaudy pillars of flame stretched from this border, dotting the walls entirety illuminating fragments of this graveyard, other city limits. Each ambiguity carried sacks, outlines of numerous objects filled its trim, alluding to much inside their hold. Steadfast the figures covered hundreds of meters, without rest before stopping upon a gate's cusp. Layered in spikes, pointed ends it gave off a menacing visage, yet many of its metallic bars had warped, meeting the status quo. Indiscernible inscriptions laid at the gates stoned base, to any observer its decay would lead one to believe it random carved markings, without structure or meaning. Not speaking of the ware in its pile of rubble. The time of its making certainly dwarfed the structures around it, as if the protruding fungi and green wasn't enough, some fragments of bones lazed not far.

Still, such appearances shouldn't be taken at face value, nothing is truly what it appears to be, nor would it be wise to assume it so. The smaller figure keeled down, pulling a brown grain from inside their coat then blew softly covering the inscribed stone that seemed a different skin than the rest... An incantation was ushered from under the hood' were darkness reigned still obscuring what resided, "What be seen, lest the deceive, shouldn't be the deceived show thy true self." Once stated the powder began to jitter, melting the inscribed stone a purple void twisting, swirling an eerie shadow cradle formed amassing to the gates side, becoming broad enough for the figures to enter.

Without hesitation, with absolute confidence the figures enveloped themselves, within the ominous void. Reality warped, the surroundings left, vanishing becoming but an unwanted dream, clearing vision they had become encased by walls of bedrock on their arrival, candles on each side went aflame, lighting the hallways passage. Extending to a great distance the corridors reach drew far behind their eyesight, to which may frighten those whom had stumbled within these crumbled walls feeling perhaps lost in an unknown labyrinth of traps. However no response was shown, besides a laid composure. Beneath their boots, cobbled stone masked in a fine powder, also extended forward strange black runes were etched in mysterious patterns coating not just the flooring, but walls and ceiling alike.

The structure around them, littered with cracks and fissures. Usurping from these gaps odd vines grew with needle hairs wedged in between. Within the infested walls tiny mushrooms grew, in mass they stuffed every crevice even living on the vines glowing various hue's. Similar to the outside, its interior was dilapidated, faded and torn countless rubble and withered plants were scattered hugging the floor... Walking, with no falter, not a second thought was mused, nor a glance at the surroundings.. Tens of minutes had swept by as they continued down, coming into view a giant portcullis, blocked the path. Approaching it, the studded gate began to rise as if sensing their presence. Retracting into the ceiling, dust dripped from its bars and specks of stone crackled from above. Keeping pace the cloaked entered.

Coming inside a vast open space, the circular chamber laid in ruin. Overgrown with vegetation, plants and tendrils rooting themselves in crumbling stone structures. The roof drenched in moss, other greenery wet vines dangled overhead surging with glowing shrooms from before. Pillars on either side wrecked, fallen from time nearly overtaken by green. Extending from the gate, decayed cobbled steps leading to the rooms center laid a charred tree uprooted on its side. Massive trunks thick as a man were snapped, crushed by its own weight from the tree's collapse... Yet, with such a decrepit state, nature continued. Thriving the scenery permeated with life countless aphids, nesting eating flora, colonies of these orange insects overran the dead tree, feasting on its inside.

Extensive chains hung, sprawling out from the tree's core many displaced, cracked immersed in coats of rust, and drooping buds similar to spiderwebs. Ascending from these network of shackles, light bugs buzzing illuminated much of the landscape with no care the bugs intruded sweeping past. Reverberating the chamber moaned, with each echoing step the cloaked took, onward skeletons settled among the cracked bricks. Paying no heed, their boots crushed, brittle bones mostly devoid of any attire only disintegrating cloth wrapped the deceased.

Nearing the room's center, a chiseled table came into view; the rectangular stone severely degraded and most of it had long since collapsed. Looking forward, the duo stopped resting their bags on nearby rocks, ahead darkness settled just aloft the table. Subtle shadow's moved, forming a silhouette sitting upon the table's edge. The shadows reached out, retracting from its embrace a slender youth with ebony hair, green eyes.

The cloaked kneeled, upon seeing this youth's presence, unwavering their eyes kept to the stone floor with stoic expressions. "We've all of our supplies you asked for." Travis said, still bowing. Ceron walked forward, stopping in front of the duo raising the smaller one's head. With no resistance, he removed the cowl exposing Beth's face in quick succession Ceron parted her blonde hair, gazing along the neck. "Well done." he spoke softly while running his hand along her neck... "The potion has worked better than I had anticipated, all traces of blue veins are gone..." ... Deep in thought his fingers, still caressed unknowingly traces of red appeared on Beth's cheeks.

Twitching, her deep sigh awoke him from contemplation... "Quite the effect it's taken..." looking at the other, Travis too seemed bewitched.. "I need to fix this... But not now." Somewhat appalled by the movement Travis displayed Ceron hastily returned near the table with the duo still kneeling. Nearly petrified a stubby root, cleft its thin hairs littered across the table surface. Fluids rushing through, had long since left its outer layers resembling a wrinkled grape. The commonly overlooked, was stuck in Ceron's gaze peering further parting the withered, decayed hairs a lone strand glowed a shallow vermilion.

"All thats left..." ... Resting his hands on the table, Ceron slumped down.. "It still doesn't react.. This vessel isn't anything like what I once was." Chuckling in a somber tone, grabbing the lone hair yet it didn't respond just as before unknowing of his presence... "The last hair of Elrax, only but a mere fragment yet holds grave power... Even if it doesn't recognize its owner, maybe there's a way for the future." Turning his head, Ceron eyed the duo's reverent gazes. "Siding with those bumbling idiots, Sarieth was a fool." ... "I shouldn't have let my guard down..."

...

"Why am I telling you guys this, hmph perhaps I've truly gone mad." Stopping, Ceron crossed his arms. "Bring me the supplies." Nodding Beth took the sacks, hoisting them over her shoulder. In short steps reached the tables end, then immediately placed them on top, with a brief smile Beth bowed. "Anything else master?" Ceron paused, looking over her... His eyes lingered beyond, as if she wasn't there. "No..." ... "You both may rest. "Traces of disappointment surfaced, reluctantly Beth turned getting in position with Travis.

Taking the sacks, Ceron emptied them onto the table. Assorted goods of odd plants and objects took place next to the withered root, continuing the supplies were arranged orderly. The sacks now empty, puffs of air rushed out before Ceron threw them to the side focusing his attention on the table. "There isn't much to work with, these two didn't have much, they are still students.. Just like me now." Ceron sighed, "But that's the least of my problems as much as it's wonderful to have a body, one this weak is a sin." ... "Like a fish out of water without magical energy, I struck gold when Carolin served Beth on a platter but... Relying on luck isn't my best trait.. I need a way to combat my weakness."

"Excuse me master." ... "You have us, use our bodies." Inching closer the duo released smiles, awaiting a response. "They are very assertive for being under a command potion, it may have not been an exact recreation... And their personalities changing?" Ceron thought watching them in interest. "There's no reason to tell you this, I doubt you'll understand- But it may help you understand something. Relying on others is doomed to fail, the only true success is the actions, power taken by oneself only those who control their fate will succeed." ...Beth, Travis exchanged glances with confusion. "Still it's invaluable to have aids you'll serve me well, especially those who have an unbreakable loyalty."

Resting hands over his chin, Ceron eyes lit and from where the duo kneeled he had seemed like a deity, in the momentary silence only green light bugs flew past illuminating faces. "There aren't any supplies here that could stimulate my inner mind. Instead tell me everything you know about the world, and this wonderful family of ours." Elated Beth rose up, rushed closer kneeling directly in front of Ceron. "Yes as you know the world was thrown into turmoil after your sealing, the various lords struggled for power with the churches after the dimensional rifts opened. Much of the continent we are in was sunken caused by the these rifts are now but a chain of islands." ... "The kingdom our family serves now rests at oceans floor, only you, me, father and a few servants are left with small lands to the north which now you will ultimately inherit. Master."

"That's why you had sent those thugs after me and eventually Travis..." "Forgive me, I was a fool for trying to cross you master." Beth interjected, "I'll take my life as punishment." Imminently Beth pulled a knife from her trousers intending to gut herself. As soon as she took it out, thrusted down the blade was stopped, Ceron held her hand from piercing the stomach. "Never take your life, did I say you could die?" ... "It would be a waste, and an insult to me if you had just killed yourself." Dwarfing her his hand overtook the knife taking it from Beth's grip, droplets of sweat ran down her face, Travis as they heard Ceron. Rising up Travis bowed, "Please forgive me master I too was a fool." ...

Ceron laughed waved his hand, "You both are forgiven." His weighty tone struck them, impatiently Beth bowed as well. "I guess we all are fools...I was naive being sealed that way, should've known brother would be tempted by their gospel." Ceron thought, while clenching his hands. "I won't take this second chance lightly." ... "This root may not be the only thing I can use to reclaim my power, no doubt unknown forces could have already begun their way to seek me out- It was a mistake to allow remnants of my power to leak out."

"Three centuries is a long time... No telling who's out there. Regardless of that dwarf preparations are still needed." Pertaining to these two aids of information, this body's past is a sentence away. The folly of the marketplace can't be repeated, Ceron pursed his lips. The Elfer herb was nothing of value, but to the supposed deal.. I can't let that bastard off after making a mockery and thinking I hadn't a notice.