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The damp earth beneath her feet, the wet rain above, and only darkness around filled the girl with sadness and loneliness. After walking a few more meters along the road, she stopped and then fell face down in the mud.
The mages had to postpone their journey until tomorrow: Magnus and Nebo were preparing something special... something that would help them defeat the enemy.
Daybreak came quickly; everyone in the "company" was busy with their usual work, except for the absence of the Werwolf, which slightly disturbed certain individuals.
The "Company" had a large number of employees, both permanent and freelance. Among them were people of completely different professions and nationalities.
Who could have thought that an ordinary day, as it seemed, could become fatal for all these people? A person appeared on the first floor, whose face was hidden behind a dark hood. An alarm was immediately raised - someone had opened the cells containing the imprisoned mages. Instead, the person headed deeper into the building, upwards.
The director also hurried to leave the building and, as usual, was accompanied by his bodyguard. Before the hooded figure appeared, Vortex beheaded another raging mage.
- Hey! There's another one there, kill him quickly! - the chief pointed at the same person.
Vortex obeyed and made a sharp lunge towards the enemy, intending to kill him with one blow, but to his surprise, at the moment of impact, the person vanished somewhere. And when Vortex turned around, pieces of the director, who had been blown up from the inside, flew at him. The mage was nowhere to be seen either.
In the evening, the mages reached the castle; inside, they divided themselves into groups. Drakkosha, Lizard, Hostor, and Nebo went together.
For a long time, they wandered through the dark corridors, illuminated only by Lizard's flame, until they reached a small hall. There stood a huge slab with various symbols and signs, and in the center were 3 holes. In a small box nearby, the mages found a key. All that remained was to choose – which hole to insert it into?
- Look! - Nebo began - there is a small plaque with an inscription under each hole.
- And what does that give us? We can't translate them! - Kosha replied, hinting at the obvious.
- I can! - Nebo proudly declared - after all, I am the librarian and chronicler.
- So, what does it say? - Drakkosha urged him.
- Um... here, look: "Lionheart," "Reflection of Sorrow," and... Here, the plaque is worn out; I can't read it.
- Which one should we choose? - Hostor wondered.
After much deliberation, the mages decided on the first hole. To their misfortune, nothing happened.
- I suggest taking the key out and using another hole.
Deciding not to risk it, they chose "Reflection of Sorrow." The slab moved, creating a passage.
The first hole apparently activated some kind of protective mechanism, and now the mages also had to fend off stone golems. And if Kosha and Nebo served more as cover, Lizard and Hostor fiercely fought back, the former using flame and his blade, and the latter two daggers.
After long battles, they emerged into a huge hall, which was most likely previously the count's reception room (or someone else who could have ruled here). This was the only room in the castle where there was light.
- How unexpected! Of all the guests who might visit this castle, I least expected you!
All four were stunned when they heard a familiar voice… Then they saw two figures – they were Arandor and Neyra. Both were terribly pale, and the first, due to the effects of dark magic, had doubled in size. In his hands he held a sword-staff with two blades, in which energy pulsed...
Arandor didn't wait but immediately rushed into battle. He skillfully dodged all attacks from his opponents while inflicting blows on them.
- Fool! You succumbed to temptation! - Lizard shouted.
- Battle will decide who is the fool and who isn't.
Receiving a blow to the face with the hilt, Lizard fell. Then, his opponent pierced his leg through and through, pinning it to the ground with one part of his weapon. With the other, he went back into battle.
- Dark magic has taken over your mind; stop! - Nebo tried to reason with Arandor.
- This magic is my ally, not my master. Revan said...
- Revan deceived you! Look at yourself; you are consumed by rage!
- You lie!!!
Making a sharp turn, Arandor left a large bloody streak across Nebo's chest. The latter fell.
There were also no problems with the others, and only when the fighter was about to finish off his enemies did Magnus appear. A powerful magical shock slammed Arandor against the wall. At first, he had no intention of retreating, but noticing that other mages began to fill the hall, he still decided to leave. He jumped out of the window on the third floor; Silent Neyra followed him.
The lives of the heroic four were in no danger; mage-healers (including Lizard himself) worked wonders.
Night was falling…
In the cemetery, as yesterday, there reigned devilish silence, shrouded in darkness. And just like yesterday, Revan remained unmoved, ignoring the heavy downpour. Many people stood near him: among them was Vegtam, as well as Arandor and Neyra, who had just arrived. They were all preparing for something...