Author’s Note: For those of you who missed part one and part two, I recommend going back and giving it a read! There will be some spoilers up ahead and I wouldn’t want that for you.
The Story Goes On
The further you follow him to the lower levels, the colder the air becomes and the brighter the Spire walls burn. You watch the gold veins ignite in his presence, following your descent underground.
The undercroft is not the prison you imagined it would be. There are no chains. There are no guards. It’s spacious and brightly lit. There are differing levels of stone platforms dedicated to studying and research. Shelves are lined with various artifacts and ancient trinkets you do not know the names of. On another wall are bookshelves filled to the brim with dusty tomes, although some look more read than others. One of the platforms in the far corner is cluttered with desks for what could be a classroom.
There are others moving about the space. They’re not chained up and there are no guards watching them and yet, they’re not entirely free.
“You were expecting a prison,” he remarks, noting your hard stare.
He makes his way over to a desk in the center of the room and begins removing the light armor he is wearing. As he rolls down his sleeves, you catch a glimpse of the gold-sparked veins that stretch across his skin. It’s the same pattern on the stone that makes up the Spire.
You avert your gaze quickly, processing what you saw. He is more connected to the spire than you realized. “What is this place?”
He sweeps his hand across the undercroft, drawing your attention to the sigils that have been burned into the stone, across archways and the corners of steps. “This is a place where magic is seen as useful. A place where it is refined.” This time his attention turns to you. The weight of it is heavy and sends a shiver down your spine. “A place where you will be refined.”
The Clandestine Mystic
You keep your expression neutral, hinting at mild confusion. “I don’t have any skills to refine.”
The corner of his mouth twitches as he suppresses a half-smirk. He steps closer but keeps his distance. His voice lowers, a slight edge of humor beneath it. “You hide your magic well. It takes great talent to do that.”
You try not to react, to give away your secret, and instead focus on keeping your magic anchored even deeper until not even you can feel it.
He tilts his head, eyes locked with yours as if he knows what you’re doing, knows without a doubt that there is more to you.
Your pulse betrays you, and all you can do is try to divert things away from you. “Is that what happened to you? Were you refined?”
Curiosity fades. For a split second his brows pinch. He quickly replaces his mask but admits, “Far worse.”
The Arcane Strategist
You don’t move, only meet his hard stare with confidence. “Magic isn’t just refined here, is it?”
He looks you over, head tilting as his lips part to answer.
“You’re connected to it. Aren’t you?” You flick your gaze to his arms where you saw the markings earlier.
His jaw clenches. Whatever reply he planned to make is swallowed. He steps around you, keeping his distance as he scans your form. “You’re observant. A useful skill that might get you killed.”
You peer over your shoulder at him and ask quietly, “And who is it I should be afraid of? You?”
He makes his way around you, moving closer, his warmth drawing near as his shoulder brushes across yours. There’s no sign of intimidation in his expression. And when he speaks, husky and quiet, you know he’s an ally. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”
The Veil Breaker
“Refined?” You close the distance between you, refusing to show any sign of weakness. “Go ahead and try. I won’t be treated like an object.”
Something flashes in his eyes. Delight, you think, admiration. He tilts his head down and leans closer, the warmth of his breath billowing across your skin. “You won’t be an object here.” The ghost of a smile on his lips softens your defensive anger. “If I’m correct about you, you’ll be revered.”
He nudges his head, glancing over at the Arcanists who are hard at work in various parts of the room. The moment your head turns to take in the space, he leans forward to whisper hotly against your ear, “I already find myself in awe.”
Before you can even think of a response, he’s stepped away.
The Runic Enchantress
The pull, the energy that’s been calling out to you… At first you thought it was Spire itself, something strange and ancient living in the walls. But now, standing in the room with him, your mind clear, you know it’s coming from him.
You shuffle closer to him, your feet having a mind of their own. “Earlier, you told me to embrace it. Why?” The closer you step, the weight of his presence intensifies. His magic, somehow connected to the Spire’s, is pulling yours to the surface.
“There’s a reason you’re here.” The gold in his eyes flickers the same way the veins in the stone brighten. You follow his attention as it sweeps down to your hands. He looks ready to reach out and brush his fingers with yours, static thickening in the air. But he pulls back at the last second.
“Tell me,” you whisper, a harsh breathy plea. “Tell me why I’m here.”
He steps towards the wall behind his desk, and motions to the runes carved into the stone. They begin to pulse, slow and rhythmic, moments before a loud thud reverberates. Stone grinds against stone as they begin to slide open to reveal a circular chamber.
He steps inside, the room’s walls flaring to life in his presence. In the very middle is an obsidian pillar and if it weren’t for the light spiraling around the room, you might not have seen it at all. He stops before reaching the pillar and the pair of sigils carved into the floor.
He turns, settling the weight of his gaze on you. “This is where attunement begins.”
Attunement, the word echoes in your mind. It doesn’t sound sinister, and yet something about the word feels impossibly dangerous.
Without fear or hesitation, he walks onto one of the sigils. Gold ribbons of magic stream out of the floor, burning hot until they’re nearly white. He holds out his hand, waiting patiently for you to make your choice. His stance is tall and confident. In his mind, he already knows you will step into the room with him.
Make your choice:
A.) Keep your distance from him but move further into the room.
B.) Step towards the sigils but only to study them more closely.
C.) Refuse to approach sigils and instead demand to know more.
D.) Take his hand and revel in the way his magic weaves tightly with yours.
Comment below what you think should happen next!
Author’s Note:
Thank you to everyone who is supporting me and giving me the confidence to keep going. I spent all my free time between work to excitedly get back into writing. After losing the chapters, I almost wanted to give up. (I’m still not happy with this chapter since I feel the one I wrote before was so good but that always happens right?) Can’t wait to share future chapters and watch this story grow.
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