Jewels of Magic.
The rider, chained in his hands and legs, was escorted to the dungeon by two guards with spears.
The cell was small, (...)small with stone walls and a single torch flickering in the corner. The sound of padlocks clinging and chains jiggling could be heard as he was pushed into the cell. The rider's horse had been taken away, so, he had been left with nothing. He looked at his right wrist... Gone, Bandaged. Most painful, yet he was chained, hands and legs.
Anyways, he still has his left hand ✋. He looked up with a gaze of malice when food was brought. His left hand could still throw some magic but the chains in his hand were magic cuffs that nulls prisoner's magic, making his chance of escape a moonshot.
King Arin II conferred with the Crimson Knight, Koven, at the conference table. "Those men of this morning, what happened to them. Have you found out their motives?" the king asked.
Koven shook his head. "Not yet, Your Highness. I came to deliver to you that one of them was caught."
"Does he possess magic?"
Koven nodded. "Yes. He's no ordinary criminal and his skin bears markings, your Highness."
The king's expression turned grave. "Markings?! Where did he come from, breaking into the castle, creating a state of emergency. No civilian of Trienoph will dare commit such. Who are they?" King Arin II pressed.
Just then, Erian burst in through the door, his wooden staff in his right hand. "They're thieves, Your Highness. Thieves, I say.
"They infiltrated the palace undetected and escaped. This ... is a matter that must be treated with utmost urgency, my lord."
King Arin II nodded solemnly. "I'm aware, and I'm as well… disappointed, Koven."
Koven bowed his head. "Forgive me, my lord. The security guards on duty will take responsibility for the breach."
The king's eyes narrowed. "you talked about marking? The king leaned his back on the chair. "Are they people from another territory, driven by hunger or did they come to spy and feed on information. ?"
Koven hesitated. " I had received news, your Highness, that the treasure and castle store appear untouched neither the kingdom archives. I don't think they succeeded in what they came for"
Erian stepped forward. "How can you be certain nothing is missing? How can you be so sure they didn't achieve what they came for?"
Koven's expressionless face remained expressionless. "They targeted the vault, Your Highness." Erian said sharply, with a hint of anger in his tone.
King Arin II rose from his seat, his face set in a determined expression. "The vault...?"
Erian's voice dropped to a whisper. "I fear what was taken is of great value, Your Highness."
The room fell silent, heavy with anticipation and looming fear.
"What is it, Erian?" King Arin II leaned forward. Do not make my mind wander. Speak!"
Erian glanced around the room before leading the king to a chamber filled with historical magical items. They called the place "The Vault" It's magical security technology breached.
The room was contained with nothing except one powerful magical item; a golden trident.
King Arin II's gaze fell upon the golden trident, its three empty set holes, made King Arin's jaw drop. His eyes widened in alarm.
"The Jewels of Magic have been stolen."
…
Written by Op Chris
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"The Jewels of Magic...
Those stones hold immense power, the most potent in the whole of Trienoph."
Devastated by grief, worry and fear, King Arin II sat on his throne and turned to Koven, his voice laced with panic. "They came in and ... And got passed high-magical security. I fear their skills. What if they're more of them around? Double the security strength immediately, Koven!" King Arin II commanded. Koven went down on his knees, bowing his respect before leaving to carry his Highness's order. "Yes, Your Highness"
King Arin II turned to Erian, after Koven left, his voice laced with urgency this time,"We can retrieve them, right?"
"We must retrieve them, your Highness. Not because I fear for the kingdom's safety alone, but because we cannot fathom the thieves' intentions." Erian replied.
King Arin II leaned backward, "What must be done?"
Erian's expression remained grim. "The course of action is clear, Your Highness. Erian walked towards the king with his wooden staff. "Deploy the soldiers to search for the jewels."
King Arin II's eyes narrowed. "Can't you track them? You can magically locate the stones, can't you?"
Erian shifted his staff to his left hand, a hint of irritation flickering across his face. "Ahhh, Your Highness. You're asking me to do that. But, you know in my current state, I can't do too much. It requires a lot of magic power and vitality. I regret to say,but, I'm not capable of doing the tracking spell." King Arin II raised his fingers to his jaws and pulled his black beard. "How would the soldiers find what they can't see? Also, people would be aware something has gone wrong if we began to search every nook and corner of Trienoph, and the kingdom in a state of apprehension and unease" I don't want that to happen". Erian looked down.
"You've spoken the truth,my lord. Give me a few days, I'll think of whatever I can do."
King Arin II stood up and walked to Erian, placing a reassuring hand on the old man's shoulder. "There would only be tonight and tomorrow morning to spare. That's all the time we can afford." The Jewels must be back into this castle by tomorrow night. You know it too, the calamity that will befall the kingdom if it doesn't".
With that, the king turned and strode out of the chamber, the large doors swinged for him. Erian watched him leave, his gaze fixed on the king's back.
************************************************
As the night descended, Erian walked out of the palace. His aged body moved slowly, but steadily in his white robe, towards a secluded hut on the castle's outskirts. Upon entering, he locked the door behind him and let out a soft sigh.
"What are you doing out of the castle by this hour?" Erian asked the figure by the table who pushed back its hood, revealing Princess Lirien's determined face.
"It's important, I'm mixing a magic potion but I'm not getting the results I want," She said with a beautiful smile across her face. "I would have asked you to help me but I thought you would be busy"
The old man's curiosity piqued, he approached the table, his staff leaning against the wooden surface. He examined the bubbling purple liquid and scanned the notes scattered around.
"A reverse spell?! He asked, looking at her eyes. Princess Lirien nodded and smiled.
Erian's expression turned skeptical. "Again?" he said, his voice laced with a hint of frustration.
Lirien's smile faltered, but she persisted. "Please, Erian, just check the formula. Maybe there's something I should adjust."
Erian's eyes softened, and he walked to the shelf, retrieving an ancient book. As he returned to the table, Lirien approached him, her eyes pleading.
"You're the greatest magic guru in the whole of Trienoph, Erian. You're the Golden Sorcerer. I need your help, analysis alone."
Erian's expression turned somber. "and for what do you want to make the spell, Princess"
Princess Lirien remained silent.
Erian nodded with a tiring expression, aware of what she is planning. He said to her, "I've told you a countless time – this curse. It can't be fully reversed. All I can do is weaken its effects,."
"All you can do is weaken its effect, but I want to break the curse itself. I'm doing this for you, Erian, I won't stay idle and watch you grow old rapidly towards death. You have saved lives of many in this kingdom, it amazes me that you can't save yours? Erian focused more on the book as he open through pages in a flash with his hands after he applies wetness from his saliva on his finger.
"If you don't love yourself, someone who loves you will care for you. You won't keep going on like this for the rest of your lives... Old.
Erian's face fell, the same as Lirien, but she refused to give up. "There has to be a way to erase the curse, Erian. She said, walking close to him. You've always said that every spell can be undone."
Erian's eyes looked sideways, his voice barely above a whisper. "I appreciate your efforts, Princess, but... some magic are far too strong to fight and I'm busy with the kingdom's affair as always. I have task at hand to complete before tomorrow's night. Didn't you hear of what happened in the castle today?" The white bearded old man said casually trying to change the direction of their conversation but the princess was no fool to fall for it.
Her hands grasped Erian's, her white fair, young hands on his old wrinkled hands, her touch warm and gentle. "Don't won't lose hope, Erian" she said. "I promise you I'll find a way to break the curse and you won't remain like this forever."
Erian's gaze met Lirien's, his eyes filled with a deep longing. His heart melted by her love for him. A Princess!, But he remained adamant, concealing his sorrow.
"Stop wasting your time, Lirien" he said as he wore an eyeglass and surveyed the page of the ancient book, his eyes narrowed.
Lirien's tears fell, and she buried her face in Erian's chest all of a sudden. "I won't give up". Erian stopped and looked up at the ceiling, startled. "I won't give up on you" tears rolls down her cheek.
"Not until I find it, so, we'll be together … forever." She mumbled while Erian pulled her closer to him.
As they stayed there, wrapped in each other's arms, the silence between them spoke volumes of their unspoken feelings and the desperate hope and love that still lingered in their heart💓.
*****
Chapter two ends.
[I've got to stop here for tonight… I might drop another in days time. PS: if my exams do not affect]