"Echoes in the Dark"
Alone, a young wizard traveled inside damp, shadow-laden sewers beneath the bustling city of Carlin. He moved with a silent, cat-like grace. His cloak, a patchwork of shadows, blended with the dim light that filtered through the grates above. His eyes, accustomed to the darkness, scanned the murky depths for his quarry.
Rats – the bane of the city above and the target of his hunt. They scurried through the narrow passages, their beady eyes glinting in the gloom. His heart pounded in his chest, a rhythmic echo in the oppressive silence of the sewer. Each breath was a labor, filled with the musty scent of damp stone and the distant echo of Carlin's life above.
As he crept forward Erazon's mind flashed. His legs weakened. He experienced a sudden pain, and images flashed through his mind. For a brief moment, he grabbed onto the cold sewer wall to steady his balance. He had had these moments before, and this time it was the same vision. He was seeing a city, a grand city. A gigantic ring floated above the city and gave off an overwhelming sense of light and energy. The city itself, in his brief glimpse, was vastly different than where he was now. It was clean, and sophisticated. Magic permeated the very air, like a tangible force. Before he could focus on it, the vision and his balance were back. His mind was quickly returning to him, but the image of the circle city was now mostly lost in a haze. He wondered out loud “What was that?”.
As long as he had been alive, and could remember being he knew power flowed through his veins. But here, in the bowels of Carlin, he was exhausted, and his energy was reduced to mere whiffs of air, just enough to conjure a simple magic missile spell using this familiar rune in his hand. If he held onto it, and focused himself he could send a pulse of air rushing to meet his chosen target. It wasn’t particularly impressive, as he had only been able to kill small bugs or rats with, but it helped him earn some money from the city guard. He was able to kill these foul sewer rats and in exchange the guard would give him a small coin.
Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed through the tunnels. Erazon tensed, his hand reaching for the small, rune-inscribed stone that was the focus of his magic. The rats were upon him.
Dozens of them, their fur matted and eyes gleaming with a feral hunger, swarmed out of the shadows. Erazon's heart raced as he unleashed his most powerful spell, simple bursts of air that sent several rats tumbling. However this time rats the size of dogs kept coming, a relentless tide of teeth and claws. Far larger than his usual prey, he thought he might be in danger. He was beginning to sweat, and his energy was about exhausted from the day's work.
Backed against a cold, damp wall, Erazon realized the gravity of his situation. His magic was seriously waning, his energy ebbing away. This could be the end – a wizard's demise in the forgotten darkness beneath a city of light.
It was then that a glimmer of hope appeared – a mysterious light, soft and warm, cutting through the darkness. The light grew, coalescing into a form both whimsical and surreal – a floating, luminous creature with the playful appearance of a cat, but made entirely of radiant energy.
“Hey, you big meanies! Leave him alone!” The creature’s voice was a chirpy, melodious blend of indignation and courage. It was Lumi, her presence an explosion of light and emotion in the dreary sewer.
The rats, startled by the sudden brightness and the high-pitched scolding, hesitated. Their natural instincts kicked in, and they scattered, disappearing into the shadows from which they had emerged.
Erazon slumped to the ground, his breath ragged, his body trembling from exertion and relief. He had been scratched, and bitten numerous times by these giant rats. Immediately noticing the pain searing through one of the bite marks, he grabbed his leg and again felt himself weakening. Lumi floated down to him, her light dimming to a gentle, comforting glow.
“Are you okay? That was close!” Lumi exclaimed, her tone a mix of concern and excitement. Her form flickered like a flame, reflecting her rapidly shifting emotions.
“Thank you,” Erazon managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what you are, but thank you. I think one of these rats may have poisoned me”
“I’m Lumi! And you're welcome!” she beamed. “You look terrible, though. Some of these rats are vile creatures..the poison has been known to kill. We must get you somewhere safe. I know just the place!”
With Lumi leading the way, her light a beacon in the gloomy tunnels, they navigated through the sewer. Erazon's steps were heavy, each movement a testament to his exhaustion. The pain and weakness began effecting his mind, and his leg was beginning to burn and ache with a great pain.
Lumi’s energy, however, was unbounded, her light dancing around him, an ever-present reminder of the whimsy and unpredictability of magic.
After what seemed like an eternity they arrived at a hidden passage, barely noticeable in the sewer wall. Lumi’s light touched the bricks, revealing ancient runes. With a nudge from her glowing form, the passage opened, revealing a stairway leading upward.
“This way!” Lumi urged, her voice a cheerful melody that contrasted starkly with the sewer’s oppressive atmosphere.
The stairway led them to a concealed door, locked from the inside. Through the other side Erazon could feel a cool breeze. The air was rich with the scent of herbs and he could hear the subtle tang of potion bottles clinking against something.
