Tales of the sorcerer

The wind howled through the narrow streets of Calezar, carrying the scent of rain and iron. The city, usually pulsing with neon light and restless energy, felt eerily subdued in the quiet hours before dawn. Elena pulled her hood lower over her face as she and Adrian navigated the labyrinthine alleys toward the outskirts.

She kept her footsteps light, her pulse steady, but her mind was a whirlwind of questions. The diary page, the underground chamber labeled Excidium, the hunters who had nearly killed them—all of it pointed to something bigger than she had imagined.

She shot a glance at Adrian. He walked beside her, his expression calm but unreadable. In the dim light, his sharp features seemed even more enigmatic. He had promised to help her, but how much did she truly know about him?

They reached a small transport station just outside the city's main security zone. Adrian approached the automated ticket booth and entered a destination: Drayveth.

Drayveth. A name whispered in the dark corners of history books. It was a ruined city, abandoned long ago after a devastating war. But somewhere within it lay Excidium—and the artifact her parents had been searching for.

Elena shifted her weight, crossing her arms. "This safehouse in Drayveth… How do you know it still exists?"

Adrian's fingers hovered over the confirmation button. "Because it was never meant to be found."

The machine beeped as the tickets were printed. He handed one to her and stepped toward the waiting transport.

Elena frowned but said nothing. She followed him inside, and the doors sealed behind them.

The journey was long and grueling. The train rumbled through the barren outskirts of Calezar, leaving behind the neon skyline and plunging into the wilderness. Rusting metal structures loomed over dry, cracked earth. Drayveth was still several hours away.

Elena leaned against the window, her mind racing.

"This artifact," she said suddenly, breaking the silence, "what exactly does it do?"

Adrian exhaled slowly. "It's not about what it does. It's about what it unlocks."

She turned to face him fully. "You're being cryptic again."

He smirked slightly but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. He hesitated before unwrapping it, revealing a small metal fragment, engraved with strange symbols. It pulsed faintly with a soft blue light.

Elena's breath hitched. "Is that part of it?"

Adrian nodded. "A key. The artifact in Excidium is locked. Without the right pieces, it's useless."

A shiver ran through her. Her parents had died searching for this—had sacrificed everything. But why? What was so dangerous about a relic buried beneath a dead city?

She clenched her fists. "And what happens when we unlock it?"

Adrian's expression darkened. "We find out why people are willing to kill for it."

By the time they reached Drayveth, the sky had turned a muted gray, the sun hidden behind thick, swirling clouds. The air smelled of damp stone and decay.

The city was a graveyard of collapsed buildings and rusted vehicles. Once a thriving metropolis, it had been left to rot, its secrets buried under layers of dust and time.

Elena adjusted the strap of her pack and followed Adrian through the crumbling streets. Every step echoed ominously.

The map from the diary had led them to a nondescript ruin—an old warehouse barely holding itself together. But beneath it, hidden from sight, was the true safehouse.

Adrian ran his fingers along the cracked concrete wall, searching for something. Then, with a quiet click, a hidden panel slid open, revealing a narrow passage leading downward.

Elena's breath caught. "This was here all along?"

Adrian nodded. "Your parents built it. For emergencies."

A knot tightened in her chest. Another piece of their past she had never known. She followed Adrian inside, her heart hammering.

The tunnel sloped downward, and as they ventured deeper, the stale air thickened. Dim emergency lights flickered to life, casting eerie shadows.

At the end of the tunnel was a heavy metal door. Adrian pressed his palm to a scanner. It hesitated—then unlocked with a hiss.

Inside, the chamber was larger than she expected. Old monitors flickered weakly. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, maps, and scattered notes. A large console sat at the center, covered in dust.

And then she saw it.

A small pedestal, positioned at the far end of the room. Resting atop it was an object unlike anything she had ever seen—a sphere, made of dark glass, pulsing faintly with energy.

The artifact.

Elena took a step forward, her hand trembling as she reached out. But Adrian caught her wrist.

"Not yet," he murmured. "It's dangerous."

She pulled away, narrowing her eyes. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

Adrian hesitated. "I promised to keep you safe."

"That's not an answer."

Before he could respond, a sudden alarm blared through the chamber. The monitors flickered violently, displaying a red warning message.

The Hunters Close In

Elena's blood turned cold.

Adrian grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind cover just as gunfire tore through the chamber.

The hunters had found them.

A figure emerged through the doorway—tall, clad in black, their face obscured by a mask. But their presence alone radiated power.

Elena pressed herself against the wall, breathing hard. Who were they? How had they found them so fast?

Adrian reached for his weapon. "Stay behind me."

She clenched her jaw. "Not a chance."

The intruders advanced, weapons raised. Adrian fired first, forcing them to scatter. Elena grabbed a metal pipe from the ground, her pulse steady despite the chaos.

The masked leader dodged Adrian's attacks effortlessly, moving like a shadow. Then, with a flick of their wrist, they sent a blade flying straight at Elena.

She barely dodged in time. The blade nicked her arm, burning like ice.

Adrian swore. "We need to leave. Now."

But the masked figure only chuckled. Their voice was smooth, almost amused.

"Elena," they said, her name rolling off their tongue like a secret.

She froze. How did they know her name?

The figure took a step forward. "Your parents should have left well enough alone."

Adrian's grip on his weapon tightened. "Go to hell."

The figure tilted their head. "Perhaps. But first—"

They lunged.

The next few seconds blurred into chaos.

Adrian blocked the strike, shoving Elena toward the back entrance. "Move!"

But she hesitated. Something about the masked figure felt familiar.

That split second cost them. The leader's blade found its mark—plunging into Adrian's side.

"Elena, run—"

She didn't run.

Ignoring the fear clawing at her chest, she grabbed Adrian before he collapsed. With a surge of desperation, she pressed her palm against the console beside them.

A hidden panel slid open—a hidden tunnel leading out.

"Hold on," she whispered, dragging Adrian inside.

Bullets whizzed past them. The masked figure made no move to follow. Instead, they simply watched as the tunnel door sealed shutdown

Elena collapsed beside Adrian, breathing heavily. His wound was bad, but not fatal.

"You shouldn't have stayed," he murmured.

She glared at him. "And let you bleed out? Not happening."

He chuckled weakly. "You're stubborn."

She tore a piece of fabric from her sleeve and pressed it against his wound. "Who were they, Adrian? How did they know my name?"

Adrian hesitated. Then, with great effort, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small data chip.

"Your parents left more than just the artifact," he said.

Elena stared at the chip.

A map. A message. A secret buried deeper than she ever imagined.

As dawn broke over the ruins of Drayveth, she knew one thing for certain.

This was only the beginning.