Chapter 10: Escape

Carl, once a powerful hero, now felt the weight of his lost magic pressing heavily on his shoulders. He could have easily broken out and dealt with the hooded guards if only he still had his power. Ephraim, however, possessed a unique ability to manipulate shadows, allowing him to cloak their movements and create distractions. He could also attack with his shadow.

As Ephraim stepped into view, his hand moved to Carl's head. With his hand firmly in place on Carl's head, he formed a thick mass of shadow below Carl. Carl felt himself sinking into the floor. He looked down to see what was happening, only to realize he was sinking into a dark shadow; Ephraim's shadow ability.

Carl felt a pull—a sensation akin to being drawn into a whirlpool, but without the water. His surroundings began to blur and fade away, replaced by an enveloping darkness. It was not just a lack of light; it felt like being submerged in a thick fog that wrapped around him, isolating him from the world.

Once fully immersed in the shadow, Carl's senses became heightened yet distorted. The air felt colder, and he could feel a tingling sensation on his skin, as if tiny shadows were dancing across his body. The sensation was both unsettling and strangely invigorating; it was as if he were being embraced by the very essence of darkness itself.

In this state, time became fluid. Moments stretched and compressed, making it hard to gauge how long one had been in this shadow. A person might feel weightless or heavy, as if gravity had shifted; every movement required more effort. And that was exactly how Carl felt.

After submerging Carl into the shadow, Ephraim joined that shadow to his own, creating an unnaturally dark mass that seemed to absorb all the surrounding light. This technique completely concealed Carl.

He then walked towards the hooded guards stationed nearby. The exit loomed just behind them, but the guards were imposing figures—tall and muscular men whose presence radiated authority even beneath their hoods.

The first guard asked Ephraim, "Where are you off to?"

Ephraim shrugged noncommittally, "I just want to take care of some personal stuff."

The guard stared at him intently with an unwavering gaze.

"Alright, alright, alright, I won't be long," he said in a resigned tone.

Without a final glance back at the guards, Ephraim passed through the gates and into the moonlight outside the mansion. Just as he stepped beyond the threshold, the second guard remarked, "Do you feel that?"

"What?" The second guard inquired with a clueless expression.

"Nothing," he replied dismissively, "the place felt a bit chilly, but it is back to normal."

"Oh! Right," that usually indicates that Ephraim is using his shadow ability, "said the first guard.

"But why will he keep his shadow ability active?" the other asked.

"Beats me," came the shrugging reply from the first guard as they resumed their watch.

It took Ephraim a lot of effort to ensure that the shadow he had created for Carl fitted perfectly into his own shadow and to keep it from deviating as you walked through the guards and other servants.

Ephraim moved swiftly toward a secluded spot obscured from view of the mansion. Once safely hidden from prying eyes, he released Carl from the shadow's grip. Carl gasped for air as he emerged from the depths of darkness. It felt like waking from a deep dream; light flooded back in with overwhelming intensity.

"Even though it was nighttime, and they were sheltered beneath the thick canopy of a tree, Carl felt as if his vision were overloaded with light. The contrast was overwhelming. Having just emerged from the oppressive darkness of Ephraim's shadow, he was unprepared for the brightness of the moonlight that flooded his senses. It felt as if he had been locked away in an underground chamber without light for years, and now, suddenly pulled into the open air, he was exposed to the full glare of the sun.

The experience was disorienting. His eyes struggled to adjust, blinking rapidly as he tried to shield himself from the brightness that seemed to pierce through his very being. Each flicker of light felt like a sharp reminder of how long he had been submerged in that suffocating darkness. Memories of being submerged in the shadow rushed back to him, where time had lost its meaning and reality had warped into something unrecognizable.

As he stood there, Carl took a moment to breathe deeply, allowing the cool night air to fill his lungs. He could feel the gentle rustle of leaves above him and hear the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in the underbrush. With each breath, he began to reclaim his senses, grounding himself in this new reality. The moonlight bathed him in a silvery glow, illuminating his surroundings and reminding him that he was free once more—free to move forward, free to fight back against the darkness that had threatened to consume him.

Though still shaken by his recent experience, Carl felt a spark of determination igniting within him. Disoriented yet exhilarated by the experience, Carl took deep breaths as he tried to collect himself. The sensations of warmth and sound rushed back—each detail sharper than before—as he regained his bearings. The thrill of escape mingled with gratitude for Ephraim's timely intervention.

Ephraim stood beside him, casting a watchful eye towards their surroundings. "We need to move quickly," he urged quietly. "They won't stay oblivious for long."

Carl nodded, feeling renewed determination surge within him despite his lost powers.

As Carl and Ephraim sprinted through the dense forest, the moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting fleeting shadows on the ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, invigorating their senses. They moved swiftly, hearts racing, adrenaline coursing through their veins as they evaded pursuit. Each rustle of leaves and snap of twigs heightened their awareness, urging them to push forward.

They continued pressing on, running and sprinting. Halfway through the night, Ephraim was breathless from exertion while Carl leaned heavily against one trunk—Ephraim whispered urgently: "We need to move quickly before they realize we're gone.

Back at the Braim's mansion, Absalom strode into the dungeon with a twisted sense of excitement, his heart racing at the thought of finally indulging in his dark desires for the last time. All day, he had felt an insatiable urge to torture Carl, relishing the idea of inflicting pain before Carl was handed over to the Empire the next day. The cold stone walls of the dungeon loomed around him, damp and unwelcoming, but to Absalom, they were a stage set for his cruel performance.

As he approached Carl's cell, anticipation bubbled within him. He imagined the look of fear on Carl's face, the cries for mercy that would inevitably escape his lips. But when he swung open the heavy iron door with a flourish, his excitement turned to disbelief. The cell was empty. The chains that had once held Carl lay abandoned on the floor, rusted and cold. A surge of frustration washed over Absalom; this was not how it was supposed to go.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Absalom's mind raced. He quickly turned and stormed out of the dungeon, his footsteps echoing ominously in the silence. He knew he needed to alert his father, Charles Braim, who held authority over the guards and could mobilize them quickly. Reaching for the alarm bell mounted on the wall—a heavy brass apparatus that had not been used in years—Absalom pulled the cord with urgency. A loud clang reverberated through the castle, summoning guards from their posts.

Within moments, Charles Braim arrived, his expression a mixture of concern and irritation. "What is it, Absalom? Why have you sounded the alarm?" he demanded.

"Father! Carl is gone! He escaped from his cell!" Absalom exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic.

Charles frowned deeply as he processed this information. "How could this happen? They used their ability to get rid of his power, so how was he able to escape without magic? It was for that reason he did not find it necessary to assign guards to watch the place."

Nearby, two guards stationed at their posts exchanged worried glances. The first guard spoke up hesitantly, "I noticed something strange earlier tonight. Ephraim left unexpectedly with no proper explanation."

The second guard nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I felt a sudden chill in the air just before he left. It's usually a sign that he's using his shadow ability."

Charles's brow furrowed as he connected the dots. "So you're saying Ephraim activated his powers just before Carl disappeared? This can't be a coincidence."

The first guard added, "It makes sense now. Ephraim must have rescued him while we were not paying attention."

Absalom's frustration boiled over as he realized how close they had come to losing Carl permanently. "We need to mobilize our forces immediately! We can't let them get away!"

Charles nodded decisively. "Gather all available guards and send them after Ephraim and Carl. They must not escape our grasp."

With urgency in their movements, the guards rushed to follow Charles's orders. They donned their hoods and prepared themselves for pursuit, knowing that time was of the essence. Absalom watched as they organized themselves into small groups, ready to scour the surrounding forest for any sign of their quarry.

As they departed into the night, Absalom felt a mix of anger and determination coursing through him. He would not allow Ephraim to outsmart them again or let Carl slip through their fingers. This time, he would ensure that they captured both men—no matter what it took.

As Absalom stood there watching his father bark orders at the guards, a sinister smile crept across his face. The thrill of the hunt ignited something dark within him; he would not rest until Carl was back in chains—or worse. This was only a temporary setback; soon enough, they would reclaim their prize and punish those who dared defy them.