Strange Artifact

Ignatius and his team left for Mithrilen City under the cover of night. As dawn approached, they stopped at the great lift. The dwarfs greeted them with enthusiasm. Ignatius and his women had made quite the impression on them. Ignatius booked them in at the spa they had visited before. Once they had placed their belongings in their room. They took the tram to the outskirts of the city.

They followed the route drawn on the map. leading them to the hidden chamber located at the outskirts of the city, behind the palace wall. The search took them hours but finally they discovered the area they were searching for.

"We should go and rest and continue tomorrow." Ignatius said. Taking Luna and Elysia's hands.

"I agree Master the day had been a long one." Christie said.

"I can do with a bath and a good meal." Luna said sitting on a bench pulling Ignatius down. "Five minutes please."

Elysia held his arm as she looked at the beautiful park. "How do they do it look at all these flowers."

"Dwarf gardeners do all the hard work." Christie said sitting next to Elysia.

Back at the spa they enjoyed a lovely meal and had a relaxing hot spring bath.

The next day, they donned their disguises and set out, confident in their destination—a small hill in a park.

Upon arrival, they discovered the hidden entrance. Elysia and Luna led the way, their weapons at the ready, new swords summoned from their spatial rings.

Ignatius, with a wave of his hand, summoned Gregor. Causing the ladies' knees to weaken at the sight of the handsome summon. Christie, in her incubus form, followed behind Ignatius.

As they navigated through a tunnel, they heard footsteps behind them. "Sounds like five individuals," Christie commented. They rushed forward to gain a better position. Men in hoods attacked from the front. Their purple cloaks, suggesting an organization. Ignatius whispered, "Aegis of the Ancients." The orb started to glow with an intense, golden light. The light pulsed with a deep, resonant energy. Matching the rhythm of his heartbeat.

The golden light spread from the orb. Forming intricate patterns and symbols in the air around Ignatius. These patterns coalesced into a luminous shield. That began to take shape around him. Expanding into a full dome that encompassed Ignatius and his allies. The surface of the shield adorned with ancient runes. And symbols, each one pulsing with energy.

The figures in purple thrust their staffs in the air. And magic missiles pummelled Ignatius's dome shield. The shield grew stronger with each magic missile that hit it. The figures stopped, then stepped back as masked men rushed forward, swords in hand. Gregor and Christie engaged the eight men attacking from the shadows behind Ignatius. Luna instinctively activated Phantom Strike. As Luna stepped forward, her body shimmered and blurred. Becoming semi-transparent for a moment. Allowing her to move with unparalleled speed and precision.

Luna's movements became a series of swift, ghostly blurs as she dashed towards her target. Each step left behind a faint afterimage that lingered for a moment before fading away. She engaged the masked men, cutting them down like wheat at harvest time.

Elysia transformed into her mist form and flowed towards the hooded magic users. She stopped by a barrier, sparks bursting forth where she encountered it. She solidified and looked at the man standing with a wide grin, his eyes hidden. Disappearing into a shadow, the man's head rolled forward as she stepped out next to him from his shadow. Chaos inside amongst the casters.

Ignatius couldn't risk using his Eldritch Blast inside the small enclosure. As the battle raged on, Christie flew by him, foes lay dead behind them. Gregor stood at his back with his sabre. A voice called out from the shadows, "Retreat."

The men fought hard to retreat, their numbers dwindling as Luna and Elysia cut them down. "Come back, let them escape," Ignatius said. Luna and Elysia retreated.

A roar echoed down the tunnel. They looked at each other in alarm. A flaming creature made of stone emerged from the opposite tunnel, standing as high as a man. The ground sizzled where its feet touched the stones. Heat radiated from it, and it roared, fire like a furnace inside its maw, with fangs that glowed like heated metal.

"Get behind me," Ignatius yelled. Luna and Elysia ran past him as Christie flew over his head. As Ignatius whispered, "Arcane Tempest." The orb glowed with a bright, electric blue light. This light intensified. Crackling with raw magical energy that arced around the orb and Ignatius's hands.

The blue light from the orb expanded, forming a swirling vortex of energy above Ignatius. The vortex grew larger. Pulling in surrounding ambient magic and air, creating a whirlwind of arcane power. The vortex was a mesmerizing blend. Of blues, purples, and occasional flashes of white lightning. Crackling with chaotic energy.

The vortex expanded into a full-blown tempest, swirling with immense power. Bolts of arcane lightning shot out from the centre. Striking the ground and the creature. The storm clouds above churned and darkened. Creating an ominous atmosphere. Filled with the rumble of thunder and the howling of electrical winds.

The Arcane Tempest created a barrier of swirling winds and energy. That deflected incoming attacks. While also launching bolts of lightning at any enemy within range. The beast spewed fire at the tempest. The lightning made short work of the creature. As parts of its body exploded into dust with every lighting strike. The tempest died down. Leaving the floor covered in flaming dust. That burned for a few seconds before smouldering. Exhausted, Ignatius fainted. Gregor caught him before he crumpled to the floor.

Ignatius found himself lounging on a beach chair. A soft smile on his face as he watched his sister and Silvi run along the shoreline. Their laughter blending with the gentle whispers of the waves. Their snow-white swimsuits glistened in the sunlight. A perfect contrast to the golden sands beneath their feet. The salty breeze carried the sound of their joy to Ignatius, wrapping him in a comforting cocoon of peace.

Reaching for a glass of ice-cold milk. On the small table beside him, Ignatius took a sip, savouring the sweet, creamy taste. Nearby, Luna, Elysia, Ayla, and Christie relaxed on towels under large umbrellas. Their chatter a soothing background melody. Seven maids played with a beach ball in the shallows. Their white swimsuits turning translucent with each splash of water.

"Ignatius, Ignatius," a distant voice called. He opened his eyes, finding himself staring into Luna's concerned gaze, his head resting on her lap.

"Did we win?" Ignatius asked, his voice a bit groggy.

"Yes, we did," Luna replied, her fingers brushing through his hair.

Elysia leaned against the opposite wall, her expression serious. "I've scouted ahead," she said. "There are two groups of what I can only guess are adventurer parties, dead inside the chamber."

"Look at this," Christie said, holding a letter for him to read. Ignatius noticed the name signed at the bottom—Victor. He had sent in two teams before them, and they had been wiped out.

"Wait," Ignatius said, frowning. "Adventurers? Where did they come from? This is the first I've heard about them."

"Golden Guild City. Each continent has one," Luna explained. "You've never heard of them?"

"I showed you the flyer when we had the picnic at my house, remember?" Luna giggled.

Ignatius shook his head with a smile. "All I remember about that day is you had no bra on. Your light blue blouse was practically see-through. No, I don't remember you mentioning it."

Pushing himself up to sit, Ignatius looked around. The group entered the chamber, the musty scent of death thick in the air. The corpses had dried, their grim presence a stark reminder of the dangers they faced.

"I wish I could have been at that picnic," Elysia said wistfully.

"He was so stuck up back then," Luna teased. "He did nothing but stare."

"I was afraid of losing you," Ignatius admitted as he examined the corpses.

"What would you have done if he had taken action? Think hard about that, with your parents' view of him," Christie challenged.

Luna looked at Ignatius, her eyes softening. "I know it would have ended badly."

A faint glow caught their attention at the far end of the chamber. They walked forward, ready for anything. A cube hung above an altar, radiating power. Its grooved sides hinted at its purpose.

"Do we take it?" Elysia asked, curiosity tinging her voice.

"I'll try. Wait here," Christie said, stepping forward. She grasped the cube, its rough surface providing a solid grip. She pulled, but nothing happened. Using her tail for extra leverage, she tried again, but the cube remained immovable.

"Damn thing doesn't move," Christie panted, walking back, shoulders slumped.

"Let me try," Elysia said, turning to Ignatius. "May I?"

Ignatius nodded, holding her as she fed from him. Moaning with pleasure, Elysia felt the surge of strength. Approaching the cube, she grasped it and pulled with all her might. Despite her efforts, it refused to budge.

"It's no use," Elysia said, landing gracefully after a somersault.

Stepping forward, Ignatius examined the cube more closely. Primordial script lined its edges. He extended his hand, speaking in primordial elven, "Come to me."

The cube responded, floating into his hand. The women stared in awe.

"What language was that?" Elysia asked, wide-eyed.

"Primordial elven," Christie answered. "The language died out after the age of myth and legend."

Ignatius placed the cube in his spatial ring. "Let's go home, girls," he said, walking past them.

"Well done, master," Gregor said, appearing from the shadows.

"Come, girls. I need a pie," Ignatius said, waiting for them to follow.