Never Trust Warlocks

Chapter 24

As torchlight flickered, Mizzryk's betrayal echoed in Snow's mind, gnawing at her trust. She exchanged wary glances with Hamish, the kobold's parting curses lingering as they ventured deeper into the dungeon's winding corridors. Shadows grew heavier, mirroring the dungeon's darker turn. Passageways narrowed, oppressive heat climbing with each step, the air thick with sulfur and scorched metal.

At the final chamber, unlike the lifeless rooms before, Mizzryk stood with hands raised in feeble surrender. "Please, no kill Mizzryk. I want to help you," he pleaded, his voice trembling. Snow hesitated, pity rising despite his treachery.

Gripping his sword, Hamish's face darkened. He snapped the blade up, poised for battle. Snow summoned a volley of ice spikes, fingers tense. Mizzryk dropped to his knees, burying his face in his hands, babbling for mercy. Snow noticed Hamish's jaw tighten, his posture suggesting reluctance to strike such a pathetic creature. They paused, watching cautiously.

Slowly lifting his head, Mizzryk fixed his damp, beady eyes on them with pitiful intensity, once sharp with deceit, now desperate. "Please. No kill, I can help. I helped kill the Mental Fire Elemental in the core room. I will protect you," he offered, nodding as if urging trust. Snow winced at his sad, ugly form, torn by pity. Maybe he needed a friend to change. "Hamish, maybe it's worth taking a chance on him. He might be useful," she murmured, her trust wavering.

Hamish held her gaze, lips compressed. "Fine. But he's your problem. If he turns on us, I'm taking his head home as a trophy." They moved side by side, alert, stopping before a massive carved archway opening into a vast chamber. The walls pulsed with a deep red glow, alive with molten energy.

Looming at the center, a colossal fire elemental radiated searing heat. Its burning form guarded a churning core, pulsing with ancient malice. Nearly five meters tall, encased in a metallic shell around a blazing furnace, flames poured from its eyes as it swiveled between them. Mizzryk whispered nervously, "That's him. Fire. Heat. Death!" He pointed a gnarled finger at the trial's boss. Snow's heart pounded, the elemental's molten glow mesmerizing her. The air vibrated with its roar. Her sapphire core pulsed as she clutched her staff.

The clash erupted. Hamish darted left, Snow veered right, splitting their attack. Twirling to add momentum, she summoned an ice lance and flung it into the elemental's head, distracting it as Hamish charged. A bright aura of light radiated from him, pushing back the heat. He swung his sword in a diagonal slash, striking the creature's thigh. Spreading ice along the floor, Snow watched the elemental stumble on the slick surface as she hurled frost shards, the fight blurring into frantic survival.

Holding its attention, Hamish hacked at its legs with his aura. Snow pummeled it with ice shards and water blasts, the water sizzling on its metal, making it brittle for Hamish's strikes. Hamish unleashed his Double-Beat Strike, swinging horizontally, pivoting swiftly to strike again from a less-defended angle. The blow landed with a "Chunk! Swoosh, chonck!" shattering the creature's defenses. The elemental's glow dimmed as Hamish's blade struck true.

With a crash, its body shuddered and collapsed. Silence fell, the heat receding. Clinging to her staff, Snow watched the hulking form crumble, her glacial cage encasing its legs, ice cracking against the lifeless husk.

"Well," Hamish muttered, stepping back, sword ready. "That's done."

Heat flared, Snow's heart lurching as the creature's body ignited again. Cracks in its metal widened, revealing a core of pure flame. "Hamish! Move!" she shouted.

Hamish leapt, nearly too late, as flames erupted. Snow squeaked, fearing he wouldn't make it.

Mizzryk unleashed a gust of wind, parting the flames enough for Hamish to dive behind a pillar. The husk erupted, fire surging skyward. Snow stumbled, her Ice Shield deflecting the blast. The metal melted into slag, leaving a humanoid flame twisting and flaring, its burning eyes fixed on her, searing heat radiating.

"Of course," Hamish growled, raising his shield. "The bloody thing isn't done!"

Mizzryk's delighted laugh echoed. "The core is freed at last! What a marvel, such power, such chaos!" The elemental shrieked, its cry reverberating. It lashed a flame whip at Hamish, who absorbed the strike, sliding back.

"It's too fast!" Hamish shouted. "Snow, ideas?"

Snow's mind raced, the elemental's erratic movements overwhelming. The heat evaporated pools, stone glowing red-hot. "Fuel!" she yelled. "It's burning through its fuel! If we make it burn hotter, it'll run out faster!"

Hamish grunted, blocking a flaming tendril. "And when it does?"

Snow was casting. "It'll solidify. Then we can hit it where it hurts." He didn't question her. Bracing herself, she raised her staff to strip chill from the air, spiking the temperature as stone cracked.

The elemental's movements grew erratic, its form flickering. It shrieked, flames surging, consuming air and heat. Its fluid shape stuttered, parts hardening. "It's working!" Snow called, her voice strained, sweat dripping as she poured energy into the spell.

Hamish advanced, shield raised, sword ready. "Hold it steady, lass!"

As Mizzryk laughed, he fired a force bolt into Hamish's back. "Perfect timing! Now Mizzryk claims his prize!"

Hamish staggered, his shield dropping as the bolt struck. The elemental's fiery tendril caught him, sending him to one knee, clutching his side.

"Hamish!" Snow screamed, rushing to him.

She pulled him behind her Ice Shield. Mizzryk fired another bolt, deflected by her barrier. "Traitorous little shite!" Hamish growled, his voice thick with pain.

Mizzryk's grin widened, his staff glowing. "Ah, such fools! I warned you! Now the dungeon's power shall be mine!"

The elemental shrieked, its form collapsing as the heat consumed its core. It fell into molten rock, flames sputtering. Mizzryk raised his staff, firing another bolt. It struck Snow's shield, cracking the ice, shaking the chamber.

Hamish groaned, clutching his side, struggling to summon a healing spell. "Lass, remain vigilant," he whispered softly. "He'll kill us both if we let him."

Snow nodded, hands trembling as she reinforced the shield. Mizzryk laughed, stepping closer. "Yes, yes! Struggle all you want, it only makes my victory sweeter!"

Snow's shield cracked, her strength waning. Mizzryk fired another bolt, shaking the ground. His laughter echoed as he raised his staff. "Pathetic!" he cackled. "Your shields are nothing! Your strength fades! And Mizzryk will—"

"Shut up!" Snow snapped, her voice cracking.

She summoned a new shield, flickering and fragile. Hamish grunted, his healing glow faint, movements shaky. They couldn't hold out.

As panic surged, Snow slammed her fist against a pillar. "Ciall agam féin!" she cursed in Gaelic, raw and urgent. "Foolish! Stupid! Think, Snow, think!" Spotting potions in her pack, she grabbed a healing potion, thrusting it into Hamish's hand. "Drink this!" she barked, sharper than intended.

Hamish stared, then nodded, uncorking and downing the glowing liquid. Snow fumbled for a mana potion, swallowing it in a desperate gulp. Her trembling ceased, her sapphire core flaring with renewed strength. Hamish straightened, color returning, eyes burning with fury as he gripped his shield.

Mizzryk laughed, raising his staff. "Ah, potions will not save you! Mizzryk will—"

Hamish roared, surging forward, his shield slamming Mizzryk with bone-shattering force. The kobold crashed against the wall, crying out, his staff clattering. He slumped, dazed.

"You've got no idea who you've messed with," Hamish growled.

Snow rushed after him. Mizzryk twitched, fumbling for his staff, but Snow raised her staff, ice swirling into a jagged cage around him. He hissed, claws scraping the ice.

"Disarm him!" Snow called.

Hamish wrenched the staff from Mizzryk's grasp, overpowering the kobold. Mizzryk's glow dimmed, sparking weakly.

"No!" Mizzryk cried, shrill. "No, no, no! Mizzryk cannot lose! This is not how it was meant to be!"

Hamish loomed, his expression dark. "Beg."

Mizzryk froze, eyes darting. "What?!" he stammered.

"Beg," Hamish repeated, low and dangerous. "Beg for your life. Surrender all your treasures, or I'll finish what I started."

Mizzryk's bravado crumbled. He dropped to his knees, clasping hands. "Please! Please, no! I'm sorry! I'll give you everything, gold, treasures, even… even a candle! But please, no killing!"

"Candle?" Hamish raised an eyebrow, plucking a waxy object from Mizzryk's pouch.

Mizzryk howled. "No! Not the candle! Please, do not take candle!"

Hamish grimaced. "It's just a bloody candle."

"It is Mizzryk's candle!" Mizzryk wailed, pressing his forehead against the ice. "Do not take it! Please, I beg!"

Snow crossed her arms. "Now you're just bullying him. Surrender, Mizz. Swear an oath to leave this dungeon and admit defeat, or we'll finish you."

Mizzryk hesitated, eyes darting. He slumped, muttering, "Fine. I swear. I'll leave. No power, no treasures… no candle." He sniffled, tears streaming down his scaly face.

Snow waved her hand, dispelling the ice cage. Mizzryk scrambled free, clutching his empty pouch, sobbing as he fled into the shadows.

Hamish snorted, grabbing the candle. "What a piece of work… that candle smells like arse anyway."

He paused, glancing at it. "…You don't suppose he…"

He threw it into a refuse pile. "Oh gods… uhh, no, please no." He wretched, wiping his hands on his pants.

Snow giggled, teasing, "Yep. He probably did. Who knows how kobolds keep themselves busy?"

"I touched it!" Hamish leaned on the wall, retching. Mizzryk departed toward the crystal, sniffling. The crystal absorbed him painlessly, reclaiming its points.

Facing the elemental's flickering core, Snow raised her staff, drawing on her last reserves. "Hamish," she said steadily. "I'll handle this."

He stepped back, watching as a chilling hiss filled the air, frost swirling above the core. Ice coalesced into a massive spike, growing slowly as Snow poured everything into it, the icicle sharpening. With a piercing cry, she thrust her staff forward. The spike hurtled downward, piercing the core with a deafening crack. The core shattered, splintering into molten light shards scattering across the floor. Silence fell, the heat lifting.

The dungeon's voice echoed, calm and precise: "Victory achieved! Well done. Rewards unlocked." A massive treasure chest appeared, its surface adorned with glowing runes. Hamish rested his hand on the lid. "This had better be worth it."

Inside, Snow found a smooth, glowing marble shard, a rare metal shard etched with silver and gold veins, a ring for Hamish enchanted to enhance dexterity, and scattered gold coins and trinkets. Hamish slipped the ring on, a small grin emerging. "Not bad," he said. "Though I still don't know what to make of that candle."

Snow shrugged, exhausted. "Let's get back to the settlement. I'm done with this place." They headed toward the exit, Snow smiling