I laid on a hammock, flipping through a book, surrounded by beautiful flowers, a flowing stream, butterflies and fresh fresh hair, but behind all of this, were those unendingly high library shelves, I'd being visiting this .. sub space .. every night in my dreams, I use to wonder if it even okay for my to know I was dreaming, when everything felt so real,
Every time, before I left, I'd always make a request for my next visit, and every time it'd be there when I came.
"I almost don't wanna wake up " I dropped the book on my chest, "Actually, this is the best scenery yet" I'd come to believe that I wasn't alone in the sub-space, it didn't feel like it though, but there wasn't any other explanation,
Then the door appeared, a few feet away from me, "Really, it's morning already?".
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I never open my eyes the moment I wake up, I snuggle my sheets, take in deep breaths and wait... for Emily to intrude my chambers without even so much as knocking,
But strangely, the air was heavy and hitched, my bed was sturdy and rough, (was I...) I quickly pushed myself up on my hands, (what the.., where am I? ),
It was a dark ... basement, of a sort, the only source of light came from a high up small window, I say window but it's more of a rectangular shaped holes, just enough for oxygen to get into the room, I was surrounded by boxes, the room was tiny, but high,
I stood up, my whole body ached especially my neck, but fortunately I wasn't tired, I pulled on the rope tied against the massive wooden door like a nub, it didn't budge,
(Of course, it's locked ). I put my ear against the door, silent. It didn't even seem like anyone stood guard, (who could've kidnapped Hampton, I may still be a child, but still...., how'd they even make it into the manor, magic?, or perhaps they had help )
I sank down, leaning backwards against the door, (I need to save my strength ) I chuckled inwardly, (I guess this is what's it like when you have important parents )
"You're seem well rested" a cheerful femine vioce came from the darkness, someone walked out slowly, she wore a white cloak, the deem light made it impossible to see her face, but those eyes... Crimson. She didn't seem to be any taller than me, but that wasn't the case at the moment, seeing as I was on the floor.
"Are you hungry?" She inquired, leaning in
I remained silent,
"No?, well you'll have to eat at some poin-"
"I know you're a mage, which guild? " I questioned, my vioce firm, without fear
For a moment, she paused and seem to stare into me, " why'd you say that, a hunch? " Tilts her head slightly, her tone amused,
" You literally just walked in through a wall " I exclaimed.
" I could've been there the whole time..." She denied my claims,
"Doing what?" I glared..
"just... watching." She said seemly
I couldn't think of anything else, she had this mysterious demeanor about her, apart from the fact that I didn't have any clue who she was,
so I asked an obvious question " Why'd you kidnap me? "
" I don't have that answer " she shrugged nonchalant,
*Knock! Knock!*
The door rattled, but no vioce came after, nothing, not even the sound of footsteps walking away.
"Well.. I'd love to stay and chit chat, not really...," she sighed "but!, I've got things to do" with a simple tug, he pulled the door open, sweeping me aside, "I'll be back in the soonest, ... When I get bored".
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By at the Hampton manor, no one had noticed that Iris had disappeared, not even Emily...her personal maid, not even when she didn't show up for breakfast, it wasn't unusual for Iris to disappear for an entire day, although Theo usually also disappeared along with her, not this time.
They'd only noticed something was a miss when her teacher, Karlot, asked for her, and she couldn't be found,
Emily was questioned and later locked in the maids quarters, Duke Sylvester and his knight commander *Zerius Winston* investigated her bedroom, and confirmed dark magic, vague and vanishing, but undeniable.
"Kidnapped!" Lauttha exclaimed!!, worried
"Yes, it was shadow magic, but it's too vague to trace" Duke Sylvester slammed his fist furiously against his study table! "if only we had noticed much earlier!"
Lauttha felt a throb in her chest, her legs could no longer hold her up, she clashed on the couch behind her, looking pail, abit doubtful.
"Ar-are you sure?!, m-maybe she.. she .." she stammered "you know Iris!, she always reading and testing theories" tears dropped down her cheeks,
Duke Sylvester crossed the distance between them in a second, and hugged his wife, "Lauttha, this isn't the time to be in deniel, Iris may be frail but she's still a Hampton" he pulled back.
"Vester..." More tears poured down her face,
" I'll find out daughter, and slaughter those who took her! ", his brows frowned, and his expression twisted with anger & resolve.
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Meanwhile at the basement, i had made little sense of my situation, firstly, the door wasn't locked, it couldn't be ...it had no locks, and it didn't click when that person went out, which meant...
(Magic.)
I'm dealing with mages, but they didn't seem all that wise, if they left me without restrains,
I stood frozen, a safe distance away, facing the door, my hands were stretched out, and a white sphere with an otherworldly glow pulsed between my palms. The soft humming from it heightened the anticipation as I waited for the door to open.
After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked ominously, as it began to swing open, I released the sphere, It shot through the doorway, striking the intruder with precision.
The impact was immediate, and the intruder crumpled to the ground.
I let out a triumphant cry as the door swung wide open "yes!", I rushed out into the hallway, taking in the scene. The intruder lay motionless on the floor, but I didn't have time to celebrate, as I heard footsteps echoing down the hall.
A window beckoned at the far end of the corridor. Without hesitation, I sprinted towards it, I didn't pause to think. I just jumped.
The landing was rough, and I crashed onto my shoulder, a searing pain shot through my left hip, and my arm felt numb. I gritted my teeth and scrambled to my feet, clutching my arm tightly, It felt like it might fall off if I didn't,
Luckily it was only a floor from the ground, I took off in a sprint, ignoring the pain, and into the forest.
The trees blurred together as I ran, making thick shade, the air was chilly, and worse because I still wore my night garments, my breath coming in ragged gasps, I ran bear footed across the dead leaves and broken branches,
But despite the chaos, I felt a strange sense of calm, no fear, no panic – just a cold determination to keep moving,
As I ran, a glimpse of the intruder's face flashed in my mind, something about it seemed off... and then I remembered
(fur ears.., Mage Werebeasts?)
I burst into an open field, my eyes scanning the landscape, the field stretched out before me, seemingly endless. But my relief was short-lived.
A figure approached from the far end, moving at an incredible speed, my body tensed, and I retreated into the forest by a few steps, my heart raced.
"Iris!!!"
(That's Mother's vioce ).