Aleric could barely regain consciousness as the horse pulled carriage wobbled along the cobblestone road, he smelled the metallic taste of blood in the back of his throat and the swift need to vomit what little he had eaten in the two weeks of forced travel, he hardly expected the mist fairies to abandon their duties tending to the forests for king Alexander and aid Selina in her plans of deceit.
They passed through the archway. A tingling sensation glowed over his skin as the archway of clear quartz drained the last of his energy. The scarlet blade inspected the incoming carriage, but waved their crimson blood glove in acceptance. After all, who in their right mind would arrest the pillar for bringing in an outsider?

Aleric's vision, blurred and hazy, strained as he squinted through the window. Surrounding the village, walls made of weathered tail stones enclosed the bustling streets. It filled the air with the scent of herbs and the sound of hammers striking metal, as the village bustled with herbalists, healers, and skilled blacksmiths, enchanting their weapons. The scarlet-clad blade patrolled the streets, their presence instilling a sense of order and security. However, doubt lingered in Aleric's mind. The dark witches, masters of spells, relied on the armoured task force for protection. In the village's heart, shops lined with spells and enchantments thrived, while the residents imported fresh produce and fish from the nearby red sea. The scarlet blade possessed the ability to teleport, effortlessly banishing threats from the caverns. Along the sturdy fortress walls, radiant vines glowed, serving as a formidable defence, capable of casting even the most formidable army into the depths of the sea or trapping them within the scarlet blade's cunning snares. In the distance, the imposing and impenetrable castle loomed, exuding an aura of mystery and power.

The mist fairies grabbed Aleric by the forearms and dragged him from the carriage, his greying hair spilled over his face in a tangled mess of dreadlocks. The thin clothing Selina provided him did nothing against the bitter cold.
Shivers slashed down his spine. They entered the warm embrace of the bronze castle. "Selina, this man weights a ton.
"Why did you use an immobilising spell?" the fairy hissed, their voice filled with disdain, as they effortlessly lifted Aleric off his feet. The clear quartz pendant he wore around his neck glowed faintly, evidence of his drained seer abilities. Selina, the commanding presence, ordered without a second thought, her dismissive wave directing them to the dungeon. As she strode down the opulent hallway, adorned with golden walls and adorned with priceless artworks, the air was heavy with the scent of old money and power.

Reluctantly, the fairies groaned, their wings fluttering with fatigue as they descended the damp stone steps. "I don't envy this guy," one of them muttered, his voice filled with sympathy, "being married to a control freak like her. He must have the nerves of steel." The sound of rusty hinges echoed through the corridor, the screeching iron against stone grating against their ears. They carefully secured Aleric to the cold, unforgiving stone wall, the shackles biting into his skin.

Aleric couldn't feel his frozen limbs. The numbness provided a welcome relief to the wounds he received the nights he kept quiet at Selina. His sleep became restless with unfocused visions. He could barely make out the black silhouettes of shapes before him. Aleric could no longer hear the echoes of Lady Lucia's tender voice within his troubled mind.

The hollowing of the furious wind awoke from his unconscious state. A sea storm turned the sky ominous, with black clouds accompanied by flashes of lightning. The clear quartz shone dimly around his neck, draining the last of his abilities, cutting off communication with the king's favoured seer and plunging his foresight into darkness.
He sighed, his chest heavy with the biting cold. He could no longer check on Destiny. Her sleeping form remained peaceful. But what had Selina done to her mind all those years?

The constant dripping was his source of comfort, coming from the leaky roof of the aging dungeon. Bricks lay in a corner ready to secure the hole in the stone, causing a humid smell to enter the dungeon, but the lazy guard just snored on his wooden chair. Aleric inhaled the humid, salty air, his sense of time blurred by the counting of endless days.

Chained against the foul-smelling wall stained with his blood, even his only Source of light, a small barred window a gateway to the outside world provided little relief to his restless mind, Aleric's body swayed, trying to find a better position, his arm strength increasing the more he pulled on the iron chains.
His head pounded as a headache squeezed between his temples. I need to escape and soon. He thought. Spiders and bugs nesting in the cell crawled and scurried along his torn clothes. A wild beard concealed his rugged face.

"At least the creatures have their freedom." The sound of boots echoing against the stone corridor filled his pounding heart with dread. He thought of Endellion, wondering if the Delmora princess heard of his return, and wondered if their children were safe.
He hissed. As wetness leaked down his back, his old wounds opened. From the lashings of the whip Selina carried when her parlance grew thin.

As he exhaled, the creaking sound of the iron door reached his ears, resonating in the dimly lit room. Aleric's parched throat yearned for a drink to quench his thirst. Selina, with her delicate hands, unlocked the rusty door, revealing a sliver tray. Within her once famine features, Aleric had once found beauty. However, now he observed disdain in her gaze as he looked at her unkempt black and brown hair, her withering appearance, and the wrinkles that marked her aging skin. Weeks had passed, and Selina's immortal body seemed to have failed her. The lingering clouds of fog in his mind finally dissipated, revealing her true nature. He glared at her, his eyes filled with caution, questioning her intentions.

Selina set the tray down, then released Alaric from the binding spell that held him chained to the walls with a flick of her wrist. She poured two glasses of wine from the pitcher and handed one to Alaric. She took a delicate sip and then purred, 'I'm going to ask once more. Where is the field guide?'

Alaric smiled and drank deeply, quenching his thirst with the sweet wine. He knew Selina wouldn't poison him until she had the answers she so desperately wanted. She twirled the gleaming dagger with a careless grace, the sharp edge catching the dim light before she mercilessly drove it into his arm. A sharp hiss escaped his lips as the crimson tide of blood welled up, mingling with the metallic tang in the air. The open wound throbbed with an agonizing pulse, sending waves of searing pain through his body. As his fever soared, his skin grew hot to the touch, a sickly heat radiating from within. Each cough tore through him, a harsh reminder of his ailing state. Doubt crept in, uncertainty filling his mind as he wondered how much longer he could endure her merciless methods.

A sinister, icy grin slowly spread across her crimson lips, sending a shiver down Aleric's spine. "I am tired of these foolish games," she hissed, her voice laced with venom. "I condemn you to the heart of the shadow glass fortress. Let the infected drain your positive emotions, and perhaps then you will be more willing to speak."

Aleric's defiance burned within him, his resolve unyielding. "Even if I succumb to the depths of despair, I will never reveal my secrets," he spat, the taste of bitterness filling his mouth. In his defiance, he accidentally expelled a mouthful of wine, staining her elegant green silk dress. Selina's laughter filled the air, a chilling melody that sent a wave of dread through his bones. Her sadistic joy was palpable.

"Prepare yourself, for you shall encounter creatures consumed by violent madness," she taunted, her words dripping with malevolence. "Their cursed magic will warp your mind and twist your very being." With heated lips, she planted a farewell kiss on his cheek, her touch burning like fire. "Farewell, my former husband. Enjoy your time in the darkness." With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, clapping her hands to summon the guards.

The guards, their presence ominous and foreboding, forcefully dragged Aleric into a nearby room, a cold and desolate chamber adjoining his cell. With a violent shove, they hurled him into the gaping abyss, his body crashing against the hard surface with a resounding thud. Pain radiated through his wounds, igniting a fiery torment within him. Laughter and malicious sounds echoed in his ears, tormenting his senses.

Yet, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope flickered within Aleric's heart. He yearned for news of his return to reach King Alexander. As he lay there, the markings of the tattooed people came to life, their vibrant colours illuminating the shadows. The crimson eyes of the tattooed beings fixated upon him, their presence both haunting and menacing.

They reached out with their outstretched claws, tearing his thin clothes to pieces, inflicting terrifying scratches. A wave of horror and despair washed over Aleric. His boy turned cold, as the happiness and they leached the remaining warmth out of Aleric's body.
Black markings branched out from the dripping scratches as the marking spiralled across his back. Covering every inch of clean skin, his mind wrestled with the hearted for Selina, the loneliness he harboured from being away from Endellion, and the fear of Destiny being drawn into the twisted world of Andreal.

His eyes turned bloody, staggering forward with his limbs becoming pale, and his nails becoming claws. He joined the beings waiting in the darkness for their next victim.