Chapter 01

The Rogue and the Cleric’s Gambit: Part 04

In the newly discovered chamber, a hush enveloped the Claybornes, the silence so deep it seemed to absorb even the faint rustling of the tome’s pages. Lia, with reverent care, tucked the ancient volume into her satchel, her movements deliberate and gentle. Rix, his senses honed to the slightest disturbance, tensed as distant echoes reached him — footsteps, a low murmur of voices.

“We’re not alone,” he breathed, the words barely a whisper, as he unsheathed his dagger with a quiet hiss of metal. Positioning himself protectively in front of Lia, he scanned the chamber’s entrances with hawk-like vigilance. “The tower knows we’re here. Its guardians are coming.”

Lia’s eyes, reflecting the flickering torchlight, hardened with resolve. “We can’t be cornered now. Not after all this.” Her hand gripped her staff, ready for whatever lay ahead.

Rix’s smirk was a flash of defiance in the dim light. “Remember the legends, sis? Every mage’s tower has its secrets — and its hidden exits.”

Lia’s nod was thoughtful, her mind racing through old tales and forgotten lore. “A portal or a hidden passage, but where in this labyrinth?”

As if in answer to their plight, the chamber’s torches flared suddenly, throwing a dramatic play of light and shadow against the ancient walls. Amidst the flickering, one shadow stood starkly still — a doorway, previously unseen, revealed by the whimsical dance of light.

“There!” Rix’s voice was a mix of excitement and urgency as he pointed towards the hidden exit. He moved swiftly, but his advance was halted abruptly. From the shadows materialized a towering golem, its stone form a testament to ancient craftsmanship and power, its eyes a deep, fiery red.

Lia, stepping alongside her brother, raised her glowing staff. “We seek no quarrel, guardian,” she declared, her voice echoing in the chamber.

The golem’s response was a deep rumble, vibrating through the stone floor. “Intruders must be detained,” it intoned, its voice a chorus of grinding stones.

Rix circled the imposing figure, his mind racing for a strategy. “Keep it busy, Lia!”

Lia’s chant rose above the tension, her staff casting chains of radiant light that snaked towards the golem. The creature, its movements ponderous yet powerful, broke free from the ethereal bindings, its gaze locked on Rix.

“Hey, pebble face! Catch me if you can!” Rix taunted, tossing a smoke bomb at the golem’s feet. A cloud of dense smoke enveloped the guardian, obscuring its vision. Seizing the opportunity, Rix scrambled up the golem’s back, his fingers probing for the control rune hidden in its carvings.

The golem, a monolith of ancient stone and magic, began to thrash wildly in an attempt to dislodge Rix from its back. Lia, her determination as unwavering as her faith, unleashed a torrent of light-based spells. Beams of radiant energy shot from her staff, wrapping around the golem’s limbs in an attempt to bind it. The luminous chains constricted, glowing brighter as they strained against the golem’s immense strength.

However, the golem’s stony form proved resistant to the bindings. With each powerful shake, the light chains shattered, dissipating into sparks of divine light. Lia, her brow furrowed in concentration, quickly conjured more bindings, her staff a conduit of her deity’s power. Each new attempt to restrain the golem was met with the same relentless resistance, the stone creature breaking free as if the divine light was nothing but gossamer threads.

In a swift change of tactics, Lia directed a blinding burst of light towards the golem’s fiery eyes. The creature reeled, its movements momentarily sluggish as it struggled against the sudden assault on its senses. Lia seized the opportunity, casting a protective barrier of shimmering light around herself and Rix, a dome of safety amidst the chaos.

“Rix, hurry!” she called out, her voice laced with a hint of frustration at the golem’s resilience. The creature was momentarily disoriented, but Lia knew it would not be long before it regained its composure.

Her spells continued to cascade down, a relentless storm of light and energy, keeping the golem off balance just enough for Rix to search for the control rune. Each spell was a testament to her skill and divine connection, yet the frustration of the challenge was evident in the intensity of her casting.

With a shout of triumph, Rix’s fingers found their target — a small, almost imperceptible rune. He pressed it with all his might, and the golem shuddered, its movements grinding to a halt. Its fiery eyes dimmed, the light fading into nothingness.

Rix leaped off the now inert guardian, landing with a nimble roll. He stood up, brushing himself off, and shot a cocky grin at the motionless golem. “Guess I found your off button, huh, Boulder Brain?” he quipped, his voice a blend of relief and roguish charm.

He turned to Lia, still catching his breath. “That was… closer than I’d like,” he admitted, his usual bravado softened by the intensity of their encounter.

Lia’s smile was a brief flicker of amusement amidst the tension. “You do love the dramatics, brother. Now, let’s find our way out.”

They approached the shadowy doorway, now unguarded, revealing a spiraling staircase descending into darkness. Rix, ever protective of his sister, reached out to grasp Lia’s hand firmly. “Watch your step on these slick stones,” he cautioned, his concern evident in his gentle grip. Hand in hand, they began their descent, the torchlight from the chamber above dwindling with each step. The staircase wound downwards, the air growing cooler, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the narrow walls, their clasped hands a symbol of their unbreakable bond and Rix’s unwavering care.

As they reached the bottom, the siblings stepped into a vast underground cavern. Before them flowed a river, its waters dark and gentle, the surface reflecting the sparse light from luminescent fungi dotting the cavern walls. The river’s course stretched into the unseen distance, promising either salvation or further peril.

They stood at the water’s edge, the weight of their discovery and the unknown path ahead hanging heavily between them. Just then, a low, ominous growl echoed through the cavern, its source unseen but felt in every stone and ripple.

SFN5 [822] Words : Twilight Heist (Part 5)