1000

864 Words
I teleport into a mine, deeper and darker than any of the others I’ve encountered. The air is thick, damp, and heavy with the smell of sweat and despair. I adjust my eyes to the dim light, squinting as I take in the enormity of the cavernous space. This mine is a monstrosity—there must be at least a thousand people here, laboring under the weight of their chains. I focus my gaze and spot the ravens, lurking in the shadows, their black cloaks blending into the darkness. Counting quickly, I estimate about one hundred of them, scattered throughout the mine. I stand on a narrow ledge, looking down over the scene, my heart tightening at the sight of so many enslaved. Concentrating, I draw upon my curse magic, letting the dark energy swell within me. With a sharp exhale, I release it, sending waves of black energy cascading toward the ravens. The effect is instantaneous. One by one, they drop to the ground. With my ice magic, I freeze the chains that bind the workers and shatter them with ease, the sound of cracking metal echoing throughout the mine. Startled, the people begin to look around, confusion and fear etched on their faces. “Don’t panic,” I call out, my voice strong and steady as it echoes through the cavern. “I’ve come to save you all. Everyone, hold someone’s hand near you. Make sure everyone is touching someone.” The crowd hesitates for a moment, but then they comply, linking hands in a human chain. Once everyone is connected, I teleport the entire group to the meet-up point. As we arrive, they blink against the sudden brightness, squinting in the daylight. The atmosphere shifts from one of fear to one of hope as they realize they’re free. “There’s food here,” I tell them, gesturing to the long tables piled high with fruit and bread. “Eat as much as you’d like.” A cheer rises from the crowd, and they quickly find seats, eagerly grabbing food and drinks. I take a moment to grab a piece of fruit myself, biting into it as exhaustion creeps up on me. I feel like I’m running purely on adrenaline now, but I can’t stop—not yet. My friends appear not long after, their eyes wide with disbelief as they take in the sheer number of people I’ve brought back. Arya is the first to react. She gasps, her eyes locking onto a blue-haired man across the crowd. “Claude!” she cries, sprinting toward him. Tears stream down her face as she throws her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. He winces in pain at her touch, his frail body trembling with weakness. Arya steps back quickly, her hands covering her mouth in horror at how thin and worn he looks. She urges him to keep eating, whispering reassurances before returning to me. She wraps her arms around me, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you for finding him, my queen. I was starting to lose hope when I couldn’t find him… Thank you so much.” I smile softly and hug her back. “This group was deep inside the mines, far from any light. There were one hundred ravens guarding them.” Arya pulls back slightly, her mouth agape. “You truly are a blessing, Queen Lenora,” she breathes. I hand her a piece of fruit, and we join the others, sitting down together as we eat. There’s a sense of relief, but I know we’re not done yet. There are still more lives to save. “There are only about eight hundred people left in the mines,” I say, standing as I feel a new wave of urgency rise in me. Closing my eyes, I focus on the energy signatures of another large group. This one is smaller, maybe half the size of the previous group, but still substantial. I sense around fifty ravens nearby. Without hesitation, I release my black curse aura, watching as it spreads out like tendrils, snuffing out the breath of every raven it touches. With my ice magic, I break the chains effortlessly, and the newly freed workers look around in shock. “I’m here to save you,” I announce, my voice resonating through the cavern. “Everyone, hold hands.” Once again, they obey, and I teleport them to the others. The meet-up point is bustling now, hundreds of voices rising in excited chatter. “Eat as much as you like,” I tell them. “You’re safe now.” I clap my hands, refreshing the food and ensuring there’s plenty for everyone. But my mind is elsewhere. Only about one hundred people remain. I scan the cavern, searching for any trace of their energy. They must be close… but where? Expanding my search, I sense them—deep underground, farther than I’ve gone before. They’re hidden well. I teleport to the location, landing in a narrow, suffocating tunnel. The air is heavy and stale. As I steady myself, a sudden, blunt force hits the back of my head. The world blurs, before I can react.
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