Chapter 22: Mother
Three hours passed by with Alura becoming more and more impatient. She wanted out to get her belongings yet didn’t see an easy way to escape the steel and stone prison. She sat on the ground with her legs crossed, her finger tapping agitatedly on one of her knees. The silence lingered before it was broken by her heated voice. “Great plan Marenzo.” Alura spat with some sarcasm. “Last time I listen to a guy like you.” She snapped with some anger and a bit hatefully.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItp8p3G9Cg
Marenzo sighed looking towards the wall of her cell as theirs were right next to the other. “Look it’ll work out, trust me.” As he said this Alura stood, walking towards the wall hiding his form from her sights. “Just you wait and see.” He grinned as she growled before kicking the wall dividing their cells and stormed back over, sitting down on the bench now that rested attached to the stone wall.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZIYhBLWog
Above the dungeons the castle staff was busy with their standard duties: beds being changed, floors and other surfaces being cleaned, anything out of place being organized back into its spot, and other daily tasks that had to be done. As this went on the Captain of the guards dressed in his armor made his way down the hall from the soldier’s quarters. He had finished the paperwork of the report of the two new prisoners and it baffled him to why anyone would want to free a demon as fierce looking as that one.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQvTxA0nhZ
I guess that is something the kids do these days, go around freeing random demons. The Captain thought with a heavy sigh, his turquoise eyes closing before opening half way. I know we did stupid things in our youth but damn, this new generation is five times worse than us. He made his way down the quiet hall before knocking on the solid wooden doors. The doors remained closed until a woman out of his view on the other side waved her hand through the air, causing the doors to open. Indication taken, he stepped inside the throne room, kneeling on one knee with his head bowed.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkstPlqWdR2
“Empress,” he began while keeping his head down, “we have two prisoners in the dungeon.” The captain of the guards stated before turning his head up but remained kneeling. His gaze turned up to a woman in white and blue robes wearing a jeweled circlet with four silver hairpins rising from the back of the circlet. On the circlet in the front center was a beautiful sapphire and spaced around evenly were other gems.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUOErkXiUe
As she moved her head, the four strains of hanging gems from the hairpins jingled with a soft noise. “What is their crime?” she asked firmly in a beautiful voice that held a deathly icy chill to its edges.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ThL85aNsQ
“They were caught trying to free the trapped demon in the Crystal Caves, Empress.” He explained, observing her body moving from a relaxed bored position to stand in front of the sturdy throne.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgZcKK3ste
“I will speak to them myself.” The Empress stated sternly as she took her steps down the four steps that lead up to the throne, approaching the Captain of the guard. “Leave, now!” she barked at the same time she lifted and swiped an arm through the air before him. Quickly he lowered his head with another bow before standing and briskly taking his leave. This brought the forty some odd woman to release an irritated breath. “Idiots, what fools could they had arrested that would dare free such a monster?” she questioned quietly under her exhale during her continued steps to exit the throne room.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9PmNEzLjn
She stepped out the doors and turned down the hall, making her way to the dungeon cells, her hands neatly folded on her lap as her piercing emerald eyes stared ahead coldly. Her long teal locks looked softer than her brilliant gaze. These things combined added to her smooth and radiant skin, although, after she passed she did hear a servant whisper to another about her choice of hair style. The Empress ignored the hired help, knowing well they were easily replaceable.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDrfUql7bb
The dangling jewels softly clicked and jingled as she walked, her locks hanging down around her midsection of her back. They came to hang from a neat and tight bun which held the rest of her hair, aside from two strains that hung down over her shoulders, falling down in front of her B to C size breast.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO3gGcu2YZ
The dungeon door was opened by the standing guard, allowing her to step down the stone steps. Her flat shoes softly clicked on the hardened surface as she made her way down then across the floor past empty cell doors as this was a holding dungeon for her to decide what part for the accused to be moved to. The back of her robe softly drug behind her, and it was this quiet noise with the door and sound of steps, which brought Alura to look up from her staring at the floor. Empress looked as she slowed to a stop into Alura’s cell first then into Marenzo’s, looking none too pleased. “So, you two are the ones who dare try to free the monstrous demon spirit in the Crystal Caves?”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzagAmif3kx
Alura tightened her jaw hearing her father be referred to as monstrous. “That demon is my dad you idiot!” she snapped sharply, locking eyes with the Empress. “I want him and us free!” Alura demanded strongly before quickly biting her tongue as the woman gave her a glare so cold she, Alura, could swear it would be able to behead the strongest warrior.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY0SuWei5g
Marenzo tilted his head up now after having it down into his bent up knee. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it Empress Syubi?” he asked calmly from behind his bars, his blue eyes set on the royally dressed woman.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaSyhkM9hL
Syubi shifted her icy sight from the girl to the young man as he spoke. Her emerald gaze softened some as she adjusted one strain of teal colored hair. “Ah, if it is not the well-known rat of the cellars,” she commented in a lighter almost airy voice, a smirk pulling on her red painted lips. “You have changed your profession to aiding outsiders now, Marenzo, King Suit?”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhiEMGITEE
“Eh,” he shrugged with his eyes closing, “it’s fun to help those in need of it.” Marenzo explained then opened his eyes. “You should try it by letting us free so she can be back with her dad.” He watched Syubi frown at his comment and lightly put order. “She really misses him, I could tell. She was thinking of him back before he went out to battle.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXzwTuNlza
“Went to battle?” Syubi asked curiously, folding her arms and one hand lifted up to tap her chin in thought at this. She didn’t notice Alura’s dropped expression looking towards the wall to the wizard’s cell. The teen was both offended he again read her mind and pondering to how he found that memory. “So a warrior he is then…” Syubi began after a moment of silence which drew Alura’s attention. “Nice…” she muttered softly then spoke up in a normal tone, “we have yet to have had one suitable for my men to learn from in my eyes. So I am continuously stuck with fools.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBSHAVPnZ9
“So you see, it’ll work out both ways. If you let us out you’ll have yourself a new warrior and she’ll have her father. So what do you say?” Marenzo proposed, giving the woman a charming smile.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA4zIVjfYx
His words were not met with the reaction he wanted. Syubi sneered at him in some disgust. “I say naught to your vague words of promise that mean absolutely nothing to my ears.” She spat at him in her royal tone. “You speak air of an offer for both but you can never keep without saving your own neck before another’s own skin.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjum3yZR3i
Seeing this reaction brought Marenzo’s charming smile to fall. “That is the way you taught, mother.” He said lowly with his voice dropped some to a serious tone.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmnJEg5CHs
Alura gasped in shock as she looked over towards his cell. “That woman is your mother?!” she asked quickly, feeling shocked that someone as cocky and nice seeming had a mother that felt, and acted as if she were crafted from the chilliest of winters. She couldn’t see it but, as mother and son maintained the others gaze, he nodded silently in conformation to Alura’s question.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh0AupvI5r
Syubi frowned as she lowered her arms down to her sides. “I’ve told you, once you left the family you were no longer my son and I no longer your mother. Understand?” she asked sharply with some condescension in her voice. “By calling me that, I could place you to death for such words that break the decree upon you.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItyWIQhoTK
“I don’t care, Empress.” Marenzo sneered in some mocking with the stress of her title off his lips. “Release Alura and I now or I’ll have to become mean.” He threatened as he stood, staring down his parent.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURw85KDEI5
“Mean?” Syubi questioned before releasing a mocking laugh which happened behind the back of her lifted hand that was near the side of her face. “That is beyond your power.” She stated as her laughter ceased and the lifted hand swiped through the air, pausing with her arm now extended out at her side. There was silence and appeared nothing had happened but that silence was soon broken by Marenzo’s screams. His cries pierced free from his throat and echoed off the walls as his body collapsed to the floor, withering in pain as his breaking screams were mixing with the rattling of chains. A twisted and heartless look crossed his mother’s face to add to her mixed expression of pleasure and pain.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6wtMlP6mO
Alura gasped as she ran, her mother’s necklace flickered briefly as a link in both chains broke, allowing her more movement and resulted in her body to slam into the bars. “Stop!” she screamed, gripping the bars tightly with panic rushing. “You’re hurting him you bitch!” she yelled while shaking her head and gripped the bars tighter.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1A2p9PMDP
Syubi glanced at Alura, smirking at her as she didn’t care about what she said nor did she fear her. Alura growled while glaring at her and yelled, “I said stop it!” as she closed her eyes tightly. Suddenly a blast fired from the blue stone of Sophia’s necklace at Syubi, throwing the Empress back and breaking her spell. Marenzo gasped sharply for air and coughed as he choked when catching his breath, lying still on the ground as he started passing out.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMsBmGvuAe
Slowly Syubi stood while growling and glaring at Alura in anger then in wonder as she stepped closer brushing dust from her clothing, looking like nothing happened to her. “Little girl, how did you do that?” there was caution in her voice although her face was as cold like stone as before. “I want to know now of how someone like you could use magic.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKYVgksFTX
“Magic?” the teen asked confused, “what? I don’t use it or know how to use it.” She admitted as she was honestly unaware of how she had fired that blast.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQplP0EgL7u
“Alura was it?” Syubi questioned, coming to now stand in front of the cell door. “Who are your parents?”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDHpGvwCsN
“That’s none of your business.” Alura growled lowly.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDqGaw2Yxp
“I believe it is.” The woman stated in a stern tone.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTOU7vweG8
“No it’s not!” the teen snapped defiantly, glaring daggers at the Empress.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y7mT9Eu90
Syubi scoffed at this, turning up her nose at the insolence of the child. “Very well, stay there then.” She said firmly before turning and leaving the dungeons. “I will get my answer. No untrained beast will order me otherwise.” She said as she made her way up the steps, leaving as the door was opened then closed and locked.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3cqzmnQkf
Alura sighed after the Empress left, sliding down slowly until her knees touched the cold stone and her feet rested under her. She leaned her head forwards until the cool bars stopped her and it was like this she stayed for what felt like endless moments in the silence. What did I just do? How did I do that? She thought, not having any idea and felt possibly as confused as Syubi was. She had no recollection of using magic before now.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNMxOWMt4x
Marenzo groaned, slowly stirring and shifted his head with his heavy body somewhat on the floor as he returned to the world of the conscious. “Alura…” he moaned out with a voice that held some broken tones as if he had a case of sore throat. This drew Alura out of her mind and to turn her head, looking in the direction of his cell. “Do that again.” He ordered while trying to get his body to his hands and knees with little success. “Do it at the bars and get the keys from the wall by the door.”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EALia2vna
“But I don’t know how I did it before.” She pointed out feeling weak due to this simple fact that resonated inside her mind.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4BdRp9amE
“What were you thinking and feeling when you first did it?” he questioned tiredly, deciding to let his body remain laying on its side on the floor.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIJQbzM65k
Alura was quiet as she cast her eyes down while trying to recall. “…Uh,” she began before falling quiet then spoke up again, “…I was thinking to save you…”1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ6tgWBaL2
“That’s how you did it then. Think of that again and feel it.” He told her in confidence she could repeat her previous action. “Focus the magic on the bars.” She gave a nod and took a breath that she released slowly to focus so to at least try. Keeping hold of the bars and maintaining her current position, Alura closed her eyes and began to think. She focused on that one moment that had been fueled by adrenaline but in a calmer state.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJi4elEzbs
Gradually the gem held by four small inner flower petals began to glow. This glow began to spread out and spark, flowing up the chain and down her shoulders to her arms, then hands. She pulled and the bars began to complain as they started to bend. This force traveled down as the necklace glowed, breaking the horizontal in the process. The magic ceased once she had an opening and feeling the movement end brought her to open her eyes. “It…it worked!” she exclaimed in shock.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gFtmQzn7G
“I’m glad…now…the key?” Marenzo asked softly in the quiet dungeon.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfbUw6DJwi
“Oh! Yes!” Alura quickly made her way out of the new opening, making her way to the key. She grabbed it and used it to unlock her shackles that remained on her wrists on her way to Marenzo. She would unlock the metal door once there and quickly made her way inside, kneeling down beside the young man that was trying to sit up again. “Just relax if you need to.” She ordered while unlocking his chains and pulled him closer as she started to try standing with him. He wasn’t much help since his body wanted rest.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaWT1hxc0H
As she tried to get him up and leave, now dragging his lower body as she couldn’t lift him fully. Her movement out the cell door halted when he moved and she tried to catch her breath. “Wait.” He whispered slowly in a rough voice. Alura stayed put as she looked down to him confused to why he wanted her to wait. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a ring with the guard insignia on it. The wizard took a deep breath and closed his eyes while releasing the air. Her eyes widened as in his hands that were near the other formed a white orb. This orb glowed brighter and brighter as it grew. She sharply gasped as this orb engulfed them, causing her to close her eyes tightly to try and not go blind from the white light.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dFaPH2YwF
When the light faded, she felt a breeze blow her hair which caused her eyes to slowly open to see where they were. The scenery was that of the forest again, the area Alura recognized as the pathway some miles from the Crystal Caves. Marenzo groaned, his body held up by her arms that were laced under his armpits. His hands fell and metal dust left his one hand that had once held a ring. “We’re…roughly six to eight miles west…of the Crystal Caves.” He answered softly, fighting off the darkness of unconsciousness. “If you go…two miles north…you’ll come…to my home…” he explained with his voice trailing off as his body finally gave into its exhaustion.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii2vbDQZnb
Alura released a small sound as Marenzo became dead weight which brought her to finally fall to her knees as she lost hold of him. Releasing a breath she slowly moved, shifting his body around. She crawled under him and positioned him so his head rested around her shoulder. Carefully she adjusted her hands underneath his legs, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. “I’m just trying to get us to safety. I’m not being creepy.” She quietly told herself a couple times before counting to three, standing up with a grunt on three.1115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJT9gu50GP
Slowly she started out north towards his home, trying not to fall over. Man he’s heavy yet he looks fit…or like he might skip meals. She thought with complaint. Her mind then turned to how Syubi treated him not long ago. I can’t believe his own mother would attack him like that. How could a mother do that to her own child? Alura sighed after that thought, looking at the ground before her then up ahead. I guess things really are different in other countries.
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