Free Web NovelChapter 106: Chapter 106 : kidnapping part 3
We moved gently rerincting the weeds and shrubs that prevented the passage. Each stone creak under our feet, every whisper of the wind towards which the tension in our bodies increased, made us turn our heads instinctively. Our eyes did not take off from the surroundings, anxiously exploring every shadow, every corner, as if we expected something - or someone - emerged from darkness.
Do not pass much times before the trees that covered our path disappeared or rather were left behind, in our vision line a yellow line appeared that indicated precaution, we also found some posters that prohibited the passage, until we finally arrive. There, imposing in the middle of the gloom, a monumental complex whose silhouette evoked that of a fortress to link a prison was raised. It was a semicircular building, almost like a castle embedded in the bowels of the earth. Its doors, solid steel and more than three meters, were covered by an opaque layer of dust and oxide, but what caught the most attention were the runes recorded on its surface. freewebnoveℓ.com
These inscriptions, although worn by the passage of time, still retained part of their former majesty. I failed to decipher all, but I recognized the disposition of the strokes: it was a sealing matrix, designed to prevent access to anyone who did not know their exact configuration. A sophisticated defense system, probably fed by a new mana.
Fortunately for us, time had made a dent in magic. The lines were cracked, incomplete. It is enough only one light, just for the structure to react. freёwebnovel.com
Perfect. For a squeaky and sharp sound of an oxidized door, the ideal onomatopoeia could be:
"Kreeeeeiiiiiik"
An acute and squeaky sound, like the lament of an old metal waking up after centuries of sleep, filled the whole forest, when the doors opened in par, revealing a thick, almost tangible darkness, which welcomed us as an open mouth willing to devour us.
I turned on a small spark of Maná on the palm of my hand, a sphere of trembling fire that threw dance shadows against the walls. What we had before us was not a simple building, its structure was similar to that of a coliseum. The central space was a large circular esplanade of smooth stone, and arched structures were raised as stands. But when observing more closely, we understood that they were not simple balconies: they were vaults, or rather, thirty -six cells that adorned the extructure.
The capula was composed of four levels in total, at the base, where we met, it had only four broader bobedas, they seemed to be a control center, the second floor, as well as the third and fourth the surroundings were made up of cells, which made it look like a cocoon. From where we could observe that apparently each one was protected by thick black iron bars, and in its thresholds new inscriptions were carved, this time clearer, which I immediately recognized: spells of magical inhibition. Those who were locked in there would not only lose their freedom, but also their ability to use Maná. A perfect prison for gerreros, enchanted beasts or supernatural entities.
While we walk we stopped for a few moments, captivated by the magnitude of the place. It was evident that this had been a containment center, perhaps even a field of experimentation for death sentenced. The walls smelled subtly.
But we didn’t have time to get distracted.
In the center of the dome a unique structure was erected: a thin, cylindrical tower, which ascended straight as an obelisk forgotten melting with the roof of the prison. Its tungsten surface a dark metal covered with silver lichens and veins, seemed alien to time wear.
Around it, as roots sprouting from a tree, multiple catwalks suspended in the air were extended. These connected the central ex -structure with the three levels of the couple, forming a network of airway made of polished stone and osmio beams. Some sections were invaded by thick moss; Others, broken and on the edge of collapse, dropped debris to the central esplanade with a disturbing echo. Every time the air sneaked through the slits of the vault, the catwalks creaked with a "Creeek ..." almost imperceptible.
We approach with extreme caution, surrounding the tower. There were no doors or inputs visible to soil level. It was as if the tower had been built with the intention of not being easily accessed. However, something shone in the height: small vertical windows, barely reverses, emitted a reddish, soft and blinking light, like small distant stars.
"There must be some hidden mechanism," I murmured, scrutinizing the base contour.
It was then that I noticed it.
On the metal surface, scattered around the tower, faint circular flashes were activated: symbols almost imperceptible to the naked eye. I placed the lenses of two bounces on their mount and, immediately, the world changed color. The brands floated in front of me. They were magical circles of yesteryear, complex, some incomplete. I took a few seconds to analyze them.
With a gesture of my hands, I activated the interface projected by the lenses. Translucent screens emerged before my eyes, each showing fragments of the symbols. As similar structures had already scanned when studying in the guild, the lenses recognized the patterns and began to render the circles in a floating three -dimensional projection.
"They are pieces ..." I whispered as I moved the fragments as if playing with a puzzle.
One by one, I aligned them, rotating and overlapping the matrices to form a complete structure. When assembling them, a larger symbol appeared, a runic activation matrix. I knew immediately: that was the key.
I raised my hand, still wrapped in mana, and touched the real symbols that adorned the tower, following the pattern that had rebuilt. As it positioned them in the right order, each circle was turned on with a warm brightness and a slight buzz vibrated under my feet.
Then, without warning, a section of the tower opened with an acute and metallic sound - Kreeeeeeiiiik ... - revealing a door that had not been there a second before. It was high, narrow, and a black material that absorbed the light.
I inspired deep. Whatever there was after that entrance ... I had been locked up too long.
When crossing the door, the sensation was immediate: the interior apparently was much broader than its thin exterior structure suggested. A space magic, no doubt, recorded in its foundations altered the perception of space.
The reddish light that was leaked from the upper slits bathed the room with a faint glow, almost spectral. The first thing that captured my attention were the crystals.
There were thirty -six, aligned in circular formation around the perimeter of the room, each of at least one meter high, gathered on ballast pedestals in Osmio. Some were turned off, covered with dust and fractures; Others, however, continued to emit a weak bluish glow. As I approached one of them, I distinguished on its surface the reflection of a cell: it was not a simple reflection, but a living image, in motion, as if the glass reproduced a memory. I realized then of their function: they were recording devices, perpetual surveillance mirrors made of magic engineering, which showed what still happened in the complex cells.
I watched one more closely. A bony figure lay inside a cell, tied in both extended from its bases by shackles that inpedian the movement.
"Included ..." Aziel murmured behind me, his eyes open as dishes while inspecting another of the crystals.
More towards the center of the room, a series of work tables were arranged in semicircle, covered with dust and some unknown decomposition tools in addition to some liquids whose content no longer dared to identify.
And in the midst of all this, an engraving of purple strokes still shone subtly, there was a magical circle of rather large proportions. Its diameter reached five meters and its lines were formed by symbols that slowly turned on themselves, as if the spell were latent, waiting.
I approached carefully. The runes talked about transfer, displacement, movement.
"It’s a circle of teleport," I said in a low voice, more for myself than for others. Not local ... Probably lead us to the upper floors.
It was then that my vision was invaded by a flashing notification. The glasses with which he had identified the runes vibrated softly while displaying a notification:
[Recognized presence: Cyan, detectable signal in nearby coordinates.]
"Cyan ...?" "I murmured, with my heart accelerating." I turned my head, quickly scanning the room, but we were only three: Erwing, Aziel and me.
I looked at the notification again. The signal was dim but persistent. I wasn’t here, but maybe I was closer to what I thought.
"It should be up ..." I said quietly, feeling a mixture of hope and urgency.
Without hesitation, I turned to others.
"Aziel, Erwing." Cyan is here. I don’t know how, but the glasses managed to detect their signal again. Most likely this above.
