The Manticore observers her surroundings, as she slowly wakes up. Immediately she notices that she's tied to a pole, her limbs secured by strong chains that even she couldn't break. Beside her are the same harpies that took her in, staring her down and making sure she doesn't escape.
The room looks to be old and abandoned, although it definitely wasn't a product of the days of yore, possibly built only 40 or 50 years ago. It was a large, unfurnished room, lit only by the sun peeking in from old dusty windows. In the distance in front of her, there is a door opened, possibly leading to a hallway. On the wall behind the doorway hangs a cracked picture frame, with the picture taken out of it.
The walls are cracked, the ceiling is ripped out, floor tiles are crushed...whatever happened here in the past must've been terrible.
She can only think of how Barley would be faring by himself in the cave, and what Ian could be up to back at the tavern. She couldn't possibly imagine what could be happening to either of the boys. Of course, she knows the boys are strong and fully capable of conquering whatever trial is put in front of them. They went through the Path of Peril together and defeated the Guardian Curse. But both of them being separated starts to worry her. She can only hope she can overcome these pain-resistant harpies and retrieve the Mending Malachite for healing the poor curly-haired wizard.
Suddenly, she hears footsteps echoing from the hallway. They get closer, and eventually head into the room she's in.
The tall, slender figure - a blue elf with slicked-back blue hair - enters the room, clothed in black jeans and long-sleeved tops, along with black loafers. His malicious hazel eyes glare at the warrior chained up on the other side of the room.
"No...you fools..." The elf groans and slams his hand on his forehead. "You were supposed to take the elves! Instead, you gave me the watered-down former warrior-turned small business owner..."
The harpies sulk and look down at the floor.
"But...I do see that you've taken the gem...so that's one thing," he continues. "But I need those boys."
"What do you need them for?" Corey roars, struggling in her chains.
"If I told you, I'd reveal everything about my plan...and, well, you aren't meant to hear about my plan," the elf snickers.
"I'll have you know, if you do ANYTHING to those brothers, you will witness my full wrath," the manticore booms.
"Oh, will I?" the elf says.
He holds out a very familiar staff, saying "You'd be closing in on a hornet's nest".
Corey gasps at the sight...the same ancient Lightfoot family staff that Ian used to bring his father back, and the same one that was flung into the ocean.
"That staff...how did you get that?"
"I found it washed up on the shores near were those boys resurrected their father...and I kept it. Trained myself in the ways of magic, pushing to become more powerful," he explains.
"But you can't hear the rest," he finishes. "And don't you talk anymore...or you'll be very sorry..."
A dark red flash emits from the staff, and suddenly Corey feels her chains getting tighter.
She tries breathing fire, but for some reason, she can't get it out.
"Why isn't this working...?" she mutters.
"Simple...I put a spell on you that disables it," he says, softly chuckling. "It'll take a lot out of you trying to get out of here."
"Now," he adds. "I'll have to go scope this thing out myself since these harpies want to act like this...I'll see you then."
He leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. The warrior continues struggling in her chains, wanting to escape and protect the boys the best she could.
But at this point, it was too late...