Moonlight gleamed across a courtyard past tall trees standing around, painting shadows of dancing shapes across the ground as branches swayed in the calm night wind. Winds of the night whistle through leaves of the covered branches. It howled on through the night, like wolves during their midnight song. Bare branches probed around at windows high above, stretching claws of a creature wanting to get inside. A pale crescent moon remained in plain sight for all to see in the dark sky.
Lights from the Imperial City shine over the courtyard. A grand city, sitting right in Cyrodiil's center. A mark of the Imperial reign and pride jewel of the Empire. Ever since the Great War between the Imperials and the Aldmeri Dominion twenty-eight years ago, many improvements have taken effect throughout Cyrodiil, such as more buildings and minor expanding. The slums had the most done in size, with more small buildings having been built. It was the only area to still have some rubble from the war almost The Great War some fifty years ago, along with previous crisis' and conflicts.
One such building was dubbed to be a place of learning and teaching. Many Colleges had sprung up across Tamriel, though not quite like this one. Not a magics college like that of Winterhold, or a training academy for soldiers. This combined all manner of classes and subjects, and was placed in the center of Tamriel. The College of Harmony. Created as a place for all races to feel welcome. As long as they came with pockets filled. For only the rich could afford a place in such an establishment. Many halls were built to house students of all kinds.
College of Harmony stood as a refitted garrison, standing four stories tall with walls of chiselled limestone. It retained the shape of an circle like the city itself, with an opening over the middle that had several wooden arches meeting to form a open dome. And where these arches met was a small tower, decorated with flags. If it weren't for the many banners and the lack of defenses, one would take it to be an extension of the city itself as an outlying fortress.
A main road connected the city to the College. Two spires stood aside the main entrance, flags of all the nations of Tamriel raised over them. A line of torch-lit pillars lead to the college from the city, with patrols of guards going back and forth.
In the dark, a shadow darted past the long road, trying to avoid the patrols and torch pillars by going over the uncovered field instead. Wearing a cowl to cover their face with light garments of the poor, their height seemed stunted save for their long arms. They were limber and small, the perfect fit for a thief.
The short trespasser looked up the side of the four-story building, searching for a way in, then headed to a tree by an open window, with one branch being close enough to the bottom to climb. All the branches seemed to form a perfect ladder. The trespasser rubbed their hands together, examining every branch from the ground. They had done this kind of thing many times before, and only failed a few times.
They grabbed at the lowest branch and gave it a bit of a tug. It creaked, but not enough to put the shrouded figure's idea out of their head. With one hand steadying them on the tree, the shrouded intruder pulled up onto the low branch around it's connecting point to the tree. It bowed under the figure's weight, bending as if ready to snap at any moment. For a long moment the figure froze with their breath held, unsure of whether it could hold their weight. The branch bowed, yet did not snap, rather remained sturdy enough to instill confidence.
The figure bent their legs then sprung up to the next branch up. Their plan went well...until halfway up. Their hide shoes caused a slip, and the climber barely managed to grab the next branch, heart rate spiking with a gasp at just how close they had gotten to failing. Glancing back they could see how far up they were. At least twenty feet up, two stories. Enough to break their legs if they fell. With a heave, finally the figure pulled themselves up onto their branch. then went on their way up the tree, being more careful with every jump and grab.
The intruder stepped lightly from a long branch they used to get through the window, staying low in a crouched position upon landing upon black tiles. Dark stone brick walls on either side and flat stone ceiling above. They were rather short in stature when stretching upright. Their black shroud and cowl seemed to blend into their dark background. Giving the intruder the perfect cover.
The intruder crept across the dark floor, their worn hide shoes cushioning their feet in silence against the black tiles. They look left then right to observe their surroundings. No one seemed to be around. "Perfect" they thought. Slowly he moved forward, tip-toeing across the marble floor with ease.
From under their cowl, watchful eyes watched. Their face was hidden in darkness under the cloth. Although their olive skin was visible on their ankles and hands. Bruises from hard landings and marks from splinters cover the intruder's palms. It is obvious this being has had many activities involving their hands, some being dangerous. Most likely climbing of wooden walls.
As the intruder ventured down the hall they observed objects along the walls. Busts, paintings, tapestries, torches, items in glass cases ranging from weapons to pieces of armor. The intruder couldn't help but stop to study these trinkets and hangings on the wall. Staring at them in awe. One of the paintings that caught their eye was of a vase of flowers. Dragon's Tongue, Nightshade, Redwort along with several others. However one of them gained full attention. A rose. The trespasser continued to stare, unaware of their surroundings.
"I still think this is a bad idea." The voice startled them, and whoever owned the voice earned a quiet mutter in return.
"And I told you it's my only choice. It's either this, or-"
"Alright, I know, I know. Don't have to repeat things with me." A faint blue light began to appear behind the shrouded figure. From behind them, this light took shape of a small creature; a rat. A mist of blue flowed off it's back, slowly fading toward it's feet. Glowing as if it were made up of moonlight itself. Light from the creature illuminated the figure's face as they turned.
An Imperial sixteen year teen with a rounded face and short shaggy light brown hair. His skin was a fair olive complexion. His dark brown eyes under long lashes and his lips a light brown shade, except for a scar that cut down through his upper lip. Some dirt mottled his rosy cheeks, giving them an odd complexion. Crouched down in the hall, shrouded in the dark save for the light blue glow of his familiar he held himself still with his eyes darting from end to end. Everything about him in this moment directed his motives.
"Then maybe you shouldn't keep doubting me. I know what I'm doing" the Imperial retorted, his hands clenching to let off steam and eyes narrowed. Then glared down at his companion. Not as common as some would think, a glowing rat and a ragged clothed boy. A curious pair upon other's eyes. The rat was about to make a remark, but instead dropped it with a sigh and followed the young Imperial.
They turned a corner further away from the windows down another hall. This area was lit up by a multitude of candles hanging from the two walls of the hall. A couple of closed doors sat off to one side. They both hugged the plain wall, skirting along while watching the doors. So far, everything had been going well for them. Despite countless arguments from the glowing rat against their luck. The teen tried his best to remember which way to go. He had never been here before. He took a careful step forward while in thought. Only to pause when something pulled at his leg. He looked down to find the rat creature, standing on two hind legs.
"What?" he hissed in an annoyed whisper. His partner did not flinch and instead pointed with its nose toward one of the doors across the hall. The young teen's body froze, his gaze shifting quickly to a door creaking open. And talking from inside. The teen looked around for a place to hide. A low hanging tapestry, a statue. Anything. Quickly he darted behind the closest thing he could find before the door opened wide.
Two men walked out. One had brown leather armor. Two leather pads rest on the shoulders and down the top of their pecs. A red tunic lied under their armor, mirroring it's shape with some extra length at the bottom while forming a skirt at the end. A leather belt held at their waist where a sheathed sword hanged. They wore a pair of leather gauntlets and black trousers along with tall leather boots. The other had similar armored curaiss with an addition of metal on their shoulder pads, a metal head cap, metal gauntlets, metal along the the rim of the lower curaiss and steel plating over their boots. By their look the teen knew what they were. Imperial guards. From the helmetless ones dark complexion and reddish hair, the young Imperial could see they were a Redguard. The other was an Imperial, much like himself.
The Redguard held a torch, and they passed by while talking to each other. The hiding teen didn't bother about listening in, as it wasn't of much importance to him most likely. His rat companion hid in his cloak, trying it's best not to be visible. Next to a weapon stand may not have been the best idea with them being so close. If he didn't have a black cloak, hiding him entirely in the dark.
Torch light shined over him, and if they had looked they would have seen something crouched under a black cloth. But both guards were too busy speaking to each other to notice, oblivious to the black mass of a boy in his cloak. The teen waited carefully, listening to their footsteps until they faded into the distance then became nothing. One would think that a place of such high standards would have better guards in the garrison.
The teen peeked out of his cowl, glancing back and forth to find anyone else coming. He sighed in relief to see no one, his hand shaky from his close call. His rat companion poked it's glowing head out. Then scampered out of his cloak and back down to the black floor.
"That was close, kid. Too close. We need to be cautious" the rat advised sternly. The Imperial rolled his eyes. Sometimes, the rat just annoyed him with it's constant hounding. He stood up straight, except his knees which he kept bent to help himself move silently. The rat creature scampered across the cold floor next to the teen. Keeping a close eye on things ahead.
Upon passing the open room, the teen peered in curiously, leaning into the doorway. Inside, he saw a lit room. A crackling fire in front of an armchair with a bear hide lying across the tiled floor. The fire gave off a near perfect reflection on the tiles. A table sat in the center of the room, topped by plates and a couple of half-empty bottles and a white tablecloth that only barely hung over its edges. Some paintings on walls and a stand with a helmet rest against the far wall. Before he could see more of the room he spotted some movement on the armchair. An arm sat there, a sword resting against the chair. Hilt up. He threw his head back from the doorway into the shelter of darkness.
Somehow he had to get past without being spotted by whoever was inside. And surely, those two guards would return sometime. Or some other guards. He was not in the best of life situations. How did he get himself in these situations? Possibly his extremely bad luck. Ever since he was born, he had bad luck. He'd either get bullied on the streets or in the alley ways. Sometimes by thugs, sometimes by high elves. How he despised high elves. He didn't have enough curses for even one of them to express those feelings to them. Always so 'high and mighty'. "Well, they can take their mightiness and shove it up their-"
"No need for that kind of language." The young Imperial frowned down at the rat. The most annoying thing about his companion is that the rat could read his mind. But it wasn't only a rat. Upon their first meeting it took the form of a ghostly crow. His companion was called familiar, an animal spectre of sorts. A guardian. It always stuck close by, watching over him. But when it came to defending, it wasn't so keen on that. It always stuck to smaller critters, being an extra eye on the shoulder.
His little familiar stopped at the end of the hall, looking both ways, then with an almost-opaque paw waved its larger companion over. He came over, double checking to be sure the coast was clear. Remembering his directions and current bearings, he turned left, creeping along the black tiles. The two continued on down their left.
Many candles lit their path, and this time the Imperial couldn't help but walk along the middle of the hall. Feel what it must be like to walk these walls as if he belongs. The familiar scampered along behind stands and cases, sticking to the shadows of the hall. Utmost silence filled the air between them, neither speaking to one another. On their way, the young Imperial looked at each and every piece of art down their hall. He pictured others around him. Other students, teachers. A crowd funneled through the hall. A river of people moving to classes. Voices of others around him filled his imagination, talk and gossip from everyone around him. He couldn't help but smile at the sight before him.
Then a small touch pulled him away from his vision. Back to a dimly lit hallway. Empty except for the Imperial and the familiar. And a pair of voices. The Imperial made some quick paces over to a corner where he thought was closest to the voices, hoping they wouldn't come down this way. But curiosity id get him to peek around the corner just enough to see who approached. And found himself surprised.
Two figures walked down the connecting hall. One was a male Redguard with a long tunic of over a sand-yellow shirt and a sand-yellow hood hanging off the back of his shirt. Brown leggings stretch from under the bottom of his long tunic and boots made of white leather. It was too dark to see his face, but the Imperial teen could tell he was strongly built. The other, based on a swishing cat-like tail behind them, was a Khajiit. Tawny brown fur poking out from under a red and black commoner's tunic and a matching pair of knee high pants and commoner hide boots. Same case with this one, too dark to see their face. But their voices, they were distinct. And by their attire, they weren't guards. Either teachers or students. The Imperial listened in, finding interest in their conversation.
"We should not be here" one of them hissed nervously, a sense of fear in their tone. From their voice, the Khajiit was male. "We should go back. It is too late for us to be out."
"Stop bein' such a pussy-cat and keep goin'. Trust me, everythin' will go fine" Redguard assured briskly, their his voice energetic. The Imperial made a weird face. "Pussy-cat? That's the best he can come up with?" He leaned in some more, risking his presence being known just to see them with a closer look. The Khajiit seemed quite well afraid of something. Seeing them closer, he noticed they were young. Too young to be teachers. The Redguard walked with a spring in his step.
"J'Nir think we should turn back. We could-"
"Jin, what did I say about you referring to yourself? " The Khajiit's tail stooped down and waved close to the ground, a sign of sadness or a down feeling. "It's weird, man. " The Khajiit nodded slowly yet unsure, following along behind like a child following someone after a scolding. "Come on, Ra. We're almost-"
Both freeze, then start sprinting away down the hall. The Imperial walked out, wanting to know what they were doing. Big mistake.
"You! Halt!" He froze, turning his gaze over his shoulder with a face of fright and panic. A sense fear filled his eyes from the fear of the consequences of being caught. He could only imagine the consequences of intruding on an establishment like this. He was utterly surprised to find who the two guards. Both of them were the same that had passed him before. How could he not have thought of the possibility they were doing rounds around this area?
One of them began to approach, hand on their sword. That sent an urge pulsing around the teen's body. His legs begged to move. One word rang in his mind: Run. So he did. He turned, his cloth shroud billowing out behind him in his spin. He ran as fast as he could, shouting following him. A slide of metal coming from a scabbard quickened his pace. He kept on going without looking back to check if his small companion followed.
After a sharp turn, he headed straight for the first door he saw. If luck was on his side, it would be empty. The Imperial teen ran over and grabbed the door handle and pushed down, pushing his chosen door open. Quickly he scanned the room, and upon seeing the first few items inside, he went in and pulled the door closed behind him. He backed away, hiding amongst all the various items inside.
He could hear footsteps outside. A series of indistinct mutterings were heard right outside, a light growing under the door. Seconds felt like minutes, every breath short and forced to be quiet. His hands and feet shivered in fear. Then it drifted by. He calmed down right away, relieved they had passed by and that he would be safe. Perhaps even too relieved, as he moved one hand in a more comfortable position for himself. Only to knock down a bucket. The young Imperial sucked in a long breath and held it in while his face cringed, mentally cursing at his luck, not wanting to give away anymore on his position. Footsteps could be heard as the guards came closer and closer, the dim light of the torch growing. Until it stopped right outside.
Only one thing came to mind as the door swung open, a guard at the ready. The young Imperial stretched out his ready leg, springing it forward into their lower torso. The guard, in utmost surprise, fell back with an oof, landing on his rear. The young teen leaped him in a single bound, holding his weapon of choice in both hands. A broom.
The second guard, who looked new to the job because of the one mistake he made and his low rank attire, drew his sword and dropped his torch. It hit the ground fire-end first, sending sparks all across the black tiles. The young Imperial swung his broom across their face, aiming the hard part just below it's brush into their jaw. With a loud smack. But the other was quick to rise up.
Young Imperial heard a shout from behind, then turned on his heel to raise his broom just in time. The sword cut into the broom's wood, getting wedged halfway through. Both gritted teeth at the other's might, but the teen could feel his strength failing. He made a mental call of help for his companion. Cracks started to be heard from the broom, slowly snapping. So the defender did what he thought to be his best action. He tossed the broom aside, wrenching the blade that was wedged in the broom from the guard's hand.
The guard remained stunned. In this moment of chance, the cloaked teen grabbed the guard's shoulders and pulled him close to knee him in his stomach. He groaned and fell on his side, catching himself by an hand against the hand. The teen turned just in time to see the first guard reaching for his blade that had fallen to the ground. The young teen ran over and kicked their blade away. Then he started to run, only to see a flash of movement in front of him. He didn't have time to slide onto his knees as one end of a staff hit him right in his chest.
He looked up through half-closed eyes, pain spiking at his chest. The young teen's vision was blurry after the contact. A slew of curses went around in his mind. His familiar was nowhere to be seen. Through his hazy vision, he made out something coming toward him. His hooded eyes went wide as he quickly rolled to the side. He heard a clang. The young intruder tried his best to push up against the floor to stand up, but found his mind too fuzzy to even be able of standing.
Slowly and wearily, he lifted his gaze to his attacker. All he saw was a robed figure before he felt a surge of pain in the side of his head, then black.
A faint breathing was heard nearby, accompanied by a dull ringing in the boy' head. The quiet breaths roused the young Imperial. He groaned, holding a hand to his pounding head. Whatever hit him caused a nasty headache, and it was not going well for him. He could even still feel the pain from what, or who, hit him across his head close to his temple. He felt around, soon finding a lump and something sticky. Knew all too well what that was. With his other hand, he felt around before him. He felt something smooth yet hard. The teen felt around where he sat to find something similar. "A table and a chair. Well, I could be anywhere."
The Imperial continued to try and figure out where he was. He smelt around, finding no distinct smells. That meant no food. Except for a smell that came slowly, which must have been closed off to his the fuzziness of his head. Distorting his senses. The scent of fresh bread and mead. Not too far from him. And his hands were unbound. So whoever set this up, they didn't want him to go on an empty stomach. This was an odd show of hospitality to the caught delinquent, as he was normally met with questioning before some 'beating answers out of him'. Which had been common to the frequent offender. Guards had gotten to know his face from time to time, so an interrogation room was a familiar sight. And when his vision came too, he had that sense of familiarity. "Great. Interrogation room. Where's Zeb when I need him?"
This room was quite spacious, it's floor and walls made up of stone, and was almost empty save for the table and two chairs on either side. A single lantern hung from the ceiling, still with the absence of wind. The Imperial sat in one. In the other sat another Imperial. A well-trimmed beard bristled his chin and around his mouth. His dark blue eyes were set on his captive. A bald head hidden away under a leather cap. His attire consisted of what an Imperial Legion officer would wear, except for the leather cap not being metal. And the missing gauntlets. In his hands he held a sheet of fine white paper. A serious look dominated his face alongside his stature. It was obvious this wasn't this guy's first interrogation. There was an eerie silence before the Imperial teen found himself eyeing the plate of bread.
"Go ahead. You must be famished." Normally, the teen would have been well-mannered while eating. Not this time. He pulled the plate over without any patience and began to pull the bread apart. A soft crunch could be heard as he broke it. It felt so fresh in his hands, just like bread should feel. He popped a piece into his mouth, then a relaxed feeling coursed through. But he kept a neutral expression as best he could. "Why are they letting me just take it? This isn't normally what happens." He slowed his eating, suddenly anxious about his food. Before setting down what he had back onto the plate.
"Thirsty?" The older man gestured to the drink between them. Young teen eyed the drink, then shook his head. His interrogator shrugged before facing the soon-to-be questioned. "So, let's get started." He cleared his throat, shuffling his papers in his hands. The teen tried his best to see through that paper, using the lantern's light. It's angle turned out not to be right, so the young Imperial couldn't see through.
"Says here that you were found sneaking about. Not sure what you came here for, but we can guess what by your attire and equipment. Six lock-picks and a small knife. A small, blunt knife, and I can guess not for defense. A black cloak to hide yourself in the dark. Everything needed...from an amateur thief." The older Imperial threw the papers against the table, separating three sheets across its wooden surface. "What did you come to steal? Because I doubt you came for sightseeing, judging by your sack that you hid under your cloak." The teen remained silent, staring at the papers. "Well? Was it gold? Some book? An item of worth? Did you come alone? Or were you sent by someone else's accord?" Still the teen refused to answer, his poker face being one his best. The adolescent leaned forward, crossing his arms on the wooden table.
"I think we are done talking, cause I am not giving you any answers." The questioner frowned, confused by their words. Then, he pushed himself out from the chair and stood, shrugging. The teen smirked as his interrogator headed towards a door behind him, a small barred window close to it's top. A hatch on the other side is closed.
"Once more, a job well-" The boy's relieved thought cut off when the door opened, revealing someone on the other side. An aged robe-wearing man leaning on a staff. He stood tall, body thin. His thick skin an ivory tone, his small hands toned darker. His pointed nose almost touched his dull red lips. A grey beard surrounded his mouth, running halfway down his short neck. The hair grew lighter as it went up to his thinned scalp.
Pale cream woolen cloth make up the undergarments while green silk made his robe. Silver trimmings form a circle on each shoulder, and other silver trimmings run down insides of edges along the insides of his robe. Leather vambraces covered his wrists, and a ruffled pair of cloth pants go down his legs with a small silver belt holding them up. At the bottom was a pair of fine leather boots.
The man's staff was topped by a perfectly-shaped cone crystal. The long main part, the shaft, of his staff was made of steel, a ring just below it's crystal and a sharp point at its bottom. Around the middle is a handle, thinner than the rest of it with two rings at either end.
"Professor? Should you not be getting sheets ready for your class?" the Imperial guard asked in surprise.
"Better than sitting around questioning poor sneaking boys that would do anything for a little bit of coin." The guard stared daggers at the professor, hands clenching. It was obvious to the teen that there was tension between these two men. "Now why don't you let someone who knows how to deal with adolescents handle this, hmm?" The guard shook his head firmly. The teens gaze went back and forth between the two, trying to figure them out.
"This is a job for a guard, not a teacher. You need to know what questions to ask, and their breaking points. I doubt a-"
"A mathematician who questions logic and is known to be one of the best teachers for detention?" The guard went to reply, but found himself unable to. "I thought so. Now, if you want to you can stay. Or you can leave us and get on patrols or...or whatever you guards do." The guard grumbled, fists clenching and unclenching. Though he did nothing and pushed past, shaking his head at himself. The teen couldn't help but smirk. He had never seen a guard get burned so bad by an old guy. Verbally, not physically.
But then he wiped his own smirk away when the old man came to the chair and took his seat. The old man rested his staff against the table then clasped hands together while watching intently.
"So how about we start with a name. You do have one, right? You aren't one of those nameless orphans, are you?" he asked in a curious tone. The teen kept his poker face on. His interrogator let out an exasperated sigh. "Very well. How about this; you answer my simple questions, and I'll make sure you get out of this room. Deal?" he reached out a hand to shake on it. The teen was skeptical on it at first.
He pondered over the deal. How could it go bad. He could easily just lie to this man. Give him a false name. Then he would be let go. Why even bother tell the truth if all he had to do was just answer them? Then again, part of him told him not to lie, to give his true name. Eventually, he picked one of those choices.
"Thadimus." The elderly man matched eye contact, holding a stare with the boy. Then, he gave a satisfied shrug. Luck was on the boy's side, for now. "I think that will be all, so I'm going to-"
"Not so fast." The boy wasn't sure what surprised him more. How the old man did not obey him, like what usually happened, or how fast their frail hand came to rest on his shoulder and hold him down. "We still have other things to talk about, like why you are here in the first place." The teen groaned. A thump echoed around the room after he let his head fall against the table.
"So, Thadimus? Why did you come here?"
"That's not for you to know" Thadimus snapped back. He was in no mood to be questioned by a professor. He would have much rathered the guard. The shame, from being questioned by a teacher. His questioner crossed their arms, holding a hard stare to unnerve his questioned intruder.
"I believe I have every right to know. I am just as much a part of this college as those guards, so I have the right." He picked up his staff, examining its crystal. "I also think you cracked my crystal. So there's that too." Thadimus rolled his eyes in annoyance. Of course, all the old man worried about was his staff. Not the lump it had created on his head.
Since entering the room, part Thad's mind was focused elsewhere. Since their meeting, he and his familiar had a telepathic bond. So not only could they read one another's mind, they could also sense each other's feelings. Such as distress, which is what the boy had at the time. Yet nothing came in return. Just as he expected. That rat never wanted to show its face in public. Yet he wished it would, just this once. He would have slightly enjoyed seeing the old man get beaten by a rat, though he knew the familiar would do much more than that. So he was left with one choice. "Very well, Prof. You win." He leaned forward, clasping hands on top of the table.
"I came to look. I've been interested in this place since its construction. Marvelous piece of work. Don't you agree?" Of course, what else was That going to do? Tell the truth and risk his head on a chop-block? That's what he thought would be awaiting him for such a crime if he told the truth.
"Really?"
"Yes. What, not satisfied with my answer?" The professor watched skeptically, looking the boy up and down. At least, as far down as he could with the table being in his gaze's way. Probably looking for some kind of tell-tale sign that he was lying. That was something he hid very, very well. When Thadimus lied, his feet shook. If the lie was big, though, his lip would twitch. To him, this lie wasn't too big.
"Fine...Well, that's all I had for you." He pushed himself out from his chair and knocked on the door. A clang of keys was heard on the other side, then the lock sliding open. A guard pushed the door open, blade sheathed. But still eyeing Thadimus warily. The guard came to stop next to the boy, then grabbed his shoulder and pulled him up, rather roughly.
"Woah, what's your problem?" Thad exclaimed, not comfortable with the rough gesture one bit. But of course, why would he enjoy that? No one would. Unless they were insane, or something. And if there was one thing he hated about guards, it was how rough they tended to be. He tried to shake their hand off, but their grip was too tight. Probably thought he would try and run or something.
The guard led them out, the Professor following along. As they traversed the halls, Thadimus forgot about his partner-in-crime and came to admire the halls they went through. Things weren't as clear, seeing that it was still dark. Which brought some questions to mind. How long had he been out? If no students walked around, and if it were still this dark, surely must still have been night. And where was his familiar buddy? he hadn't shown himself since, not once.
He continued to admire everything, but then he realised something. These walls were nothing like the ones of the floor he had been on. In fact, these looked older. More cracks. and not made from bricks, but more like stacked stones. It felt cold and damp. No, they couldn't be. The entrance wasn't underground! He began to feel panic rising up, his feet and legs tingling. Begging to run the other way.
The guard stopped him further down the hall. An old wooden door, barred at the top like the interrogation room. But on this one, a rusted metal framing was on the door. A couple of nails poked out. The smell did nothing to help Thad's thoughts about the...he hated to think about what he was about to get into. The cell.
The professor moved forward then produced a set of keys. Then unlocked the cell door to push the door open. A squeak came from metal against stone, then a creak. This cell must have been really, really old.
"Wait, you said-" He was pushed in before another word to come out. The guard pulled the door shut. A locking sound shut out any feelings of hope.
"Yeah, well you shouldn't have lied. The City Guard will be here tomorrow evening to pick you up. Rest easy until then, Mr. Thadimus!" the Professor shouted. Footsteps could be heard going down the hall. Thad continued to lay on the ground, balling his hands into tight fists. He brought one down against the floor. And was lucky to hear no cracks, yet that still hurt him.
"Dammit, Zebath. Where are you?" he thought to himself, feeling an urge to cry out in frustration, but also sadness. At being left alone. And of course, no answer came. What was he to expect? A flash of light, then all of a sudden his buddy comes out of nowhere? No, Ze wasn't like that at all. After about a minute or so, he finally picked himself up and went to sit on the bed inside. That was the only furniture in here. A rusty metal bed, creaking as if it would just break upon one sitting on it. At least he still had his clothes.
The young Imperial lied back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. One conversation came to mind. A man hidden by a cowl, hiding his face. The very deal that got him in this situation.
"I have the means to help you. I can save you..But for a price."
"What do you want? Money? Cause I barely have any of that. Need it to save myself."
"No, not money. I have something more...valuable in mind. All you need to do is get it for me. But if you fail, I cannot help you. And if you give me up, I will deny ever knowing or seeing you, as well as this entire meeting. You will be left alone...Do we have a deal?"
"...Deal."
Here it is. My biggest story yet. Boy, am I excited for this one. I've had this idea shelved for so long, if it were a book it would be coated by several layers of dust! And also what better day to post this than my 18th birthday!
I'd like to thank several authors for creating some OC's for me; HeadHusky, ResistTheEmpire, and also I would like to the name and thank the inspiration I had that sprung the idea up again and got me working on it, Dark Legacy by Dardarax. And also a good friend of mine, who has been helping me since I started (well, close to when I started) on this site, Drac0tam3r Rod.