Chapter Text
The cavern is draped in darkness, save for the few scintillant streaks that pass through the edges of the singular door. Mogh hangs by his wrists besides me, shackled just as I. In sleep, my brother is silent, motionless. I used to fear that he would not wake up when I was younger. I would fear the stench his corpse would bring, akin to the rats strewn across the floor, and I would fear being left alone in our prison. Of course, if one of us were to die, it would be me, feeble and sickly as I am.
Sometimes, the soft echoes of voices pass through the rotten beams above us, but as of now the only sound I hear is the muddy water which drips from the craggy arches. When there is naught else to do but wait, we count their number as we hear them fall to the earth. Hunger has caused me to lose count. Mogh says that they feed us daily, on a precise schedule, but each wait between meals feels longer than the last.
Finally, I can hear the thud of footsteps approaching. The sound is different however, even from a distance, the noise is much greater than it has ever been before. The door opens and I squint as I adjust to the newfound light. Most of it however, is blocked by the towering figure that steps through the gateway. The man is incomprehensibly large, enough so that he can just barely shove his body through the doorway.
He is dressed differently from the others, his armor made of large metal plates worn over a thick tunic, in lieu of the cloth and iron mesh of the soldiers. I see an axe slung to his back, seemingly longer than he is tall.
He kneels to meet my gaze with his own.
"Omen child, long have ye suffered."
He speaks softly, such that I doubt brother will awaken, yet his voice still seems to rumble like thunder. "I come here to offer you a choice." He shifts around, preparing his next words carefully.
"It is in my power to grant thee freedom from this place, to allow you to roam the lands above." My eyes widen at the thought. We would never have imagined escaping the room, let alone being set free.
"It is not in my power however, to do so unconditionally. You are a fell omen, afflicted with cursed blood, and as such, there are many who would much rather see you rot. Your shackles may only be broken once you have been proven to be useful.
"The price of your freedom will be duty. You will fight for the resplendent Queen Marika, and the Greater Will she represents. Your journey will be arduous, abound with great hardships. Most likely, you will die in combat.
"You need not decide now. I offer the same deal to your brother. Inform him, and take some time to discuss your decision.
"When next I arrive, it will be the last time I enter this cell."