The Predicament

Eldric's heart raced as his shoes thudded against the uneven stone of the battlement. He pushed himself harder, knowing this obscure corner of town was a haven from vigilant soldier's eyes. Who would waste their time guarding this rundown part of town? The thought spurred him on, his strides growing more forceful with every step.

"Please, just let him be okay!"

His muscles burned as he pushed his body beyond its limits, driven by an urgent fear for his friend's safety.

Morvain, with a face as rugged as worn leather, had a mind sharper than any sword. He wasn't one for direct confrontations; he thrived on intricate strategy.

He planned his heists like an artist crafting a masterpiece, every detail accounted for. He took note of the guards, windows, and doors. It was like solving a puzzle, each piece in its place, with Morvain as the mastermind.

Their strategy was like a puzzle, with Eldric's inherited abilities completing it. Every move seemed perfect, like following a script.

Usually, there were no unexpected problems, and everything ran smoothly. But today was different, an unease in the air.

Their well-thought-out plan had taken an unexpected turn, a rare event under Morvain's watchful eye. Eldric knew only one other person who knew the plan so well.

"Lavender... I hope this isn't what I fear!"

With a determined push, his foot firmly met the cobblestone surface, propelling him forward. Unlike if he were on the ground, where a flurry of dirt would have risen in his wake, being atop the stony structure granted him an advantage. As he surged onward, his velocity gained momentum, aided by the firmness of the stone beneath his feet.

From a distance, faint shuffling sounds reached Eldric's ears, and he clung to a glimmer of hope. The town itself lay cradled in the arms of peaceful slumber, cocooned by the enigmatic cloak of darkness.

The night outside was still and quiet. No lights gleamed from any window, giving the world a peaceful, serene feel. It felt like everything beyond the walls didn't matter, as if whatever happened out there was unimportant. Life inside continued, undisturbed by the outside world.

Then, he saw it. A rush of adrenaline shot through him. In the moonlight, near the sewer drain, three soldiers had cornered Morvain. Fear gripped his friend, eyes fixed on the soldiers, as if looking away for even a moment would spell danger.

Eldric's heart raced as he closed the distance. When he aligned with them, he swiftly retrieved the stone from his bag.

"Hey, you bunch of fools!" he shouted, planting a foot on the battlement's edge. "This what you're after?"

"El!" Morvain's face flickered with relief, his golden eyes lighting up with hope.

The soldiers pivoted to look up at the boy, their attention now squarely on him.

"Then fetch this, you scoundrels!"

Eldric hurled the stone with all his might, sending it hurtling into the sewer with a distinct plop. It vanished from sight, swallowed by the dark depths below.

Eldric's chest seized, a sharp pain shooting through him. He clutched at it, struggling for breath. Just as quickly, the pain eased, leaving him gasping. He turned to Morvain, finding his friend wide-eyed with fear.

"Why isn't he gone?" 

The Hound loomed over Morvain, knuckles cracking ominously. The other soldiers rushed toward the sewer, their footsteps echoing in the night.

In an instant that felt like forever, Eldric's eyes locked onto a horrifying sight. The Hound, a massive figure with hands like steel, had Morvain in a deathly grip. His fingers clenched around Morvain's throat, effortlessly lifting him as if defying gravity.

Panic surged through Eldric, his heart pounding in rhythm with his friend's suspended form, dangling a meter above the ground. Time seemed to stretch, each moment dragging on in this nightmarish scene.

"Damn it!"

His eyes flitted down, taking in the grim surroundings. The ground below was a mix of paved road and foul sewer. Jumping down meant abandoning Morvain and sealing both their fates. It would be a gruesome end at the hands of the Hound.

Despite his lineage as the seventh son of the High Lord, there was only one viable course of action that presented itself. Without a moment's hesitation, Eldric braced himself and made the decision. He flung himself into the sewer's abyss.

He didn't feel grossed out or disgusted, for this had been his life for a decade. Memories of his highborn lineage couldn't deter him from his goal of rescuing his friend. The sewer had become his familiar territory, and he plunged into it without hesitation or disgust.