Banishment

The morning sun had barely risen when Alex was dragged from his cell, the heavy iron door creaking open as the knights entered. His body ached from the previous day's ordeal, and his mind was clouded with exhaustion and despair. He had barely managed to rest, haunted by the jeers of the crowd and the mocking smile of Princess Selene.

"Get up," one of the knights barked, yanking Alex to his feet. "You're being moved."

Alex stumbled as they hauled him out of the cell, the cold metal of his shackles biting into his wrists. "Moved?" he muttered weakly, his voice hoarse. "Moved where?"

"You'll find out soon enough," another knight said with a sneer.

They led him through the winding corridors of the castle, the air growing colder with every step. Alex's thoughts raced as he tried to piece together what was happening. He hadn't expected any reprieve from his punishment, but this felt different—more deliberate, more final.

When they emerged into the courtyard, Alex's heart sank. Standing at the center was Princess Selene, her presence commanding despite her delicate appearance. She wore a flowing gown adorned with intricate runes, her pink hair catching the morning light. Her ruby-red eyes locked onto Alex with an icy disdain.

"Ah, there he is," Selene said, her voice dripping with venom. "The disgrace of Eldoria."

Alex glared at her, his teeth clenched. "What now? More public humiliation? Or have you come up with something even worse?"

Selene smirked, stepping closer. "Oh, I've grown tired of seeing your pathetic face, Alex. Your presence is an insult to this kingdom and to me. So, I've decided to get rid of you entirely."

Her words sent a chill down Alex's spine. "Get rid of me?" he repeated, his voice trembling. "What are you talking about?"

She tilted her head, her expression almost playful. "I'm sending you somewhere... special. A place where your weakness will finally catch up to you."

Before Alex could respond, Selene gestured to the knights. They moved swiftly, dragging him toward a carriage waiting near the gates. His protests fell on deaf ears as they shoved him inside, slamming the door shut.

Selene approached the carriage, her cold smile unwavering. "You'll be taken to the most dangerous dungeon in all of Eldoria," she said, her tone casual, as if she were discussing the weather. "The Abyssal Maw. It's far from here, outside the borders of our kingdom, in the northeastern lands."

Alex's stomach turned. He had heard whispers of the Abyssal Maw from the townsfolk during his punishment—a labyrinth of horrors where even the strongest warriors met their end. It was a place of no return.

"You can't do this," Alex said, his voice rising in desperation. "You're sentencing me to death!"

Selene's smile widened. "That's the point, isn't it? You don't deserve the mercy of a quick execution. In the Abyssal Maw, you'll have plenty of time to reflect on your failures... assuming you survive long enough."

Her words were like a dagger to his heart. Alex clenched his fists, his body trembling with anger and fear. "You're a monster," he spat, his voice low but seething.

Selene laughed softly, her ruby eyes gleaming. "And you're nothing. Goodbye, Alex. May the Maw show you the mercy I won't."

With that, she turned on her heel, her flowing gown trailing behind her as she walked away. The carriage jolted forward, and Alex was carried off toward his doom.

The journey to the Abyssal Maw was long and grueling. The knights escorting Alex said little, their expressions blank as they drove the carriage through forests, fields, and rocky terrain. The further they traveled, the more desolate the landscape became. The lush greenery of Galdor gave way to jagged cliffs and barren wastelands, the air growing colder with every mile.

Alex sat in silence, his mind a whirlwind of fear and anger. He had been framed, humiliated, and now discarded like trash. The memories of Selene's mocking smile burned in his mind, fueling a growing fire within him.

'I'll survive this.'

He thought fiercely.

'No matter what it takes, I'll prove her wrong.'

By the time they reached the northeastern border of Eldoria, the sun had set, casting the land in an eerie twilight. The knights halted the carriage near a massive chasm, its depths shrouded in darkness. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and a faint, otherworldly hum emanated from the abyss.

One of the knights dismounted and opened the carriage door.

"Out," he commanded.

Alex stepped out, his legs unsteady from the long journey. He looked around, his breath hitching as he caught sight of the dungeon's entrance. A massive stone archway loomed before him, carved with ancient runes that pulsed with a faint, ominous glow. The ground beneath it seemed to ripple like liquid shadow, and a deep, resonant growl echoed from within.

"The Abyssal Maw," the knight said, his voice devoid of emotion. "This is where you'll spend the rest of your miserable life."

Alex swallowed hard, his heart pounding. The knights shoved him forward, untying his shackles before stepping back. "Go on," one of them said. "The princess wanted you alive when you entered, but what happens after that isn't our concern."

Alex turned to face them, his jaw tight.

"You're all cowards," he said, his voice trembling with anger.

"You follow her orders blindly, knowing she's lying. You're just as guilty as she is."

The knights didn't respond. They climbed back into the carriage without a word, leaving Alex alone at the edge of the chasm. The sound of the horses' hooves faded into the distance, and silence enveloped the desolate landscape.

Alex turned back toward the dungeon, his fists clenched. The runes on the archway seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, their glow intensifying as if beckoning him forward.

He stood at the entrance for what felt like an eternity, his body frozen with fear. The Abyssal Maw was unlike anything he had ever seen. The air was heavy with an unnatural chill, and the shadows seemed to move on their own, writhing like living creatures.

'I don't have a choice.'

He thought, taking a deep breath.

'If I stay here, I'll die. If I go in... I might still die. But at least I'll have a chance.'

With trembling legs, Alex stepped through the archway. The moment he crossed the threshold, a wave of darkness engulfed him, and the world behind him disappeared. The only light came from the faint glow of the runes on the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced like phantoms.

The air was thick with the scent of decay, and distant growls echoed through the labyrinthine corridors. Alex's heart raced as he moved deeper into the dungeon, his senses on high alert. Every step felt like a gamble, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on him like a physical weight.

As he turned a corner, he caught sight of something moving in the shadows. His breath caught in his throat as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by the hulking form of a creature unlike anything he had ever seen. It was massive, its body covered in jagged spikes, its fanged maw dripping with a viscous, black liquid.

Alex stumbled backward, his mind screaming at him to run, but his legs refused to move. The creature let out a guttural roar, its eyes locking onto him with predatory intent.

'This is it.' 

Alex thought, his body trembling.

'This is how I die.'

But as the creature lunged toward him, something deep within Alex stirred. A faint, glowing interface appeared in his vision, and a single thought crossed his mind: Survive.