UNCHAINED

Queen Helen's voice was cold and sharp as she told Sir Marcus and her knights, "Search the temple where you caught him.

I believe that's where the journal Is. Bring it to me, no matter what It takes."

From my cell, I saw Sir Marcus bow, his face looking serious. "As you wish, Your Majesty," he said.

"We'll leave no stone unturned"

The queen turned and walked back to her throne, her steps echoing in the hall.

"Make sure you don't," she added, her voice full of threat. "And also, burn down that temple."

Sir Marcus and the knights left.

Meanwhile a girl walked up to my cell, carrying a tray of food.

She had to give me just enough to keep me alive, this was the Queen's order, but today there was something different in her eyes.

She set the tray down and whispered, "I need to talk to you."

I looked up, not really interested.

I didn't say anything and just looked down, feeling the weight of my captivity.

She took a deep breath, her face looking with urgency.

"I know you're hiding something," she said, leaning closer. "Something important. I think I can help you."

I raised an eyebrow, confused and a bit curious.

I thought she was crazy,why would a slave of the queen want to help me? ' what' I asked.

She hesitated, looking around to make sure no guards were watching.

"I'm talking about the journal," she said softly.

"I know you have it. And I need It."

I wasn't moved by her plea.

"What do you want with the Journal?" I asked, not really caring.

Her heart raced as she explained, her voice sounding desperate. "I need it to free my people," she said.

"The queen captured my village and enslaved us. I've heard about the journal's power and believe we can use it."

Her words didn't move me. "And why should I care about your fight? As you can see I have my own battles to fight" I asked, my voice bored.

Her eyes were looking as if she was worried something might happen any moment, but she kept going.

"Because," she said, "if we don't stop her, she'll destroy everything.

Not just my village, but the whole world.Look, I can help you escape."

The mention of escape caught my interest.

I needed to get out of this cell, and if pretending to help her was my only option, I would take it.

"Alright," I said, pretending to think about it. "I'll help you. But how do you supposed to do that."

Elora's face lit up with hope. "I will," she promised.

She then pointed to a young man working nearby. "Look over there," she whispered.

"That's He's a trusted friend of mine, he's going to lead us out.

We've been planning this for a long time."

Thomas glanced over and gave me a confident wink before going back to his work.

He seemed capable and determined, the kind of person you could trust in a tough situation.

About going back to her chambers "I'm Elora" She said and before I could reply her,she interrupted saying "I know who you are" with a smile on her face.

Suddenly, I heard noises come from almost every corner of the Palace.

Elora's people had planned an escape, and chaos erupted.

But it quickly became clear that the attempt had failed.

The queen's guards caught Elora's people one by one.

Among them was Thomas, Elora's childhood friend, who had been key in organizing the escape.

As I watched from my cell, I saw one of Elora's people, defiant even in defeat, throw an axe at the queen.

The axe flew through the air, but Queen Helen caught it easily.

She held its blade and the axe just burst in tiny flames.

Elora's watched how her plans were falling apart, tears running down her face as she saw the escape fail and her people captured. She looked at me, her eyes full of fear and confusion.

Through the chaos, the guards left my cell for a moment.

Elora quickly pulled a key from her pocket, her hands shaking with urgency.

"It's time," she said, unlocking my cell door. "Let's go."

Just as the door opened, Grimgold, one of the queen's most feared guards, appeared with his sword drawn.

"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his eyes full of hate.

Let me grant you your freedom today," he sneered, raising his sword to strike Elora.

Time seemed to slow as his blade swung towards her.

In an instant, something moved from the darkness.

The stranger moved fast, cutting off Grimgold's hand with a single, clean swing. Grimgold screamed In pain, clutching his bleeding stump.

The stranger didn't stop. With a blast of wind magic, he sent two guards flying out of the tower window.

The wind howled through the narrow space, echoing their terrified screams as they fell.

Another guard lunged at the stranger with a spear.

The stranger turned, blocking the thrust with his blade.

He kicked the guard back, then punched him hard, throwing him into my cell.

I watched as the stranger's eyes flickered, sensing another attack.

He did a spin, catching an incoming spear thrown by a guard.

With a quick snap, he broke it in two and aimed the sharp end at the guard who had thrown It.

The guard's face went pale with fear, and he dropped his weapon, hands up in surrender.

The stranger paused, a smile on his lips. He stepped forward and knocked the guard out with a single, strong punch.

I stared, amazed by the stranger's skill. My heart raced as I noticed a familiar silver clasp on his clothes.

Recognition hit me as I saw those intense eyes. "Nicholas?" I called out his name in shock, barely believing that he was still alive.

The stranger finished off the last of Grimgold's men and turned to us.

"Follow me," he said, he turned immediately and started running.