Zoltar

Sir Leon walked down a dark alley leading inside the capital. He was going to meet an informer who had information on what he was looking for. He came down an alley which was a narrow passageway, the shadows stretching out like clutching fingers. He continued down the alley and came to a halt near a house that was left of ruins only. The ruins were a testament to a lost civilization, the crumbling stones whispering secrets of the past.

Once inside the ruined building, a boy, probably the age of ten, emerged from the shadows with a grin plastered on his face.Leon eyed him suspiciously both in awe and amusement.

"So you are the one who has information about the man?"The boy nodded at him.

"And where is he?"

"This way."The boy led Leon through another dark alley. The darkness was almost complete, the only light coming from the flickering lamps along the walls. The walls were covered in grime and soot, the bricks crumbling in places. The alley was deathly quiet, save for the occasional rat scurrying across the ground.

They came to a halt at a small hut at the corner of the alley. The hut was small and rustic, made of rough-hewn logs and thatched with straw. The boy pushed the door open and ushered Leon in, then left as soon as he came. Leon entered the dimly lit room with measured steps, his hand on the scabbard of his sword. It was not wise to trust whoever was here that easily. What if it was a trap?

Inside, the hut was dimly lit by a single candle, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and spices, hanging in bunches from the rafters. The floor was covered in a thick layer of straw, rustling underfoot as they walked. The furniture was simple and functional, a rough-hewn table and chairs filling the space. A fire burned low in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. The walls were adorned with ancient symbols and runes, etched into the wood.

A dark figure sat in a corner, surrounded by stacks of ancient texts and scrolls. The person was an old man, his white beard reaching down to his chest, probably in his mid-sixties or early seventies. His eyes were sharp and wise, seeming to hold the secrets of the ages within them.

Leon approached the man cautiously but he seemed harmless though. He released the breath he had been holding before turning to the old man.

"Who are you and what do you want?"The old man asked, disgust evident in his voice.

"My name is Sir Leon," he began, "information has it that you can read ancient Avonese frequently. I need your help on something."

"And what will I get in return?"Leon expected nothing less from this old man. He reached inside his pocket and removed a pouch filled with coins.

"A hundred crown coins for this job."The old man seemed pleased by the amount before turning towards Leon.

"That,s a huge amount from a mere knight. I suppose you have been sent by a member of the royal family."Leon seemed awed by the man's wisdom.

"Just do your job old man, and have your pay."The man looked away displeased by Leon's reply.

"You can call me Zoltar. That's my name. So, where is the text to be read?"

"I will bring the book tonight. Make sure to be available."Zoltar nodded in understanding. Leon exited the hut and decided to head back to the palace. He went through the same alley he had come through. But this time it seemed desolate and ominously quiet. Something was off with this place. The lights were off and the alley grew darker like a vortex. The only light came from the flickering torch in the distance, casting the alley in a sickly glow.

Throwing caution to the wind, Leon went down through the alley but with caution. The alley was a maze of twists and turns, and Leon had the feeling he was being watched or followed. He followed a dark corner and hid in some garbage to confront whoever was following him. The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls, each one making Leon's heart race with fear and anticipation. He held the hilt of his sword tightly ready to strike at any available chance. The shadows seemed to move and shift, as if alive with unseen monsters.

One of the shadows neared where Leon was with prying eyes. Leon held his breath for a while fearing for the worst.

"Hey, let's go. It seems that fearful fool ran away."With that, the dark shadow left the place running to his comrades. Leon released the breath that he did not notice he had held for long. But one thing was clear. Whoever those were, they had been following him since he left the palace.

**********************

Aria paced nervously in her room, her eyes fixed on the window as she watched the last rays of the sun dip below the horizon. She had been waiting for Leon all night, and as the minutes ticked by, her fears for his safety grew stronger.

She had always known that sneaking out of the palace was a risky move, but she had never imagined that it would be this dangerous. She had spent the whole night worrying, imagining all sorts of terrible scenarios. Had Leon been captured? Was he lying injured somewhere?

Finally, just as she was about to give up hope, she heard a soft knock on her door. She rushed to answer it, her heart pounding with relief as she saw Leon standing there, looking tired but unharmed.

"I'm sorry, Aria," Leon said, as he stepped into the room. "I was followed, but I managed to shake them off. I think someone in the palace is spying on us."

"I'm sorry for what happened. Are we still leaving tonight?"Leon looked at Aria's eyes and saw the determination in them. How could he turn down such a determined soul even though he was aware of the dangers awaiting them outside?

"We are leaving now."Aria was somehow caught off guard but nodded in understanding. Leon led her through the palace hallways while crouching low and hiding from the sight of the palace guards. Aria followed silently, her heart racing as they headed out of the palace. They moved quickly and quietly, keeping to the shadows as they made their way through the dark streets of the city. She had worn simple clothes like those of a commoner to avoid unnecessary attention.

Finally, they reached the edge of the city and made their way into the almost desolate hut. Aria felt a sense of relief wash over her as they reached Zoltar's hut, and she eagerly followed Leon inside. The old man greeted them warmly and Aria felt a sense of gratitude towards him for accepting to help her.

Aria handed the magic book to Zoltar and he placed it on the dimly lit nightstand. He seemed a bit taken by the book but opened it. Aria showed him where she wanted him to read. Meanwhile, Leon went outside to check for any prying figures out there in the shadows. He knew that it was possible they might have been followed again.

Back inside, Zoltar began reading the contents of the book to Aria. The magic book was filled with ancient texts and illustrations, detailing the various ways in which magic could be harnessed and controlled. Aria eagerly pored over the pages, her eyes scanning the lines of text as she tried to absorb as much information as possible.

As she listened, she discovered that magic could be drawn from the elements of nature - water, fire, earth, and air. Each element had its own unique properties and could be used to create different effects. For example, water could be used for healing and divination, while fire could be used for destruction and protection.

She also learned about the importance of incantations and chants in harnessing magic, and how the power of words could be used to focus and direct the flow of magic. Aria felt a sense of wonder as she understood the different types of spells that could be cast, from simple illusions and light shows to more complex and powerful spells.

But as Zoltar read on, she also found that the book contained warning of the dangers of magic, if not controlled properly, it could lead to dire consequences. Aria's heart raced with excitement as she realized the power that lay within her grasp, but also with the fear of the responsibility that came with it. Magic had a price to be paid whenever it was used, mostly one's energy.

As Zoltar closed the book, Aria knew that she would have to be very careful in her use of magic and that she would need to master her powers before she could use them safely. She realized that this would take time, but she felt determined to learn all she could and to become the best magic user she could be.She now knew what she had to do.