Hopelessness

Zudite and Tidanird makes their way through the sewers, ignoring all the rats and other disgusting things they come across during the short travel... They walk out into a long stretch of tunnel, the middle of which is completely filled with dirty water containing the sewage of the city above them.

Tideanird's nose wrinkles at the smell, "I don't understand the point to living in the sewers, do you just like the smell, or?"

Zudite shakes his head, "Yeah, I like the smell. Idiot, of course I don't! It's just the only way we have of not immediately getting sniffed out by the Vampires!" he says, walking up to a wall and pushing normal-looking brick.

*Shhuuuuuuuuuua!*

The sound of grinding stones makes the two aware of a mechanism working away behind the wall... Slowly the wall in-front of them begins to slide upwards, revealing a relatively clean room.

The enter and push another brick, closing the hidden passage behind them, walking through the stone corridor until they reach a dimly lit room filled with furniture. A child with brown hair and eyes is slumped on a sofa, with a bald, scarred man with cat-like eyes sitting and cleaning his nails with a knife opposite them...

Zudite "Etredi stop looking so pitiful, we've brought food." he says as the two place the baskets on the table.

The Witcher snorts, "She's been moaning and groaning since you left, you'd think she was dying or something."

Etredi suddenly sits up and points at him, "Shut your mouth Hurtelt! We're not all like you, I need to eat occasionally!" she exclaims.

Tidanird tosses his rusty iron sword near the doorway and slumps into the sofa next to Etredi, taking some bread and stuffing it into his mouth while he's at it. "You both make it seem as if you are the ones doing all the work, how about you two go out with Zudite next time? I'd rather sleep to be honest." he says as he chews.

Etredi "You dolt, the reason you both go is because you two won't draw attention to yourselves... News would spread quickly if a child and a Witcher were seen around places where stuff keeps getting stolen. Besides, I still work, which is something compared to that guy." she gestures towards the Witcher.

Hurtelt shakes his head, "Any of you ever killed a Vampire before?" he asks, and doesn't receive and answer, "Yeah, that's what I thought. You guys feed me and I'll lend you my skills, that's the deal." he states.

Zudite shakes his head and sighs while bending over and finally removing the Golem that'd been stuck to his leg this whole time.

Etredi "What's that?" she asks after swallowing some berries.

Zudite shrugs, "No idea, picked it up on the way here, it should be carrying a message or something similar though..." he says, sitting down and examining it...

...

Zudite "Ah, here... A letter?" he mutters and takes it out, causing the golem to collapse into a pile of dirt...

Tildanird "Eh! You killed it!" he exclaims in surprise.

Zudite shakes his head, "No, it just destroyed itself... Its only goal was probably to deliver the letter, whoever made it must've been lacking magic..."

Hurtelt "Wouldn't that mean whoever sent it wouldn't be any help to us?" he questions, receiving a glare from Etredi.

Etredi "Even if they're weak we could use any help they can offer... They might even have information on the state of other countries."

Zudite nods, "Right, besides, having another mage would help with many things." he says, opening the letter and reading through it.

...

Tildanird "What's it say?" he asks, curious.

Zudite frowns, "It's Margarita Laux-Antille." he states with a strange look.

Tildanird "Who?"

Zudite sighs and rubs his head, "An enchantress who escaped the Witch Hunters of the Eternal Fire, she used to teach at Aretuza, before it was destroyed..."

Tildanird "You look like something is wrong, what is it?"

Zudite "Margarita is powerful from what I know, the Golem was weak and made from shit materials. Either it's not really her, or she's in trouble." he says gravely.

Hurtelt looks up, "How would that be? Sorceresses are notoriously hard to deal with, not to mention how easy it would be for her to escape." he questions.

Zudite scratches his head, "From what I know, she was captured by the Eternal Fire due to the fact she was trying to protect her students... Perhaps it's a similar situation?" he wonders aloud.

Etredi "You'd think someone like that would learn their lesson after the first time." she says callously.

Tidanird "I think, if we can we should help... That's why she sent the Golem right?"

Zudite nods, "From the letter, apparently she's being held in a mansion on the outskirts of town with another woman.

Etredi "Then, we just gotta break them out, right?"

Hurtelt shakes his head, "This is why you'd die without us. I'd bet they're using Dimertium to keep her there, not to mention the powerful Vampires that likely reside there."

Zudite nods, "Yes, apparently two Elder Vampires live in the mansion..." he says, Hurtelt's eyes widening at his words.

Hurtelt "T-two Elders? Shit..."

Etredi "What's an Elder?" she asks.

Hurtelt "Something that shouldn't exist... Vampires who have lived a long, long time, and have become extremely powerful. Just one could destroy a Kingdom, but two? What the fucks going on!" he exclaims.

Zudite "Hm, didn't think those things could get any stronger..." he says with a sigh.

Tildanird "How are we going to help this "Margarita" then?" he asks.

Hurtelt shakes his head, "Best you forget her, I'd rather kill myself now than possibly anger an Elder."

"No, I think, with proper planning, we might be able to help." a voice says from the doorway leading to another room.

Zudite "Dythi..."