The air in the chamber grew dense with energy. The chains binding ar responded immediately, their pulsating glow intensifying and sending waves of searing energy coursing through the Dragonborn''s body.
ar clenched his teeth, his muscles convulsing under the relentless assault of the energy. A growl escaped his lips.
Krevak stood watching with a cruel smile ying across his lips as he looking at the sight. This he thought, was the vengeance his god desired.
The pain coursing through ar was sharp. He feels like thousands of needles stabbing him simultaneously, but it wasn''t nearly as bad as it looked. He funneled his Magic energy inward, focusing it on his skin to dull the agony.
It wasn''t enough to entirely block the pain but it was enough to let him keep his mind clear. Still, he made sure to be in pain convincingly and allowing his tormentor to believe his act of helplessness.
Krevak''s smile widened.
"That''s more like it," he murmured with satisfaction. After several minutes, he stepped back, letting the control panel dim.
He watched ar that now slumped forward and his head hanging low. The Dragonborn appeared utterly broken.
Krevak turned without a word and strode out of the room then let the hiss of the sliding metal door sealing behind him.
The moment Krevak was gone, ar took a deep breath through gritted teeth. His body trembled, not from weakness but from the effort of holding back his true strength.
He closed his eyes, channeling more of his Magic into his skin, dulling the lingering stings of the chains'' energy.
"Not bad,"
he thought.
"Still far enough to break me but this is very annoying."
---
Krevak''s boots echoed sharply against the metallic floor as he strode through the narrow corridor of his fortress. Two high ranking soldiers fell into step beside him.
"Keep a constant watch on him," Krevakmanded. "Never let your guard down, not even for a second."
One of the high-ranking soldiers at his side hesitated before speaking. "My lord, with all due respect, the celestial chains—"
Krevak stopped abruptly, turning on the soldier with a mad re. His hand shot out, grabbing the soldier by the throat and mming him against the wall. The impact reverberated down the corridor, silencing the others. Explore hidden tales at empire
"What we have in that room," Krevak hissed, "is no ordinary prisoner. He is a Dragonborn, one of the most dangerous creatures in existence. Do not let your arrogance or your blind faith in the chains cloud your judgment. If he escapes because of your ipetence, I will kill you myself. Do you understand me?"
The soldier''s eyes widened with terror, and he nodded frantically. Krevak released him with a shove, letting him drop to the floor.
The man scrambled to his feet, saluting hastily. "Yes, my lord. It won''t happen."
Krevak''s eyes narrowed. "Good. Now get back to your post."
The soldiers resumed their positions, leaving Krevak to continue down the corridor alone.
Few momentster he arrived at his own chamber. Krevak entered and began removing his armor piece by piece, the crimson tes clinking as they hit the floor.N?v(el)B\\jnn
Beneath the armor, his body bore countless scars, a roadmap of battles fought and wounds endured. But the most striking were the fresh wounds crisscrossing his back that looks deep and most recent.
Krevak knelt before and altar, his head bowed. He reached for a small spiked mace lying on the altar''s edge.
He gripped the handle tightly, raising it high before striking it against his back. The spikes bit into his flesh, reopening the wounds. Blood trickled down his sides, but his expression remained impassive because he focus entirely on his ritual.
"Great Lord of Light," he said, his voice steady despite the pain. "I offer my suffering to you. Grant me strength to carry out your will and to avenge your name. Let your judgment rain down upon the usurpers, and let the Dragonborn know the weight of their sins."
Each word was punctuated with another strike, the room filled with the sound of metal meeting flesh. Krevak''s breathing grew heavy but his resolve did not waver.
He would see this mission through. For his god and the legacy that had been stolen.
For revenge.
---
In the grand halls of the Elf pce, Saeldir stood before King Gulben. Saeldir''s face was grave as he ryed the message ar had managed to send, a dire warning about the beings, or perhaps gods, that sought vengeance upon the Dragonborn. He himself didn''t know that something like this will happen.
King Gulben listened intently, his expression now clouded with concern and confusion. He leaned forward in his throne.
"This is troubling news. What is going on…" King Gulben said, his voiceced with unease. "If what ar says is true, these beings are ancient and pretty strong. Their grudge against the Dragonborn is old and their powers perhaps beyond ourprehension."
"I agree, my king. But their target is clear. It was ar and Erend who stands in their path. But I still don''t know anything more since that''s the only thing ar managed to send," Saeldir said.
King Gulben''s gaze turned sharper, his brows furrowing as he weighed the possibilities. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"Erend must know about this. Go to him at once."
With a nod of acknowledgment, Saeldir turned on his heel and left the throne room.
He made his way to his own chamber again. With a wave of his hand, Saeldir activated the enchantedmunication crystal resting on his desk. Its surface lit up with a soft, pulsing light, connecting him to Erend across the distance.
"Erend,"
Saeldir began.
"I have news from ar from that world. It appears there are ancient forces at y there. ar said he just found beings, perhaps gods, who bear a deep grudge against the Dragonborn. Their power and their reason are still unclear, but they''ve made their intent known. They want revenge. We need to discuss this immediately."
The crystal glowed brighter as Saeldir waited for Erend''s response.
---