บท 16: The Curse of the Shadow City
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The sky darkened as Alaric and Zanuba walked through the abandoned and desolate city. Even though the disturbing shadows had vanished, Zanuba couldn't shake the strange feeling that enveloped this place. The city seemed like a mere shadow of its former glory—empty, void, and filled with an indescribable aura of sadness.
As they continued down streets filled with ruins, a faint sound reached their ears. It wasn't the wind or the shadows; it was more human—a sound of crying. Zanuba stopped in her tracks, her ears clearly catching the sound.
"Alaric, do you hear that?" Zanuba whispered.
Alaric paused, narrowing his eyes, trying to listen more carefully. "Yes, it seems like someone…"
They followed the sound, growing louder as they approached a narrow alley between collapsed buildings. There, in the corner, they found a small boy huddled up, his body frail and semi-transparent, similar to the shadows they had fought before. But this boy was different—tears streamed down his cheeks, making him seem more human.
Zanuba immediately knelt beside the boy, her heart full of compassion. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked gently.
The boy lifted his face, revealing a sad and weary expression. His eyes were hollow, yet filled with deep pain. "I… I don't want to be a shadow... I don't want to stay here forever…"
Zanuba's heart ached. This boy, though not fully human, had feelings, fears, and suffering like any other person. She wanted to help, but she didn't know where to start.
"What's your name?" Zanuba asked, trying to calm him down.
"My name is... Harlan," the boy replied, his voice trembling. "This city used to be beautiful. Everyone was happy… but now, they're all trapped… turned into shadows."
Alaric's brow furrowed, and he gazed seriously at the boy. "What happened here, Harlan? Why did everyone turn into shadows?"
Harlan sobbed briefly before starting his story. "This city was once full of life. People worked, children played, and everything was peaceful. But one day, a greedy nobleman came to the city. He brought a gift—a strange egg, which he said was found in the forbidden forest outside the city. People didn't know it was the egg of a Black Lizard—a dangerous, mystical creature."
Zanuba stood still, listening intently. "Black Lizard?"
Harlan nodded slowly. "The Black Lizard is the guardian of the forest. Its eggs are precious, but also cursed. When the nobleman stole the egg and brought it to the city, the curse spread. One by one, the citizens started to disappear from their physical forms, turning into formless shadows. They couldn't die, they couldn't live. They're just trapped here… forever."
Zanuba was shocked by the story, while Alaric stood in thought, searching for a solution.
"I don't want to become like them…" Harlan continued, his voice small and filled with fear. "I don't want to be a shadow forever. Please… please free us from this curse."
Zanuba gently squeezed Harlan's hand. "We will help you. We will end this curse."
Alaric nodded, his expression more serious than usual. "Looks like we have to deal with this Black Lizard. If we can find the egg and return it, maybe we can lift the curse."
"But… the Black Lizard is a very strong monster," Harlan warned. "It won't let us get close."
Alaric grinned, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "Oh, don't worry about that. I have my ways of dealing with creatures like that. Besides, who can resist a peaceful offer from a handsome wizard like me?"
Zanuba sighed, already used to Alaric's endless jokes. But behind all the humor, Zanuba knew Alaric was serious. They couldn't leave the citizens of this city trapped as shadows forever.
"Alright," Zanuba said, standing up. "Tell us where we can find the Black Lizard."
Harlan, despite his fear, gave them directions to the Black Lizard's lair. "In the middle of the forest, there's a cave hidden behind a waterfall. That's where the Black Lizard guards its nest."
Alaric glanced at Zanuba, a confident smile on his face. "Looks like we have a plan. Come on, Zanuba, this will be fun."
Zanuba nodded, though a sense of worry lingered in her heart. "Yes, we must hurry."
Their journey toward the Black Lizard's lair felt like entering a different world. The air grew heavier, and the forest, once filled with the sounds of birds and wild animals, became eerily silent, as if the universe itself was holding its breath, waiting for something big to happen. Zanuba and Alaric cautiously stepped through the thinning trees until they finally reached a large cave, gaping like the mouth of a giant, dark and foreboding before them.
Zanuba's gaze was filled with determination. "This must be the place," she murmured.
Alaric nodded slowly, his expression more serious than it had been in a long time. "Yes, this is the end of this journey… or maybe the beginning of something bigger."
Without another word, the two of them stepped into the cave. Inside, the light from Alaric's staff reflected off the wet, slippery walls, casting strange shadows. The atmosphere was so oppressive that Zanuba could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"Are you sure we'll be okay?" Zanuba asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
Alaric smirked. "Us? Oh, I'm always fine. You? We'll see."
Before Zanuba could respond to Alaric's teasing, they arrived in a large open chamber. In the center of the room, a massive creature lay coiled, its jet-black scales gleaming under the flicker of Alaric's staff. The creature slowly raised its head, and its glowing red eyes locked onto them.
"Black Lizard…" Zanuba whispered, awestruck by the terrifying beast. "There it is…"
But Alaric wasn't surprised by the sight of the creature. He seemed shocked by something else. His eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward more cautiously.
"No way," he muttered, mostly to himself. "I know this creature."
Zanuba looked at him, confused. "You know it?"
Alaric nodded slightly, his gaze never leaving the giant creature before them. "This isn't just any Black Lizard… This is Mounthous Lizard, one of the loyal guardians of the Demon King. I fought it once before, back when the Demon King was still alive. But it should be dead by now."
Zanuba was stunned. "Remnants of the Demon King's servants?"
The creature let out a low growl, its body slowly uncoiling as it stood to its full, terrifying height. Its red eyes burned even brighter, and the dark aura surrounding it began to suffocate the room. The air grew heavier, and Zanuba struggled to breathe.
"Alaric… what do we do now?" Zanuba asked nervously, taking a step back.
Alaric stood before the massive creature known as Mounthous Lizard. The cheerful, carefree air he usually carried suddenly vanished. His face no longer held the usual playful expression but instead became serious, even grim. Beneath the smile he often wore lay a burden from the past that now resurfaced, bringing forth dark memories he had long buried.
"So it's you…," Alaric murmured softly yet firmly, his eyes slowly shifting from bright blue to a burning red. The light didn't just come from his eyes, but from the powerful magic aura that began to surge around him, like flames rising from within. His entire body was enveloped in energy, as if awakening from a long slumber.
Memories from 700 years ago flooded his mind. The final battle against the Demon King, the sound of clashing swords, the cries of pain, the faces of friends who fell one by one. They were his comrades, his friends who fought alongside him until the end. But it all ended in ruin. Alaric lost everything—his family, his friends, even himself. Since then, he had isolated himself, studying magic with a single purpose: revenge.
But in the end, the Demon King was defeated by four unknown heroes 50 years ago. The revenge he had nurtured for centuries vanished, leaving him questioning his purpose in life. That's why he decided to continue adventuring aimlessly, searching for a new direction. But now, facing the Mounthous Lizard, one of the Demon King's servants, he finally found a way to channel the remnants of his vengeance.
"At least now, I can settle part of my score," Alaric said coldly, yet with determination. The aura around him intensified, so strong that even Zanuba, standing behind him, struggled to breathe.
Zanuba, witnessing the drastic change in Alaric, couldn't hide her shock. Her face paled, and her body trembled under the immense pressure of his powerful energy. Before she could react, her eyes closed, and she collapsed, unable to withstand the overwhelming aura that suddenly engulfed Alaric.
Alaric glanced at the unconscious Zanuba, a faint smile on his lips. "It's better that you sleep… because this is a battle no little girl should witness," he murmured softly. Gently, he carried Zanuba and laid her down at the edge of the
chamber, safely out of harm's way.
"Now, then…" Alaric's eyes flared with fiery magic. He turned back to the towering Black Lizard and raised his staff high. The air itself seemed to tremble with the raw power emanating from him.
"I'll settle this… once and for all."
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