The Witch's Prisoner

I miss my home...

The witches have been in hiding for hundreds of years since the retrieval of Saru's stone. During their time, they have reviewed their master's dark journals and even made new ones, but with little success in awakening him. 

In the frigid ends of the earth, Saru's army of witches lay beneath the snow that can only be accessed through a secret ritual spell. Grand halls made from dark marble, adorned with pillars and statues of beasts.

The witch quarters are separated by ranks, including their dining hall, but beneath them all are their prisoners who don't see the light of day aside from the dimming light of fire torches. This is where all the experiments of magic on humans happen, but many have died in the process. 

However, there was still one captive alive but had been in a dormant state. As a guard entered the cell, the man opened their eyes and began to violently choke. He rolled off the bed wheezing and the guard ran up to him and injected him on the arm as the man started to regulate his breath and passed out once more. 

"I must let the council know that he has awakened..."

The council of witches were descendants of the original followers of Saru, also referred to as his three shadows. They have kept the stone safe and ordered groups to research further about dark magic and train for battle. 

Their hall consists of a checkered marble floor and three thrones. Muna, the queen of witches and master of potions. Draven, the prince of witches and master of curses, and Zeathel, former king of witches and master of blood magic. 

A creak echoed as the doors opened and a group of black caped witches entered the council hall. Their leader was ahead of the group, his cape flowing as he stepped closer to the sitting witches. He kneels, bowing his head down and swiftly standing up. 

Muna giggled as she took out her fan covering her face, only revealing her emerald eyes. 

"Welcome back Colton, it's always good to see you handsome.~"

Draven felt ticked off at Muna's suggestive commentary and he rolled his eyes, but Colton was unfazed by her advances as he began to report his findings. 

"As we all know, there are no formal records of how to summon Saru out of the stone. After much trial and error through different magical methods, we have made a groundbreaking discovery during the recent plague. Because of so many deaths, it has provided us with enough specimens to experiment with the method of Aura Meris and extract magic from their hosts as an offering to Saru. The attempt has been a success, but the level of magic determines its effectiveness. Due to the annihilation of the wizard academy, the use of magic has been severely suppressed, therefore, 99% of them are poor offerings to Saru."

"Alright Colton, if you already found the answer for being the brains, then just keep extracting magic for the master!" 

"Must you be foul as always Draven..." Muna stingly said as she fanned her face. 

"Listen to Colton's words better Draven. He didn't just come here to lecture us..." Draven sulked in his seat as he felt babied by Zeathel's words.

"You are all the wisest Lord Zeathel," Colton bowed again with resounding respect. 

"So, it's time to capture the 1% and make ourselves present to the world. Colton, prepare the witches to head out and find the wizards."

"As you wish, Lord Zeathel." 

As Colton was about to head out, the guard from the cells barged in.

"Masters, he has awaken!"

They all turned to him, as a man came from behind the guard, limping as the rattling of chains echoed the room. 

His cloak was tattered with charred holes all over his clothes. The man was breaking out in cold sweat and his neck was bandaged. He looks up at the superiors with his arms hanging down in front of him as they are tied down by the chains.

Zeathel walks down from his seat approaching the man as the guard steps away.

"It's good to see you Larvin."

The man glared at him as he stopped right in front of him.

"I'm not Larvin. My name is Kurt Snowbell."