Ascension Of The Archmage

The room was cloaked in shadows, the only light filtering in from the moon outside. The soft, rhythmic sound of Karl's breathing filled the silence, in contrast to the faint, distant squeaking of a door creaking open.

In his dream-laden state, Karl still managed to picked up the unsettling sound, but his mind was too clouded to fully register it. He turned slightly, burying his face deeper into the pillow, hoping to drown out the noise. But then, a sudden weight settled on top of him, pressing down with a gentle but firm insistence. It was enough to jolt him from his slumber.

With a hesitant groan, he slowly peeled his eyes open, the world coming into light. The first thing he saw was a pair of scarlet eyes—vibrant and captivating—staring intently into his own. They belonged to a girl, her features illuminated by the moonlight, a smirk dancing on her lips.

It took him a moment, but then it hit him like a bolt of lightning: it was Ayaki. The playful glint in her eyes was unmistakable. In a rush, Karl felt a surge of adrenaline as he instinctively tried to move, to push her off him, only to be met with an unsettling realization—his hands were strapped to the sides of the bed. Panic coursed through him as he struggled against the restraints, the smirk on Ayaki's face only deepening.

"Surprise!" she whispered, her voice dripping with mischief as she leaned closer, the shadows dancing around them. At that particular moment, Karl knew he was in for a wild night.

His eyes widened in alarm as he struggled against the restraints, his mind racing with panic. "Get off me!" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.

Ayaki's smirk only deepened, her scarlet eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, Karl," she whispered, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I promised you something more intimate, remember?"

His face twisted in discomfort. "I don't think we should be doing this right now," he protested, trying to reason with her. "And besides, I'm not interested in your dirty offers!"

Ayaki's laughter was like music, a soft, melodic sound that sent shivers down Karl's spine. "You're so serious, Karl," she teased, her hands sliding beneath his shirt.

As her fingers made contact with his skin, he felt a jolt of surprise. Her hands were icy cold, and they sent shivers down his spine as they rose up his chest. He couldn't help but blush, his face burning with embarrassment.

Ayaki's laughter grew louder, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're so cute when you're flustered, Karl," she whispered, her breath tickling his ear.

"Is that what you do at your Inn? Seduce customers in their sleep?" His blush deepened, his heart racing with discomfort. He tried to struggle against the restraints again, but they held firm.

"Only the ones that we like, I suppose!" Ayaki said.

"Oh c'mon, I'm not interested if that's what you're thinking!" Karl said. "Now, can you loosen the restraints please?"

"Quit being so boring..." Ayaki rolled her scarlet eyes, her lips not holding back the smirk. She was attractive alright. "You can't possibly tell me you're still a virgin!"

His face turned beet red with embarrassment. "That's none of your business!" he protested, trying to sound indignant despite his growing discomfort.

Ayaki's laughter grew louder, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, Karl, you're so adorable when you're flustered," she teased, her hands still roaming beneath his shirt.

He tried to squirm away, but the restraints held him firm. "Ayaki, stop it!" he demanded, his voice firm but laced with a hint of desperation.

Ayaki's smirk only deepened. "You're so uptight, Karl," she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. "I think I'll have some fun loosening you up."

Her eyes widened in alarm as Ayaki's hands began to roam more freely, her fingers tracing patterns on his skin. He felt a shiver run down his spine, his heart racing with a mix of fear and... something else.

"Ayaki, please," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But Ayaki just laughed, her scarlet eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, Karl," she whispered. "We're just getting started."

Her face drew closer, her scarlet eyes sparkling with mischief. Karl tried to turn his head, but she was too quick. Her lips pressed against his, soft and gentle.

At first, he didn't kiss back, his mind reeling with shock and confusion. But then Ayaki's teeth gently bit his lower lip, sending a jolt of surprise through him. His lips parted, and he found himself kissing her back.

As they kissed, her fingers grazed Karl's ear, and she pulled back, a look of surprise on her face. "So it's true, you're an elf?" she whispered.

He nodded, still trying to process what was happening. "Half-elf."

Ayaki's grin grew wider. "I guess today is my lucky day!"

He felt a surge of desire, wanting to kiss her again. But she just chuckled, keeping him pinned beneath her. Her hand freed itself from his chest, and she kissed him once more.

As she did, he slowly peeled his eyes open, just in time to notice her hand flashing towards him, a knife glinting in the moonlight. He tried to react, but it was too late. The knife slashed down, and he felt a searing pain in his shoulder. He groaned, feeling his blood gush out.

With a surge of adrenaline, he managed to use his legs to kick her off the bed. But instead of falling, she twisted, landing gracefully on her feet. Her face was a mask of serenity, her crimson eyes gleaming under the moonlight. A small, strange smile played on her lips, as if she harbored a dark secret.

Her eyes fluttered closed in rapture, as she raised the blade to her lips. Her tongue darted out, and she licked the blood from the steel, her movements slow and sensual. A soft, throaty moan escaped her lips, and her body shuddered with pleasure. "Hnnnng.. so good..."

Karl couldn't hold back the terror that consumed him from within, pain still burning beneath his shoulder where her blade had stabbed him. He felt the heat of the moment, the wave of agony that followed. "What the fuck's wrong with you?" he demanded.

Her grin grew wider. "Did you know that elven ears are used to create powerful healing potions?" she whispered.

His felt his insides tightened, pain radiating from the wound on his shoulder. "Why?" he whispered. "Why are you doing this!!!?"

Her laughter was like music, a soft, melodic sound that sent shivers down his spine. "For the money," she whispered. "I've always known you were an elf, thinking your pretty hair could hide your cute ears but I've finally got you! Now, I know all my debts will be cleared!!"

She sashayed back to the bed, her slender hips swaying with each step. The blade danced in the air, its playful swing contradicting with the danger she posed. Her raven black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, framing her heart shaped face and piercing crimson eyes. Her eyes seemed to hold a mesmerizing allure.

Karl's fear and anger wrestled with a twist of fascination. He couldn't help but be drawn to her, despite the blade's presence or the wound she had inflicted on his shoulder. Her lips curved into a sly smile, and her voice was husky as she whispered, "I'm going to enjoy torturing you!"

Think like a mage, dammit! Karl's mind protested, booming like thunder as he tried to pull his hands free. Everytime his shoulder moved, pain bolted through it, piercing the least. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold back the pain. This was nothing like the pain he went through back at the farm. "I don't know why you hate elves so much, but I just want you to know....whatever it is, you don't have to throw your frustrations on me....!"

"Oh, but I want to...." She said. "If I sell you at the market, I'll have more than enough money to pay for my debts, get out of this hell called Dale, and find myself a new start!"

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she raised the blade above Karl's neck. In the blink of an eye, she thrust it downwards, aiming for his face. But he was quicker than she anticipated. He jerked his head to the side, avoiding the blade by mere inches. The knife sank into his shoulder instead, and he groaned in agony.

Ayaki's laughter echoed through the room, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. She pulled the knife out, and before Karl could react, she thrust it into his shoulder again.

And again.

And again.

Each time, Karl groaned, his body trembling with pain. Ayaki's laughter grew louder, her moans of pleasure mingling with Karl's cries of agony. Finally, she stopped, her chest heaving with exertion. She climbed back on top of Karl, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her tongue slid down his stab wounds, tasting his blood. Karl felt a wave of revulsion wash over him.

"You taste so good!" Ayaki whispered, her breath hot against his ear.

His voice was barely audible, his body trembling in pain. "Please... let me go..."

"No no no..." she mumbled. "...I want to hear you scream, scream for your life because no one will be able to hear you!"

His vision blurred, his mind reeling from the pain and horror. He felt his insides twist, his stomach churning with nausea. He closed his eyes, unable to beat the sight of her twisted grin. His body felt heavy, his limbs sinking into the bed as if weighed down by lead.

*

It's inside of you....Karl.... you're invincible, Karl couldn't help but listen to the voice inside of him. He felt something ignite inside of him, like a spark of something distant—something cold, like water.

He couldn't stop himself from picturing something dark, a sinister presence. It promised him another chance, a moment to redeem the wrongs done to him. The presence offered him an apple, its skin a deep, bloody red. Karl imagined himself reach out, taking a bite of the apple. The bitterness exploded on his taste buds, but he swallowed, feeling a bitter surge course through him.

As he bit into the apple, he felt himself being drawn to a moment in time. He saw a throne room, the walls running red with blood. Skulls adorned the walls, and men hung from the ceiling, their skin flayed from their bodies.

At the far end of the room, a figure sat on a throne, a sword stained with blood clutched in their hand. The figure was battered and bruised, but his eyes were like tongues of fire.

Karl felt a jolt of recognition, his mind screaming: "Survive!"

Suddenly, he was jolted out of the moment, his eyes fluttering wide open with a terrible gasp for air. His chest heaved, his heart racing with a mix of fear and adrenaline. He couldn't ignore the buzzing sensation at the back of his head, a primal instinct that screamed for him to survive this.

Her face hovered above him, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Welcome back, Karl," she whispered, her breath hot against his ear. "I thought I had killed you before the real fun had even begun!"

But something felt different, even for Karl.

"Get off me!" Words slipped out of his mouth, and for a moment, he thought something had taken over him. "Now!"

He felt his magic burn through his veins, rattling his bones with an urge to be unleashed. He could feel the magic that seeped into the air around him, charging it like a living entity. Without uttering a single word, he focused his magic, visualizing it coiling around him. The sensation was intoxicating.

With a sudden release, he exhaled forcefully, channeling his magic outward. A fierce gust erupted from him, roaring through the room and blasting her off the bed, towards the wall where she landed with a rough thud. She gasped, momentarily caught off guard, but he barely registered her reaction.

He felt the restraints that bound him straining like silk threads, fraying under the force of his magic. With a swift motion, he got off the bed and surged forward, adrenaline coursing through him—and without a second thought, he dashed out of the room. Survive. He told himself.

Survive!

Survive!

Survive!

The word kept ringing at the back of his mind, but he knew he had to get out of the Inn, get as far away as he could—out of town if possible. This was what his parents feared, what they warned him of. He couldn't stop himself, making a turn and descending down the few stairs. He skipped two, then one, then two more repeatedly until he reached the ground floor, where he landed in a crouch. Pain throbbed from where he had been stabbed, and he fought to suppress what he felt. Even with his magic intoxicating him, he knew what he felt—he couldn't ignore the throbbing pain.

"Get back here!" Ayaki's voice was the only reminder he needed at the moment. He quickly lifted up his head, turning around in time to face her standing above the stairs, her eyes glowing in the dark like twin rubies. Her wind was disheveled by the wind, her teeth gritted together as she held a firm grip on that knife. Yes. It was still dripping his blood. "You can't escape!"

But this was the time, the time to survive.

Without a word, he quickly spread his hand, his fingers curled a little inwards—and he felt it, the heat of the spell. Flames flickered to life just between his fingers, dancing in the air above his palm like a throbbing heartbeat. This was his only time, his only chance to create an opening for himself. Quickly, he swayed his hand, throwing off the flame like an arrow towards an object.

He watched the flame take shape, like a glowing stake that lit up the stairs. However, it wasn't fast enough to catch her. She quickly jumped back into the passage, leaving the flames to collide with the wall—creating an eruption of smoke and light.

He couldn't blame himself—when he created that spell, he created it for the purpose of long distances. But it wasn't perfected yet. It was just powerful enough to create a distraction and leave a few burns. Now, he really had to get out of the Inn, find refuge elsewhere that wasn't here.

In the darkness of the common room, he fought to find a way out. He gritted his teeth, trying not to pant too loudly or groan whenever his muscles rippled. He was trying to be gentle on his steps, trying to maintain a steady pace as he looked for a way out. If he used his flames, then it'd be easier for her to find him.

Just as he was moving, he suddenly felt something grab him, from the dark. He felt a hand, fingers wrapping around his wrist and before he could react, another hand ceased him—grabbing him by the collar before pressing against his mouth.

"Shhhh...." The sound met his ears, and he knew it wasn't Ayaki. It was someone else, that other waitress that worked with Ayaki. What was her name again? Yes. Yukino. "....I don't want to harm you..."

Her hand loosened from his mouth, before she started guiding him through the dark. He could hardly see, could hardly hear over his own heartbeat. After a turn, he heard a clicking sound, and she dragged him past the door, before she slowly locked the door from the inside.

With a deep sigh, Karl spread his hand, and flames ignited, floating freely in the air—illuminating everything around him. They were in a small room indeed—a storeroom to be precise—with racks, and brooms, buckets and mops lining up the wall. Yukino on the other hand was leaning against the door, her mane of blond hair falling down her shoulders like a golden waterfall. Her leaf shaped ears twitched—and he noticed how big they were, compared to his. She wore nothing but a nightdress.

"What the fuck's going on?" Karl asked, sitting on the nearby bucket. He was panting, yet trying to ignore the pain. "Do you always have to butcher your customers in their sleep?"

"What are you doing here, in Dale?" Yukino asked. "Don't you know it's a dangerous place, especially for an elf?"

"I came here, looking for a chance to learn magic, not get attacked in my sleep." Karl replied.

She bit her lower lip. "Elves aren't supposed to be in Dale, you know how mortals are towards elves. So why would you prefer to venture this deep into danger when you could learn magic from Woodhalla?"

He cocked a brow. "Woodhalla?"

"Please don't tell me you don't even know where you come from?" She sounded disappointed. And yet, Karl couldn't understand what she meant by saying Woodhalla. He was ridiculously sure that he grew up on a farm, not in some place. She continued, "Its a safe haven for elves. If you want to learn about the arts of magic, you could have gone to a place where you're appreciated, not this butcher town!"

"It was the closest place t—" He couldn't even finish his last words. He heard footsteps, footsteps that rang outside the storeroom and a shiver raced down his spine. He lowered his voice into a thin whisper, "—if this town is so bad, then what are you doing here?"

"I'm a Slave." She said, pointing to the tattoos that inked her neck like a necklace. "And my duty is to serve lady Tsuchiyo."

"How can you live under the same roof with that psycho outside?" He asked.

She cleared her throat. "I'm under the protection of lady Tsuchiyo. There's nothing she can do to harm me. But for you, it's different."

Something wasn't adding up. He could feel it in his bones, an odd sensation that screamed for him to run. He asked, "What's in it for you? Why did you save me?" He just couldn't believe that she was throwing a helping hand, when they hardly ever spoke. "I figured it'd be best to just get straight to the point."

"I want you to use your magic to dissolve this.." Her slender finger pressed against her neck, where he saw the markings that were inked into her skin. "...and to take me to Woodhalla as retribution for saving your life."

He frowned for a minute, feeling a burning sensation that crept through his wounds. "Is that a Slave Seal?"

"Yes." she said politely. "....and it's the only thing holding me back from using my magic."

He cocked a brow. "You're a mage?"

"Used to be..." She said. "...before I was enslaved thirty years ago..."

"Thirty years ago?" He couldn't believe her words. There was something about her features that made him feel like she was lying. She looked so young, hardly younger than twenty. "How old are you exactly?"

"Old enough." She said. "And I'm growing tired of living this life as a slave."

"What are you saying...?"

Her steady eyes stared into his. "I want you to get this bloody seal off my skin!"

"I don't even know how," he said. "And even if I did know how to remove it, why must I trust anything you say?"

"You and me, we are alike." She whispered. "And I'm tired of living this life as a slave."

"What do you mean we're alike?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Her gaze didn't shift. "We're both outcasts. You're a half-elf in a world that doesn't understand you, and I'm a slave who's lost her freedom. We're both trapped in our own ways."

He was silent for a moment, just staring at her as the flames danced in his hand. For someone so young...or old, she knew too much and her words were rather persuasive.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside the storeroom grew louder. Ayaki's voice rang through the door, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Yukino, you traitorous little bitch! I know you're in there with him. Come out, come out, or I'll make sure you suffer for eternity!"

He felt his insides tighten, recalling the pain she had inflicted upon him just a few moments ago. He couldn't deny her threat, and for a moment, he doubted what Yukino had told him about the protection. They were lucky the door was locked from inside, otherwise it was going to be trouble.

Yukino's eyes never left his as she walked towards him. She reached out and grabbed his hand, the one that held the flickering flames. As quickly as she had grabbed him, the flames vanished, plunging the storeroom into darkness. He felt a jolt of surprise, but her grip on his hand remained firm.

"Take a deep breath, Karl," she whispered, her voice low and urgent. He didn't know why, but he could still recall her image even in the dark. From as little as her mane of blond hair, to her arched ears and pretty face. "Focus your magic on breaking the seal. Repeat after me: 'Astra descendo, sigillum reflexio'."

He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But her grip on his hand remained firm, and he felt a something flicker inside of him. His magic, he felt it course through him like some sort of strange energy. He took a deep breath and repeated the words, feeling his intoxicating magic surge through him.

"Astra descendo," he whispered, the words feeling strange and foreign on his lips. Her grip on his hand tightened, and he felt a sudden jolt that raced through him like electricity. He couldn't stop himself from finishing up the chant, ".... sigillum reflexio!"

The sensation erupted inside of him, racing through his veins to the tips of his fingers. However, instead of feeling the seal break, he felt something else - a strange, tingling sensation that seemed to mirror the seal's energy within him. He felt a burning sensation that engraved itself into his skin, like something was drawing on him with an invisible quill. He jerked from her, taking a step back just in time to watch as her Slave Seal slowly dissipated from her skin, as if it was being absorbed into her neck. She broke into a grin, her pair of eyes staring into his just in time for him to realize that she had tricked him.