Varkas glances at Alix, still uncomfortable with the surroundings but trying to mask his concerns. "Lord Magnius is a gem in His Majesty's kingdom. His genius is unparalleled."
Alix smirks, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. "Yes, he is. And I'm going to make sure he continues his work." He straightens up, his tone turning sharp and focused. "Now, let's find that spellbound crystal. It has to be here somewhere."
Varkas nods and begins scanning the room again, his sharp eyes sweeping across the various workstations and the strange array of creations. "If it's here, it's likely hidden in one of these more secure locations," he mutters, walking towards a stack of metal crates in the corner.
Alix moves toward a high shelf where a few scrolls are tucked away, checking for any sign of the crystal. The soft hum of the room seems to grow louder with the anticipation of finding the coveted object.
"I know it's here," Alix murmurs to himself, his fingers brushing over the ancient, leather-bound tomes. "Magnius wouldn't leave it just lying around."
Varkas pauses, turning towards a large stone pedestal in the center of the room. Resting atop it is a dusty, ornate box—its intricate design unlike anything else in the chamber. He walks over slowly, every step measured as if expecting the box to react to his proximity.
"I think this might be it," Varkas says, his voice steady but with a trace of uncertainty. He reaches out and carefully opens the box, revealing a single, pulsating crystal. Its dark violet glow stands in stark contrast to the dim green light around them.
Alix's eyes lock onto the crystal as Varkas carefully lifts it from the box. The faint violet glow pulses rhythmically, as if responding to the energy in the room. He walks toward the center of the chamber, the crystal held delicately in his hands.
"Yes, this is it," Alix mutters, his voice sharp with anticipation.
He turns to Liss and Nikon, who are still standing silently near Varkan, their eyes wide with curiosity and confusion. The atmosphere around them feels heavy, almost oppressive, as if the air itself is thick with the power contained within the crystal.
Alix approaches them slowly, his expression steady but focused. "Liss and Nikon, come close to me," he calls, his voice calm yet authoritative.
Liss and Nikon exchange nervous glances before stepping forward. Liss hesitates for a moment, her eyes flicking nervously between Alix and the ominous glow of the crystal, but she follows Nikon without a word.
"Stand right there," Alix orders, pointing to a spot in front of him. He holds the crystal out in front of him, the dark violet light now casting eerie shadows on the walls. "No matter what happens, don't move. Don't speak. Don't do anything. Just stand and trust me."
Liss and Nikon stand where Alix directed them, their bodies tense with uncertainty. They glance at each other, but neither of them speaks. The air is thick with the weight of Alix's command, and the strange, pulsating glow of the spellbound crystal seems to draw them in.
"Do you understand?" Alix asks, his tone more firm now.
Nikon nods quickly, his heart racing. "Yes, Your Majesty," he says, though there's a slight tremor in his voice. Liss simply gives a stiff nod, eyes darting nervously between the crystal and Alix.
Alix smiles slightly, a reassuring but enigmatic look on his face. "Good. Now, stay still."
He holds the crystal in both hands, his fingers wrapping around it carefully. The violet light intensifies, swirling in a mesmerizing pattern, and a faint hum fills the chamber. The temperature drops, and a shiver runs down Liss's spine as she feels the magic in the air.
Alix raises the crystal slowly, bringing it closer to Liss and Nikon's necks, where the unmistakable mark of their former enslavement rests—dark, twisted symbols burned into their flesh. The runes on the crystal begin to glow more brightly, responding to the presence of the slave marks.
Alix murmurs softly under his breath, his eyes locked onto the marks on their necks. The room feels still, save for the eerie hum of the crystal and the rhythmic pulse of energy radiating from it.
"Hold your breath," Alix says quietly.
Liss and Nikon exchange a glance, then instinctively close their eyes.
With a final, fluid motion, Alix presses the crystal gently but firmly to the base of their necks. The crystal pulses once, twice, and then a sharp crack echoes through the room. It sounds like glass shattering—loud, sudden, and almost violent.
Liss gasps, her fingers instinctively reaching for her neck. But there's no pain—only a strange, overwhelming sensation of release, as though something oppressive has been ripped away.
The mark on her skin, once a twisted black symbol of her binding, shatters like glass, leaving behind only smooth, unblemished flesh. The same happens to Nikon, his mark breaking away as if it was never there to begin with.
The air feels lighter now, the oppressive weight lifting from them both. Liss lets out a shaky breath, her eyes wide as she looks at Alix.
"Is it... gone?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, still in disbelief.
Alix nods slowly, a rare moment of satisfaction crossing his face. "It's gone. You're free."
Liss and Nikon stare at Alix, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief. The weight they had carried for so long—the branding of slavery—is gone. Truly gone.
A second passes before the realization fully sinks in, and then, as if their legs can no longer hold them, both children kneel on the cold stone floor.
Nikon bows his head deeply. "Thank you for giving us this freedom, Your Majesty." His voice is steady, but there's raw emotion beneath it.
Liss follows his lead, her small hands clenching into fists as she tries to suppress the tears welling up in her eyes. She wants to say something, but the lump in her throat keeps her silent.