MTLNOVEL Chapter 14: Clash of Wills
The Syndicate's stronghold loomed like a beast carved from the bones of the earth itself. Towering black stone walls, jagged and weathered, stood defiantly against the stormy sky. Torches flickered in the wind, casting eerie shadows along the fortress's winding corridors. The air reeked of burnt herbs, rusted iron, and the unmistakable tang of alchemical experimentation gone wrong. Lyra had never seen a place so steeped in darkness—both literal and figurative.
She was dragged through the labyrinthine halls, her wrists bound in iron shackles that hummed faintly with alchemical sigils, dampening her ability to use any elixirs or alchemical tricks. The guards—hulking figures clad in black leather armor reinforced with rune-inscribed metal—shoved her forward, uncaring of the bruises forming along her arms. They stopped before a massive door, its surface carved with arcane symbols that pulsed faintly, as if alive.
Inside, the chamber was a nightmarish alchemist's den. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with vials of swirling liquids, rare herbs, and grotesque specimens suspended in glass jars. Iron cages lined one side, filled with mutated creatures—twisted amalgamations of nature and alchemy, their glowing eyes following Lyra's every move. In the center stood Elaris, his normally composed expression troubled, his hands clasped behind his back as if bracing for confrontation.
"Lyra," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He dismissed the guards with a wave, and they left, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.
She glared at him, struggling against the chains. "You betrayed me," she hissed. "All this time—you were working with them?"
Elaris exhaled, rubbing his temple. "It's not that simple." He stepped forward, his blue eyes filled with conflict. "I joined the Syndicate to protect my family. They have my younger sister. If I didn't obey, they would have—"
Lyra's anger wavered for a fraction of a second, but she hardened her heart. "That doesn't excuse this," she spat. "You let them take the Book of Eternal Flame. Do you know what they'll do with it?"
Elaris's jaw clenched. "I know. That's why I'm going to help you escape."
Lyra's breath hitched. "What?"
"I can't stand by and let them go through with their plans. But we need to be smart about this," he said, lowering his voice. "I've hidden some ingredients in the lower chambers. With your skills, we can craft an elixir to get us both out of here."
Lyra hesitated. Could she trust him? Her instincts screamed at her to be cautious, but she also knew she had no other choice. If Elaris was lying, she would deal with him later.
"Fine," she said. "But if you betray me again, I'll make sure you regret it."
---
They moved quickly, weaving through the corridors like ghosts. Elaris led her to a hidden alcove behind a tapestry depicting an ancient alchemical ritual. There, in a small stash, lay vials of distilled moonlight, shadowroot extract, nightshade berries, and a pinch of powdered obsidian. The perfect combination for an Escape Elixir—a potion capable of cloaking them in a shroud of mist, rendering them near-invisible for a short period.
Lyra set to work immediately. The dim torchlight cast flickering patterns on her face as she ground the shadowroot into a fine paste, the mortar and pestle making soft scraping noises. She measured the distilled moonlight carefully, its silvery glow illuminating her hands as she poured it into a small cauldron.
"Keep an eye on the door," she murmured.
Elaris nodded, his gaze darting to the hallway while she continued her work.
The powdered obsidian was the trickiest part. Too much, and the potion would destabilize, turning into a toxic cloud rather than an invisibility mist. She pinched a precise amount, letting it sift through her fingers like black sand before mixing it in. The potion hissed as the ingredients combined, swirling into an inky liquid that shimmered like liquid shadows.
A few final incantations—words spoken in the old alchemical tongue—and the elixir was complete. She carefully bottled it, the glass vial cool against her fingertips.
Elaris turned back to her. "We need to move. Now."
They downed the elixir in unison. Instantly, a cold sensation spread through Lyra's veins, and the world around her shifted. Her body became translucent, blending with the shadows. She felt weightless, as if the very air had embraced her.
They slipped past the guards, their movements barely perceptible. The corridors twisted and turned, but Elaris seemed to know the way. Just as they neared the exit, voices echoed down the hall. Lyra froze.
"The alchemist girl is missing! Find her!"
It was Selene's voice.
Panic surged through Lyra's chest, but Elaris grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. They emerged into a vast chamber—rows upon rows of stolen relics, ancient scrolls, and towering bookshelves filled with knowledge lost to time.
And at the center of it all was the Book of Eternal Flame, resting atop a pedestal, pulsing with a sinister red glow.
Lyra's heart pounded. This was her chance.
But before she could move, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Selene. A smirk curled her lips as she raised a hand, alchemical energy crackling at her fingertips.
"You didn't think you'd escape that easily, did you?"
---
The room erupts into chaos as Lyra and Elaris are forced into a desperate battle against Selene and her enforcers, all while trying to reclaim the Book of Eternal Flame. The fate of the guild—and perhaps the entire kingdom—hangs in the balance.