As the bleak golden rays bled through the horizon, my hands trembled over the satchel that had been left aside, filled with various herbs, it was undoubtedly Raiden’s. I was close, I frantically began to sense the Visary in the air. All traces seemed to lead right here, where the countless magical herbs seemed to sprout naturally. However, I knew where to go, the only spot where Visary seemed to halt. Almost as if something, or someone, was preventing anything from entering its domain. Only a handful of creatures would be capable of doing this themselves, all of them long lost in the annals of time.

‘Some sort of illusory barrier that severs the senses to those outside of its domain, essentially making it invisible to ones attention. Whatever is causing this needed preparation, time, and constant maintenance. At best it would be some recluse mage, studying his tomes and herbs far away from the troubles and nuisance of the world. At worst… any number of magical fey, hag or some version of corrupted spriggan.’

I inched closer to where the Visary seemed to just vanish. A small tendril of consciousness attempted to guide my focus elsewhere, but once made aware of its influence any seasoned mage or warrior could mitigate its sway. Soon I found myself staring at what could only be described as a sapling of a world tree.

Unlike ancient myths and folk lore, world trees didn’t haven any special attributes, besides being abnormally large. There hadn’t been a sighting of one for about 400 years, and even then, in all records mentioning such trees there never appears to be more than one. Much like many of its mythical counter parts, mythril, adamantium, or elderwood, all these mythical materials never performed as told in the sparce mentions scholars found in spread out ruins and tomes. The discrepancies of their durability and use for channeling Visary always thought of as an exaggeration, much like how there were spells that could bend time, revive the dead or destroy massive mountains without the need for months of planning and most likely your own life.

‘That tree… it’s being used to amplifying the effects of the barrier but in reverse. Raiden most likely didn’t know what was going on before he rushed into it. He probably wouldn’t have left behind his satchel otherwise. With no signs of a struggle, unless he was ambushed, there’s no other explanation.’

Praying that my nephew was alright, I began to make my way towards the tree. Darkened grey stoned protruded from the tree’s trunk, almost as if gasping to break free from within. Small grooves and runes could be made out carved into every part of the ruined architecture.

‘Visaryan runes… No time to ponder, whatever or whoever is here must be aware of my presence by now. Always hated the ‘Act first, ask questions later approach’ but there’s no time. Please let it be an old mage, oh gods please let it be an old mage.'

Failing at all attempts at keeping my worries from clouding my judgement I commenced to head into the darkened tunnels of the swallowed ruins. The soft echoing footsteps that resounded in the looming hallway seemed lost in the unnerving silence that permeated the darkness. My strained senses reached out to every corner to look for traces of Raiden’s Visary, yet a murky energy seemed to hang around every inch of this cursed ruin. Hushed unspoken tension hung in the air as I felt my feet carry me faster and faster. Dashing madly through every corridor and room.

“There’s no need to hurry bearer of the Golden Wings. We are almost done preparing ourselves for your little reunion with this child. Truly a resilient one, hard to imagine the same sniveling child of yesterday is trying to put a tough face for us.”

The voice that seemed to come from within the walls seemed to whine at me, almost as if sharp nails were being dragged across the stone. Visary began to condense farther into the ruins abruptly and the harrowing shriek of a child erupted from farther into the tunnels. My thoughts became nonexistent. My feet exploded with energy as illusory golden feathers began to unfurl from my back, crackling lighting rushing through my body.

CRACK

The floor beneath me ruptured as I began rushing towards raidens direction. Ignoring any obstacle the stood between us.

BOOM

The ground cracked beneath every stomp my feet took.

BOOM

The walls trembled as dust was shaken off every corner, and the walls struggled to stay in place without collapsing.

“KAHAHAHAHA, yes, yes. Come little sparrow. We’ve a deal to make. KAHAHAHA”

BOOOM

Pure instinct carried my body, ignoring walls of stone, tearing through branches that had begun to dig themselves within the very temples structure. I followed the Visary that projected the devilish voice. Splinter and stone flying everywhere in the midst of my maddened rush to the sound of my nephew's cry.

Soon I found myself in a softly lit room. My eyes ignored everything but the sagging figure of my nephew. There at the center he hung, held up in the air by chains. Black smoke seemed to be rising from his back. Unconscious after having experienced what I can only imagine was incredible amounts of pain from hid scream alone

“YOU DARE!”

My hands crackled with pulsing mana, the room lighting up immediately as energy began to coalesce around me. Yellow and white seemed to dance around my arms as I look toward the disfigured form of my nephew’s captor.

“Now, now, we wouldn’t want the little fledgling to get hurt, now would we?”

Amber eyes glowed back mischievously through its horrid visage.

“You will let the boy go, or you won’t be coming out of this room alive hag.”

My face hardened. This was far from an ideal scenario. I unintentionally let out an exasperated sigh as I tried to make a choice. Fight while she least expects it or wait until an opening shows itself.

‘It just had to be a fucking hag. If she waited and even baited me here… that means there’s something she wants. Just have to let her feel likes she has me wrapped around her crooked fingers and when her guard is lowered… Huuuuuh, just gotta play along. Breathe Yian, lets play slow.'

My eyes focused on my nephews body, keeping the hag in my vision at all times. A soft pink began to glimmer as the monster spoke once more. Her voice this time less wail and more of a rasping noise, much like sandpaper being scrapped across a hard surface.

“While it is true, we would have a hard time dealing with you little sparrow, do you really wish to take a gamble when a deal would be more than enough to let you be on your way? Child safe in hand and never to hear from us again? Would you really endanger your own kin?”

‘There it is, a hags deal.’

“And what would you want in return?”

The hags twisted smile sent chills running through my spine. As it began to speak, the unsightly mug contorted and distorted into what could only be described as warped amusement and pleasure. Her tongue hung from her deformed mouth, as she dragged her boney fingers across her face.

“Ah, interested, are we? Nothing complicated, you see, this child; this oh so tantalizing child has such an interesting strand of fate. The twists, the turns, the downright delicious suffering. We’d hate to leave such a morsel… unattended. For the child we’ll settle for a favor. He’s destined to cross paths with an ancient tome, you see. When he finds it, for he surely will, he must bring it to us. Of course, we’ll have to… monitor the child until said time comes to pass. We wouldn’t want to miss what fate has in store for him. As for you, our darling little sparrow, well you have to pay for wrecking our lovely home. We think the last memory of your most beloved will do.”

My mind rushed through every possibility available, there was no telling what the hag needed this tome for. But whatever it may be, it would definitely bring us no shortage of strife. Having Raiden be under this creatures’ deceitful eyes until he finds what they are looking for was out of the question.

‘She’s too close to Raiden for me to get in between them. That leaves me with only one choice.’

My mind hand been made, and I hope Leila watches over us.

“I can agree to my side of the bargain, however I can’t accept on behalf of my nephew. I’ll offer you a counterproposal.”

“Ah,ah,ah. No Darling, we don’t negotiate. Not with this deal.”

“Even if I were to offer you a Crystal Heart?”

The hags face twisted rapidly, no matter how old or wise they were, hags were never known for being able to hide their emotions. As the amber eyed hag began to ponder, her gaze flashed, replaced by a blood-colored hue.

“HE LIES ELDEST, DON’T GIVE HIM OUR -”

As abruptly as the bellowing had begun, so too did it end with the familiar amber lighting. The creatures quivering voice struggled to make its way out. Her ragged hands began to fiddle around the tattered darkened drape that functioned as an overcoat.

‘Whatever is afflicting this maddened hags mind could help me distract her, so that I might reach Raiden and make our escape.’

“You say you have a Crystal Heart. Can you swear this upon an oath of blood?”

The hag took an ever so slightly noticeable step towards me.

‘Got you.’

“I can do you one better.”

My hand reached towards my chest and a small rift broke apart. Soon my forearm had disappeared within and just as quick reappeared with a glowing crystal in tow. The hag waited no more than having felt the glow of radiating Visary coming from my hand. The roots the hugged the walls began to surround the both of us.

“GRAB THE BOY AND LEAVE THE CRYSTAL HUMAN.”

A deep growling voice came from the ambered eyed hag. Her threat not even concealed behind the magic she wielded to control the roots and attempts to burrow her control over my mind.

“Ah, so the deals off then? I’m sure you know how delicate a raw Heart is. Without a skilled enchanter this thing could just… pop.”

I guided a tiny strand of Qi through my hands, just to make my point clear. The crystal seemed to bloom as the soft glow it once possessed began to expand. From within the crystal a swirling chaotic cloud began to form.

“STOP”

I cut off the Qi from the crystal and relaxed.

“Now that I’ve got your attention hag. We will stop these games. The deal is thus, you will tell me what you’ve done to the boy and what the rising black smoke coming from his back is. If I deem it harmful to him, you will undo whatever ancient magic you’ve cast on him. Then and only then will we leave quietly and leave the crystal at the boundary of your barrier.”

“YOU DO NOT HOLD THE CARDS HERE MANLING, IF YOU DO NOT, ARGH.”

The gravely roaring of the hag came to a halt as a wave of my mana slammed into her. The stone room began to tremble as her own mana attempted shield her. My patience began to run thin, urgency and worry driving me to force the creature’s hand. I spoke as calmly as I could considering the circumstances.

“Do. Not. Test my patience. Just because I am listening to you does not mean I could not simply crush you and walk out with the boy. I simply find it too bothersome. Be grateful I am even considering allowing you to live after what you’ve done with my nephew. Even if you got careless, you are not my match.”

Every inflection of my voice came with a renewed clamping pressure from me. Visary began to become tangible, golden threads decorating the murky chamber. A tug of war that would normally only be seen be the most sensitive to mana became visible to the naked eye. Tendrils of grey and black crashed into mine and held fast against the ongoing onslaught.

“HIHIHI, you worry so much for the young lad. How sad that you won’t be there to save him from the pain that will befall him. No one to defend him from feeling sad, and no light the way as his world becomes dim.”

The red eyes glared at me as the creatures knees buckled.

“Keep your taunts creature. I can hold you there so you won’t be able to use your spells. You, however, live off Visary if I remember my studies correctly? I wonder what would occur if you were to run out?”

The creature did not know I was in just as much danger as it was, but my body would last longer than theirs even if my bluff didn’t work. Soon however my efforts were repaid.

“ALRIGHT MANLING. We’ll tell you what you want.”

A wave of relief washed through me. Keeping my poker face intact, it was time to end this and get my nephew back home.

“Good, lets begin with my nephews fate you keep bringing up.”