Cursed To The Alpha

Chapter 134

Silently, we follow Xander into the depths of the mines. He conjures a sphere of shimmering blue magic in his hands, illuminating the path before us. The underground passage stretches out like an immense burrow, with particles of dirt occasionally falling upon us. The sounds of picks chinking against rock and bursts of magical energy reverberate through the tunnels, causing further dislodgment of dirt from the walls. Finally, we reach the end of the tunnel and step into a vast cavern.

Before us, Felderians of various species laboriously haul carts laden with gems and dirt. They bear the marks of exhaustion, hunger, and despair, their forms dirtied and ethereal chains wrapped tightly around their necks.

A group of five guards’ approach Xander, their presence filled with authority and uncertainty. 'Only the Mystic Council are allowed in here,' the foremost Warlock warns, his tone stern.

Xander playfully bounces the glowing sphere in his hand, and his smile grows. 'Oh, haven't you heard?' he muses, with a hint of triumph.

'Heard what?' the warlock asks.

'The Mystic Council is dead. All five of them,' Xander proclaims loudly, intentionally ensuring his words reach the ears of the weary Felderians around us.

The Felderians pause their mining, their gazes meeting in a glimmer of hope, whispers of disbelief rippling through their ranks.

'This is the first we've heard of it,' the warlock responds, his voice filled with doubt. 'How do we know this is true?' he challenges.

Xander's smile widens. 'Because we killed them ourselves,' he reveals casually.

'What!' the five guards exclaim, their disbelief evident.

'Impossible,' the third guard, a fae, interjects, glancing at the warlock. 'No one is strong enough to defeat the Mystic Council. That's why they've always ruled,' he says to his comrades.

'Well,' Xander interrupts, breaking their chatter. 'You can either step aside and allow us to magically unbind the Felderians here, or we can prove that together we are stronger than the Mystic Council and dispatch you, just as we did with them,' he says nonchalantly.

The guards jolt, exchanging glances of uncertainty. After a few hurried whispers among themselves, they come to a decision. Reluctantly, they step aside, allowing us to continue.

'A wise choice,' Xander remarks, his smile unwavering as he walks past them, signalling the beginning of our mission to liberate the oppressed Felderians.

A young fae girl, her light blue hair matching her eyes, approaches me with disbelief and hope in her gaze. 'Is it true? The Mystic Council are dead?' she asks, her voice trembling with anticipation.

I meet her gaze and offer her a reassuring smile. 'Yes, it's true. They're gone,' I confirm, gently wiping the dirt from her cheek with my thumb.

‘I’m really getting out of here? I’m going to see my mother again?’ she asks as if this is all a dream.

I smile and nod. ‘Yes, Janie and Xander are about to remove the magic that binds you all here. How long have you been here?’ I ask her.

‘Over a year now, maybe a year and a half? I lost count of the days after a while,’ she sobs. 'I used to be a servant at the Starlight Citadel. My mother fell ill and couldn't work, so I offered to earn some coins by cleaning the Citadel. But after a few weeks, the Mystic Council accused me of theft, even though I didn't do it. I had never stolen in my life, and they had no evidence, but they still sent me here with the youngest servants,' she reveals with bitterness.

Warrick's gaze hardens as he listens to her story. 'They were chosen for their youth, knowing they could exploit their labour for years. Accusing them falsely was a convenient way to condemn them to this fate,' he growls, his anger seeping.

The fae girl glances back at the tunnel that leads out of the mines. 'It's hard to believe that soon I'll be able to walk out of here,' she murmurs, tears of joy mixing with her sobs. Pixel flies out from hiding under my hair and begins to fly in circles around her, eliciting laughter from the fae girl.

Janie and Xander position themselves. Janie uses her levitation spell to hover Xander's spellbook before them. With clasped hands, they recite the incantation, their voices blending in perfect harmony. The Felderians drop their picks and abandon their carts, their magic dimming as they gather as close as their chains will allow to Janie and Xander, their eyes brimming with hope.

'With words so true and powers vast,

I call upon the magic's past.

Unbind the chains that hold thee fast,

Release the Felderians, break the cast.'

Whisps of vibrant blue, green, and purple hues radiate from Janie and Xander, swirling around them as they continue the spell.

'By ancient lore and sacred art,

I free these souls, set them apart.

Ethereal bonds, now torn asunder,

Release the Felderians. Let freedom thunder.'

The whisps spin faster, multiplying in number as they fly towards the Felderians. They encircle them, swirling with increasing intensity.

'From realm to realm, let it be known,

No more shall these souls be bound alone.

Return back home, forever unbound.'

As a burst of radiant light separates Janie and Xander's hands. We watch in awe as the ethereal chains that have entrapped the Felderians disintegrate into shimmering dust.

Imogen and I rush to support Janie as she sways while Orelious and Warrick lend their strength to help Xander maintain his balance.

'We're free!' the Felderians shout with disbelief and overwhelming joy. Hugging one another, they shed tears of liberation and begin to walk through the tunnel, stepping into the warm embrace of the sunlight, many experiencing its touch for the first time in centuries.

We escort Xander and Janie out of the mines. With tearful goodbyes, we bid farewell to the freed Felderians, who disperse in different directions, eagerly embarking on their journeys back home.

I stare at Janie and then at Xander, ‘Let’s get them to Sunfire Plains. They can rest at the Starry Hearth Tavern. It’s only an hour’s ride from here,’ I say to the others. They nod in agreement.

‘Wait,’ the warlock guard says to us as we mount. ‘How is the Starlight Citadel going to run without the power of the gems?’ he asks.

‘Just like the rest of Felderia, everyone will have to make use of their own magic,’ Warrick answers him, and then I flick the reigns, making my glowhorn-stag burst into a run.