They arrived at the central plaza where the towering spire of Geffen loomed, casting a long shadow that seemed to swallow half the city. The air was cold and damp, and the few people passing by avoided looking directly at the tower, as if it were some kind of forbidden thing. Thanatos stopped in front of the massive main gate, studying the towering structure with its ancient carvings — remnants of a long-forgotten elven culture.
He glanced around, searching for Elina, but saw no sign of her. Time dragged on, and impatience began to gnaw at him. Crossing his arms, Thanatos tried to shake off the eerie sensation that someone, somewhere, was watching him.
Finally, he saw her. Elina emerged from a nearby crowd, hurrying toward him. There was hesitation in her steps. As she drew near, a soft, relieved smile crossed her face.
"You came," she said, her voice filled with quiet relief.
"Of course I did," Thanatos replied, trying his best to sound confident. "I thought maybe… you wouldn't show up."
Elina shook her head, stopping beside him. "I would never miss something this important. But before we go any further… I have to ask you something."
Thanatos frowned, catching the sudden seriousness in her voice. "What is it?"
Elina hesitated, as if weighing her words. "When you asked me to meet you here… did you already know something? Yesterday, after you left the guild?"
Thanatos blinked, confused. "Don't you remember? Early this morning, just outside the inn. You met me there. You're the one who suggested we come here."
Elina's eyes widened, shock plain on her face. "What are you talking about? I didn't leave the guild last night. I was there the whole time. Are you saying you saw me, near the inn… in the middle of the night?"
A chill ran down Thanatos's spine. He was certain about what had happened. "Yes… you were there. You talked about the tower — about something beneath it… it felt so real."
Elina crossed her arms, visibly unsettled. "Thanatos, this doesn't make sense. That wasn't me. Whoever — or whatever — you saw… it wasn't me."
A heavy silence fell between them, broken only by a sound. A soft, sorrowful voice echoed from within the tower — faint, but clear enough to make both their skin crawl.
"Help… me…"
Elina froze, her face draining of color. "That voice…" she murmured, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mother…?"
Without a second thought, she rushed to the locked gate of the tower, pressing her ear against it. Thanatos, still reeling from everything, hurried after her.
"Did you hear that?" Elina's voice trembled, thick with emotion. "It's her! It's my mother! She's alive… she's calling for help!"
"Elina, wait!" Thanatos grabbed her arm. "We can't just go in — it's forbidden. We need to tell someone."
"No one will believe us!" Elina snapped, her voice sharp with urgency and desperation. "Thanatos, please. I have to go in. I have to know."
Thanatos looked into her eyes and saw it — that unshakable, aching desperation. He knew nothing he said would stop her. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what they were about to do. "Alright. But we need a plan first."
The tower gate was massive, made of dark wood reinforced with steel, looking like it hadn't been opened in years. Elina scanned their surroundings for a solution while Thanatos kept a wary eye on the passersby.
"There are guards nearby," he whispered. "If they catch us, we're done."
Elina closed her eyes for a moment, steadying her breathing. "I know a spell… it'll take a few seconds. Long enough to open the gate without being noticed."
"And how are we going to open this thing?" Thanatos asked, nodding toward the heavy gate.
Elina pulled a small red gemstone from her belt, gripping it tightly as if the stone itself were slowly being consumed. A pulse of magic flared around her, focusing on the massive lock. Thanatos, heart pounding, kept watch as tension built in the air.
The lock began to glow faintly, then hardened — transforming into weathered stone. "Got it," Elina whispered, excitement flickering in her voice. She looked at Thanatos, eyes fierce with determination. "Now, hit the lock lightly with your sword. It'll crumble like clay."
Thanatos carefully drew his blade. He struck the lock with a gentle tap, and it broke apart, falling to the ground with a muted clatter. Elina smiled, triumphant, and pushed the gate, which creaked softly as it opened.
"Let's go," she urged, slipping inside. Thanatos followed, closing the gate behind them. His heart raced as the heavy darkness of the tower closed around them both.
The inside of the tower was dark and suffocating, the air thick with the weight of a place long forgotten by time. Broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, covered in a thick layer of dust. The walls were adorned with intricate patterns and symbols that Thanatos instantly recognized as Elven in origin.
"This is… Geffenia," Elina whispered, her voice carrying a mixture of fascination and sorrow. "These carvings, these old furnishings… they're all that's left of the city that was once my people's home."
Thanatos ran his hand along one of the walls, feeling the cold, rough texture of the stone beneath his fingers. "Why would your mother be here?"
Before Elina could answer, the voice echoed again, this time louder.
"Help me… please…"
She turned to him, her eyes filled with fierce determination. "Come. The voice is coming from below."
As Elina strained to hear the faint voice coming from the lower levels, she began to hurry toward the sound. Thanatos, however, grabbed her arm abruptly, halting her in place. His gaze was sharp, filled with concern.
"Elina, wait!" he said firmly. "Before we go any further, you need to tell me what's happening. Whose voice is that? And why are you so sure it's your mother?"
Elina hesitated, trying to pull her arm free, but Thanatos wouldn't let go. She averted her gaze, her long white hair falling over her face as she fought to hold back the storm of emotions rising within her.
"Thanatos, please… I have to know if it's her. I can't lose this chance," she said, her voice trembling.
"But I need to understand," he insisted, his tone softening. "If we're going through this together, I need to know what you're facing. Tell me. Trust me."
Elina closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. The memories she had fought so hard to bury came rushing back. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes, locking them onto Thanatos'.
"You want to know? Fine. I'll tell you."
She took a step back, crossing her arms as her once hesitant voice became charged with emotion.
"When Geffenia fell, I was there. I was just a child, but I remember everything — the pain, the destruction."
Thanatos stayed silent, hanging on every word.
"My mother and father… they were powerful mages, devoted to protecting Geffenia. When the city was attacked, they did everything they could to save us. My mother held me close and whispered that we'd be alright, that it would all be over soon. My father left to fight, promising he'd come back. But nothing ended well."
Elina paused, her eyes glistening.
"The destruction came like a storm. Magic, explosions, screams… My mother tried to shield me, but in the chaos, we were separated. I was pushed away by the fleeing crowd. When I looked back, she was gone. I couldn't find her. I couldn't find my father either."
She wiped the tears starting to fall from her face.
"Later, I heard that many elves managed to escape to Alfheim, the Elven realm. Ever since then, all I've done is try to believe they made it there. That they survived. But…" she bit her lip, hesitating, "why wasn't I with them? Why did I stay behind? I always thought it was my fault. That if I'd been stronger, we could've escaped together."
Thanatos felt a heavy knot in his chest. He didn't know what to say — but he understood the pain in her voice, the battle she fought within.
"Elina… it wasn't your fault," he said at last. "You were just a child. None of what happened was your responsibility."
She shook her head, struggling against the weight of her old beliefs.
"Even so, I still feel like I could have done something. And now… hearing this voice… it's the first time I've felt true hope. If this voice belongs to my mother, then maybe they're still here… waiting for me."
Thanatos sighed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Then let's find out. Let's see if this voice is really hers. But I'm not letting you face this alone."
Elina looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and resolve.
"Thank you, Thanatos. For believing in me."
"We're in this together," he said, gripping his sword. "All the way to the end."
And with that, they continued down the dark hallway, each step carrying a new, unshakable determination. Elina clung to the hope that her search for answers was finally reaching its end, while Thanatos steeled himself to face whatever might be waiting for them.
Thanatos and Elina began descending the spiraling stone staircase that led to the tower's underground. The air grew heavier, thick with moisture and the sour scent of mold — and something metallic Thanatos couldn't quite place. The walls were marked with ancient, faded Elven inscriptions, and despite the stillness, it felt as though unseen eyes were watching them from the shadows. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to carry centuries of secrets and suffering.
"It's coming from there," Elina whispered, pointing to a narrow corridor that stretched ahead. Her voice trembled, but her steps did not falter. Thanatos, sword in hand, followed close behind, alert for any sign of danger.
As they moved down the passage, the darkness thickened, becoming almost tangible — like a living thing pressing in around them. Only the glow of Elina's conjured flame lit their way, casting long, shifting shadows on the walls. They moved slowly, their footsteps muffled by the dust caked thick upon the stone floor. The absolute silence was broken only by the faint, pleading voice, growing clearer with each step.
Finally, the corridor opened into a spacious room, where a large dark wooden door, reinforced with silver metal, blocked their path. The elegant and worn carvings in the metal bore patterns of the ancient Elven culture, and the door's magnitude suggested the importance of what lay behind it. Thanatos approached, running his hand over the cold surface of the wood, trying to sense something beyond the oppressive weight of the place.
"It's magic," murmured Elina. She touched the door with her delicate fingers, closing her eyes and uttering words in Elvish. A subtle energy flowed through the wood and metal, radiating a cold warmth that made Elina step back. "This door isn't just locked. It's sealed with ancient magic… powerful magic."
Thanatos furrowed his brow. "How do we break it?"
Before Elina could respond, the voice on the other side grew louder, its tone melancholic, sending Elina's heart racing. "Elina… are you there?"
The young elf took a step back, her face paling. "Mother?" she whispered, before rushing to the door. Pressing her forehead against it, she let her tears fall freely. "Is it really you?"
"Yes, my daughter," the voice answered, soft but filled with sorrow. "Your father and I are here… trapped with others of our people. You must free us."
Elina gripped the wooden door with trembling hands, as though trying to will it open by force. "How? What do we need to do? Please, tell me!" Her voice was choked, heavy with emotion and desperation.
The response came slowly, as though the voice were struggling against something to speak. "The door is sealed with magic. Only an artifact of ancient power can break the seal. The Amulet of Yggdrasil… it has the power to undo the enchantment."
Thanatos felt a click in his memory upon hearing the name of the artifact. He looked at Elina, who seemed on the verge of collapse, and tried to remain calm. "Where do we find this amulet?" he asked, his voice steady.
The answer came almost immediately. "The governor of the city possesses it. It was taken from our relics during the fall of Geffenia. Retrieve it… before it's too late."
Elina closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against the door as if she could feel the echoes from the other side. "I promise," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll return and free you. Please… wait for me."
"We are waiting, my daughter," the voice replied, weakened but laden with an almost tangible tenderness.
Thanatos placed a hand on Elina's shoulder, offering silent comfort. "Let's get out of here and find the amulet," he said with determination. "We'll set them free. You're not alone."
Elina slowly stepped back from the door, wiping away her tears. Her expression now held firmness. "I'll free them, Thanatos. No matter the cost."
With that, the two of them began to ascend back to the surface, the weight of the voice's words echoing in their minds. Thanatos knew there was far more to this story than they understood, but he also knew he had to support Elina – her determination was unwavering, and he wouldn't let her face this alone.