Fire Mage (Web Novel)

Chapter 712: Key

In the underground Prison Hall, at that very moment, a young man of 25 years found himself being escorted by two guards, each step echoing through the narrow staircase that spiraled downward into the dark basement.

As they descended, the oppressive atmosphere of the underground prison enveloped them. With hands bound, Charles exchanged glances with the guards and stealthily cast the [Curse of the Overlord] spell on both.

"How long have you guys been working in this place?" He started the conversation as they walked down.

The flickering torches on the damp stone walls cast eerie shadows, revealing the worn steps beneath their feet.

After a short silence, a bald guard answered without finding anything odd.

"I have been working here for over fifty years, young man. Why did you ask that?"

"I was just curious." Charles shrugged his shoulder and then added with a trace of disappointment.

"But do you know something? I'm also a member of the Nightwind Family. Well, the Elders and Patriarch didn't think of me as one."

His words startled both guards.

"You are a member of the Nightwind Family? But why haven't I seen you in the family?" One of the guards with blonde hair asked in suspicion.

"That's because I lived far away from this place and never came to this place before. Although you may not know me, you might have heard of my parents." Charles continued the conversation.

"Your parents?" The bald guy asked.

"Yes. My father's name is Harry Nightwind, and he is said to be a genius of the Nightwind Family. But a few decades ago, he was assassinated in his house. What's more funnier is that the Nightwind Family put the blame on my mother and tried to execute her. Things might have gone differently if not for her leaving the house while taking me." Charles said emotionally.

"Harry Nightwind? I think I also heard of that story." The blonde-haired guard seemed to have recalled something and spoke.

"Many from the branch families were also dissatisfied when the Patriarch and others blamed the assassination on Harry's wife. But that news soon died out."

"But it's hard to imagine you are the son of Harry. But when looking at your face closely, you indeed resemble him." The bald guard said as if he had still recall Harry's image clearly.

"So, why are you getting imprisoned now?" The other guard asked as if he was talking to a friend.

Charles let out a bitter smile and relayed what had happened in the main chamber.

"Oh? You are the one who killed Lord Martin, huh? Wait, what about that prisoner Elder Luna and Elder Jasper have been interrogating all this time?" The bald guard showed a surprised look and asked himself.

"Did the Elders make him a scapegoat because they didn't find the killer all this time?" The blonde-haired man also showed a puzzled look and asked.

At that moment, Charles showed a face of realization and muttered in shock.

"Oh my god! Could it be him?"

"You have a guess, Charles?" The blonde-haired guard asked.

"Yes. If I'm not wrong, that person should be my maternal grandfather. When we killed Martin and his friends, he told me that he planned to come here to make a deal with Nightwind Family to release his family members from a strange Dream Curse." As Charles spoke, the bald guard's eyes widened.

"No way... I also heard him crying and begging Elder Luna to release his family members occasionally." The bald guard spoke truthfully.

"Then, can you show me where he is imprisoned?" Charles asked further.

"He is imprisoned at the farther end of the prison. Even though he has the power of Rank-5 Mystic, Elder Luna drained his vitality using poison and made him weakened to an incredible level. I'm still wondering how he survived all the tortures he had gone through." The bald guard said in pity.

"Although we can't show him to you, we will find a way for you to meet him when the shift is about to end." The bald man said as he looked ahead and added.

"Okay, be quiet from now on. There should be some patrol guards moving in the corridor, so it's better to avoid any suspicion."

Soon, they reached the bottom of the stairs and entered a long, dimly lit corridor. The air was heavy with the scent of mildew and despair. Iron-barred prison cells lined the corridor on both sides, each containing its own silent story of confinement. The occasional moans and whispers from within hinted at the desolation that pervaded this underground realm.

The guards led the young man through the narrow passageway, passing by the occupants of the cells, some worn and haggard, others still defiant in their silent resilience. The clinking of chains echoed, amplifying the grim ambiance of the corridor.

They finally arrived at a cell at the far end of the corridor. The guards, obscured by shadows, unlocked the heavy door and asked Charles to enter.

"Don't worry, Charles. We'll try our best to give you good food and recommend to the jailer to take special care of you. If you don't talk back to him, everything will be alright." The blonde-haired man said in a reassuring tone and locked the door.

"I'll be waiting," Charles answered.

As the door creaked shut, the metallic clang of the lock reverberated through the corridor, sealing him in darkness.

Alone in the cold, damp cell, Charles surveyed his surroundings. The feeble light filtering through the small, grated window revealed the bleak confines of his new abode. The air inside was thick with despair, and the echoes of distant footsteps and muffled conversations served as a haunting backdrop to the solitude that now enveloped him.

"This dungeon indeed seems to hold many prisoners," Charles muttered as he walked towards the stone bed at the center of the cell and quietly sat on it.

"Well, I thought they would try to take my artifacts but didn't do it at all." In truth, he put most of his artifacts in his space ring and only held Grace at his waist. But thanks to her hiding nature, even the Patriarch only considered that a mere Common Rank weapon.

After contemplating, Charles released his wisdom power, allowing its potent energy to permeate the immediate surroundings. As the ethereal force extended, he meticulously examined the condition of each prisoner confined within the underground cells.

A revelation unfolded as Charles discovered the existence of twenty captives, their plight concealed in the darkness beneath the surface. However, amidst this collective suffering, one inmate, situated in the distant recesses of the prison cell, seized his attention.

Upon closer scrutiny, Charles's discerning gaze settled upon an older man with flowing white hair, his frail form ensnared by chains that seemed to tighten with each labored breath. The man's body bore the cruel evidence of mistreatment — wounds, blisters, and burns adorned his skeletal frame, painting a grim tableau of torment. He appeared on the verge of physical collapse, his thinness accentuated by a wrinkled oval face, barely-opened amber eyes, and delicate, sparse eyebrows.

This beleaguered soul was none other than Oswald Raven.

Charles was instantly enveloped in a crimson flame, disappeared from his cell, and reappeared in the farther prison cell, where Oswald was imprisoned.

"I'm sorry for not coming here sooner, grandfather," Charles said as he walked towards the chained Oswald, conjured a ball of soul flame, and tossed it at his body.

Oswald barely had enough time to see the newcomer's face before the blue flame appeared before his eyes and enveloped him as a whole.

As the flame continued to burn, Oswald felt the pain started to reduce drastically. Not only that, but the wounds, blisters, and burns began to heal quickly by replacing new tissues with the dead ones. Although it didn't dissolve the poison in his body, it actually managed to heal most of the injuries, allowing himself to finally take some breath.

The process took over ten minutes to complete.

By the time the blue flame vanished slowly, Oswald finally managed to take a clear view of the savior and soon widened his eyes.

"C-Charles? How did you come here-? 'Cough.'" A hoarse yet tired voice came out of Oswald's mouth.

"I voluntarily got imprisoned here for killing Martin Nightwind. Once I find out the truth behind my father's death and your imprisonment, I'll leave and show them what the real hell looks like." Charles said in a chilling tone.

"D-Don't trust anyone from the Nightwind family, Charles..." Suddenly, Oswald's eyes widened.

"Hohoho, you bastards almost caught me off-guard! Trying to use illusion this time?" Oswald gave him a sharp glare and spat on his face.

"Bastard, do you think I'm easy to be manipulated?"

Charles was stunned by Oswald's action and furrowed.

'This old man thinks of me as an imposter, huh? Also, the reason the Nightwind Family imprisoned him isn't due to the death of Martin Nightwind? There seems to be more secrets to it.'

"Although it's not the right thing to do, I have no other choice now, Grandfather," Charles said as he wiped his face and asked while casting the [Burning Thoughts] spell on him.

"Why did they imprison you?"

As Oswald was about to deny it, he suddenly forgot what to say and entered a confused mode.

On the other hand, new information appeared in Charles's mind.

'Oh? They are after the Array cracking code key of Ringer Demiplane from Oswald?'