False heroes

The deeper dark

Gabriel followed the strange light deeper into the Academy’s forgotten basement levels. The air grew colder with each step, and the stone walls seemed older here. His footsteps echoed strangely as if the hallway was larger than it appeared. 

He should turn back. He knew that very well. Students weren't supposed to be in the basement levels after dark, and he was probably lost already. But something about the gentle glow drew him forward like a moth to flame.

 At least here I can't embarrass myself in front of anyone, he thought bitterly.

 The hallway ended at a heavy metal door marked with several warning signs in different languages. Gaberiel could only read the common tongue version :

AUTHORIZE PERSONNEL ONLY - DANGEROUS MAGICAL EXPERIMENTS- REPORT UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS IMMEDIATELY.” 

The light was coming from behind the door 

 Gabriel pressed his ear against the cold metal. Silence. But beneath the silence, he could swear he heard something else ….. faint whispers.

 His hands moved to the door handle before his mind could stop it. To his surprise, it turned easily. The door swung open with barely a creak. 

Beyond was a laboratory unlike anything he had ever seen. 

The room was vast, stretching far from the Academy’s blueprint should have allowed rows of strange machines lined the walls, their surfaces covered in fails, crystals, and symbols that hurt to look at directly. Glass containers filled with swirling coloured mists sat on the metal tables. And everywhere, the soft pulsing light that had drawn him here. 

 But it was the center of the room that caught his breath. 

 Three massive crystal prisons stood in a triangle formation, each one ten feet tall and glowing with different coloured energy. Chains of pure light wound around each crystal Gabriel could feel it in his bones even from across the room.

And inside each crystal 

Gabriel stepped closer his fears long forgotten in the face of wonder and horror 

 The first crystal pulsed with deep purple light, and inside it something moved like a shadow. It had no fixed shape, sometimes it looked almost human, other times like smoke or mass with tentacles. But he could see eyes in the darkness, ancient and intelligent and filled with rage.

The second crystal glowed with sickly green energy. The thing inside was more solid, humanoid but wrong. Its sickness was pale as bone, and when it turned to look at him, its face was aristocratic and handsome and completely without warmth. This one smiled when it saw him revealing teeth like broken glass. 

 The third crystal burned with white- hot energy so bright he had to squint to see inside. The entity trapped there was barely trapped there was barely visible, more suggestion than substance, but Gabriel got the impression of something cast and hungry, like a sword made of pure cutting intent.                

All of them were looking at him now fully alerted 

 Gabriel stumbled backwards to his heart “I'm sorry” he whispered. “ I didn't mean to i shouldn't even be here 

Wait

The voice came from everywhere and nowhere, speaking directly into his mind. Gabriel froze.

“Don't run boy we mean you no harm”

You're……. Who just spoke” he said looking round “ I must be going crazy after everything 

 “ Interesting” said a second voice, colder than the first. How curious. It had been decades since anyone without magical defense could hear us clearly                  

Most humans who wander in here screams, and run away, adding a third voice and this one felt sharp, like broken glass against his thoughts. You… on the other hand different 

Gabriel wanted to run. Every instinct told him to run as fast as his leg could carry him. But something kept him rooted. No one has ever called him different before. He was always considered ordinary, nothing special. 

“What are you” he asked 

I am Umbrix, said the shadow in the purple crystal. Once, I was a guardian of the spaces between worlds. Now I am a prisoner.

I am the Echo of Malachar, said the pale figure in green light. A fragment of memory and will, cast off when the Void King died. I remember ruling between dimensions.

I am a piece of Soulrender, said the burning presence in white. Part of a weapon that could cut through reality itself. I hunger to be whole again.

Gabriel's knees felt weak. These weren't just magical creatures, they were legends. Horror stories. The kind of entities that appeared in story tales about forbidden magic 

“But why are you here… is the hero federation even aware of this” 

Umbrix's voice got bitter. Those people they kidnap us, wanting to study us and our powers

 Don't forget how they tortured us, Malachar Echo added not for cruelty well not entirely but to see how we react. How we break

We are dying, Soulrender said bluntly. These prisons are draining us slowly. In a few more years,we will fade to nothing 

Gabriel felt a stab of unexpected sympathy. He knew what it was like to be trapped somewhere you didn't belong, to be studied and judged and found wanting every single day.              

“I'm sorry” he said quietly 

The three entities went silent for a moment, as if surprised by his response 

“You pity us ?” Umbrix asked

“ I guess? Nobody deserves to be hurt and locked up” 

Even monsters? Echo asked, and there was something sharp in his mental voice.

               

 Gabriel thought about it seriously. “ I don't know if you're monsters. I mean, you're talking to me instead of trying to kill me, so that's something .”              

 How refreshingly naive, Echo said, but he didn't sound mocking.      

“Tell us boy, umbrix said what brings you to this forgotten place? You don't look like the type to go around seeking danger

Gabriel’s face burned with embarrassment “I'm not. I just needed somewhere to hide

Hide from what ? 

“Everything, I guess.” Gabriel slumped against one of the lab tables . “I'm the weakest student in the Academy. No friends, no powers, no talents. I just agreed to something I shouldn't have, the ranking battles which means in six days I'll be beaten up in front of the entire kingdom.

“ A fellow prisoner” said Soulrender 

“ I'm not imprisoned. I could leave anytime I chose” 

But you do not. Why? Soulrender asked again

Gabriel was quiet for a moment. “Because if I leave here, then I really am nothing.                

You would rather suffer than be forgotten” Umbrix said he voice holding understanding to it. I know that feeling 

“What do you mean”

 Before my capture, I was fading from existence . My people. has already been wiped out due to the sudden invasion but the federation offered me a chance to matter again. I was fool enough to trust them

      

 Gabriel looked at the three crystals, and three entities trapped inside. For the first time in years, he felt like he was talking to someone who actually understood.

Is there really no way out for you?”

Not alone. Umbrix admitted. These walls are designed to contain us individually. But if we had a host someone willing to share their body with us we might be able to escape. 

" A host? 

A symbiotic relationship, Echo explained. We would share one body, combining our strengths. The host would gain our power, we would gain freedom. 

Of course, most hosts don't survive the process, Soulrender added cheerfully. The human mind tends to shatter when faced with our combined presence. 

That's….. not very encouraging”

 Indeed. We have been waiting for someone compatible. Someone whose mind is already accustomed to being divided 

Gabriel frowned “divided how?”

Before they could explain, footsteps were heard approaching. Heavy boots moving with purpose 

“Hide”. Umbrix commanded “quickly”

Gabriel dove behind one of the larger machines just as the laboratory door burst open. Three Academy security guards entered, their uniforms marked with the Federation's sword-and-star symbol. Their leader, a stern woman with graying hair, looked around the room with practiced eyes.

" The motion sensor triggered again," she said to her companions. "Third time this month.”

“ Could be rats," suggested one of the guards.

“Rats don't trigger magical sensors, Jenkins.” The woman moved through the lab, checking equipment. “Someone was here. Recently.” 

Gabriel pressed himself against the machine, trying to make himself invisible. His heart hammered so loudly he was Gabriel pressing himself against the machine, trying to make himself invisible. His heart hammered so loudly he was sure they would hear it.

The lead guard stopped right in front of his hiding spot. 

"Come out," she said calmly. "Now.”

Gabriel closed his eyes. He was caught. He'd be expelled for sure, maybe even arrested for breaking into a restricted area. His life at the Academy was over.

Not if you let us help you. Umbrix voice whispered in his mind 

We could handle those guards easily.Echo added 

Just say yes. Soulrender urge. Let us in and all you problems would be gone 

The guard reached down toward his hiding spot.

"I—" Gabriel started to stand up.

That's when Jenkins tripped.

 The guard was walking backwards, still talking to his leader, when his boot caught on a loose cable. He stumbled, and crashed into a cart full of surgical instruments. The cart rolled directly into gabriel hiding spot 

Gabriel tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to go. A long, thin blade some kind of magical scalpel tumbled off the cart piercing him directly on his abdomen 

Pain flared hot and bright. Gabriel gasped and pressed his hands down to the wound. Blood seeped between his fingers,more than he expected. 

“What the hell, Jenkins? The lead guard snapped. 

 “Sorry, ma’am! I didn't see the cable  

Clean up this mess. And be more careful 

 Some of these instruments are worth more than your salary.” 

Gabriel clutched his teeth against the pain. The cut was deep, and he was bleeding steadily. He needed medical attention, but he couldn't reveal himself . Not now 

Boy, Umbrix voice was urgent in his mind. Your injured 

Bleeding badly, Echo observed. That blade was enchanted. The wound will not heal normally. 

  You will die if you do nothing, Soulrender’s said matter- of - factly. 

Gabriel looked down at his waist. His vision was already starting to blur around the edges . The magical scalpel must have been designed for creatures like them; it was affecting him far more than a normal cut should. 

Let us help, Umbrix pleaded. We can heal you. Save you 

All you have to do is say yes. Echo urge 

Choose quickly, Soulrender added. You have perhaps two minutes before blood loss tenders the choice irrelevant. 

"If I say yes,” he whispered, so quietly only they could hear, “what happens to me?”

  You stop being a wimp, and become something more” Umbrix said     

 Gabriel’s vision darkened at the edge. His choice was being made for him by blood loss and time.

But maybe…… maybe that was okay

Maybe Gabriel Stone deserved to die so something better could take his place. 

“Yes,” he breathed with his final breath 

The crystals exploded.