The Prison Lord's Release

Chapter 1

"Your Honor, I have returned to claim the promise you made."

A man in an army uniform stood before the Imperial Court. His name was Norbert Ashford, the former heir of the Ashford Family, one of the strongest mage families in the Ostalia Empire.

Jorah Flint, the Supreme Imperial Judge, looked down at him from his seat. He smiled coldly, showing no respect for the man who had survived the empire's most dangerous battlefield.

"Norbert Ashford, I never thought you would actually survive," Jorah sneered.

Two years ago, the Ashford family was accused of treason. In truth, someone wanted to destroy them because their magical power threatened other powerful families.

Jorah sent Norbert to the Abyssal Front, the empire's most dangerous battlefield. If he survived and returned, Jorah had promised to release his family.

"Your Honor, the Ashford Family are traitors!" a nobleman shouted. "You cannot release them just because of a promise!"

"That's right!" another man agreed. "They deserve to remain in prison!"

Jorah raised his hand, and the courtroom fell silent. He looked at Norbert and smiled. "I always keep my promises. Bring the Ashford Family here!"

"Thank you, Your Honor," Norbert replied, relieved.

He had endured two years of suffering just to see his family again. His father, Marshall, had taught him to protect his loved ones, while his mother and younger sister, Eliza, had always been his greatest source of strength.

Soon, the courtroom doors opened, and several guards dragged three prisoners inside. Norbert's eyes lit up when he recognized them, but his smile quickly disappeared.

"Father! Mother! Eliza!" he shouted.

His family looked weak and thin, with dirty clothes and wounds covering their bodies. Heavy shackles locked their hands and feet, and they could barely stand.

"What have you done to them?" Norbert demanded angrily.

A nobleman laughed. "They're traitors! Did you expect them to live comfortably?"

Norbert ignored him and looked at his father. "Father, don't worry. I'm here now, and I'll take you home."

Marshall tried to speak, but no words came out. Norbert soon noticed the magical restraints around his family's wrists, which stopped them from using their magic. He turned toward Jorah with a cold expression.

"Your Honor, you promised to release my family. Please remove their restraints!"

"Of course," Jorah replied. "A promise is a promise."

He then looked at Larkin Harper, a middle-aged man who had just come with his daughter, Jane Harper. Jane was Norbert's former fiancée, but she gave him a mocking smile.

"Norbert, you actually survived!" Jane said. "I thought you would die on the battlefield."

"Jane, what are you doing here?" Norbert asked in disbelief.

"I'm here to watch your family fall," she replied, laughing.

Larkin stepped forward and gave Marshall a cold smile. "We were once good friends, Marshall. You even saved my family when we were close to losing everything."

He shook his head and continued, "But your family became too powerful. We could no longer allow you to control so much of the empire's magic."

Norbert clenched his fists. "My father helped your family when you had nothing! How could you betray him?" he shouted.

"Power matters more than friendship," Larkin replied.

Norbert finally understood why his family had been accused of treason. Someone had planned their downfall, and Larkin had helped make it happen.

He turned back to the judge. "You knew everything from the beginning, didn't you?"

"Of course," Jorah answered, laughing. "Your family was too dangerous to leave alone."

"Then keep your promise!" Norbert shouted. "Release my family, and we will leave the capital forever!"

Jorah smiled and turned toward Larkin and Jane.

"Go ahead. Set the Ashford Family free!"

Norbert felt something was wrong, but he reacted too late. Larkin drew his blade while Jane raised her hand, gathering magical energy.

"STOP!" Norbert screamed.

A flash of magic filled the courtroom. When the light disappeared, three heads rolled across the floor and stopped at Norbert's feet. They belonged to his father, mother, and sister.

"FATHER! MOTHER! ELIZA!"

Norbert screamed and tried to rush toward them, but the guards grabbed him. He struggled wildly, releasing a burst of magical energy that shook the entire room.

"Hold him down!" a guard shouted.

Several mages used their spells to restrain Norbert. Even with his strength, he could not break free from so many mages at once.

"Let me go!" Norbert shouted. "Jorah, you promised me!"

Jorah laughed as he watched Norbert struggle. "I did release your family. They are free from prison now."

The nobles burst into laughter. Some pointed at Norbert, while others mocked him for believing Jorah's promise.

"What a fool!" one man shouted.

"He survived the war just to lose everything here!" another noble said.

Jane looked at Norbert with disgust. "You should have died on the battlefield," she sighed.

Norbert slowly stopped struggling. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at his family's heads, and his hands shook with anger.

He had fought for two years to survive the war, hoping to see his family again. Now, everything he had suffered for was gone.

Norbert raised his head and stared at the people before him. "Jorah Flint. Larkin Harper. Jane Harper," he said in a low voice. "I will never forget what you have done!"

Jorah snorted and waved to the guards. "Send him to Blackfall Prison," he gave an order.

The nobles were shocked for a moment, then laughed again.

"Blackfall Prison? He won't survive there!" one man said.

"Most prisoners die within days!" another added.

Blackfall Prison was the empire's most dangerous prison. It was built around a deep hole filled with unstable magic and held the empire's worst criminals, including powerful mages and dangerous killers.

Inside, no one had noble titles or special treatment. The strong ruled the weak, and anyone who couldn't protect themselves became an easy target.

Even the empire's strongest mages feared that place. For most prisoners, entering Blackfall meant they would never leave alive.

Jorah gave Norbert a cold smile. "Enjoy your new home. You will die there, just like the rest of your family," he said ruthlessly.

The guards dragged Norbert away as the nobles continued laughing. He did not fight back, but his eyes were filled with hatred.

They had taken his family, destroyed his name, and left him with nothing. But they didn't know Norbert would never forget what they had done. One day, he would return and make them pay.

Five Years Later....

The gates of Blackfall Prison slowly opened. Hundreds of prisoners stood along the stone path, leaving the center clear for a man walking toward the exit.

These prisoners were known for their strength and cruelty. Yet every one of them lowered their head as the man passed.

"Have safe travels, Lord," a prisoner said respectfully.

"Thank you for everything, Lord," another man added.

Even the prison guards stood quietly, watching the man leave. No one dared to block his path. The man stopped at the gates, and sunlight fell across his face.

It was Norbert Ashford. Years ago, he had entered Blackfall as a broken man who had lost his family. Now, the empire's most dangerous prisoners bowed to him.

Norbert looked back at the prison and smiled faintly.

"Five years," he murmured. "It's finally time to leave."

He turned toward the distant capital, where his enemies were still living in comfort. His eyes grew cold as he remembered their faces. He grinned as he walked away. "Enjoy your peace while you still can."

Behind him, hundreds of prisoners bowed one last time.

"Farewell, Lord Norbert!"