ushernet Chapter One
Chapter One
"Wha..." She opened her eyes and found herself on her knees. Her body felt like lead, and she couldn't summon the strength to stand.@@@@
"Perfect. The summoning was a success. Now to activate the locking curse," came a voice from... somewhere, cool and authoritative. Other voices murmured in affirmation, their excitement barely contained.
Raising her head with great effort, she looked at her surroundings. The room was a circular chamber, dimly lit by the soft glow of runes etched into the stone walls. At least thirty figures encircled her, each clad in robes that brought to mind the mage class from the game she played. Their hands were raised, fingers glowing with faint traces of magic as they chanted in unison, weaving layers of magic into the air.
They seemed wary, as though ready to react should she lash out, but also confident, almost smug, as if they’d already won.
One of the robed figures stepped forward, an older man with a long white beard and piercing eyes. His robe was more elaborate, adorned with golden thread and sigils that marked him as someone important. He raised a staff and pointed it toward her.
"Now, creature," the man said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "With this curse, you will obey our every command. What is your name?"
Maple blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. The words felt distant, like a faint echo from somewhere far away. Obey? Curse? What were they talking about? Her thoughts were sluggish, and her body refused to move the way she wanted it to.
Her sluggish mind finally registered the name they called her: creature. Something about it stung, even if she didn’t fully understand the situation. "I... don’t think that’s very nice," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The murmuring stopped for a moment. A few of the mages glanced at each other, confused. The old man narrowed his eyes. "I asked you, what is your name?!"
More chanting followed, and golden chains of magic erupted from the runes on the ground, wrapping around her arms and legs. The weight on her body increased tenfold, forcing her face closer to the floor. She winced but didn’t cry out. Instead, she found herself focusing on the glowing chains. They didn’t hurt exactly, but they felt... intrusive, like they were trying to dig into her, to latch onto something deeper.
"This spell should keep you in check," the old man continued, his tone filled with self-satisfaction. "Well?"
Her stomach twisted. What if they took my skills away? Or what if they don’t work here?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices outside the door. Pressing her ear against the rough wood, she strained to listen.
“She doesn’t look like much,” one of the voices said, dripping with disdain. “Razen’s going to be disappointed if this is all the summoning produced.”
“Don’t underestimate her,” another voice replied, quieter but more serious. “The ritual pulled her from another world. That means she’s an Otherworlder, and they always have potential. Once the locking curse fully takes hold, she’ll be a weapon like no other.”
“Still,” the first voice scoffed, “it’s hard to believe she’ll be of any use. Look at her—she’s barely standing. I’d give her a week in training before she collapses.”
Their words left a sinking feeling in Maple’s chest. Weapon. Obey. Training. The implications were clear. These people didn’t see her as a person—they saw her as a tool to be used.
Stepping back from the door, Maple slumped against the wall, her mind racing. She wasn’t a fighter. She wasn’t even sure if she could be brave enough to escape on her own. She didn’t want to stay here, waiting for someone named Razen to decide her fate.
She glanced at the cot and the sparse furnishings, a lump forming in her throat. 'What do I do? How do I even begin to fight back if I don’t have my skills? Sally would know what to do.' Her thoughts froze. 'Oh no Sally!' Tears slowly streamed down her face. 'I guess I won't be making it to our date.'
Just a few days ago, Her girlfriend had returned from her college abroad for the holidays and they had made plans to spend the holidays together. Now all those plans were instantly dissolved with Kaede's disappearance.
For now, all she could do was wait and hope that an opportunity to act would present itself. 'Stay calm, Kaede. You’ve gotten through tough situations in the game before. You’ll figure this out. You have to.'
As she sat there, the faint hum of the magical runes in the walls surrounded her, a constant reminder that she was trapped in a world she didn’t understand, at the mercy of people who saw her as nothing more than a pawn.