Nakaria p.o.v.

I hate to admit it, but my reflexes were worse than ever.

Why? I dOn't kNOw, mAyBe It'S beCaUse I DiDn'T haVe tRaiNiNG fOR SEVEN YEARS?!

Seriously. Before, I could take down twenty ghosts at a time, and not get tired. I was seven. SEVEN.

Now I'm fourteen, and I can't even kill five enemies at a time.

Okay, maybe that wasn't so much of my fault. See, Duncan had said," We'll start with five." I thought he meant ghosts. That was easy. You just gotta plunge your sword, knife, whatever weapon into their stomach and they're dead. Heck, even a kick to the head might do it if they're weak. So I expected that.

What he didn't mention was that I wasn't going to fight ghosts, but skeletons.

Crucial part you didn't mention, Duncan. Great job.

You see, skeletons are actually harder than ghosts to defeat. Sure, if you're using a normal weapon not infused with dark energy, it would pass through the ghosts, but I was always given a dark energy weapon. But skeletons, even though they can be hit with normal weapons, can reform.

Yes, you heard it right, they can literally regroup their bones back together within a few seconds. So technically, they're kinda unkillable. Maybe even immortal. (No, wait, they're already dead. No, wait, that's exactly why they're immortal. Oh, just ignore me.)

"Great." I thought as I watched a skeleton reform in front of me. "Just great." I kicked a skeleton in the stomach and plunged my sword into its head, but it just went between its bones into thin air.

Oh yeah, did I mention that they had no flesh? You had to aim directly at their bones to get a hit. Then you have to drive your weapon really, really hard into the bones to crack them.

However, bones are very tough. "Very, very tough." I groaned as I pinned a skeleton down to the floor of the training room, stabbing it in its ribcage. I pushed my dagger as hard as I could, but it wasn't enough. The skeleton kicked me and jumped to its feet while I clutched my stomach.

So far, I had only 'killed' one skeleton. And by kill, I mean shatter its bones. Then it reformed.

I panted as I looked around the room. The skeletons formed a circle around me. "Oh no... this is not good." I muttered as I shot a dirty look at Duncan. A skeleton threw its knife at me and I ducked. It hit another skeleton opposite it. The skeleton stumbled, and I saw my chance. I deflected another blade and charged at the wounded skeleton, taking my dagger and hitting it right at the spot where the previous weapon had struck him.

The skeleton moaned and dropped to the floor, before shattering into separate bones. But that was still no use. They could still reform anytime. I turned to see a skeleton running at me, knife poised. I stumbled backwards and I stepped on something. I looked down to see a smashed bone.

My eyes widened as I came to a realization. "There is a way to kill the skeletons." I thought. I looked at the skeleton still running towards me. I ran forwards and kicked it in the stomach, then smacking it in the head with the flat of my dagger. The two blows were too much for it to handle, and it crumpled to the floor. I stepped on its head forcefully, and successfully smashed its bones into a million pieces. I stared at it, and it didn't reform.

My idea was right; I just needed to make its bones too tiny for it to regroup them.

Another skeleton charged at me, and knocked my dagger out of my hand while I was distracted thinking about how I would defeat all the skeletons. "Stay focused, Nakaria." Duncan said, standing nearby. I glared at it and sidestepped to avoid his attack. I punched him and gave a blow to the head. I ran over and swiftly picked up my dagger while it was dazed.

I looked around. "No more jokes." I thought. Now that I knew how to kill them, it was time to get to business.

I started with the skeleton closest to me, knocking it out with the flat of my dagger, while kicking away the other skeleton closing on me. I sliced off its head and crushed its bones with my foot, like the other skeleton I killed.

I didn't stop there. I threw my dagger, right on aim. It hit a skeleton on its ribcage, and I ran over, picking up my dagger while stepping on its fragile body.

A crack rang through the training room. Only one more skeleton remained, trembling while backing away. A grin appeared on my face. "Oh no, you're not getting away so easily." I thought. I ran over and slid underneath its bony legs, standing up in front of it. It panicked and tried to run in the opposite direction. I jumped up and threw my dagger, aimed at the skeleton. It hit true at its target, while I landed on its head, successfully breaking all its bones.

I landed on the floor with a 'bam', panting. That really took a huge deal. I caught my breath as I looked around the spacious training room. Really, I hadn't noticed the renovation of this area until now. From my memories, the training room was charred and black, smelling of burnt bones and blood. I remember there was a broken wall on my right, with graffiti on it, though I had no idea where that came from. I doubted my dad had any interest in art. There were DEFINITELY more chains, whereas now, it looked like a gym at first glance. The floor gleaming with wax, the walls newly refurbished... If you would just ignore the two sets of chains hanging on the walls, swaying and clinking, and the pentagram on the floor, or the occasional mannequin/practice dummies laying around, yeah, it's a gym.

"You could do better, Nakaria." said Duncan, snapping me out of my thoughts. He earned yet another dirty look from me. "Shut up, I've had seven years of relaxation, I can't just start from where we left off. Besides, IT WAS SKELETONS." I thought to myself. What I said was," I'll try." before turning away.

Suddenly, the huge doors that I was facing opened with a 'creak'. I wasn't even surprised to see my father striding in. Behind him were two ghosts, holding the new prisoner by his wrists and draggin him across the floor. I noticed that Player had a lot more blood on him than before. My father stopped by the chains and motioned for the ghosts to chain Player up.

"Nakaria!" Duncan hissed, and I realized that I wasn't kneeling down. I bent down, but Novisor looked behind him and said," No, it's fine. Duncan, move your training session to the garden. I have certain things to do here."

He then turned back to the crewmate who was now chained up against the wall. He then drew out a small wire which I recognized as a tool that would draw out the victim's memories for the possessor to see. ( I know this is bad, my imagination is running out quick)

Duncan asked," Sir( C R I N G E ), may I ask why?" Novisor hesitated, then said," I have found the dungeon rather too... pungent for my liking. Now go." He snapped, and Duncan obeyed. He bowed and walked out of the room. I followed him.

Just when I was about to leave the room, my dad called," Nakaria." I turned around. "Yeah?" Then he gave me a stern glare that made me shiver, and said in a low scary voice," Don't mess with me. Behave."

Before I could process what he said, the doors slammed shut with a loud 'bang'. I shivered once more as I headed down the stairs. It was as if he knew what I was planning to do tonight...

*********************************************************************

Training continued for another two hours, consisting mostly of annoying skeletons and a very pushy Duncan. I returned to my room, bruised and battered.

Okay, maybe not that bruised, but I sure was tired. I hastily wolfed down the pasta I had snatched from the kitchen to calm down the growling beast in my stomach, then immediately slumped against the covers of my bed. I was extremely exhausted, and if I was planning on waking up in the middle of the night tonight I would need all my energy.

Sleep quickly overtook me, and I faded away to my dreams.

*********************************************************************

As you've probably guessed, I didn't have an alarm clock. Kinda useless since I sleep at 1:00 in the morning and can wake up whenever I want.

This was the first time I needed something to wake me up. And I was kinda counting on my brain. Luckily this part actually went according to plan(I don't have a plan, what am I talking about...), and my brain somehow decided that I had slept enough.

I jolted awake and sat up. For a drowsy moment, I wondered why I needed to wake up, then I remembered. I was going to free Player from his cell. According to my dream, I could do that. Why? Because if Player was gone, firstly, that would make me the heir, secondly, I can stop having lessons with Duncan. They're really, really, really annoying. Also... I thought... Player... he could use a break. I mean, I knew my dad was ruthless. But for a potential heir.... did he need to hurt him... 

No, no, I'm not supposed to feel any pity for him. I didn't even realize, but I had been thinking of him the entire time when I was training, my plan to break him out... 

"Okay, Nakaria, shut the hell up about him and BACK TO YOUR PLAN." I mentally scolded myself.

Obviously, I couldn't stop my dad from capturing him again. Neither could I promise that this was absolutely going to work. Dreams were... Well, dreams. What if the whole thing was just a fragment of my imagination? I would really look stupid if I tried to walk into the wall, convinced that it was a fake wall, and then slammed into the bricks.

Mostly I was worried about Novisor. He didn't have a sleeping schedule, so he might as well be down there torturing the crewmate. I didn't know if he was watching me right now. What if he suddenly popped out from the shadows as I freed Player?

Clearly, I had a lot of doubts about this plan. Half of me was convinced I must've taken drugs or something, because the more I thought about this, the more it sounded utterly stupid and meaningless.

But if all this was just my imagination, then my brain must've been real creative. The dream was vivid, so vivid I could almost swear it was real. Also, I didn't usually have dreams like these ones. If I had dreams, it was either my father trying to spook me out or important ones.

Which was never before. Until now.

I stepped out of bed. Might as well try. What harm could it do?

Okay, a lot of harm.

I didn't want to go in a dirty T-shirt and jeans, looking like a mad woman, and, yes, I've just realized I've been sleeping in these. I slipped into a purple dress that came down to my knees. It had a satin collar and it was long-sleeved, so that should protect me from the cold.

Look, I knew nothing about dresses. And clearly I had a bad fashion sense. I would do better in casual wear. But if I was going to meet a boy I thought cute, I might as well do it in a dress.

As I stared into the mirror, I once again asked myself if this was the right thing to do. My father was going to be mad. Really mad. And who knew? He might just be down there.

And once again with the dream being fake. I would really look like an idiot if I just straight up bumped into a wall.

But apparently my mind was on drugs or something, cause it decided to go do it. I cautiously stepped out of my room, looking around to see if there were any spying eyes. You never know, Novisor might just have told a few ghosts to look out for me sneaking around. And judging by the things he said this morning, he probably knew I was onto something.

I walked down the stairs, trying not to make any noise. A single 'creak' would notify my dad, so I had to be extra cautious. I was really regretting not wearing any shoes or slippers. I felt like I was walking on ice, and I mentally scolded myself for knowing to wear a dress that was pretty useless but not remembering to wear shoes. It was like remembering to bring your textbook but forgetting to bring your schoolbag.

I tiptoed over to the door that lead to the dungeon. I didn't bring any lighting device so I was only relying on my night vision to help me navigate. I put a hand on the wall to assure myself I knew the way and wasn't going blindly into god-knows-where. Along the way, I kept looking backwards, as if someone would appear behind me. More straightforward, my dad would appear behind me. 

Next thing I knew, I had reached the place where I first found Player. "All right, according to the dream..." I muttered to myself, then quickly clapped a hand over my mouth. I quickly turned around to see if there was anyone, fortunately not. You never know when your creepy no-visor dad is stalking you...

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to the walls. I remembered that I had walked straight forward. Bracing myself for the embrace between the wall and me that was supposed to be there, I walked right toward the wall. I closed my eyes...

But I didn't hit anything. I slowly opened my eyes. And right in front of me, exactly like my dream, as real as it had been, was the cell where Player lay. I stood there in shock and awe. My dream was true, I couldn't believe it! That was actually true. My father had the power to make illusions? I didn't know that.

I walked forward in a trance. "Wow..." I thought. "I-I really can't believe my dream showed me the truth." I reached the cell and saw that the bars were glowing a faint purple, wrapped inside a barrier that looked to be dark energy.  And inside was the person that I had been thinking of a lot.

Player.

A small gasp escaped from my mouth as I stared closer at his shivering form. He had multiple gashes and cuts on his limbs, blood dripped from his mouth as he lay on the non-existent floor.( again...) Most disgusting and horrifying was probably the area around his visor. Red and raw, still bloody, it definitely was the stuff of my nightmares. "Did my father do this?" It looked like he had literally tried to grab the visor out of him. I- Ugh...

I knew my father turned people into Novisors. He told me they were painless, so I didn't really care. I mean, I like villains more than heroes anyway. He was just trying to conquer the world, if no pain or gore was involved, yeah, it's okay. Even occasional scars and cuts... sure. Torturing definitely existed. But this... this was a new level of torture. Did every single ghost had his visor which were part of their eyes, ripped out before he was turned into a ghost. I felt like I wanted to puke. This... this was not... right.

Then I shook myself out of my thoughts. I was here for one thing. One thing only. To free Player. 

In my dreams, I had touched the bars of the cell to make Player disappear, which I assumed meant he was freed. I gingerly touched the bars, and a sudden force knocked me five feet backwards . Just a second before I hit the ground, I caught hold of my senses and willed myself to levitate, successfully stopping myself from hitting the ground and causing myself a concussion. I hovered two centimeters above the ground as I took a deep breath. "How am I so dumb..." I thought. "I always knew dark energy had a knockback effect on whoever touches the thing." And now I looked closer, I saw a small keyhole in the bars.

I set myself onto the ground and stood up, my dress now ruffled. I smoothed out my dress; strange, I usually didn't care about looks. But this time, it was like a habit. I glanced around the corridor and finally spotted a copper key hanging on one of the walls. 

This was it. If I decided to take that key, I could free Player, and everything would be back to normal. But if I did, and it set off some kind of alarm... this was now the final chance to turn back.

I stood there, pondering. The weight of my choice rested on me like the burden of cutting the wire on a bomb.

...

Then my hand reached for the key, dangling high on a peg on the wall, far out of reach from Player. I hesitated once more, then grabbed the cold copper key. My hand trembled as I swiftly slipped the freezing key into the keyhole of the door and turned it clockwise. I stepped back as I watched the magic infused bars slowly slide open, creating a doorway fit for one person to enter the cell. I looked at the red crewmate lying on the dark floor in the prison. Legs shaking, I stepped into the cell.

~

And that's the end of Chapter 6, I hope you enjoyed it. I really apologize for long waits, I have school, and another book to update, drawings to draw, and really, I do have a life outside of Wattpad.

But nevertheless, I thank all of you guys for 500 views, tysm! I love every single one of you~❤️(platonically, of course)

Stay safe, y'all.