Silent steps take him away from the chaotic din of the primitive. The night air was sharp, cooling his skin as he moved deeper into the winding streets. The gate loomed in the distance, a mixture of towering grandeur and decay. Something tugged at him—an invisible pull of magic, its tension faint but insistent, guiding him toward the outskirts.
Ahead, a rusted gate barely held itself together, the metal groaning in the breeze. Jareth’s sharp eyes caught the faint shimmer of magic clinging to the air, like embers in the aftermath of a blaze. The scent of burnt flesh hit him next, sharp and acrid. His scarf came up instinctively, covering half his face as his steps slowed. His gaze swept the shadows with caution, each movement deliberate, calculating. The signs were clear enough—something foul had unfolded nearby.
Near the gate, the stench worsened.
With a silent gesture, he directed it toward the gate. The wisp pulsed and darted off, disappearing into the darkness. The tension in the air hung heavy, but Jareth remained still, his eyes following the wisp’s path. His jaw tightened, though he didn’t move until the wisp reappeared, hovering in frantic motion, calling him forward.
Jareth moved swiftly, the gate looming larger as the scent of blood and smoke thickened. His eyes narrowed as he reached the figure slumped against the bars. Blood pooled beneath the man, his clothes torn and singed, a thin curl of smoke rising from the cigarette he barely held to his lips. Jareth stopped a few paces away, brow furrowing at the sight.
Ahead, a rusted gate barely held itself together, the metal groaning in the breeze. Jareth’s sharp eyes caught the faint shimmer of magic clinging to the air, like embers in the aftermath of a blaze. The scent of burnt flesh hit him next, sharp and acrid. His scarf came up instinctively, covering half his face as his steps slowed. His gaze swept the shadows with caution, each movement deliberate, calculating. The signs were clear enough—something foul had unfolded nearby.
Near the gate, the stench worsened.
Yeah, even a fool would not be so careless,he muttered, his hands flicking in a practiced motion to cast a barrier. Without breaking stride, he layered his palms together, eyes briefly closing in concentration. When they reopened, a faint glow flickered in his irises. A wisp of shimmering energy materialized, hovering at his command.
With a silent gesture, he directed it toward the gate. The wisp pulsed and darted off, disappearing into the darkness. The tension in the air hung heavy, but Jareth remained still, his eyes following the wisp’s path. His jaw tightened, though he didn’t move until the wisp reappeared, hovering in frantic motion, calling him forward.
Jareth moved swiftly, the gate looming larger as the scent of blood and smoke thickened. His eyes narrowed as he reached the figure slumped against the bars. Blood pooled beneath the man, his clothes torn and singed, a thin curl of smoke rising from the cigarette he barely held to his lips. Jareth stopped a few paces away, brow furrowing at the sight.
By the Maker, I’ve seen corpses in better shape.he muttered, though his voice was measured, almost clinical. He narrowed the space between himself and the man, eyes flicking over the wound assessing it with a certain detachment. Heat radiated from it, the magical residue thick and unmistakable.
Who did this to you?he asked, though the magical scorch marks had already told him the answer.
09-12-2024, 02:36 AM
