Enigmatic Magic

As the three of them stepped into the cave wall, it rippled like water, forming concentric circles before gradually settling back into a solid surface. For Freyr and the others, it felt like they were walking through a nightmare.

It was pitch black, with no light and no sound. They could only rely on their senses to move forward, and Freyr wasn't even sure if they were heading in the right direction. What if their captor retracted the magic halfway through, burying them alive in the stone?

Just as Freyr was wondering how long this darkness would last, the path ahead suddenly opened up, becoming bright and spacious.

They found themselves in another cave, much larger than the previous one. In the center of this vast cavern stood a figure.

This person was dressed in a long black robe, with a tall pointed hat, looking extremely gaunt. To Freyr's astonishment, he noticed that this person's feet were floating above the ground.

"Hey, was it you who brought us here?" Freyr asked, summoning his courage.

The figure remained silent, raising a hand and beckoning Freyr and the others.

The vast, dimly lit cavern was cold and eerie. The sight of this black-clad figure floating above the ground was unsettling, even for Freyr, who felt his throat go dry.

"Are you... afraid..." came the same old, weak, almost breathless voice. "Why?"

Taking a deep breath, Freyr gritted his teeth and responded, "Shouldn't we be the ones asking that? Why did you bring us here? Who are you?"

The figure didn't react.

Summoning more courage, Freyr continued, "You must be the master of this place! Our raft was overturned at sea... was that your doing? Or was the monster you? Or did you control it? And we were sucked into a whirlpool and ended up in that cave, was that you too? Where are we... Who are you? Why are you doing this to us?"

No response.

Instead, there was a burst of eerie laughter. Freyr had never heard such an unsettling laugh in his life.

"Ignorant humans..." the old voice replied. "You should be grateful I saved you... Without my magic, you would have been devoured by it..."

This response shocked Freyr and the others.

"You mean... you saved us? What is 'it'?" Freyr's heart pounded. "Who are you? Where are we?"

Another burst of eerie laughter followed.

The figure floated closer, stopping a few steps away from Freyr and the others. Freyr finally got a clear look at his face!

It was a face of extreme pallor, almost translucent, with skin so thin you could almost see the bones underneath. It was a visage that would give anyone nightmares.

Freyr managed to hold his ground, but the two women behind him paled.

Facing this skeletal, nearly transparent face, Freyr felt it was an achievement to keep his voice steady. He spoke with more respect, "May I ask, who are you? And where are we?"

"Can't you ask more meaningful questions?" The tone was mocking. The figure raised his arms, and from beneath his wide sleeves, his withered hands flicked...

A shower of light like stars emerged from his hands, illuminating the entire cave.

Suddenly, the surrounding walls were lit with rows of candles, their flickering flames brightening the cave immensely.

Then, as the light spread, stone tables, chairs, and even cabinets materialized in the cave, all exquisitely crafted. Stone doors appeared on the cave walls as well.

"Sit down, my little guests," the figure gestured to the stone chairs. "We can talk."

He seemed to ponder for a moment, "Oh, let me think, what's missing... Ah, I know."

He looked up at the ceiling, raising a finger, and a beam of light shot from his fingertip, hitting the cave ceiling.

To the amazement of Freyr and the others, the cave ceiling lowered, transforming into a flat surface. A golden chandelier with twelve flickering candles slowly emerged from the ceiling, lighting up the cave.

Freyr and the others were stunned, especially Lilith and Naya, both talented in magic and recognizing the extraordinary nature of this display.

"My little guests, do you have any other needs?" The figure's voice was cold.

"…Food, water," Freyr ventured, "We haven't had a proper meal in days."

The figure smiled, fortunately without sound this time, though the sight of a skeletal face smiling was unsettling enough.

"Sorry, I can't do that," the figure shook his head, seeming regretful. "My magic can create anything here... but not food or water. Everything you see is an illusion, a deception for your eyes and senses. But I cannot deceive your stomachs or quench your thirst."

He seemed genuinely regretful.

But Freyr and the others were already impressed by his abilities.

"Lilith, could you use magic to create these things in an empty room?" Freyr whispered to the little girl beside him.