Ren walked down the stairs and put the bone key into the glowing lock. The giant door opened with a deep, groaning sound. A wave of cold, dead air came from the room.
They had found the Silent Sanctum.
The room was a giant, dark cave. The only light came from glowing green crystals on the high ceiling. In the middle of the room was a throne made of bones. On the throne sat the Silent King.
He was a skeleton in a king's old, torn robes. A black iron crown was on his skull. His eyes were two burning green fires. He was holding a staff made of bone.
And near the throne, chained to a stone pillar, was the elf, Elara. She was weak and tired, but her green eyes were full of defiance. She saw Ren and Lyra, and a small look of hope was on her face.
The Silent King looked at them. A cold, dry whisper spoke in their minds.
"Fools. You have come to my home. Your life is a gift to me. I will use it to complete my ascen—"
"Yeah, yeah, ascension, I get it," Ren interrupted loudly. "It's a very boring speech. Can we just skip to the part where I beat you and take your stuff? I am a very busy person."
The Silent King was so shocked by this rude interruption that he stopped talking. Even Elara looked surprised, and a small smile touched her lips.
The King's shock turned into great anger. "INSOLENT WORM! YOU WILL SUFFER!"
He hit his staff on the floor. The ground cracked, and dozens of strong, elite skeleton warriors rose from the floor. They all had glowing swords.
"Now this is a real party," Ren grinned.
Lyra stood strong. "I will fight them! You go for the king!"
Lyra was a wall of steel. She held back the skeletons, her shield and armor protecting her. Ren charged forward. He was a blur, his sword destroying any skeleton that came in his way. Elara watched with wide eyes. This boy was doing what her whole party of strong elves could not do.
Ren reached the bottom of the throne. He was ready to attack the King.
The Silent King, seeing that his guards were losing, finally stood up. The green fire in his eyes burned brightly. "You know nothing of true power, child!"
He raised his staff. The chains on Elara started to glow with a green light. Her life energy started to flow out of her and into the King. He was using her like a battery to make himself stronger. Elara cried out in pain.
The King's power grew stronger and stronger. The air in the room crackled with his dark magic.
Ren's playful smile disappeared. His face became cold and hard. The game was over.