Chasms of the Forgotten Bind
Mist curled through the twisted pines like cold fingers, and the iron of the handcuffs clattered to the dirt with a sound that echoed in the quiet forest. Caspian rubbed his freed wrists—skin raw, marked with red lines that throbbed with every touch. He stared at the broken cuffs at his feet, their silver runes still glowing faintly, and said nothing. The enchantment woven into them had choked his magic for weeks, leaving him powerless against the bandits—but the three strangers standing over him didn't know that. And they didn't know he was the same age as them, either—his time in captivity had just made him look smaller, more worn.
The tallest one—Kai, with eyes the color of a stormy sea and a smile that felt like sunlight breaking through clouds—stood with his hands loose at his sides. "No need to thank us," he said. "We're just glad we could help. What's your name?"
The boy hesitated, as if unsure how much to reveal. He glanced at the other slaves huddled in the nearby cage—gaunt, trembling, their clothes in rags—then back at the three companions. They were his age, he could tell—late teens, early twenties—with the same sharp edge that came from living on the road. "I'm… Caspian."
Kai exchanged a smile with the other two. Zephyr, lean and sharp-eyed, his grass-colored hair tied back in a tight knot, stood perfectly still, his gaze sweeping over the forest around them. He carried no pack beyond a small satchel, no weapons at all—just a quiet intensity that matched Caspian's own. Thane, broad-shouldered and solid as a mountain, crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw set tight—but even he looked relieved. They'd cleared out the Bloodclaw Bandits' camp in less than an hour with only their elements, and right now, they saw Caspian as just another captive their age they'd pulled from the fire.
"Let's get these others sorted," Kai said, turning toward the cage. Zephyr reached for a waterskin from his satchel, but Thane shook his head.
"Grove's Mercy will be faster," he rumbled, and his eyes flared with deep, earthen gold. He pressed his palms to the cage bars, and a wave of warm, brown light washed over the slaves. Wounds that had festered into black scabs began to knit closed, fresh skin pushing through. A young woman who'd been holding her side let out a soft gasp, her hand falling away to find nothing but smooth flesh.
Zephyr stepped forward next, and his hands crackled with soft, blue lightning that hummed with quiet power. "Thunder's Lullaby," he murmured, and the electricity flowed over the group. The cold that had seeped into their bones melted away; the exhaustion that had dragged their shoulders down lifted. One by one, they sat up straighter, their eyes clearing.
Kai was last, his hands glowing with the gentle blue of deep water. "Tide of Rebirth," he whispered, and a fine mist fell over the slaves. Their hollow cheeks filled out a little; their stomachs stopped growling. When Caspian helped hand out dried bread and salted meat from the bandits' stores, they devoured it in silence, their gratitude written in every frantic bite.
The trio moved to pack their small satchels—rolling up thin bedrolls, tucking away extra rations. They'd stay just long enough to make sure the slaves could find their way to the nearest free settlement, then move on. That was how they worked: hit a bandit camp with their elements, free the captives, and vanish into the forest before trouble could find them.
As they prepared to leave, Caspian approached them. He walked quietly, his bare feet making no sound on the dirt, and stopped a few feet away. His eyes were filled with hope as he looked at the three companions—his peers, not just strangers. "May I join you?" he asked softly. "I'd like to help if I can."
Kai, Zephyr, and Thane exchanged a curious look, intrigued by his words. Zephyr's gaze narrowed slightly, but there was no malice in it—just curiosity. "You want to join us?" he said, his voice calm and even. "You're our age, but you've been locked up for weeks. You sure you're ready for the road, when all we have to protect us is our power?"
Kai held up a hand to silence him. He studied Caspian for a long moment—taking in the worn clothes, the quiet way he carried himself, the way his eyes never wavered. He looked like them, acted like them—just a little more beaten down. "Alright," he said. "You can join us, but you have to impress us first. Show us what you're capable of, and we'll see."
Caspian nodded, a gentle smile on his face. He stood still, his hands at his sides, and said nothing more. But inside, something shifted. The weight of the enchanted cuffs was gone now—really gone, this time. The silver runes at his feet were dimming, their power spent. For the first time in weeks, he could feel his magic stirring inside him, warm and alive, waiting to be set free. This was his chance. He'd show them he was just as capable as any of his peers. He'd prove he belonged.
The forest was quiet now. The mist was lifting, and sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The slaves had begun to talk in hushed tones, pointing toward the east, where the path led to safety. It felt like a peaceful moment—like nothing bad could happen in a place so bright and still.
Caspian took a deep breath, ready to call on his magic, ready to show the trio exactly what he could do. He raised his hand, his fingers beginning to tingle with power that had been trapped for far too long. A faint glow began to form at his fingertips—soft at first, then growing brighter, a color like deep purple twilight.
Kai's eyes widened. "Wait—he has magic?"
Zephyr and Thane turned, their attention now fully on Caspian. They'd thought he was powerless—just another kid their age who couldn't fight back. But the glow in his hand told a different story.
Caspian smiled, feeling the magic flow through him, strong and steady. He was ready. He'd make them proud. He'd show them he was one of them.
Then came the sound.
Scuttle.
It was too loud for a normal spider. Too heavy. Too deliberate.
Everyone fell silent. The slaves stopped talking. The trio's eyes snapped toward the underbrush. Caspian's hand froze mid-air, the purple glow still dancing at his fingertips.
The sound came again—closer this time.
Scuttle. Scuttle.
Zephyr's hands began to crackle with blue lightning, but he didn't move. Thane tensed, his Grove's Mercy magic wrapping around him, but he stayed back. Kai's hands glowed with water, but he just watched the underbrush, his jaw tight.
None of them moved. None of them attacked.
They just stared.
And then, the underbrush exploded.
A massive spider emerged—easily eight feet tall, its body like polished obsidian, its legs as sharp as razor blades. Its eyes were eight glowing orbs of blood red, fixed on the group with a hunger that made the air feel thick and cold. Thick, black venom dripped from its fangs, sizzling when it hit the dirt, leaving small, smoking craters in the ground.
It stood there. It didn't lunge. It didn't screech. It just stared.
Caspian looked from the spider to the trio—his peers, watching him now with a mix of surprise and anticipation. He felt their magic humming, but they weren't moving to act.
This was his moment.
The one he'd been waiting for.
He raised his hand higher, the purple glow flaring brighter. The magic inside him surged, strong and wild and free. He took a step forward, standing between the spider and the group.
The trio looked at him, their eyes wide with shock.
Caspian's gentle smile faded, replaced by a look of focus and determination. He'd been given a chance to impress them. To show his peers what he could do.
And he was going to take it.
He looked straight at the massive, terrifying spider.
And he let his magic rise.