Felluck: The Curse of Fortune

Felix's body trembled as he lay curled on the cold forest floor, his mind consumed by a vivid nightmare. In his dream, the world was perfect—his family was alive, laughing and bonding as they always had. His father's booming laughter echoed, his siblings' playful banter filling the air. But the dream shifted, twisting into a vision of horror. Flames engulfed the city, screams echoed in the distance, and Felix saw his family's faces contort in pain before fading into darkness. The image of the pillagers tearing through his home played on a loop, until finally, he saw Lila—bound, helpless, her tear-streaked face burned into his mind.

Reaching out desperately in the dream, his hand extended toward the wagon where Lila was held. Just as his fingers brushed the edge of the wooden frame, his vision darkened, and everything disappeared.

"Lila!" Felix screamed as he jolted awake, his chest heaving. His body was drenched in sweat, mingling with the blood from his wounds. Pain flared through his side as he moved, but he forced himself to sit up. Gritting his teeth, he stood, swaying slightly. He had no time to waste.

He returned to the ruins of the city, his heart heavy with dread. The streets were eerily silent, littered with debris and the aftermath of destruction. He searched desperately, hoping to find some sign of Lila or the other captives, but the city was empty.

Determined to prepare himself, Felix scavenged through the rubble for supplies. He managed to find a small stash of preserved food and clean clothes from an overturned cart. As he sifted through the wreckage, he came across the lifeless body of the librarian who had always encouraged his love of magic. Felix knelt by the old man, swallowing the lump in his throat, and took the librarian's cloak as a keepsake.

Later, he stumbled upon the remains of his own family. Tears blurred his vision as he dug shallow graves for each of them, marking the spots with stones. He stood silently for a moment, clutching his staff, before whispering, "I'll make this right. I swear."

After an unsuccessful search for a mount, Felix resigned himself to traveling on foot. He followed the trail of wagon wheels and hoofprints leading away from the city. For hours, he trudged along the path, his wounds throbbing with every step. As night fell, he rested beneath a large tree, his body aching from exhaustion.

The sound of barking and howling jolted him awake. His pulse quickened as he scanned the darkness, trying to locate the source. In the distance, he heard a faint, high-pitched whimper. Against his better judgment, he moved toward the sound, careful not to draw attention to himself.

Peering through the foliage, Felix saw a small puppy cornered by a pack of wolves. Its golden fur shimmered faintly in the moonlight, and as one wolf lunged, the puppy blinked out of existence, reappearing a few feet away. Felix's eyes widened in recognition.

"A blink dog," he murmured, recalling the magical creatures he had read about in books. But even with its teleportation ability, the puppy couldn't escape the pack. It was cornered against a tree, trembling as the wolves closed in.

Felix climbed up a nearby tree, his fingers gripping the bark tightly. Summoning his magic, he extended his hand and cast Firebolt, aiming it at the ground near the wolves. The sudden explosion of flame startled the pack, but the largest wolf, seemingly the leader, growled and charged toward the source of the fire. Felix inhaled sharply and unleashed another Firebolt, this time directly hitting the charging wolf. The beast yelped and recoiled, its fur singed, but the rest of the pack advanced with feral determination.

Felix's heart pounded as he realized the wolves wouldn't be scared off so easily. He raised his hand and cast Prestidigitation, creating a series of loud, crackling noises that echoed through the clearing. Two wolves hesitated, their ears flattening, but the others ignored the distraction.

The largest wolf, its fur smoldering, lunged at the tree where Felix was perched. Felix reacted instinctively, casting Mage Hand to grab a loose branch and swing it toward the wolf's face. The creature snarled and backed off momentarily, but its relentless gaze didn't waver.

As the wolves regrouped, Felix prepared to cast Chaos Bolt, summoning chaotic energy into his hand. He aimed for the pack, releasing a bolt that arced unpredictably between two wolves. One collapsed instantly, knocked unconscious by the surge of magic, while the other yelped and retreated into the shadows.

The remaining wolves growled, their numbers dwindling. Felix shouted, "Get back!" hoping the display of power would finally scare them off. When they didn't relent, he whispered a desperate incantation and cast Darkness around the area, enveloping the wolves in an impenetrable sphere of shadow. Confused and disoriented, the pack whined and began retreating into the forest, unable to navigate the magical gloom.

With the danger gone, Felix climbed down and approached the blink puppy cautiously. Its golden eyes were wide with fear, but it didn't flee. Felix knelt and inspected its wounds, using his knowledge of healing plants to create a makeshift poultice. The puppy whimpered softly but didn't resist.

"You're safe now," Felix whispered, stroking its fur. The blink puppy licked his hand, a tentative sign of trust. "Guess we're both survivors, huh?"

The puppy followed Felix as he rested for the night, curling up beside him for warmth. By morning, it was clear the creature had decided to stay with him. Felix couldn't help but smile. "Alright, then. Let's see if those sharp senses of yours can help us."

For the next two days, Felix and his new companion tracked the pillagers. On the second day, he lost the trail, the tracks fading into rocky terrain. Frustrated and on the verge of giving up, the blink puppy sniffed the ground and barked, leading Felix to a narrow path hidden by overgrown foliage. He followed the puppy's lead and soon discovered the entrance to a cave nestled in the mountains.

Two guards stood at the entrance, their weapons glinting in the sunlight. Felix crouched behind a boulder, his mind racing. He reached down to stroke the blink puppy's head. "Stay quiet, little one. We'll figure this out."

"Inside the mountain cave"

The air was damp and filled with the acrid smell of smoke. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering shadows over the roughly hewn stone. The cave was a hive of activity, with pillagers milling about—some sharpening weapons, others counting stolen goods piled high in crude wooden crates. Chains rattled from deeper within, accompanied by muffled cries and the occasional barked order from the pillagers' leader.

The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sat at a large wooden table near the center of the cavern. Maps and documents were spread before him, illuminated by the flickering light of a nearby brazier. He barked orders to his men, his voice rough and commanding. "Get those goods sorted! We've got buyers coming in two days. And keep the captives quiet, or I'll make them quiet myself."

Nearby, a group of captives sat chained to the wall, their faces pale and weary. Among them was Lila, her hands bound tightly with coarse rope. Her face was streaked with dirt, but her eyes remained defiant. She glared at the leader as he passed by, earning herself a sneer in return.

"Feisty one, aren't you?" the leader said, crouching down to her level. "Don't worry. You'll fetch a fine price. Nobles pay extra for spirited slaves."

Lila didn't respond, her jaw clenched tightly. The leader chuckled darkly and rose, motioning for one of his men to watch her closely.

Further into the cave, other pillagers prepared for their next raid. Weapons were polished, supplies were packed, and a group of scouts discussed potential targets. The atmosphere buzzed with a grim sense of purpose, each person fully committed to their role in the bandit operation.

Deeper still, a separate chamber held the bulk of the stolen goods. Chests filled with gold, fine silks, and other valuables were stacked high. Guards patrolled the area, their eyes sharp and weapons at the ready.

The entire cave was a fortress of villainy, its occupants confident in their strength and numbers. But the faint sound of footsteps echoing from the entrance hinted at the arrival of an unseen threat—one determined to bring their operation to its knees.