A Forsaken Land

When his eyes were able to see again, Cephas noticed he landed on his right side and thus had a better angle of view to scan the area to determine what the "castle" looked like. It was a white corridor with big columns cut by large windows. While examining his new surroundings he acknowledged something.

It appears I can move my eyeballs now. I wonder if I can move as well

Cephas tried to get up but only managed to twitch.

Well apparently not... Damn it one them saw me move.

"It appears your paralysis spell didn't work as well as you thought sister."

"The teleportation spell must have weakened it. We shouldn't waste time then and lock this summoner in the anti-maigc cell." the white one said before her horn glowed and the warlock was envelopped by the gold radiance and forced to follow the two horses.

With nothing else to do I might as well remember every corner and every corridor if I try to break out of here.

"Luna, why didn't you teleport us closer to the dungeon?"

"It appears I have lost a bit of touch with magic after a thousand years."

Joy... Another millenia old being no wonder they are such powerhouses then.

After a twenty minute "walk" they had arrived in your typical every day dungeon you managed to get bored of after scouring your first hundred. Except it was clean no blood or spiderwebs hanging from the walls.

They passed in front of a dozen empty cells, all of which are empty. The trio stopped in front of one open cell with a smaller wingless horned horse standing next to it. He/she was white with differents shades of blue through its hair which comparing to the other two horses wasn't flowing. It was wearing a purple and gold armor.

"You called for me Princess."

Judging by the voice "it" is a male. Great... Royalty... I am so gonna be beheaded after they've poked needles through me. Wait a girlfriend impaling second! When did they have enough time to call for this... miniature

"Prince Shining Armor in private you can me Célestia as, need I remind you, you're also royalty now. Or you can even call me Aunty if you want to."

Are their names supposed to describe them like a blank slate?

"I tend to forget that sometimes Célestia, however I doubt I'll ever call you "Aunty". So what did you need me for?"

"I need you to maintain a shield on this cell and have two of the best guards you can find to watch over this prisoner."

"Right away your Hig...Célestia, but if I may what is our "guest"?"

"We are not sure. Just know this : it is quite powerful and evasive enough that everypony should stay vigilant." intervened Luna.

Cephas was then levitated through the cell and was gently laid down on his right side on a small bed.

Surprised by the kindness of his landing, he gave a questioning look to the white princess.

"Don't look at me like that. Just because you're our prisoner doesn't mean we can't be civil." she chuckled.

Interesting... Wonder how much I'm going to abuse of such hospitality.

The warlock watched the three "ponies" trot away ,he then moved his gaze to a low window. He peered through and guessed it was about two hours before dawn.

Might as well get some shut-eye while the paralysis spell fades.

Cephas woke up late in the morning with the sight of a purple barrier recovering the exit but also the walls. As he slide his body off the bed, he caught sight of a round light blue tray near the bars. There were quite a lot of different foods aligned for a single prisoner. There was a sandwich with flowers, some hay, an apple, a cherry pie and what seemed like simple grass fresh from the garden. All were in different plates in moderate quantity.

A breakfast with so many flavours shows they have no hint to what I am... or that they are very generous but don't know how choosey I might be. I already imagine their faces when I tell them or rather forced to tell them via torture.

He chuckled darkly while kneeling to grab the apple from the tray. He took a small bite but almost immadiately spat it out.

"Ugh..." he gurgled.

It has been a long time since I last ate anything else than the flesh from the dead or the arcane food of the passing generous mage. Always tastes like ash.

The warlock started to conjure a spell to drain the apple lifeforce away. At midway he remembered the ponies talking about the fact that the cell was anti-magic but still the spell was easily produced. Not knowing why it worked, Cephas nonetheless maintained the spell and felt the soothing sensation of absorbing lifeforce until the apple had rotten out.

Wondering why his spells worked in this cell, he jolted upright and drained the contents of the tray.

The warlock grinned. "Time to bust outta here" he exclaimed while putting his hands together to cast a shadow bolt... except nothing happened. He attempted to draw a magic circle... still nothing. He sighed in defeat. He looked to the exit and saw that no one had seen him cast a spell.

So only affliction works then. I don't see how you could miss such a flaw in an anti-magic cell. They don't know about affliction ? No it's even unlikelier.

He pondered what he could try with the powers available. Not for long anyway since affliction only affect living beings he couldn't use it against walls or barriers. He walked to the barrier to examine if they left another flaw to be exploited but as he approched to start his analysis, he saw something. The exterior of the cell wasn't actually visible from the inside, it was rather a vitrified version of what was beyond.

"Crap... You've just seen what I just did, haven't you." he clammered being sure someone had really witnessed what he could accomplish.

Enraged by being so easily discovered he yelled "Let's see how you like this!". The undead then unleashed a volley of haunting spirits against the entrance of the cell. Cephas had forgotten in his rage that the affliction couldn't get through the barrier and so they recoiled from the purple magic wall. However the magical force that he released managed to dispell the vitrifying illusion revealing two armored horned horses backs against the wall raising spears to the enraged warlock, trembling as dread filled them after having witnessed what he's capable of. Seeing them huddled like that made him burst into a maniacal laughter.

"At least now you know what to fear in the dead of the night when you're trying to sleep."

He only wished he could use his powers to increase their despair and watch them run around screaming.

After having fun scaring the guards for a few minutes with frightening declarations and ghostly apparitions, the cruel undead started to walk to his bed to ponder what his next move or enemy's next move will be. As soon as he sat, a booming sound with a bright light appeared at the exit of his cell.

WHAT HAST THOU DONE ?!