RYAZANIA POV:

I woke up with a throbbing headache, pain shooting through my skull as my eyes opened to a blurry, hazy view. 

My thoughts were muddled, and I struggled to remember what had happened before I lost consciousness. 

The last thing I recalled was fighting a shadowy figure and then being struck down, the memory ending with a jarring impact.

Now I found myself in a dimly lit room. 

My arms and feet were shackled to the ground, forcing me into a kneeling position. 

The air was thick and foul, filled with the stench of rot and decay.

 It was nauseating, and I could barely keep my stomach from turning over.

 I glanced around, my vision gradually clearing, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

 My head throbbed with each heartbeat, and it was hard to focus through the pain.

I needed to find a way out, but first, I had to get a handle on where I was and what was happening to me.

 The chains were heavy, and the dim lighting made it hard to see beyond a few feet in any direction.

 Who captured me, and why? More importantly, was there a way to escape? I thought to myself

As my vision cleared, I saw that the room was made of stone, the walls damp and moss-covered. Water dripped from the ceiling, forming small puddles on the uneven ground. The floor around me was stained with who-knows-what, but I didn't want to think too much about it. The chains holding me were thick and heavy, looped through large iron rings embedded in the stone. 

They wouldn't be easy to break or slip out of.

The only light in the room came from a dim lantern hanging on the far wall, casting long shadows that seemed to shift and twist as I moved my head.

 I tried to move my arms and legs, but the chains kept me firmly in place, allowing only a slight degree of motion.

 I had to think, to figure out a way to loosen or break the chains, but with my head pounding, clear thoughts were hard to come by.

As I tried to assess my surroundings, I heard faint sounds coming from outside the room. Footsteps, slow and deliberate, grew louder as they approached the door.

 It was a heavy wooden door, reinforced with iron bands. I heard the distinct sound of a key turning in the lock, and the door creaked open.

A figure entered, tall and shrouded in a long cloak. 

The hood obscured their face, and they carried a staff with a glowing orb at its tip, casting eerie blue light throughout the room. 

The light revealed intricate runes carved into the walls, patterns that I couldn't recognize.

The figure moved slowly toward me, each step echoing in the chamber. "So, you're awake," they said, their voice low and gravelly. "I was wondering how long it would take."

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry and sore, and all I could manage was a croak.

 I had questions, so many questions, but I knew I had to be careful. I didn't know who this person was or what they wanted with me, but I had to stay calm and not show fear.

The figure stopped a few feet away, their gaze fixed on me. "You have something I want," they said, their voice sending shivers down my spine. "And you're going to tell me where to find it."

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "What... what do I have that you want?" I asked, my words barely more than a whisper.

The cloaked figure chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. 

"Don't play coy with me, you come from another world, and with you comes knowledge of places, artifacts, and powers that don't exist here, tell me where to find them, and this will be quick."

I knew I had to tread carefully,  I was in an unfamiliar place, chained, and at a severe disadvantage. 

This person seemed to know more about me than I did about them.

 I needed information, but I couldn't give too much away. I also couldn't ignore the potential danger I was in.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, feigning ignorance. "

I'm just a student. I got lost and ended up here by accident. I don't know anything about artifacts or powers."

The figure's eyes, visible beneath the hood, narrowed. "Lies won't save you here," they said, their tone growing more ominous. "You came through a sigil, one that hasn't been activated in centuries, you must know something about it."

I thought back to the sigil I'd seen on the ground, the one that transported me to this strange world. 

It had seemed significant, but I had no idea how it worked or what it meant, I had stumbled into something much bigger than I anticipated.

"I don't know how it works," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "I was just following a lead, trying to find my cousin. I'm not from this world, but I don't know anything about sigils or anything like that!"

The figure's grip tightened on their staff, and the orb at its tip flickered with energy. "You expect me to believe that?" they growled. "No one crosses through a sigil without knowledge of its power, either you're lying, or someone else has given you this knowledge. If you won't talk, I'll find other ways to make you."

I could feel the pressure mounting, the walls of the room seeming to close in. 

My chains clanged as I shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position

 I had to think quickly, to come up with a plan before things escalated further.

Before I could respond, another voice echoed from the hallway outside the room. 

"What's taking so long? Is our guest not cooperating?" The voice was deeper, more authoritative, and it sent a chill through me.

The cloaked figure turned toward the door. 

"Patience," they replied. "Interrogations take time." 

They turned back to me, their eyes burning with intensity. 

"But not too much time. You wouldn't want to see what happens when I lose my patience."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at the figure's threat. 

The chains that bound me seemed to grow tighter, the cold metal biting into my skin. I knew I needed to stall for time, to think of a way out of this. I

f they were so keen on finding artifacts and sigils, there had to be others who knew more about them—maybe even allies who could help me.

"Please," I said, my voice cracking, "I really don't know anything about the sigils. I was just looking for my cousin. If you let me go, I promise I won't tell anyone about this place."

The cloaked figure scoffed, turning away as if to dismiss my words.

"empty promises won't save you. We need information, and you clearly have it. 

You may not realize it yet, but everyone who crosses over brings something with them. Memories, knowledge, power—whether you remember it or not, it's in there," they said, tapping their temple.

The voice from outside grew louder, and a shadowy silhouette appeared in the doorway. "If you don't get results soon, I'll have to intervene," the newcomer said. 

The cloaked figure tensed, as if they didn't appreciate being rushed.

"I have it under control," the cloaked figure retorted, their tone sharpening. "Just give me a few more minutes. The more we pressure her, the more likely she is to crack."

I watched as the newcomer stepped into the dimly lit room. 

He was taller than the cloaked figure, with broad shoulders and a grim expression. 

He wore dark armor, and a long sword hung from his waist. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of me chained to the floor, before he looked back at the cloaked figure. 

"You have ten minutes," he said, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.

The cloaked figure nodded, and the newcomer stepped back into the hallway. The tension in the room grew, the oppressive air almost suffocating. I knew I had to say something, to defuse the situation.

"Wait," I said quickly, trying to sound as convincing as possible. 

"Maybe there's a way we can make a deal, I don't know much about this world, but I could help you find what you're looking for, I could ask around, get information. Just please, let me go."

The cloaked figure paused, as if considering my words. "You think you can bargain with us?" they asked, their voice laced with skepticism.

"It's better than nothing," I replied. "If I don't know the answers, I can find someone who does. Just give me a chance."

The cloaked figure seemed to mull it over, their gaze narrowing as they assessed me.

 The seconds felt like hours, and I could feel the weight of the chains as I waited for their response.

The cloaked figure leaned in, their eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. "You don't understand, do you?" they said, their voice low and menacing. "This isn't a game, we have no patience for deception or delays, If you can't give us what we want, you're nothing but a liability."

The words hit me like a blow.

The darkness of the room, the smell of dampness and decay, and the chains binding me to the ground all underscored the grim reality I was in. I had to think fast, had to find a way to convince them that I could be useful.

"Look," I said, trying to sound desperate but earnest. "I really don't know much about your world or your sigils. But I know about mine. There are people—powerful people—who might know more. If you give me a chance, I can find out for you. 

I can be your eyes and ears on the other side."

The cloaked figure's expression remained inscrutable. I couldn't tell if they believed me or if they were just toying with me. 

They seemed to consider my words, their fingers drumming against the hilt of their dagger.

"You think you can just walk out of here and come back with answers?" they asked, their tone dripping with skepticism. 

"Do you know what happened to the last person who made a deal with us and failed to deliver? Let's just say his return trip wasn't exactly pleasant."

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the fear that was building in my chest. "I'm not like the others," I said, my voice wavering slightly. 

"I can blend in. I can talk to people, gather information without attracting attention. Just give me a chance to prove myself."

The cloaked figure stepped back, as if giving me some space to consider my words. 

The seconds stretched into a long, tense silence. I could hear the faint echo of voices from the hallway, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this dark place.

Finally, the cloaked figure spoke, their tone cold and deliberate.

 "Fine. You have one chance. But if you fail us, if you try to run or double-cross us, we'll find you. And when we do, you'll wish you never made that deal."

They turned to leave, signaling to a guard at the door. 

The guard stepped forward and began unfastening the chains from my wrists and ankles. 

My body ached from the hours of kneeling, and I stumbled as I tried to stand, my legs weak and unsteady.

The guard grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to my feet. "No funny business," he said gruffly, his grip tight and painful. "You try anything, and you'll regret it."

I nodded, keeping my head down as I was led out of the room.

 I didn't know where I was going or what my next move would be, but I knew I had to make the most of this one chance.

 My life depended on it.

The guard's grip on my arm was firm, unyielding as he led me down a dimly lit corridor.

 The torches lining the walls flickered with an eerie orange glow, casting long shadows that seemed to shift and twist as we walked.

 My heart raced with every step; I knew I was in deep trouble, but I had to find a way out of this.

As we turned a corner, I was brought into a larger room, where the cloaked figure who had interrogated me stood waiting. 

The room was decorated with ancient tapestries, faded and torn, depicting scenes of war and conquest.

 A heavy stone table stood in the center, strewn with maps, weapons, and sigils that I didn't recognize.

"Here's the deal," the cloaked figure said, not wasting any time. 

"You work for us, you train under our command, and you do what we tell you. If you can prove yourself useful, maybe we'll let you live, but you try anything stupid, and your story ends here. Got it?"

I nodded, my throat dry, the chains rattling slightly as I did. "Yes, I understand."

The cloaked figure walked around the table, studying me with those piercing eyes. "You'll start as a recruit, like everyone else. You'll learn our ways, our tactics, and our magic. You won't receive any special treatment just because you're from another world. In fact, if anything, you'll be watched more closely."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the mention of magic.

 What kind of training did they have in mind? Would they try to turn me into some sort of weapon? I didn't know, but I didn't have much choice in the matter.

"And if I do well?" I asked cautiously. "If I serve and learn your ways, what then?"

The cloaked figure paused, their expression unreadable. "Then you'll have proven your loyalty, and we might consider giving you a place among us. But understand this: loyalty is everything., If you betray us, there's no coming back."

The guard pushed me forward slightly, indicating that I should bow or show some sign of obedience. I did so, lowering my head and trying to suppress the anger that simmered beneath the surface.

 This was my only way out, my only chance to survive in this hostile world.

"When do I start?" I asked, looking up at the cloaked figure.

"Now," they replied without hesitation. 

"The training grounds are just outside this room, you'll join the others and follow their lead, learn quickly, because we don't have time for weakness or hesitation."

The guard pulled me back, leading me toward the exit. "Get moving," he said roughly.