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Jax landed gracefully on the ground, his feet making a soft crunch as they landed on the shattered remains of what was once a magnificent glass window. He glanced around, half-expecting the guards to come crashing in at any moment, but none came. He could hear a commotion outside, most likely a reaction to his undignified entrance. But he was lucky, the door across from the window was secured shut, perfect for deterring any intruder, even the guards themselves seemed to have some trouble getting in. The Tressa family had clearly spared no expense in safeguarding their treasures. Jax knew that time was of the essence; they would inevitably break through, and he had to act fast.
He hoped his entrance was at least enough to take some of the heat from Christa. If there’s anything that a noble family would value more than their prisoners, it would be their wealth.
The room was a sight to behold, it was expansive, with high vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to glow in the soft candlelight. Tapestries in rich jewel tones lined the walls, their intricate patterns depicting scenes of war and power. ‘So, this is what it’s like to be rich?’ Jax was momentarily stunned by the sheer wealth on display, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the thought of owning even a fraction of it. That alone would be enough to give his sister the life she deserves.
It was the treasure itself that caught Jax's attention. Golden bars of various sizes and shapes gleamed in the moonlight, their surfaces smooth and polished. The room was full of them, piled high in neat stacks and arranged in rows upon rows of shelves that stretched towards the ceiling.
He walked forward, his eyes locked on the glittering gold, but he knew that he couldn't carry it all. Instead, he retrieved a small stone with an ancient symbol etched into its smooth surface from his pocket and placed it on one of the golden bars. The stone began to glow and sank into the solid gold until it disappeared completely.
As Jax moved further into the room, his eyes darted from one valuable object to the next. Precious gemstones of every colour and size glittered in ornate bowls, and intricately crafted swords and daggers hung from hooks on the walls. Jax's fingers itched to touch the wealth that surrounded him distracting him yet again, but the growing uproar beyond the door snapped him back to reality.
He needed to find something light yet valuable. Something he could carry down the wall. His eyes settled on a small box on a table in the corner of the room. At first glance, it appeared to be a simple trinket box, but Jax knew better. His years as a thief meant he had the ability to determine the value of an item by simply looking. The small box was exquisitely crafted, with intricate symbols etched into the dark, polished wood. Its surface shimmered in the flickering candlelight, giving the impression of a thousand tiny stars dancing across its surface. The lock, made of iron, was engraved with a series of twisting vines and thorns, as if it were a warning to any who dared to attempt to open it.
Why would someone lock a box in a chamber brimming with gold unless the box held something even more precious than the gold? Jax approached the box with bated breath, to his relief it was light enough for him to carry down the estate wall and that’s when he decided. “This box is mine”.
He quickly grabbed the box and placed it inside his pack, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew that he had to hurry and make his escape, but the commotion outside was growing louder by the second.
Jax reached into his pack and retrieved a stick of dynamite. If him breaking the window of the treasury wasn’t distraction enough, this surely would be. He placed it carefully on the ground, lit the fuse and ran for the window. But not before he noticed a few gems that caught his eye, reflecting the moonlight. "It wouldn't hurt to take a little more," he thought to himself.
Jax began to fill his pack with more treasure, his greed getting the better of him. He thought of all the things he and Christa could buy with this wealth. But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the guards breaking down the door. He knew that he had to leave, and quickly.
With a burst of adrenaline, Jax leapt out of the window, reaching for the rope he had prepared earlier that ran from the roof. But the explosion came before he managed to get a good grip. The shockwave left him disoriented, his ears ringing with the deafening boom. He fought to strengthen his grip on the rope, but his attempts to recover and rappel down the wall soon turned into an uncontrollable descent.
If only he had known when to quit and not given in to his greed, he might have escaped the blast unscathed. For a moment, he felt weightless, like he was soaring through the air. But then the ground rushed up to meet him.