The forest around Kaelen seemed to close in on him, the eerie silence pressing against his ears like a suffocating weight. His every step felt like an intrusion, disturbing the natural rhythm of the world. Unease gnawed at his gut as he tried to retrace his path, desperate to escape the unnatural stillness that enveloped him. Despite his efforts, the forest seemed to defy his sense of direction, leading him deeper into its depths instead of back the way he had come. Twisted roots and tangled vines seemed to grasp at his feet, impeding his progress and making every movement a struggle. His heart pounded in his chest, the silence becoming almost deafening as he stumbled forward.
As the hours dragged on, Kaelen's frustration grew. His surroundings showed no sign of relenting, and the oppressive quiet continued to weigh on him. His steps faltered, and he came to a halt, glancing around in a mixture of fear and confusion. "This can't be natural," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely a whisper. His gaze settled on a small clearing ahead, a break in the dense foliage that seemed to beckon to him. Determination flared within him, and he pushed forward, his eyes fixed on the promise of escape. With each step, he felt the atmosphere shift, the silence gradually giving way to a low hum that seemed to vibrate through the air. Kaelen emerged from the oppressive stillness into the clearing, his breath catching as his eyes fell upon an ancient structure that stood at its centre. Kaelen's eyes widened as he stepped into the clearing, his gaze fixed upon the enigmatic sight before him. Like a relic from a forgotten age, an ancient structure stood at the centre of the clearing. Towering stones, weathered by centuries of wind and rain, formed a circular arrangement that seemed to resonate with a palpable energy. The air hummed with an otherworldly presence, and Kaelen felt a shiver run down his spine as he approached the mysterious monument.
Each stone was etched with intricate patterns and symbols that seemed to have held power long ago. The symbols seemed to dance and shift as if alive, their meaning lost to time. Kaelen's eyes swept over the scene, taking in the details. A sense of foreboding settled over him as he noticed the nine lifeless forms scattered around what looked like a ritual circle. Their bodies lay contorted and motionless as if frozen during some macabre dance. Their clothes were tattered and worn, and their skin bore the telltale signs of decay. The ritual had taken a toll on those who had participated. Some had their arms outstretched as if reaching for something beyond their grasp, while others seemed to have collapsed in agony. 'What the hell happened here? They seemed to have attempted some form of ritual. But how could they mess it up so badly?' Kaelen sneaked around the edge of the clearing trying to discern if the place was still dangerous. He picked up a stone and threw it in the middle of the ritual circle, but nothing happened. Kaelen's heart raced as he cautiously stepped closer to one of the bodies, his curiosity warring with a deep sense of unease. He knelt beside a figure, his fingers trembling as he reached out to touch cold, lifeless flesh. The corpse's eyes were open, staring blankly into the heavens. Kaelen's gaze followed their empty gaze, and he felt a chill run through him as he saw the moon hanging in the sky, its silvery light casting an eerie glow over the scene. As Kaelen continued to survey the scene, his mind raced with questions. Who were these people? What had they been attempting to achieve with the ritual? And most importantly, what had gone wrong? Looking around Kaelen spotted a little makeshift camp amidst the structure. 'Let's see if they have some proper food or even weapons there' There were five tents and a fireplace in the middle. 'The biggest one probably belongs to the leader, I should search that first.' Opening the tent, the first thing Kaelen noticed was a simple bed and a large nightstand. 'How did they even get that here? It certainly wasn't made in this forest. That doesn't really make sense.' On the nightstand stood a tall glass of what looked like wine and a map. 'Bless Lumina that is the best thing I could possibly find.' The map showed a rough outline of a Forest, with an X somewhere close to the centre. It also showed a few towns right next to the forest and all the way to the south was Astralhaven. Kaelen's fingers brushed against the worn fabric of the nightstand's drawers, his heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. With a determined breath, he pulled open the first drawer, his eyes widening as he revealed its contents. Inside, there was nothing but stale air. With a sigh, Kaelen closed the drawer, his hopes of finding useful supplies diminishing. He moved to the next tent, his steps were careful and deliberate. The canvas flaps rustled as he pushed them aside, revealing an equally modest space. A bundle of clothing lay neatly folded near the entrance, and a small wooden chest caught his attention. Kaelen knelt beside the chest, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings that adorned its surface. With a sense of anticipation, he lifted the lid, his heart sinking as he found it empty. It seemed that whatever belongings these people had brought with them had been carefully stored away or taken with them. As he moved on to the third tent, his disappointment was palpable. He felt a growing sense of urgency, his hunger and exhaustion a constant reminder of his vulnerability in this unfamiliar forest. The third and fourth tents yielded no significant findings either, and Kaelen's frustration threatened to bubble to the surface.
But he refused to give in to despair. With a determined grit, he approached the final tent, his movements fueled by a combination of desperation and hope. He pushed aside the flaps and entered the dimly lit space, his eyes scanning the interior. This tent seemed to be the smallest of the four, and a feeling of resignation washed over him. He had braced himself for yet another disappointment. However, as he glanced towards the far corner, his heart skipped a beat. There, tucked away beneath a folded blanket, was a small leather pouch. Kaelen's fingers closed around it, and he carefully lifted it from its resting place. He could feel the weight of its contents, a mixture of relief and curiosity filling him. As he opened the pouch, a small smile of triumph tugged at his lips. Inside, he found a handful of dried fruits and a couple of nuts. It wasn't a feast by any means, but it was sustenance, a reprieve from the gnawing hunger that had plagued him. He devoured the food eagerly, his energy levels slowly replenishing. With his immediate need for nourishment temporarily satisfied, Kaelen's mind returned to the enigmatic scene outside. The ancient structure, the ritual, the bodies... There were still so many unanswered questions. He knew he couldn't linger here for long, especially with the ominous feeling that seemed to hang in the air.
Carefully closing the pouch and tucking it away, Kaelen emerged from the tent, his gaze once again drawn to the eerie ritual circle.
Kaelen's gaze remained fixed on the ritual circle to the side, its enigmatic presence seeming to cast a shadow over the entire area. A sense of unease still lingered in the air, but he couldn't allow himself to be paralyzed by fear. With resolute determination, he turned his attention to the grim task at hand. He approached the first body, the motionless form a stark contrast against the backdrop of the ritual circle. Careful not to touch the circle, he reached down and began to search the pockets and belongings of the fallen individual, his fingers deftly moving over their clothing. As he worked, his mind couldn't help but wander to the questions that still plagued him. Who were these people, and what had driven them to attempt such a ritual? What had gone wrong, and why had they met such a gruesome end? He hesitated for a moment, a pang of guilt tugging at his conscience as he intruded on their personal effects, but he knew that any clues they might hold could be crucial to understanding the situation and his way out. His hands came into contact with something solid, and he carefully extracted a small, ornate knife from the pocket of the deceased. Its blade glinted in the muted sunlight, its craftsmanship evident even in the dim light of the forest. Kaelen's brow furrowed in thought as he examined the blade. It was unlike any weapon he had seen before – a testament to the ingenuity of the people who had come before him. Moving on to the next body, his fingers brushed against cold metal, and he retrieved another knife, this one slightly larger than the first. His heart pounded in his chest as a realization began to take shape in his mind. These were no ordinary knives – they were weapons of significance, carefully chosen and imbued with purpose.
As he continued his search, his fingers closed around a third knife, completing the trio. 'Now I can properly fend for myself and make a better spear so I don't have to beat my prey to death next time.'
Carefully, Kaelen pried open the clenched fist of one of the fallen, revealing a simple ring nestled on one of the fingers. His eyes widened as he recognized the significance of the ring – a storage ring, a magical artefact capable of holding items within its extradimensional space. His mind raced with possibilities. What could these individuals have been carrying within these rings, and why had they chosen to bring them to this ritual? 'That explains the bed and the nightstand, they must have used the rings to transport them. This must also be the reason why I found nothing in the tents.' Kaelen's fingers hovered over the rings, temptation warring with caution. He knew that opening them
could reveal invaluable information, but it was a decision that couldn't be taken lightly. With a determined exhale, he carefully closed the fist and moved on to the next body, repeating the process. Ultimately, he managed to gather eight rings along with three knives. Kaelen's gaze lingered hesitantly on the final body, sprawled at the centre of the ritual circle. An unspoken unease held him back from approaching it just yet. He picked up a stone from the ground and cautiously tossed it toward the circle's heart. The absence of any reaction reassured him to a degree, coaxing him to venture closer to the last lifeless form. Drawing a breath, Kaelen carefully scrutinized the figure before him. This one clutched a parchment within its grip, much like the others held their storage rings. Bracing himself, he gingerly retrieved the ring before gently extracting the parchment from the corpse's grasp. Stepping back, he felt a measure of relief as he began to move away from the ritual circle's confines. However, an abrupt crack split the air, jolting Kaelen's senses. The ground beneath him quivered ominously, and before he could react, another resounding crack echoed through the air. A sudden chasm tore open the earth beneath him, swallowing both him and the lifeless body into the gaping darkness below.