The hidden passageway stretched deep into the mountain, the narrow corridor illuminated only by the faint glow of their torches. Elara, Selene, Professor Arthen, and Rylan moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The air was cooler here, with a slight draft that whispered through the passage, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something else—something ancient and unfamiliar.
As they descended, the corridor widened, revealing intricate carvings etched into the rock. The symbols were similar to those they had seen in the forbidden tome, but with more complexity and detail. It was as if each step brought them closer to the source of a long-lost knowledge that had been hidden from the world for centuries.
"These carvings," Professor Arthen said, his voice low with awe. "They tell a story—a history of a civilization that predates everything we know about Aetheria."
