After passing through the hidden passageway, they found them selves in a grand luxurious room. It was full of treasures. Gold coins were piled up in hills and many artifacts were scattered.
"Man…the dragons truly were rich. So much gold. I am set for life with this much." Matt exclaimed in awe at the scene.
"Whoever touches it first get it! Let's go loot!" said Ray with enthusiasm as he ran towards a heap of coins.
"Hey you took a head start. Not fair" Lily also followed his lead. Soon everyone also ran towards the gold
Kyle, looking at her enthusiastic teammates sighed as she also joined them.
After everybody had taken all they could, they finally calmed down.
Looking at them and sighing again, kyle reminded them that they had to give the 55% of whatever treasure was found to Guild.
They all looked a disappointed.
"What a shame that we have to give most of this treasure to them. Well, we can at least keep the artifacts." Said Tidlen as he admired his new found staff.
"Yes, we can keep the artifacts, but we have wait for the guild to verify the amount of gold. Only after a long procedure can we get our share of the gold." Ray said with a trace of disappointed voice.
"With this much gold it will take at least a week before we get it" Matt also said with disappointment.
"It's only a week so don't look so sad. Anyways, Ray is that ring an artifact?" Kyle cheered everyone up and changed the topic.
"Hmm…this, yeah it is. It caught my eye as soon as we came in. It's a dimensional storage artifact."
"Woah, that real handy. Usually, dimensional artifacts cost a ton because how useful they are." Lily said with jealousy at Ray's ring.
"Hey I found it first okay" Said ray as found Lily eyeing his ring." Anyways what did you all find?"
"I found an arrow pouch which enchants the arrows stored in it as per my wish, though it can only manage simple enchantments." Said lily proudly showing the pouch.
"I found this staff that increases magic power of the user" said Tidlen.
"I got these dual daggers made from dragon scales. They also give me magic resistance" said kyle as she showed the magnificent daggers. Their power could be clearly felt, by all of them.
"I found these gloves and armour; they increase stamina and magic resistance respectively" Said Matt as he showed his artifacts.
"Well, there is most likely nothing other than this, but just in case Tidlen please use your gift "Kyle said as the group were preparing to leave.
"Alright". Tidlen used his gift again for any similar mana signatures. He didn't expect to find anything but he did. He found the same mana signature as those in the runes. "Everyone there still something left." He called out to them a bit surprised.
At Tidlen's words everyone was surprised. Even Kyle didn't expect to find something. Yet they had found a mana signature.
"Could there be more treasure?" Lily asked greedy for more.
"Well, it's coming from the centre of the room. But there is nothing here" Tidlen said as he approached the room's centre.
After searching for a while nobody had found anything. "Well, lets just be satisfied with what we got and return" Ray suggested.
But Lily argued that they had gotten the right to raid this ruin after a lot of effort and she didn't want to leave anything behind.
Everyone agreed with Lily and thus continued their search. And finally, after a long time Tidlen found an object with the same mana signature. It looked like a simple broken twig.
"Why does this twig have the same mana signature as the runes. Maybe we should channel mana into it" Tidlen said as he examined the twig in his hand.
He slowly channelled mana into the twig but it could not withstand mana and burst. Looking at the pieces of the twig in his hands Tidlen was taken aback. He had not expected that.
But not long after the pieces suddenly started glowing and formed a wooden key.
The Key instantly flew towards the centre of the room stuck itself in a tiny hole between the tiles. Looking at it Matt slowly turned the key. For a minute nothing happened but then just as everyone were disappointed the whole room shook.
Out of nowhere, an old book fell from above. It was a small book made of leather.
Kyle carefully opened the book. It glowed and a voice was heard. It was recorded into the book. The voice introduced itself.
"I am Anudrix, the Fire Dragon king. My time is nearing…I leave this as reminder and a warning to all who hear this message. This was my own experience. An experience that is still vivid even as I approach death's door......"
[To be continued]