The engraved mural showed a star falling from the nebular sky, three moons hanging above the dark world. Passing through the clouds with a long, burning trail.
He thought for a moment, realizing that this scene resembled Zyro's starship coming to this world. That said, the underground shelter was made hundreds of years ago. It's simply impossible to link his arrival to ancient murals. Then again, this world logic is twisted beyond his comprehension.
However, he wasn't the sole arriver in this world. Then... Was it STELLAR? The grand vessel he boarded to travel the galaxy's endless expanse. That's possible, after all, these murals are meant to preserve significant events for the future to view. A cyclopean iron ship descending from the sky accompanied by a raging blaze will surely be an unforgettable scene.
Zyro narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the star figure on the wall. At a closer infection, he discovered something strange. The falling star on the mural had a shape akin to a coffin. A shooting coffin? First of all, what is a coffin flying in the sky above!
Finally, he shook his head in dismay.
'I have enough of this crap.'
Maybe Baron is right, except the accursed scriptures, the rest of the murals look like a product of a delusional artist. Perhaps, that engraver disoriented mentality is what drived them to inscribed those maddening knowledge.
Moving on, he realized that there's no more murals on the walls. Nor did he care anymore. He had already acquired the most valuable information this ruins could give. Too significant in fact, even he, the stealer can't even read it. But that's fine, it's actually what made it so valuable.
There's a saying that words are irreversible poison or cure. It can heal a broken heart if said correctly, in contrast, it can also break a healthy heart. Having the capacity to pursued someone to death, or salvage those who are lost. Although, that's true. The fact remains that words were simply varying tones intelligent creatures voiced to communicate orally. However, what Zyro recorded was literally a vicious poison in a form of knowledge. Something far more dangerous than firearms or bioweapons if put in the wrong hands.
Zyro was engrossed in his thoughts while Baron sometimes talked nonsense to dispell the creepy silence. Although, Zyro rarely replies, the elderly guided didn't mind, understanding that the young man wasn't much of a talker. The two slaves tread through the lightless ruins carrying a small island of light to eliminate the ravages ahead.
Their venture was relatively peaceful. Until Baron, who's in front suddenly stopped, his body tensing up.
Zyro came forward to see what's going on, and saw the fault of the situation. He gaze landed on the paved floor, where thick dust had settled over the years. On it, were several footprints messily laid to the point it's impossible to count it's makers. But one thing is certain, all these tracks were heading in the same direction.
"Lad... It seems we're not alone."
Baron anxious voice resounded beside him.
Zyro spared him a sharp glance and asked.
"Any idea who they might be? I mean, you are probably not the only one who knew about these deep ruins."
It's safe to assume other individuals are aware of this ruined shelter under the Mine. If even a mere miner knows it, surely, a handful of people possess knowledge of its existence and correct path to take. These tracks proved their presence here - many of them. But the question is, what are they doing here? Do they aim to escape as well?
Struck by the young man question, reminiscent of a bitter past flashed in his eye. Baron sighed, his jovial humor gone.
"That's true, knowledge of these ruins are passed down in my family for generations. Except me, my brother also knew of this. Oh, you know as the Big Boss of the Mine, Boru."
The revelation surprised Zyro a bit. He already suspected Baron's background ran deep to know this ancient ruined existence. He hypothesized that his a part of senior miners that explored the entirety of the Mine internals, causing them to accidentally discover this ancient ruins. But to think his actually the Mine owner blood brother! Yet his stuck as a poor slave who nearly died if not for his timely aid.
Zyro expressed what baffled him the most with a frown.
"His your brother? Then why are you working as a poor slave under him?"
Baron laughed, finding the cause of this situation funny.
"Internal disputes frequently happen on rich families. Truth be told, My father, the previous owner of the Mine was fond of making me inherit our business. As the oldest and most reliable son, he favored me the most. There's also another reason... Boru had a tainted heart, his the kind of people that lack sympathy nor mercy, even at a young age. Father feared what would become of the Mine in his hands. I have the same doubts too, but in the end... He succeed the management somehow and caused the Mine stability to decline. It was only keep afloat till now because of the cruel extortions he employed to the workers. Making the slaves work nonstop in exchange for petty rewards. While he gobbled up all the profits. However, this jagged management won't last for long. Sooner or later, the Mine will crumble under his carelessness. My father and the previous owners would be disappointed if they saw this.
True, although, the slaves are obedient for now under this unfair treatment. The feeling they are bottling in would sooner or later explode, sparking a retaliation against the Mine. After all, even without a status, slaves are still intelligent creatures who have desires. They are mindless machines to be abused. The slaves had greater quantity than the guards, if a riot broke out, the entire Mine would collapse. The outcome is either the slaves sacrifice paid off, forming their own management in the rubble's they made. Or Boru would continue his reign over the crumbling mountain. Nevertheless, many will die.
This is the problem when wrong people lead.
"Then why did you let him take over?"
If Boru is such an incompetent man, why did he stand atop right now while Baron had fallen from grace? Zyro doesn't understand.
"I'm not sure either. Even now I'm still confused how he did it. But one thing is certain, it involved external forces. When my father died, and the ownership is being passed down. Expectedly, the majority of our family members favored me. However, that's when things took an unfortunate turn. Boru came running for the ownership, but everyone was against him. And all of them was found murdered horribly the next day, leaving me and Boru as the final members of our family. Strangely, there's not a single evidence. Even a fool can connect this hideous murder to my brother. I wanna ask him why he did it. However, even if he answered, I doubt I'll understand his deranged logic. And so, I accepted my fate and became a mere slave under his commands."
'If you can't can't win the game of intellect, then bashed it with violence.' Zyro commented. Violence was a truly powerful solution, it can destroy everything, even reasons itself. So, it's not recklessly used by the smart ones due to the unstable consequences it brings. It's evident Boru had a deal with someone powerful enough to murder his family. Leaving no clues behind. To hire a force like that probably cost a lot.
To pay a generous sum to eradicate those who raised you. Zyro didn't understand Boru's logic, either.
Baron added after a brief pause.
"I don't know what his up to. But I doubt it's anything good. Shall we go?"
Boss Buro was the most likely suspect behind these tracks. Apparently, his making numerous people dive in these ruins for an unknown goal. Considering it came from someone like Boru, a person who caused the death of his family for his own selfish desire. Zyro had a bad feeling about this.
Out of gratitude, Baron acted as his guide. So the decision whether to keep going or return depended on Zyro. Although, the path ahead became more ominous after discovering a trail of Boru's unknown scheme. He still wanted to continue. Zyro had tried and failed getting out of Foggy Ring two times already, but that's doesn't mean he'll stop. No, it only meant the path he took was wrong. And so, he'll look for more, fail more, until he succeed.
Log Wall didn't work out, and Scarlet's grand return to her castle is currently pending. The ruins of the underground shelter Baron showed him was the third way to freedom. There's no way Zyro will return without seeing the end of it.
As per his decision, Baron resumed guiding him. On the way, Zyro saw house-like internals in the numerous chambers. This structure had probably housed an entire city in its former glory.
He also noticed that they're tracing the mysterious tracks they found. When Zyro asked why, Baron explained that there are different routes to reach the ruins center, the most dangerous one being the path they took where they saw the eerie murals and passed by the forbidden knowledge. However, there's only one path towards their particular destination. Unfortunately, Boru's men had also headed there for an unknown reason.
Finally, after an hour of walking in the dark ruins. They drawing really close to their destination. And that's when they feel the world shook as a loud, destructive boom echoed in the encased surroundings.