When the first light of morning filtered through the trees, Arthir quietly got up so as not to disturb Viola just yet. He made out a tree nearby, whose branches were laden with firm, colorful fruit. In one swift, practiced motion, he plucked several and tucked them into a pouch before he went back to their camp.
She was still sleeping, wrapped protectively by her wings. Arthir couldn't help but smile at the scene before him-her vigilant stance melted away, leaving a trace of peace in her sleep.
He knelt down beside her and thought waking her up with words was a little too ordinary. So he pressed one of the cool fruits against her warm cheek, his face stretching into a mischievous grin.
"Rise and shine, angel," he said softly.
She stirred, the touch of his fingers sending a slight tickling sensation right into pulling her from sleep. Her gold eyes opened, blinking momentarily in confusion, before settling on Arthir. The realization that it was one of his playful gestures turned the groggy look on her face into one of minor irritation. She flicked his hand aside but did not seem too angry.
"Really?" she muttered, still half-asleep, though there was an edge of annoyance and amusement to her tone.
Arthir chuckled, holding out the fruit to her. "Figured you might want breakfast before we head out. Gotta start the day off right."
Viola sat up, stretching her wings softly as she accepted the fruit. "Thanks," she said around a yawn, then took a bite. Her eyes brightened very slightly as the sweetness hit her tongue. "Not bad," she amended, now much more awake, between bites. "So, what's the plan?
Arthir's face turned serious as he looked at the map. "We're going towards the northern mountains. It's only going to get more complicated from there."
Viola nodded, now curious as she took another bite. "And just how do you plan on catching up with Ta'ul and his crew? They've got a head start on us."
Arthir smiled again, this time much mischievously. "I've got a trick up my sleeve."
He gestured that she should follow, and she found herself being led through the forest back to the entrance of the ruins. Then they went to a secluded clearing where his pride and joy was waiting-a sleek, cobbled-together contraption that seemed to be a cross between a motorbike and a jet engine, its frame a mixture of high-tech componentry and scavenged metal. It looked more the experiment of a crazed engineer than a dependable vehicle.
"Meet my ride," Arthir said with pride, flourishing his hand. "It's not exactly the safest thing in the world, but it'll get us where we need to go."
Viola raised an eyebrow, circling the machine as she inspected it. "Is that… right? How does it even stay in one piece?"
Arthir laughed. "Trust me, unconventional is a bit of an understatement, but it's fast. Just hold on tight."
Viola scrambled onto the back of the bike, skeptical, holding tight around Arthir as he revved the bike's engine. The roar of its coming to life vibrated beneath them, and the jet engine sputtered to full throttle.
The next instant, they were surging forward, and the world around them was a blur as the sheer velocity of the ride hit Viola like a wave. Her wings flipped instinctively against the wind, and for a brief moment, her stomach tumbled with the wild speed. She held on tight to Arthir as her heart raced and tears welled up in her eyes with the landscape streaking by in dizzying blur after dizzying blur.
"Arthir! Slow down!" she screamed, her voice barely audible above the roaring engine.
Arthir peered backward with that wild grin of his. "Where's the fun in that? You'll get used to it!
The rush of the wind, the sheer velocity-it was a sensation quite out of this world. Despite the initial fear, she couldn't help but feel the surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. As they tore through the landscape, the fear gave way to exhilaration. Loosening her grip slightly, she delighted in the vibrant world zipping past them.
"This is actually amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged more with excitement now than with fear.
Arthir laughed loudly. "Told you! Just hang on, we're making good time."
They flew in the direction of far-off northern mountains, and wind whipped around Viola's head of silver hair, as she laughed and screamed in enjoyment. A ride that earlier terrified her was a ride of breathtaking flight across open countryside, the sweeping rise of freedom alive in her soul.
As they approached the base, the towering peaks rising in front of them finally forced them to slow their speed. Gradually they rode to a stop as the evening sun cast long shadows across the land, bathing the world in a gold nimbus.
Viola jumped off the bike, her legs still tingling from the ride, as Arthir took stock of their surroundings. He turned toward her, and a flush rose in his cheeks as the warm light caught her delicate features, making her golden eyes glimmer and her silver hair shine softly. Viola caught him staring and raised an eyebrow.
"What's that look for?" she asked, half teasing but curious.
Arthir rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess I just keep forgetting how young you look, for someone who's probably seen a lot."
Viola paused, a thoughtful look crossing her features. "I may look young, but I've been around for over 6,000 years. My kind-angels-we age differently than humans."
Arthir blinked, the number sinking in. "6,000 years?" He froze, staring at her in disbelief. "That's... you don't even look 30."
Viola chuckled, but there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes. "It's one of the gifts of our kind. But in its own way, it's a curse also. I have seen so many things, have survived through so many epochs, yet... nothing seems to last. People I meet, friends I've made, they all come and go." Her voice fell soft, as her gaze wandered towards the horizon. "Humans have such short lives when compared to us."
Still lost in his reflections, Arthir nodded slowly. "I did not think of it that way, I suppose."
Viola's look changed as her gaze shifted toward him. A quiver of concern crossed her features. "And you, Arthir... human. Your life is but a heartbeat against mine."
There was a heavy silence between them as the reality of her words settled. Arthir found himself at a loss for words, his thoughts whirling. He hadn't actually thought about the sizeable difference in their lifespans until now.
"Does it... bother you?" he finally asked, quiet, almost hesitant.
Viola's amber eyes met his, in a difficultly entwined variation of emotions. "I don't know yet. But it begs a question. How much time do we really have?"
Arthir felt a slight pang in his chest but pushed it aside. "Guess we'll have to make every moment count, then."
Viola smiled at his response, but only her mouth did-it never reached her eyes. The air was thick with unspoken words. She fluttered her wings slightly and faced the path once more, not wanting to be weighed down by the moment. They needed to press onward.
Arthir nodded and began to head up the mountain path, rough with boulders. The higher they climbed, the cool mountain air wrapped itself around them, while the sharp, jagged rocks jutted out like teeth along the ridgeline. For a time, they walked in silence, the weight of their conversation there, but unspoken.
Eventually, when they gained a plateau with an amazing view of the valleys below, Viola finally spoke up.
"Arthir," she began in a low pitch, "do you think we could ever find Ta'ul before he reaches the artifact?"
Arthir stopped and faced out toward the expense. "We are closing in on him. If we keep this up, we might just make it in time."
Viola nodded, but something beneath her pose gave away her unease. Her wings rustled with it.
"Something else is bothering you," Arthir caught on. "What is it?
Viola's face had a demurring cast to it; her eyes flashed with a battle within. "It's not just Ta'ul. There's something about this artifact we're after. I have this nagging feeling it's more dangerous than we think."
Arthir frowned. "The Almanac? What do you mean?"
Viola's eyes turned grave. "It's no ordinary relic. If Ta'ul finds a way to possess it, he will be able to awaken the power beyond anything we have ever imagined."
The weight of her words fell upon them, adding another layer of urgency to their already urgent mission. Arthir's jaw clenched as the ramifications went through his mind.
"Then, we cannot afford to fail," he stated, resolution turning his tone unyielding.
She met his gaze, her eyes briefly releasing her apprehension about trust. "No, we can't."
The moments ticked by, and all that passed between them was a silent regard, bound together in one thought-the mission-but very conscious that the stakes were continuing to escalate. And in complete silence, they began their ascent toward the mountains-to Ta'ul, the artifact, and all of the perils awaiting them.
As Arthir and Viola climbed higher into the mountains, the air grew thinner, cooler. The valleys, once so full of life beneath them now felt so very far away as the sun began to get lower in the sky, casting long shadows behind the peaks that towered above them.
They reached a plateau where the mountain broke off into two ways: a dense forest of twisted, ancient trees and a cave carved into the rock face. The entrance was veiled by thick overgrowth, but by the markings around the cave, it seemed no ordinary place.
Arthir knelt, brushing away the vines that partly cloaked the opening. "It must be this," he muttered as his hand followed the weird, millennia-engraved signs in the stone.
Viola came closer, her golden eyes scanning the markings. "These are wards," she said in a hushed tone, and caution laced her voice. "Powerful ones. Meant to hold something inside-or probably to keep others outside."
Arthir nodded, squinting his eyes at the symbols as he took a closer look. "Ta'ul would have never taken the time to come here if it were not significant. We are on the right path."
With a sudden determination in his heart, he rose, gaze shifting to the cave mouth. "Well, lookie what we have here. we are entering.
The two of them drew closer to the entrance, the air thickening with every step. A cold breeze issued from the cave and carried with it the scent of damp stone, something faintly metallic, almost like blood but more ancient. Viola's wings fluttered at the latent magic that pulsed, faintly from deep within.
"Ready?" Arthir asked, low but steady.
Viola had looked at him, her eyes like molten gold in a tangle of resolve and trepidation. "As I'll ever be."
They took a deep breath and entered the cave. The darkness swallowed them whole, save for the echo of their footsteps on the stone floor. Arthir pulled out a small device from his pouch and flicked it on; a soft, otherworldly glow emanated from the orb, highlighting the narrow path ahead.
The markings were the same, even inside, but a bit more intricate here-twisting and weaving together in a nearly living pattern. Every now and then, a faint shimmer of energy would ripple across the stone, like something hidden just beneath the surface.
"This place is old," Viola whispered, her words barely audible over the eerie silence. "Far older than any ruins I have seen before."
They were dragged farther into the dungeon, the corridor twisting and turning almost in every imaginable way. The air grew even colder, and Arthir could see his breath. It was like dread oozed from the walls themselves the farther down they went.
Finally, they arrived in a great hall. The ceiling was domed high above them, almost invisible in the gloom. Across the far end of the hall stood an enormous stone door-ponderous and etched with yet more intricate symbols. In the middle of the door was set a large, round indentation-as if something had been rested there a very long time ago.
Arthir stepped closer, peering at it. "Looks like this is it."
Viola stepped forward, brushing her wings against the cool stone. Her eyes were caught by the indentation in the middle of the door-something fitfully missing. "This must be the way to the artifact," she said softly, running her fingers along the ancient carvings. "But it is closed. We need a key to open it."
He scanned the room, searching for any sort of omen that would be evidence of their enemy's presence. There was a faint track in the dust, barely noticeable, heading deeper into the dungeon. "He's close. Too close."
Viola nodded, her wings going stiff. "We need to be really careful. If the place feels this dangerous, there are probably traps and wards to protect the artifact."
Arthir stepped aside, examining the walls for any clue, until suddenly there was a give under his feet. He must have triggered some sort of hidden pressure plate. Instantly, the whole chamber shook and the stone door lit up with an evil glow as ancient engravings lit up with energy.
Viola's eyes widened in horror. "Arthir! Get back!"
It was then, before they could even react, that the door started to open, its ancient mechanisms grinding out a deafening roar that filled the chamber, while the ground started to shake violently beneath them, sending loose stones tumbling from the ceiling.
Arthir caught Viola's arm and yanked her back as the door shrieked open, revealing the dark passageway beyond. A chilling waft of air blew out, heavy with the stench of rot ages old, and something far worse.
"We have no choice now," Arthir said, his voice tight but steady. "We must go in."
Viola's wings flared slightly, her golden eyes filled with a resolute determination. "Let's go. But stay sharp-this is where the real danger begins."
They stepped through the doorway, into the heart of the dungeon, together. Thick magic filtered inside, the very walls humming with ancient power. The deeper they moved into the passage, the more they heard the faint echoes of something in front of them-softly moving around-a low rhythmic thudding, as if something enormous waited for them.
But the path ahead was veiled in darkness, and Arthir could feel it-the presence of something far older, far more dangerous than anything they had encountered before. And somewhere, deep in the heart of the dungeon, Ta'ul was waiting.
"We're not alone," Arthir muttered, his hand instinctively clenching around the hilt of his weapon.
Viola nodded, her eyes narrowing as she extended her wings, ready for whatever lay ahead. "Stay close."
They pressed on, the feeling of doom with every step growing. Whatever was waiting for them in the depths of that dungeon, it wasn't going to let them leave without a fight.