Eldrek fell silent, considering Zhavros's proposal. He had heard of the creature guarding the object deep below, but only in ancient stories.
"What exactly is this creature?" I asked, curious. Zhavros exchanged a glance with Eldrek before responding.
"It's called Ticaros, the Guardian of Shadows. It was placed there thousands of seasonal cycles ago, though no one knows by whom. It's a formidable beast, created specifically to protect the artifact I mentioned."
Eldrek nodded gravely. "Ticaros is no ordinary creature. No one who has faced it has survived to tell the tale. The few legends that mention it barely scratch the surface of its true power."
Lyris frowned, looking at me and then at Eldrek. "And you think we'd be able to face something like that?"
Eldrek sighed, the weight of years and wisdom visible in his eyes. "To be honest, we most likely won't. But this is just speculation. I don't know anyone who has seen firsthand what it's capable of."
Zhavros chimed in, his tone pragmatic. "What I do know is that it would be a waste of time to try fighting it directly. I've only seen fragments of its power, and believe me, it's not something to be taken lightly."
Hearing his words, Lyris, visibly concerned, suggested we think carefully before doing anything impulsive.
Eldrek nodded again, thoughtful. "The wisest course would be to approach cautiously, study it first. We won't know if we can face it until we see it in action. Then, perhaps, we can decide if the risk is worth it."
The atmosphere in the cave grew denser with every word. We knew this would be our biggest challenge yet, but we also knew that finding that artifact could change the course of our mission.
After the decision was made, Eldrek suggested a short rest. We had all been walking a long time and needed to regain our strength. True to his style, Zhavros made a peculiar comment:
"Well, rest now; it might be the last time you do so with such peace." His tone, though joking, left an uncomfortable feeling in the air.
Eldrek moved to a corner, closing his eyes to rest. Meanwhile, Zhavros disappeared into the shadows, leaving no trace of where he had gone. Lyris and I sat close, in silence. After a while, Lyris leaned over to me to whisper:
"Hey, Grandpa, it's clear that artifact does more than Zhavros has told us. We need to stay alert; we don't know what his true intentions might be."
I agreed. Zhavros was unpredictable, but we couldn't entirely dismiss his loyalty.
"You're right, but we also have to consider that Eldrek trusts him. We don't know exactly what history lies between them, but Eldrek isn't easy to deceive."
Lyris nodded, though her gaze still reflected caution. We each took some of our provisions, commenting on the shelter. The place was austere, but it was clear Zhavros had invested time and effort in keeping it fit for survival, something that, though unspoken, revealed a lot about his character.
---
The strange guy emerged suddenly while we were all resting, startling both Lyris and me. I felt a jolt that ran through my body. His footsteps echoed softly, and when we looked up, there he was, watching us with a crooked smile. I quickly stood up.
"Damn! Do you have to do that?" I exclaimed, my pulse still racing.
He let out a subtle laugh, clearly enjoying the discomfort he had caused.
Lyris, a mix of annoyance and nervousness, remarked, "You know you have a rather creepy look, right?"
"Thank you for that compliment," he replied with irony.
"It wasn't one," Lyris retorted, crossing her arms.
Moving past the awkward moment, Zhavros became more serious. "It's time. We need to go study the little creature before deciding anything."
Eldrek slowly stood up, arching his back more than usual, adapting to the narrow tunnels that clearly hadn't been designed for someone of his size. The other man, meanwhile, indicated the path with an ironic smile on his lips.
"You'll need to follow me closely," he said as he pointed out the path that lay ahead. "We're going to pass through a series of tunnels. And I warn you, it's easy to get lost down here."
Lyris and I nodded, and as we began to walk, I moved a little closer to our guide. I wanted to learn more about him, so I asked a question that I hoped might break the ice.
"Zhavros," I began, "how did you come to know Eldrek?"
He shot a quick glance at Eldrek, who was walking ahead of us, before turning his attention back to me.
"That, Darius, is a story I might tell you someday... if we survive what's coming," he replied in his typical dark and evasive tone. He seemed to enjoy keeping the mystery around him. I decided not to push further, though my curiosity remained.
We continued moving forward, and after passing through several dark, winding passages, we arrived at an unexpected opening. In front of us stretched a vast, clear terrain, surrounded only by the cavern's walls. The atmosphere shifted completely.
In the distance, in the center of that immense terrain, we could finally see Ticaros. Even from afar, it was clear that it was something colossal.
Its proportions were so imposing that both Lyris and I paused for a second, feeling the weight of the threat it represented. If it was already intimidating from that distance, I didn't want to imagine what it would be like to face such a beast up close.
Eldrek, always unflappable, watched the creature with a fixed gaze, assessing it in silence, while Zhavros gestured for us to follow along a side path.
"We need to circle around it," he said quietly, his tone more serious than usual. "We must avoid attracting its attention at all costs. We can observe it from above without drawing its interest... for now."
Our steps became lighter, every movement calculated to avoid making any unnecessary noise. The air was filled with tension as we ventured deeper into the heart of the tunnels, aware that everything could change at any moment.
As we advanced slowly, the only sound breaking the sepulchral silence was the faint dripping of water in the distance and the deep breathing of the beast, echoing throughout the cavern.
We found ourselves on a narrow ledge, elevated enough, according to Zhavros, to avoid alerting the creature resting below us.
In a whisper, Zhavros told us:
"I've only been here a couple of times... to observe. I haven't drawn many conclusions, and I haven't seen anyone confront it, either." There was something in his gaze that suggested even he wasn't comfortable with how little he knew about the beast.
Eldrek nodded, frowning, assessing the situation. He leaned towards us and whispered softly:
"We could let a creature enter intentionally, just to see how the beast reacts."
Lyris frowned at the suggestion, but before she could say anything, Zhavros let out a twisted smile.
"That, or maybe creatures already know it's a terrible idea. Although for you, Eldrek, that strategy is... almost brilliant." The sarcasm in his voice cut through the air, provoking a forced smile from Lyris.
Even I couldn't help but crack a faint smile, though Zhavros's words carried an uncomfortable weight. He seemed to enjoy mocking at critical moments.
"Do you know where the artifact is?" Lyris asked, narrowing her eyes, clearly doubting if Zhavros had all the answers. There was a flash of distrust in her gaze.
He pointed down, towards the massive creature.
"Yes, it's right below Ticaros. There's a blocked passage. I've only seen it from here; I don't know what else might be down there." His words made it clear that even he didn't have a concrete plan, which only heightened my concern.
I felt the weight of the situation settling over us. I tried to lighten the tension with a bit of sarcasm.
"So... we need to find a creature hostile enough to attack Ticaros and see what happens. Easy, right?" I grinned as my words floated in the air.
Lyris gave me a look that conveyed both camaraderie and weariness. Zhavros let out a faint laugh, his tone laden with irony.
"Yes, piece of cake."
We retraced our steps, moving carefully to avoid making noise. As we distanced ourselves from the creature, the tension began to dissipate, though the danger still loomed over us.
When we finally arrived back at Zhavros's shelter, he began to speak:
"Well, if we want this to work, I'll need to disable my traps. It wouldn't make sense to attract a creature only for it to get caught before even reaching the beast."
Eldrek crossed his arms, evaluating him. "And what do you think would be the best way to attract a creature fit for the task?"
Zhavros let out a brief laugh.
"Simple. I'll go 'hunting.' And don't worry, there are plenty of beasts out there to choose from. I just need to lure one that's dumb enough... or hostile enough."
I stared at him, and although he seemed to do everything with a certain nonchalance, I couldn't help but wonder if he was really prepared to deal with whatever he brought back.
From a corner of the shelter, Lyris muttered, "Sounds... easy, sure." She gave me a knowing look before focusing back on Zhavros.
With a twisted smile, Zhavros added, "Nothing in this life is easy, Lyris. But if I'm a bit lucky, it won't take me long."
He paused and looked at us, his tone a bit more serious. "We're going to take the tunnel on the other side. There's a beast there I think we can use."
Lyris looked up, distrustful. "What kind of beast?"
Zhavros grinned, savoring the anticipation before revealing it. "It's an underground chimera. I've seen its tracks before. It's extremely territorial, so it won't be hard to anger it."
He paused, as if recalling a close encounter, and added:
"It has claws capable of tearing through rock like it's cloth."
Lyris frowned, clearly concerned. "Are you sure it's a good idea to mess with a chimera? You know they're incredibly hostile and skilled in combat."
Eldrek nodded gravely, reinforcing what Lyris said. "Yes, that's not just any creature, Zhavros. We can't underestimate it."
Zhavros responded with a touch of arrogance, "Well, didn't you all want a beast capable of testing Ticaros? There you have it."
For a moment, I wondered if we could really trust him. But Zhavros, as always, seemed to have everything under control. Or at least, that's what he wanted us to believe.
Far from showing concern, he paused for a moment and turned to us with a smile and a wicked look that made my skin crawl.
"Oh, don't worry. I've got it all under control. Just trust me, alright?" His tone, although relaxed, didn't dispel my doubts. Something about the way he said it made me think that even he enjoyed the risk.
Lyris raised an eyebrow, skeptical, crossing her arms. "Sure... trust you. Sounds easy."
Zhavros let out a soft laugh and continued walking towards the tunnels, disarming the traps with his fingers, which moved with the precision of someone who had done it a thousand times before, bypassing mechanisms that looked far too complex for anyone.
We approached the tunnel exit cautiously. The ground beneath our feet became more uneven, filled with sharp rocks and cracks that seemed to spring up from the very earth due to the chimera's footsteps.
In the distance, rocky formations rose, forming a kind of natural labyrinth, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move. It was the perfect setting for a creature like the chimera: dark, enclosed, and full of hiding spots.
Eldrek had moved ahead, taking position in Ticaros's territory, waiting for us to lure the beast there. Zhavros, Lyris, and I moved in silence, our eyes wide open, trying to detect any sign of the creature.
After a while, he raised a hand, stopping us. "There it is," he murmured, pointing towards one of the large rock formations.
At first, we didn't see it, but then, something shifted, revealing the imposing figure of the chimera. It was massive, with the muscular body of a lion, bat-like wings folded over its back, and a long tail that writhed like a snake, ready to strike.
Its eyes gleamed with a savage glint, and upon noticing our presence, it let out a roar that made the ground tremble beneath our feet.
Without further warning, the chimera entered a frenzy. Its wings unfolded, raising a cloud of dust and debris as its tail struck the ground with terrifying force. It shot us a murderous look and, in the blink of an eye, launched itself at us.
With difficulty, we managed to dodge its first attack. Its poisonous tail passed mere inches from my face, and I could see how the rocks disintegrated on contact with its corrosive venom. Lyris rolled to the side just in time to avoid the creature's sharp claws, while Zhavros moved with surprising speed.
Then, everything changed. The air around Zhavros began to distort, and to my surprise, I saw him lift slightly off the ground, levitating silently as the shadows around him twisted.
Dark, disturbing images began to emerge, projecting horrors that seemed to come from the depths of a nightmare.
His figure transformed; his face elongated grotesquely, and his body seemed to blur, as if the shadows were consuming him. He didn't say a word. The silence from Zhavros, as he levitated and controlled those figures, was even more unsettling than any scream.
"What's happening?" Lyris whispered, her voice trembling, her eyes reflecting both fear and confusion. I couldn't tell if what we were seeing was the chimera's doing or Zhavros's, but it was clear that the space around us was no longer the same.
The rocks seemed to move, twisting into impossible shapes, and from the shadows emerged ghostly figures that weren't real... or perhaps they were.
The chimera, in its fury, began to fall prey to the illusions surrounding it. Its movements became erratic, disoriented, and soon it started attacking those figures uncontrollably.
Slipping between the shadows, Zhavros guided the chimera, which no longer seemed to know what was real and what wasn't, towards the tunnel that would lead it to the vast terrain where Ticaros awaited.
We followed at a safe distance, staying clear of the illusions that warped the space around us. With each step, I wondered if Zhavros was doing this consciously or if he had unleashed something beyond his control.
As we advanced, I watched him float softly, almost like another shadow among the others, moving with an eerie calm as he guided the chimera towards its fate.
The creature, completely disoriented, was caught in the trap without realizing it, charging forward with such force that, just as Zhavros had planned, it ended up falling from the heights into the area where Ticaros lay in the shadows.
Upon impact, its roar echoed throughout the cavern, waking Ticaros. A deep rumbling sound was heard in the distance. We stopped, watching from a safe distance as the chimera writhed, furious, alerting Ticaros with its violent entrance.
Joining Eldrek, who was already positioned up high, Zhavros rejoined us in his usual form, saying in his usual tone, "Just as you said, Darius. A simple task."