The air grew colder as the party descended into the heart of the mountain, their footsteps echoing ominously in the narrow stone passage. Yomi, the old man, and the beast girl were shoved to the front like cattle, their chains rattling with each reluctant step. Milner, his hulking frame looming behind them, barked orders with a menacing grin.
"Move faster, scum!" he thundered, his axe resting threateningly on his shoulder.
Ahead of the group, Thanir cautiously led the way, his sharp eyes scanning for traps. His mana seeped into the walls, probing for hidden mechanisms, though his paranoia kept him forcing one of the slaves to tread precarious spots first. Each time he paused to inspect the pathway, his sneering gaze fell on Yomi.
The Dra'kesh slave, calm even in his chains, simply walked forward, his piercing eyes betraying none of his thoughts. His companions, however, were visibly uneasy.
After what felt like an eternity, the narrow tunnel opened into a cavernous chamber at the mountain's base. The oppressive darkness gave way to dim light, reflecting off the damp walls. There, standing before them, was a massive stone door carved with intricate runes and patterns, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light. The sheer size of it dwarfed everyone present, its ancient aura radiating a sense of foreboding and awe.
"By the aeons…" Lirien muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with both wonder and trepidation.
Thanir approached the door, his curiosity overriding his caution. His fingers traced the glowing symbols etched into the stone, his brow furrowing as he attempted to decipher their meaning.
"Looks like a seal," he murmured, more to himself than the others. "These runes... they're older than anything I've studied. Some of it's even written in languages I've never seen."
"Spare us the lecture, Thanir," Milner growled. "Just figure out how to open it. We didn't come all this way for you to gawk at some rock."
Raiven stepped forward, his commanding presence silencing the bickering. He studied the door with a calculating gaze, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Do you recognize any of it?" he asked.
Thanir nodded slightly, still engrossed in the symbols. "Some of it. This is a barrier seal, no doubt about it. It's designed to keep intruders out... or maybe to keep something in." He glanced back at the group with a wry smile. "I'll figure it out, but it'll take time."
"Make it quick," Raiven ordered, his voice firm. "We're not leaving empty-handed."
Meanwhile, Yomi's gaze remained fixed on the door. Unlike the others, he didn't see the runes as just inscriptions. His Ki resonated faintly with the ancient energy emanating from the seal, and he could feel the faint pulse of something immense beyond it. Whatever lay on the other side wasn't just treasure—it was alive.
The old man tugged at Yomi's sleeve, whispering nervously. "What is this place? What are they trying to do?"
Yomi didn't answer, his attention still locked on the glowing symbols. He could sense that the seal was designed to test those who dared to break it. For now, he remained silent, biding his time.
Thanir crouched near the center of the door, muttering to himself as he studied the runes more closely. "It's a combination of mana signatures," he explained to no one in particular. "If we align the energy correctly, the door should respond and—"
"Get on with it!" Milner snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"I'll need to use mana to activate it," Thanir said, ignoring the larger man's irritation. "But it's going to take precision. One wrong move, and—"
"Enough excuses!" Milner interrupted. "Just open it, or I'll smash it down myself."
Raiven silenced him with a sharp glare. "Let him work. If you're that eager to die, I won't stop you."
Grumbling, Milner stepped back, his grip tightening on his axe. The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of the unknown pressing down on everyone. As Thanir continued his work, Yomi's eyes narrowed. The seal wasn't just a test of knowledge or strength—it was a threshold, a point of no return. And whatever lay beyond it, he was determined to survive.
As Thanir squatted near the glowing stone door, his muttering grew louder, and frustration etched itself into his face. He released another pulse of unrefined mana, attempting to manipulate the ancient runes. The door remained unmoving, its luminescent carvings mocking his efforts.
From the back of the group, Aeloria stepped forward, her soft but firm voice cutting through the tension. "Thanir, step aside. Let me take a look."
Thanir froze mid-gesture, glancing back at her with an embarrassed scowl. "Ah, right… Aeloria. You're a mage." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, feeling foolish for forgetting one of their most valuable assets.
"Indeed, I am," she replied, her tone carrying a faint edge of amusement as she moved to stand before the door.
Lirien folded her arms, shaking her head in disbelief. "We've been standing here for minutes, and it didn't occur to you to let the mage handle it?"
"Shut it," Thanir snapped, his cheeks flushing as he moved aside. "I was testing its structure. Using raw mana is a delicate process, you know."
"It's also crude and inefficient," Aeloria retorted, raising her hands toward the door. Her fingertips glowed as she summoned a stream of pure mana, its radiance far brighter and steadier than the wild, flickering energy Thanir had used.
The moment Aeloria's refined magic touched the runes, the door responded. The intricate carvings pulsed with new intensity, the ancient symbols shifting and aligning like clockwork mechanisms. The air hummed with energy as the seal yielded to her expertise, the massive stone groaning as it began to part.
"There," she said, lowering her hands and stepping back with a satisfied smile. "Sometimes finesse is all it takes."
Thanir muttered something under his breath but quickly barked orders to reassert control. "Slaves, get moving! Inside, now!"
Milner wasted no time grabbing Yomi and the others, shoving them roughly toward the now-open passage. "You heard him! Move it!"
The slaves stumbled forward, the chains rattling with each step as they crossed the threshold into the tunnel beyond. Darkness swallowed them, the dim glow of the runes providing the only light. They hesitated, expecting traps or some other deadly mechanism, but nothing happened.
Thanir leaned closer to the entrance, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger. When the slaves remained unharmed, he waved impatiently at the rest of the group. "All clear. Let's go."
Raiven nodded, gesturing for the others to follow. One by one, the Ravager party stepped inside, their weapons drawn and their senses on high alert. The passage was narrow and steep, the air growing heavier with each step. The sound of boots and chains echoed ominously as the group pressed forward.
Lirien was the last to step inside, her gaze lingering on the doorway. A sense of unease settled over her, but she pushed it aside and entered. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, a deep, resonating thud echoed behind her.
The massive stone doors slammed shut with a deafening finality, the sound reverberating through the cavern. The glow of the runes dimmed, leaving only the faintest trace of light to mark the sealed entrance.
Lirien whirled around, her heart racing. "What the—? The door just closed!"
Raiven turned to Thanir, his expression dark. "I thought you said there wouldn't be any traps."
"This isn't a trap," Thanir replied, his voice tense as he studied the now-closed entrance. "It's the seal resetting itself. This... might be normal."
"Normal?" Lirien snapped. "We're sealed in a dungeon, and you call this normal?"
"Quiet!" Raiven barked, silencing the growing panic. His piercing gaze scanned the group. "We knew this wouldn't be simple. Everyone stays focused. Thanir, scout ahead. Milner, keep the slaves in line."
The group's tension was palpable, but they moved forward. Behind them, the sealed door loomed like an unyielding sentinel, locking them in with whatever lay ahead.