Astar sat up hastily, his sleep had left him in a cold sweat, his breath taken from his chest. His sleep had felt more like divine retribution than a rest.
His dreams had been overrun by nightmares, banishing any trace of positivity and plunging him into despair.
The sun swept it's rays across the desert floor, the red canyon walls towered above him on either side. The shadows across the canyon's walls danced with each other, intertwining their arms. Astar shivered in the brisk morning breeze. The sun's warmth had not yet settled into the land. A slight devoid chill from the night still lingered in the halcyon air.
The rest of the team was up and arranging preparations. Last night Galvin had located the dungeon's entrance via the earth's ley lines with assistance from his Baslan blessing, the power to control and manipulate earth's life lines due to the Earth Goddess, Basla.
Astar managed to extract himself from the warmth of his bedroll and stumbled to his pack, still laden with sleep. He pulled his long winter coat from his pack and pulled it over his shoulders. He slipped his feet into his boots as he packed up camp, joining the others by their mounts.
#
A large, surreal archway loomed over the onlooking crowd that huddled together. The archway was made from glassy, black stone which was carved out from the side of the canyon's burnt orange walls. Such an object appeared immensely out of place, the stark black mineral crudely consumed its rich sandstone backdrop.
"Is this it?" Kenji asked guardedly.
"I believe so." Galvan said, his voice husky in the chilled morning air.
The group slowly approached the archway, its sleek surface reflecting their apprehension. Eldrin stepped out in front of them, his hand reached out and brushed the jet-black stone. His head tilted backwards as he addressed the team.
"This is your last chance to turn back." He warned them.
Astar stepped forward. He stood just in front of the group for a second as he hesitated. Then he began to walk, stopping beside Eldrin. His legs trembled beneath the weight of his fear.
"I'm going with you," Astar said softly.
Eldrin shifted his gaze down to Astar, where skepticism had once been there was now admiration in Eldrin's eyes. With a graceful motion, Eldrin extended his hand towards the portal, his fingertips barely grazing the shimmering surface. The air seemed to hum with latent power as the portal responded to his touch, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly energy.
Then, without hesitation, Eldrin stepped forward, his figure slowly dissolving into the swirling vortex of light. For a moment, he seemed suspended between realms, his form flickering like a candle in the wind, before finally vanishing from sight.
In his absence, the space where Eldrin had stood was now filled with nothing but the same sandstone background that had framed the portal before. The air felt heavy with the weight of the unknown, silence enveloped them. Then they followed behind him.
#
Before them laid a cave - a cave of surreal beauty, bathed in a soft, pale light. Moss-covered stones lined the floor, walls, and ceiling of the cavern, lending a softness to the otherwise rugged interior. The moss, vibrant shades of green and silver, thrived in the perpetual twilight of the cave, clinging to every surface with tenacious grace.
Glowing crystals protruded from the rocky walls like precious jewels, casting the gentle luminescence that bathed the chamber in a soft, otherworldly glow. The crystals came in an array of colors, from shimmering sapphire blues to rich amethyst purples, and they seemed to pulse with a quiet energy, casting shifting shadows across the moss-covered stones below.
Clusters of mushrooms dotted the cave floor, their delicate caps ranged in hues from pearl white to iridescent gold. The fungi seemed to thrive in the damp, dim environment, their spores swirled gently through the air like ethereal confetti. Some mushrooms emitted a faint, phosphorescent glow, adding to the surreal beauty of the scene as they cast dappled patterns of light upon the mossy ground.
The air within the cave was cool and still, carrying with it the faint scent of earth and dampness. It felt as though time itself moved differently there, as if the outside world existed only as a distant memory; probably because it did.
Astar reached out, tracing his fingers across the velvety surface of the moss-covered stones.
"Woah," Seth breathed from a short distance behind him.
"I never thought a dungeon could be so beautiful." Astar mumbled to himself.
Eldrin was already further down the cave, standing near a large mauve crystal, engaged in a hushed conversation with Galvan. Phyre began to make her way down towards them, with Elva trailing closely behind. Nervous anticipation emanated from the group, each member beginning to grasp the gravity of their task. This dungeon was sacred, a sanctuary that reverberated with warnings: humans were unwelcome here. The palpable energy of the aetherworld surrounded them, this was a prison for the Gods.
"We're not meant to be here," Elva whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the charged atmosphere.
"We have no choice," Eldrin replied firmly. "Let's find a way forward."
They split into pairs, methodically scouring the cave for any sign of passage. Astar took the lead, with Haruki close behind, meticulously examining the walls. As Astar carefully traced his fingers along the rough stone, his attention was so consumed that he failed to notice a small rock protruding from the ground. With an unexpected stumble, he lost his footing, his momentum sending him sprawling forward. He collided with the soft, velvety moss that carpeted the cave floor, leaving behind patches of olive-green stains on his shirt. The group paused momentarily, the silence broken only by the echo of Astar's mishap.
Astar struggled to his feet, grappling with a large mushroom. He paused as the glint of something caught his eye. Past the expanse of mushrooms and hidden behind a large rock was a small hole in the wall, just big enough for someone to pass through if they were to crouch.
"I found something." He called.
"What is it?" Galvan inquired, suddenly appearing behind Astar.
"It looks like a room behind that rock, should we check it out?" Astar asked.
Galvan nodded his approval and Astar carefully passed through the colony of mushrooms and ducked behind the boulder, disappearing. The others took a quick glance at each other, then followed behind Astar.
The room in which Astar found himself was a marvel of ancient craftsmanship, far more expansive than the modest entrance had suggested. Its rocky walls stretched upward, giving an illusion of endless depth, from somewhere below the floor of the chamber, the muffled roar of flowing water could be heard. At its heart lay a majestic marble pedestal, standing as a testament to time's endurance. Upon it rested the objects of Astar's fascination: gleaming golden bowls, each whispering tales of forgotten rituals and offerings.
But it wasn't just gold that adorned this sacred space. Jewels of vibrant hues, carefully embedded within the wealth, sparkled with an otherworldly allure. Rubies blazed like passionate flames, sapphires glimmered with the serene depths of the ocean, and emeralds gleamed with the verdant essence of life itself. These treasures formed a tapestry of opulence, a testament to the reverence held by those who once traversed these halls.
As Astar stood mesmerized by the opulent display, a voice broke the silence. "Astar?" Someone called. Haruki emerged from the hidden passage in the wall. His arrival sent echoes rippling through the vast expanse, adding a mystical resonance to the chamber's atmosphere.
With cautious steps, Haruki approached Astar, his keen eyes scanning the room meticulously. But before either could make a move, another voice pierced the air.
"Don't touch anything." Eldrin, their wise guide, issued the warning from somewhere behind them, his presence unnoticed until that moment. His words carried the weight of experience, a reminder of the dangers lurking within this ancient place.
Soon, the rest of their party joined them, their footsteps echoing in harmony with the chamber's vastness. Eleven more figures stood behind Astar and Haruki, each taking in the sight before them. "Surely we can take a few?" Kenji asked.
"No," Dasheil broke in, "These are offerings to our very gods, what would Gatir, your God, think if you disrespected this place."
"He's the God of Blood, what's gold going to do for him?" Kenji retorted. Aiden broke through the two of them, defending Dasheil. The three of them continued to bicker at the back of the cave, it seemed that it wasn't only Haruki who had an issue with Kenji.
"Are you done?" Phyre asked bitterly. The three men stopped arguing under the glare of Phyre. "Get your asses over here before I make an offering out of you," she threatened.
"Let's find out how to go forward from here, shall we?" Seth said. His calm voice sliced through the tension, dissolving it. The party turned towards where Eldrin stood, awaiting instructions. He nodded his head towards the centre of the cave, signalling for them to begin searching.
As the rest of the group scoured the cavern, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls, Haruki remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed intently on the ground. Astar, curious about his friend's apparent distraction, nudged him gently, prompting Haruki to tear his eyes away from the floor.
"What's wrong?" Astar whispered, trying not to disturb the solemn silence of the cavern.
Haruki pointed silently at something on the ground, and Astar followed his gaze. At first, he saw nothing out of the ordinary—just the smooth, uneven surface of the cavern floor. But then, as Haruki gestured more insistently, Astar noticed them: faint, thread-like lines crisscrossing the stone, so thin and subtle that they seemed to vanish if he blinked too long.
"What are these?" Astar murmured, crouching down to get a closer look. Haruki joined him, his expression grave as he traced the delicate veins with his finger, following their intricate paths across the floor.
"These veins... they're not natural," Haruki said softly, his voice barely audible above the distant rumble of the underground river. "They're too precise, too deliberate."
Astar frowned, his brow furrowing with concern. "You think they mean something?"
Haruki nodded, his eyes never leaving the patterns etched into the stone. "I think they're a map," he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "A map leading to something important."
Haruki began to follow the veins, tracing their winding paths across the cavern floor. Astar followed close behind, his heart pounding in time with his footsteps as they moved ever closer to the source of the mysterious patterns.
The veins led them to a small, unremarkable rock near the front of the pedestal. At first glance, it seemed like any other rock in the cavern, but as Haruki examined it more closely, he noticed a subtle discoloration—a faint hint of something hidden beneath the surface.
With swift, precise hands, Haruki reached out and brushed away the dust and debris, revealing a small, intricately carved marble symbol—a symbol that matched one of the markings on the pedestal.
Eldrin had been watching them from a short distance away. He connected the dots just as they did. "The pedestal… slot the symbol into the pedestal!" He said quickly.
With a mixture of anticipation and fear, Astar grasped the marble symbol firmly in his hand. He could feel its smooth, cool surface beneath his fingertips, and a thrill ran down his spine as he stepped forward towards the pedestal.
Haruki watched intently, his breath caught in anticipation, as Astar carefully placed the marble symbol into the matching indentation on the pedestal. For a moment, nothing happened—the cavern remained silent, the air heavy with the weight of their expectations.
But then, with a deep rumble that seemed to emanate from deep within the earth itself, the cavern began to shake. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling as the ground trembled beneath their feet, and Astar stumbled backwards, his heart pounding in his chest.
"What's happening?" Elva cried, her voice barely audible above the din of the shaking cavern.
Haruki's eyes widened with awe as he watched the scene unfold before them. "I think... I think we've triggered something," he said, his voice filled with wonder.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the shaking stopped. The dust settled, and the cavern fell silent once more, but now there was a palpable sense of apprehension in the air—a feeling that they were on the brink of something incredible.
And then, just as they dared to hope that their ordeal was over, a low, echoing rumble filled the cavern once more. This time, however, it was not the sound of shaking earth, but the sound of stone shifting and grinding against stone.
With bated breath, the group watched as a previously unseen section of the cavern wall began to slide open, revealing a narrow tunnel that stretched off into the darkness beyond.
"Found you," Haruki whispered.