The journey through the dense forest had become more treacherous with each passing hour. Dark clouds loomed overhead, casting an eerie twilight over the landscape despite it being the middle of the day. Ethan, Aeris, and Magnus pressed on, their movements growing more urgent as the shadow of the unseen threat loomed over them. The forest had grown quieter—too quiet—save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant caw of a raven.
Magnus walked ahead, his staff glowing faintly in the dim light. He'd said little since they'd left the clearing, his mind seemingly occupied with thoughts too heavy to share. Aeris glanced over at Ethan, her brows furrowed. She hadn't spoken much either, but Ethan could feel the weight of her gaze on him. He could tell she was worried—not just about the vault, but about him.
Ethan's thoughts, too, swirled in confusion. He still didn't understand what had happened back there—how he'd summoned such dark, raw power, and why it had responded to him. The warmth from Aeris's magic, whenever she cast a spell, felt natural, in harmony with the world. But what he'd tapped into? It had felt wild, untamed… dangerous.
They reached a small clearing as the terrain began to rise into rocky foothills. Magnus slowed, inspecting the ground beneath them. "We're getting close," he murmured. "I can feel it."
Ethan scanned the area, his fingers twitching instinctively towards the hilt of his sword. He didn't feel close to anything. In fact, he felt like they were stepping further into a trap.
"Is it hidden?" Aeris asked, coming to stand next to Magnus.
The old mage nodded. "Very. The Vault of Thalia was sealed by ancient magic long ago, meant to keep whatever knowledge it holds from falling into the wrong hands. Finding it is only part of the challenge."
"And the other part?" Ethan asked, wary.
Magnus looked over his shoulder, his eyes grave. "Opening it. The vault won't reveal itself easily. Only those who are deemed worthy by the enchantments placed there will be allowed entry. And even then…"
"Even then, what?" Aeris pressed.
"There are things guarding it that have been waiting a very long time," Magnus said. "Beings tied to the magic that sealed it. They are not of this world, nor will they be easily defeated."
Aeris frowned. "And you expect us to fight them?"
"No," Magnus said. "I expect us to survive."
Ethan's stomach twisted uneasily. Every step of this journey seemed to reveal more and more danger. It was as if the world itself was conspiring against them.
Suddenly, a soft pulse of energy rippled through the air. It was faint, like the gentle ringing of a distant bell, but it was enough to stop them in their tracks.
"There," Magnus said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan felt it too. The pulse seemed to come from deep within the earth beneath their feet, resonating with the ancient power that lay dormant. He knelt down, pressing his hand against the rocky ground, feeling the vibration as it hummed through him. The sensation was strange—like touching the edge of something immense, something old and forgotten.
Aeris looked around, her eyes narrowing. "Is this it?"
Magnus nodded. "The vault is close. But this… this is just the outer edge of the magic. We need to find the entry point."
They began to search the rocky terrain, scanning the ground for anything that might resemble an entrance. The energy continued to pulse beneath them, growing stronger the further they moved. Then, after what felt like hours of searching, Aeris called out.
"Here!"
Ethan hurried over to where she stood, beside a large stone slab embedded in the ground. Strange, rune-like markings were etched into the surface, faintly glowing in the dying light.
Magnus knelt beside the slab, his fingers tracing the symbols. "This is it. The entrance to the vault."
Ethan frowned. "It looks… small."
"The actual entrance is beneath this," Magnus explained. "These runes are the key to unlocking it."
Aeris stood back, watching as Magnus began to chant under his breath, his staff glowing brighter as the runes responded to his magic. Ethan stepped back too, giving the mage room as the stone slab began to shift, the ground trembling beneath them.
The slab groaned, sliding aside to reveal a dark, narrow stairway descending into the earth.
"There," Magnus said, rising to his feet. "The path to the vault."
Aeris looked at the opening warily. "What now?"
Magnus didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned the darkness below, his expression grim. "Now we see if we're worthy."
Without another word, Magnus descended the stairway, his staff lighting the way. Ethan exchanged a look with Aeris before following.
The air grew colder as they ventured deeper underground, the faint light from Magnus's staff casting long shadows along the stone walls. The stairs seemed to go on forever, spiraling downward into the heart of the earth. Ethan could feel the weight of the place pressing down on them—the magic here was thick, ancient, and it filled the air with a sense of foreboding.
After what felt like an eternity, the stairs leveled out into a narrow corridor, leading to a massive stone door covered in more glowing runes. Magnus approached it cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he examined the intricate carvings.
"This is it," he said quietly. "The door to the Vault of Thalia."
Aeris stepped closer, peering at the runes. "Can you open it?"
Magnus hesitated, his fingers hovering over the symbols. "The vault doesn't open with magic alone. It requires something more… personal. It will test us—see if we are worthy."
"Test us how?" Ethan asked, suddenly feeling the weight of those words.
Magnus turned to face him, his eyes serious. "In ways we cannot anticipate."
Before Ethan could ask what he meant, Magnus placed his hand against the door. The runes flared to life, the light spilling out in tendrils that wrapped around the three of them, pulling them into the magic of the vault.
The ground trembled, and Ethan felt a rush of power flood through him—images flashing before his eyes: battles, ancient kingdoms, creatures from nightmares. He heard voices, whispers from the past, and felt a presence, cold and calculating, watching them.
The door slowly began to creak open, revealing a dark chamber beyond.
But as the door opened, a cold wind rushed past them, carrying with it a voice—a voice Ethan recognized immediately, even though he had never heard it before.
**"You are not alone, Ethan Valory. I am coming."**
Ethan froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He turned to Magnus, but the mage's expression was grim.
"What was that?" Aeris asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Magnus didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the darkness beyond the door.
"We're not the only ones who sought the vault," he said finally, his voice low. "And whatever else is here… it's waiting for us."
Ethan's blood ran cold. Whoever—or whatever—had spoken those words knew his name.
And it was coming for him.
---
The vault beckoned, but something ancient and sinister awaited them in the shadows. The next step would not just test their strength—it would test their very souls.