The dark passage leading into the depths of Aeldor stretched before them like the maw of a great beast. Rina glanced behind her one last time as the stone door sealed shut, blocking out the faint light from the surface. Now, they were submerged in total darkness.
"Hold on," Alara whispered, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence. She raised her hand, and a soft light began to glow from her palm, illuminating their surroundings. The stone walls around them were slick with moisture, etched with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly in response to her magic.
Torin grunted. "I hate underground places. Always feel like the walls are closing in."
"Stay close," Aran's voice echoed in her mind, though his presence was physically absent. It was strange to move without him leading the way. She couldn't help but feel the weight of the responsibility they now carried. The answers they sought were somewhere in these ruins, buried beneath layers of history and danger.
Alara led the way deeper into the tunnel, the glow from her hand casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick and stale, and every footstep seemed louder in the narrow space. There was a sense of foreboding that none of them could shake. Even Torin, usually full of snide remarks, was silent.
"We must be close to the library," Alara murmured. "I can feel the residual magic growing stronger."
Rina's sharp eyes caught movement ahead, and she instinctively drew her bow, ready to fire. But it was not an enemy—just the shadows playing tricks on them. She forced herself to relax, but her nerves were on edge.
The tunnel twisted and turned, leading them ever deeper into the bowels of Aeldor. The faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance, and the temperature began to drop. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
After what felt like hours, the narrow passage opened up into a vast chamber. The ceiling was high, and the walls were lined with towering shelves that stretched far into the darkness. Dust hung heavy in the air, and the scent of old parchment and decaying magic filled their nostrils.
"We found it," Torin said quietly, his voice filled with awe. "The Library of Aeldor."
Alara stepped forward, her hand trembling slightly as she lowered her light. "It's more than I imagined. These books... these scrolls... they're priceless."
Rina moved cautiously through the chamber, her gaze sweeping over the shelves. The library was massive, and the knowledge contained within it could change everything. But there was something else here—something hidden beneath the surface.
"Stay alert," Rina warned, her voice tense. "Just because we found the library doesn't mean we're safe. The Pale King's forces will catch up sooner or later."
Alara nodded, but her attention was already elsewhere. She approached one of the shelves, carefully pulling a dusty tome from its place. The ancient leather binding was cracked, and the pages were yellowed with age. The symbols written inside were foreign, a language long forgotten by most of the world.
"This is incredible," Alara whispered. "The magic contained in these texts... we could learn so much."
Torin snorted. "We don't have time for a history lesson. Find what we came here for, and let's get out."
Rina ignored Torin's impatience. Her instincts told her that something was wrong. The library felt too still, too quiet. She walked along the perimeter of the chamber, her senses alert, scanning for any sign of danger.
That's when she noticed it—a faint ripple in the air, like the shimmer of heat rising from the ground. It was barely perceptible, but Rina's keen eyes caught it.
"Alara," she called out softly. "Come here."
Alara looked up from her tome and hurried over to where Rina stood. "What is it?"
"Something's here," Rina said, pointing toward the strange distortion in the air. "I don't know what it is, but it's not natural."
Alara studied the spot carefully, her brows furrowing. "It's a magical barrier. Someone—or something—placed it here to protect something."
Rina's heart raced. "Can you break it?"
Alara hesitated, glancing back at the shelves. "It's risky. I don't know what kind of magic was used to create this barrier, and if I tamper with it, it could set off a trap."
"We don't have time to play it safe," Rina said firmly. "If there's something hidden here, we need to find it."
Torin stepped forward, gripping his sword tightly. "I'll handle any traps that spring. Just get it done."
With a deep breath, Alara raised her hands and began chanting softly. The air around the distortion began to vibrate as the ancient magic reacted to her spell. Rina tensed, her bow ready, watching for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, the barrier shattered with a loud crack, and a pulse of energy rippled through the chamber. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the ground shook beneath their feet.
Torin cursed under his breath. "That didn't sound good."
But Rina's eyes were locked on the space where the barrier had been. Now, in its place, stood a pedestal, and on it rested a small, intricately carved box. The box itself radiated power, its surface covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light.
"That's what we came for," Alara said, her voice filled with wonder. "The Box of Aeldor."
Rina approached cautiously, her hand hovering over the box. "What's inside?"
Alara shook her head. "No one knows. The legends say the mages of Aeldor sealed their most powerful secret inside this box before the city fell. Whatever it is, it's dangerous."
Torin grinned. "Sounds like something the Pale King would kill for."
Rina's fingers brushed against the surface of the box, and a chill ran down her spine. She could feel the power within it, a deep and ancient magic that seemed to hum in anticipation. This was no ordinary relic. Whatever was inside, it could change everything.
"We need to get this back to Aran," Rina said, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment. "He'll know what to do."
As they prepared to leave, the ground trembled again, this time with more force. The sound of crumbling stone echoed through the chamber, and the faint sound of voices could be heard in the distance—soldiers.
"The Pale King's patrol," Rina said, her heart racing. "They're coming."
Torin gripped his sword, his eyes narrowing. "Looks like we're out of time."
Alara grabbed the box, holding it close to her chest. "We have to move. Now."
The group rushed back toward the entrance, the sound of the approaching patrol growing louder. Rina's mind raced as they moved, her thoughts on Aran. They needed to find him—and fast.
But as they emerged from the tunnel and into the ruins above, Rina's heart sank. The Pale King's soldiers were already there, their dark armor gleaming in the fading light.
There was no time to run.
"We fight," Rina said, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow. "We can't let them take the box."
Torin grinned, his sword raised. "Finally."
The battle was upon them. And as the soldiers closed in, Rina knew that this was only the beginning.