The wind howled as Kael and his group pressed forward through the rugged terrain. The sky was a dull gray, the air thick with the scent of rain, and the path had grown more treacherous with each step. The northern mountains loomed ahead, jagged and unforgiving, but Kael's mind was focused on one thing, the relic Kerric had spoken of.
The group had been walking in silence for hours, the tension between them clearly visible. Veyron moved quietly beside Kael, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the Iron Circle. Behind them, Kerric walked with an air of confidence.
"Do you think we're close?" Veyron asked quietly, breaking the silence.
Kael nodded, his jaw tight. "We have to be. Kerric knows something. Whether it's true or not, we'll find out soon."
Veyron's eyes flicked to Kerric, and Kael could see the doubt there. "And if it's a lie?"
Kael's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "Then we deal with him."
The landscape grew more hostile as they climbed higher into the mountains. The wind picked up, biting at their exposed skin, and the narrow path wound dangerously along the edge of a steep cliff. Below them, the valley stretched out, a desolate wasteland of rocks and shadows.
Kael led the way, his eyes constantly scanning the terrain ahead. Every step felt heavier, the weight of what was to come pressing down on him. He could feel the unease in the group, Veyron was tense, his face set in a grim expression, and the others were quiet, their exhaustion clear.
They had been walking for hours when Kerric suddenly stopped, raising a hand to signal the group. Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he moved closer, his eyes narrowing at the sight ahead.
"There," Kerric said, pointing to a dark opening in the mountainside. "The cave."
Kael's gaze followed Kerric's finger, and there it was, an entrance carved into the rock, almost hidden by the shadows. It looked ancient, the stone weathered and cracked, and there was an unnatural stillness to the air around it.
Kael's instincts screamed at him to be cautious. "Are you sure this is it?"
Kerric nodded, his expression unreadable. "This is the place. The relic should be inside."
Veyron stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the cave entrance. "It looks abandoned."
Kael wasn't convinced. "Looks can be deceiving."
As they approached the cave, Kael's eyes darted around the surrounding area. The ground was uneven, littered with rocks and debris, but there were no obvious signs of life. No tracks, no movement, nothing to suggest that anyone else had been here recently.
Kerric moved ahead, leading them toward the entrance. "Stay close," he said, his voice low.
As they neared the cave, Kael caught sight of something, small marks in the dirt, almost hidden among the rocks. Tracks. His eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on his sword.
"Someone's been here," Kael muttered to Veyron.
Veyron's gaze followed Kael's, and his face hardened. "The Iron Circle?"
"Maybe," Kael replied, his voice low. "We need to be ready."
The group slowed as they reached the cave entrance. The air was colder here, thick with an unnatural chill that sent a shiver down Kael's spine. The darkness inside seemed to stretch on forever, and Kael could feel the weight of it pressing in on them.
"We go in," Kael said quietly, his eyes fixed on the entrance. "But we move carefully. No mistakes."
The group nodded, weapons at the ready, and together they stepped into the cave.
The inside of the cave was damp and cold, the air thick with the scent of decay. The walls were rough, jagged stone, and the floor sloped downward, leading deeper into the darkness. Kael's footsteps echoed in the silence as they moved further in, the only light coming from the faint glow of their torches.
Kael's mind raced. If the relic was here, they were close. But the tension in the air told him there was more to this than Kerric had said. He didn't trust Kerric, not fully, and the further they went, the more Kael suspected that something was waiting for them.
As they descended deeper into the cave, a sound echoed from the darkness ahead, a low, rumbling growl that made Kael's blood run cold. He raised his hand, signaling the group to stop.
Veyron's eyes widened. "What was that?"
Kael didn't answer. His heart pounded in his chest as he strained to listen. The growl came again, louder this time, and it was followed by the sound of movement, something large, something dangerous.
"We're not alone," Kael whispered, his voice tense.
The group tensed, weapons drawn, as the sound grew closer. The darkness ahead seemed to shift, and Kael caught a glimpse of something, a massive shadow moving toward them, its eyes glowing in the dim light.
And then, with a deafening roar, the creature lunged from the shadows.