The group stood at the edge of the staircase, peering into the deep darkness that awaited them beyond the opened trapdoor. Gareth, their leader, held a torch high, the dim flame flickering as the cold air from below brushed past them.
"Well," Gareth said, glancing at each of them. "Do we go in or not?"
Kael looked at the others, their faces lit by the torchlight, a mix of hesitation and grim determination visible. Lira, standing closest to the entrance, shivered slightly, her hand brushing the hilt of her sword.
"I say we go in," Bram spoke up, his tone firm but uncertain. "Whatever's down there... it might explain what happened to this place."
Thorne grunted in agreement. "No point in turning back now."
Kael nodded silently, his thoughts elsewhere. The charred remains of Eldenwood still haunted him, each burned home a painful reminder of what had been lost. His family's dreams—his and Mia's—felt hollow now. The thought of returning to his sister with nothing but ruins tore at him.
"Alright," Gareth said after a brief silence, "we'll head down. Stay close, keep your hands on each other's shoulders. Don't trip."
The group gathered around the dark entrance, their faces tight with tension. Kael was last to enter, his heart racing as he followed the others down into the darkness. His hand found Thorne's shoulder, his palm sweaty as they began their descent.
The staircase spiraled down into blackness, the torchlight only illuminating a few feet ahead. Cold, damp air filled Kael's lungs as they moved deeper, the walls around them tight and oppressive. The air seemed thicker the further they went, and each step felt heavier, as if the darkness itself was trying to hold them back.
Minutes passed, the silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the faint crackling of the torch.
"This... this is strange," Kael finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "We've been walking for a while. How deep does this go?"
Gareth, leading the group, didn't turn back. "It's a long way down. But something's definitely not right."
Lira, holding on to Gareth, muttered, "Feels like we've been walking forever."
The air around them grew colder, the chill biting through their clothing. Kael's grip on Thorne's shoulder tightened, his mind racing. Something was wrong—he could feel it deep in his gut. It was as if the staircase stretched beyond what was possible, a never-ending descent into the abyss.
"I don't like this," Thorne muttered. "Feels like we're going in circles."
Kael's brow furrowed, but before he could respond, his foot slipped into something wet. His eyes widened as he stumbled, the murky sensation of thick liquid splashing against his boots.
"What the—" Bram's voice echoed from ahead as he, too, realized they had stepped into water. "Where did this come from?"
The group came to a sudden halt, their feet sinking into the cold, oily liquid that now covered the steps. The water was thick, almost unnatural, clinging to their boots as they stood in stunned silence.
"We didn't see this before," Lira said, her voice shaking.
"Keep moving," Gareth ordered. "We're close to something, I can feel it."
Kael's heart pounded as they trudged forward, each step sending ripples through the dark water. The torchlight reflected faintly on the surface, casting eerie, distorted patterns against the walls. The water felt wrong—too cold, too heavy.
As they pushed forward, the water grew deeper, rising to their knees. The sound of their movement was the only thing that broke the silence, their breathing now strained as the cold liquid sapped their strength. Kael's thoughts raced—where was this leading them?
Suddenly, a bright light exploded ahead, piercing through the darkness like a sudden sunrise.
Kael shielded his eyes as the group stumbled forward, the cold water vanishing beneath their feet. They pushed through the final stretch of the murky liquid, emerging into the light with gasps of relief.
When Kael lowered his arm, he found himself standing in a bright, grand room. It was as if they had stepped into another world entirely. Gone were the damp, cold walls and the oppressive darkness—instead, a vast, shining chamber stretched out before them. Gleaming marble floors reflected the brilliant light from above, and ornate stone columns lined the room, their surfaces shimmering with intricate carvings.
"What... is this?" Lira whispered, her eyes wide in disbelief.
The group looked around in stunned silence. The transition was too sudden, too impossible. One moment they had been trudging through the dark, freezing water, and now they were standing in what looked like a royal hall.
Kael turned slowly, his gaze falling on the walls behind them. Where the staircase should have been, there was nothing—only smooth marble and faint reflections of their own figures.
"There's no way back," Thorne muttered.
Kael's heart sank. The eerie stillness of the room unsettled him, and the cold dread from earlier began creeping back into his chest. They were no longer in the ruined village or its hidden tunnels—they had stepped into something far beyond their understanding.
"What just happened?" Bram asked, his voice barely audible.
Kael didn't answer. His eyes fixed on the far end of the hall, where the light seemed to converge. Whatever they had stumbled upon, it was beyond anything they had ever imagined. And now, they had no choice but to see it through to the end.