The journey back to the village was a quiet one. Arak and Lyra walked in silence, their thoughts consumed by the events at the ruins. The oppressive atmosphere of the forest seemed heavier now, as if the air itself had thickened with the weight of the ancient secrets they had disturbed.
"We have to tell the elders," Lyra said finally, her voice breaking the tense quiet. "They need to know what we found."
Arak shook his head. "Do you really think they'll believe us? The elders don't want to hear about the Old World, Lyra. They've spent centuries ignoring it, pretending it doesn't exist."
"That's exactly why we have to tell them," she insisted. "They're the only ones who might understand what we've uncovered."
He glanced over at her, seeing the anxiety etched on her face. Her usual calm was gone, replaced by an uneasy determination. Arak knew Lyra wasn't wrong—the elders had forbidden any exploration of the Old World ruins for a reason—but something inside him resisted the idea of sharing their discovery.
"What if we're not ready for what we've found?" Arak asked, more to himself than to her.
Lyra sighed, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders as they walked. "If we don't tell them, we're risking more than just ourselves. There's something dangerous about that place, Arak. We can't handle it on our own."
As they approached the village gates, the familiar sounds of daily life greeted them—children laughing, the low hum of conversation, the distant clang of tools in the forge. It felt surreal, returning to such normalcy after witnessing something so extraordinary, so ancient.
But Arak could feel a shift in the air. The secret they carried wasn't something that could remain hidden for long. The strange energy they had unleashed in the ruins still thrummed within him, a constant reminder that their world was no longer as safe or simple as it had seemed.
As they reached the village center, Arak spotted Elder Renna sitting near the great oak tree, her usual place of meditation. The village's spiritual leader, Renna was known for her deep connection to the land and her wisdom in all matters concerning their people. If anyone would listen, it would be her.
Lyra tugged at his arm, urging him toward the elder. "Now's our chance," she whispered.
Arak hesitated. He wasn't sure why, but the idea of sharing their discovery filled him with an inexplicable sense of dread. Something about what they had seen, what they had activated, felt too dangerous to expose.
Still, Lyra was right—they couldn't keep this to themselves.
They approached Elder Renna, who opened her eyes at their arrival. Her gaze was sharp, as if she had already sensed their unease. "You two seem troubled," she said softly. "What burdens your hearts?"
Arak exchanged a glance with Lyra before stepping forward. "We found something," he began, his voice low. "In the forbidden ruins."
Renna's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. "You know the law. No one is to venture into those places."
"I know," Arak replied quickly. "But we discovered something… ancient. And it's alive."
Elder Renna's lips pressed into a thin line as she listened. Her silence stretched on for several moments before she spoke again. "Tell me everything."
Over the next hour, Arak and Lyra recounted their journey to the ruins, the discovery of the artifacts, and the strange energy they had unleashed. Elder Renna listened intently, her expression growing graver with each word. When they finished, she sat quietly for a long time, as if weighing their story.
Finally, she spoke, her voice heavy with warning. "The Old World was not meant to be disturbed. Its secrets are dangerous—far more dangerous than you can imagine."
"What should we do?" Lyra asked, her voice tight with fear.
Elder Renna stood, her gaze distant as if she were searching for answers in the far horizon. "There are things even I do not know," she admitted. "But this much is clear: the power you've awoken is tied to the fall of the Ancients. If it's truly been reactivated, then the past may be coming back to haunt us."
Arak's chest tightened at her words. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Renna said slowly, "that you may have opened a door that should have remained closed. And what lies on the other side may be something none of us are prepared to face."
The elder paused, her brow furrowing in thought. "You said the compass led you to this place, and that the symbols activated when you stepped on the platform. There is an ancient prophecy in our records, one that speaks of such events. It foretells the return of the old powers and the rise of a chosen one who will either save or doom our world."
Arak's heart skipped a beat. "Chosen one? Are you saying…?"
Renna shook her head. "I don't know. Prophecies are rarely clear. But I do know this: you and Lyra are now bound to whatever is coming. The Old World's secrets will not rest until they are revealed."
Lyra's voice trembled as she spoke. "What should we do?"
Renna met her gaze, her expression solemn. "You must go deeper. The answers you seek lie further within the ruins. But be warned—there are forces beyond our understanding at play. You are treading a path few have walked, and fewer still have survived."
Arak clenched his fists, determination hardening within him. He had known from the moment they uncovered the artifacts that there was no turning back. Now, it was clear: they had been chosen for something far greater than they could have imagined.
"We'll go," he said, his voice steady. "We'll find out what this power is and what it means for our world."
Elder Renna nodded, though her expression remained grim. "Then may the spirits guide you. But remember—some truths are better left buried."
As Arak and Lyra left the elder's presence, a cold wind swept through the village, carrying with it the weight of the unknown. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but they had no choice. Whatever they had awoken was coming for them, and the only way to stop it was to uncover the full truth of the Old World.