Chapter 12: Echoes of the Past
The pounding of their footsteps echoed in Kairos' ears as they fled deeper into the ruins, the air growing colder with each passing second. The creature's screeches still lingered behind them, a chilling reminder of the danger they had barely escaped. The walls seemed to close in around them, the shadows twisting into shapes that danced just out of their reach.
Erynn ran beside him, her breath coming in short gasps. Her usually confident stride had slowed, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. "Do you have a plan, or are we just running until we collapse?"
"Both," Kairos replied, his voice strained. "I'm making this up as I go."
She groaned, shooting him a glare that could have melted stone. "You're going to get us killed."
"Not if I can help it."
Their conversation was cut short as they turned a sharp corner, finding themselves in a vast chamber. The room stretched out before them, lit only by the flickering glow of the symbols they had passed earlier. The air was thick with dust, and the smell of decay hung in the air. The massive columns that supported the ceiling were covered in intricate carvings, their age and wear almost as old as the ruins themselves. Broken statues of forgotten gods littered the ground, their features eroded by time and neglect.
In the center of the room, there was a pedestal. Unlike the other ruins they had encountered, the stone here seemed untouched by time. It gleamed in the pale light, etched with runes that pulsed faintly, as if alive.
Kairos skidded to a halt, his boots grinding against the stone floor. His gaze fixed on the pedestal. "That has to be important."
"Define 'important,'" Erynn said, her voice laced with skepticism. She glanced nervously around the room, her grip tightening on her dagger. "We don't know what that thing is. It could be a trap."
"I've got a feeling about it," Kairos said, his tone firm. "We need to get closer."
Erynn hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the chamber, but eventually she relented. "Fine, but if this turns into another disaster, I'm holding you responsible."
They crept forward, each step careful and deliberate. The silence of the chamber was deafening, broken only by the distant sound of water dripping somewhere deep within the ruins. Every movement felt heavy, as though they were intruding on something ancient and forbidden.
As they approached the pedestal, the ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and a low hum began to fill the air. The light from the pedestal flared brighter, its glow becoming more intense. Kairos reached out to touch it.
"Don't," Erynn hissed, her hand flying out to grab his wrist. "Something's wrong. We need to—"
Her words were cut short as the air around them crackled with energy. The pedestal thrummed, and a violent pulse of light shot outward, engulfing the entire room. For a moment, Kairos couldn't see, the world drowned in a blinding brilliance. His heart raced, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, the light faded, leaving behind an eerie calm.
"What just happened?" Erynn whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Before Kairos could respond, the ground shook violently. The walls rumbled, as though the entire ruin was alive and waking up. Dust cascaded from the ceiling, and the stones beneath their feet cracked. The low hum that had filled the air grew louder, almost deafening, as the shadows in the room seemed to stretch and pulse.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber, though there was no source for it. "You have awakened the past."
Kairos instinctively took a step forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "Who's there?"
The voice did not answer directly. Instead, a shape emerged from the shadows, tall and imposing, its outline barely visible at first. Slowly, it took form—a figure wrapped in dark robes, its face hidden beneath a hood. In its hands, it carried a staff, adorned with the same glowing symbols as the pedestal.
"You should not have come," the figure said, its voice gravelly and ancient.
Erynn stepped back, her eyes wide with fear. "What is that?"
"Who are you?" Kairos demanded, his voice firm despite the uncertainty gnawing at his gut.
The figure's hooded face remained hidden, but the air around it seemed to grow heavier, colder. "I am the guardian of these ruins. You have disturbed forces beyond your understanding."
"Disturbed? We're just trying to survive," Kairos replied. He kept his sword raised, though he knew it wouldn't be enough if the figure attacked. "Why are these creatures here? What is this place?"
The figure raised its staff, the runes glowing brighter in response. "The past has left its mark on this world. The creatures you face are echoes of those who fell to greed, to ambition, and to the curse that lingers in the ruins. You have awakened the curse."
"Curse?" Erynn repeated, her voice shaking. "So that's what's behind all of this? These creatures are the result of a curse?"
The figure's gaze, though obscured by shadows, seemed to pierce through them. "Yes. And you, foolish mortals, have chosen to uncover what should remain forgotten."
Kairos didn't flinch. "If there's a curse here, then we'll deal with it. But we need answers. What's really happening here?"
The figure's grip tightened around the staff, and for a moment, the air around them felt suffocating, as though the very atmosphere was pushing in on them. Then, it spoke again. "You wish for answers? Then you must seek the heart of the ruin, where the true power lies. Only then will you understand the price of meddling with the past."
The figure began to dissipate, the shadows around it retreating like smoke. "But be warned: The heart does not give its secrets freely."
And just like that, it was gone, leaving behind only the faintest trace of its presence. The room grew quiet once more, the oppressive weight lifting slightly.
Kairos exhaled sharply, lowering his sword. "The heart of the ruin," he murmured. "Looks like we've got a new goal."
Erynn let out a long breath, her hand still clutching her dagger. "Great. Another mystery to solve. And no doubt more monsters in our way."
"We'll handle it," Kairos said with determination, his gaze fixed on the now-still pedestal. "But we need to be ready. Whatever lies ahead, it's not going to be easy."