The heavy door to the archives creaked shut behind Cedric and his companions as they stepped into the early morning light of Myrlen. Erion's warning about the shadow magic and ancient seal echoed in Cedric's mind, but now they had a clearer direction. They needed to find the remnants of that original seal.
As they walked through the quieter streets of Myrlen, Kellen broke the silence, glancing around. "So, we're going to track down some ancient magic, right? Any chance we'll run into fewer giant monsters this time?"
Maeve smirked, adjusting the straps on her pack. "I wouldn't get my hopes up, Kellen. You know how these things go. Monsters love ruins like those."
Kellen chuckled softly. "Figured as much. At least we'll get a good story out of it."
Lira, ever watchful, kept her eyes on the horizon. "Focus. We don't have time to waste, and I'd prefer we didn't end up caught off guard."
Cedric nodded in agreement. "The scrolls mentioned the seal being tied to the land. The ruins outside the city might hold a clue. We need to start there."
Tamsin, walking quietly beside them, looked up at Cedric. "Do you think the seal is still intact? I mean, after all these centuries?"
"I don't know," Cedric admitted. "But if the shadow magic is spreading, then something must have disturbed it. We just need to find out where."
Erion, walking with them for a few more paces before stopping at the city gates, looked thoughtful. "I'll continue researching while you're away. If you find anything significant, send word back. I'll help however I can."
"Thanks, Erion." Cedric smiled, though the weight of the task ahead pressed on his shoulders. "We'll let you know if we find something."
Erion gave a parting nod. "Good luck. You'll need it."
---
The landscape outside Myrlen was rugged, with rocky hills and scattered trees breaking up the flat expanse of land. As they walked, Maeve tried to lighten the mood with her usual teasing.
"So, Cedric," she said, grinning, "what's the over-under on us finding something cursed in these ruins?"
Kellen laughed. "My bet's on cursed. Ruins always come with a catch."
Cedric shook his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "It's not about curses, Maeve. We're looking for something ancient, something powerful enough to seal shadow magic. That's dangerous enough on its own."
Maeve shrugged. "Still sounds like fun to me."
Tamsin looked thoughtful, her voice quieter. "But if the seal's been broken… what happens if we can't fix it?"
Lira spoke up, her tone firm. "We will. We don't have any other option. If we don't stop the magic from spreading, more creatures like that wyrm will show up."
"Great," Kellen muttered. "Just what we need. More angry rock monsters."
Cedric turned to him, his face serious. "That's why we need to stay focused. This isn't just about one ruin or one creature. If we don't stop the corruption, it'll spread farther than we can handle."
The weight of his words settled over the group, and for a moment, silence returned. But the resolve in their faces was clear. They knew the risks, and they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.
---
After hours of walking, the group arrived at a crumbling ruin built into the side of a cliff. Vines and moss had overtaken much of the stone structure, but Cedric could feel the faint pulse of magic in the air.
"This is it," he said quietly, stepping forward. "There's magic here. It feels... old."
Maeve crouched beside a broken column, brushing dirt from the stone. "Feels old, alright. Looks like no one's been here for centuries."
Tamsin followed cautiously, her eyes scanning the structure. "Do you think there's still magic inside?"
Cedric nodded, his eyes narrowed as he felt the energy shift around him. "There's something left. We just have to find it."
Lira motioned for the group to spread out. "Check every corner. If there's a clue here, we can't miss it."
As they explored the ruins, Kellen picked up a loose stone, rolling it between his fingers. "You ever wonder who built these places? They must've had a lot of time on their hands."
"More like a lot of powerful magic," Cedric replied, his voice distant as he ran his hand along the walls. "These ruins were probably tied to the mages who created the original seal. Their magic is still lingering here."
After a moment, Maeve called out from the far side of the ruin. "Cedric! Over here!"
Cedric hurried over, followed by the others. Maeve stood beside a stone tablet, half-buried in the earth, its surface covered in ancient symbols. Faint traces of magic glowed from the carvings.
"This has to be connected to the seal," Maeve said, standing back as Cedric knelt to examine the symbols.
Kellen leaned in closer, squinting at the writing. "Can you read it?"
"Some of it," Cedric murmured, his fingers tracing the symbols carefully. "It's an ancient language. Some of the words are familiar… here. It says something about shadow magic. A warning."
Tamsin shifted uneasily. "A warning about what?"
Cedric's voice dropped as he translated the rest. "'It must not be disturbed. The seal is broken at great cost.'"
Lira frowned, her hand instinctively moving to her sword. "So the seal was broken."
Cedric stood, his expression grim. "That's what it looks like. And if the shadow magic is loose… we might be too late to stop it from spreading."
Maeve crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "So what now? We keep digging until we figure out how to fix it?"
Cedric nodded. "We need to find out more. If this seal was broken, there might still be a way to contain the magic. We just have to dig deeper."