They traveled deep into the heart of Eldoria, far from the frontiers of human civilization. They journeyed deep into dense forests and crossed mountains and valleys to finally reach the ancient caves known as the Shattered Depths—a place of myth, said to be the rest place of Aarun, the earth god. The caverns were older than the ages themselves and were charged with strange markings on the walls—symbols of power, of magic older than the Guardians themselves.
As they walked further down, the caverns were coming, so the temperature dripped lower and lower, with it the air was coming heavy with earthy dampness, a stench clung to everything wet. Above him or about his feet, he couldn't tell, Aiden felt the earth vibrating, a low rumble, like the beat of some great thing echoing to his bones. It got stronger the further they walked. It was almost as if the earth itself was waking up.
This is it," whispered Lyra barely audible. "We're close."
They took on a slow, winding pace through the twisting tunnels. Their footsteps echoed off the stillness. The farther down they went, the heavier became to breathe. A myriad of peculiar rocks and veins of glowing minerals lined the tunnel, casting long shadows across the walls.
They finally emerged into a fantastic room. The walls of the grotto were covered with ancient runes that glowed a soft auroral blue. In the center of the chamber stood a tremendous stone pedestal, rough, worn by time. Upon the top of the pedestal rested an enormous crystal, its surface glowing in dark energy.
'This is it,' Aiden breathed, voicea whisper. 'The Heartstone was not the only artifact hidden in Eldoria.'
Caelum stepped forward, his staff aglow with a soft light. 'This is no ordinary crystal. This is Aarun's Heart, the source of his power. If we do not destroy it, Aarun will awaken in full force—and his rage will be unlike anything we have faced before.".
Aiden drew the Guardian's Blade, its light warm in the darkness. "We destroy it, then. Once and for all."
But as he took a step forward, the earth beneath their feet shuddered convulsively. A low, guttural roar echoed from the very bottom of the cavern. The walls shook, dark energy seething in the air.
"The earth god has awakened," Caelum whispered, his voice trembling with fear. "We've made a grave mistake.".
The crystal had grown white hot; its rhythms merged and pulsed in sympathy with the quivering. Then, like an apple splitting down one crack, it split open and from out of the darknesses of the cavern came a figure tall, overpowering, covered with stone. His eyes glowed white, glowed clear in sky blue, and the earth itself seemed to bend forward to the man.
"I am Aarun," the voice of the earth god rumbled, and the walls of the cavern shook. "You have bothered my slumber. Now, you will pay the price."