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With the weight of Empress Elira's words hanging over them, Kaelen and his companions prepared for the journey into the Forbidden Depths. The castle had become a whirlwind of activity since their meeting. The Empress had summoned her most trusted advisors and dispatched a small army to assist in the journey, but Kaelen's group would be the ones to venture into the depths themselves.
As they gathered their supplies, Kaelen felt a heavy responsibility settle on his shoulders. The Forgotten Lord. He had thought the battles against the Dark Sect were his most dangerous, but this? This was different. The fate of the Empire, of the entire world, depended on their success.
Seraphine was the first to speak as they gathered in a large war room, maps of the Empire spread out on the table before them. "So, what exactly are we walking into down there? The Empress mentioned that it's a labyrinth, but that's about it."
"The Forbidden Depths are ancient," Kaelen explained, his voice low and serious. "They were created long before the Empire, long before any of us. No one has ever come back from the Depths, not even the most seasoned adventurers."
Garak, ever the optimist, grinned. "Well, that's a great start. I'm sure it'll be fine. We're not just seasoned adventurers—we're seasoned *heroes*."
Lira gave Garak a skeptical look. "And what makes you so sure we won't be the first to die down there?"
Garak shrugged, unfazed. "I'm too charming to die."
Kaelen couldn't help but chuckle, despite the tension. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. We've already lost enough in this war. I don't want to lose anyone else."
Seraphine nodded, her face serious. "We'll stick together. If we're going into the depths, we do it as a team. No one gets left behind."
With their resolve firmed, they set off from the castle, heading to the secret entrance of the Forbidden Depths. It was said to be hidden beneath the ancient catacombs in the heart of the city—a place so forgotten that even the citizens of Aurumvale didn't know it existed.
As they approached the entrance, the mood became somber. The air grew colder, and the stone walls seemed to hum with an ominous energy. They passed through darkened corridors, the flickering light of their torches casting long shadows on the walls. The silence was oppressive, broken only by their footsteps.
Finally, they arrived at a massive stone door, adorned with ancient runes. A faint glow emanated from the cracks between the stones, and Kaelen could feel the power contained within the seal. This was it—the threshold to the Forbidden Depths.
"Are we ready?" Kaelen asked, turning to his companions.
Garak cracked his knuckles. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Lira drew her dagger, its edge gleaming in the dim light. "I'll make sure nothing sneaks up on us."
Seraphine, her eyes sharp, was already studying the runes. "These are protection spells—ancient ones, too. They'll activate if we try to force our way in. We need to do this carefully."
Kaelen stepped forward, placing his hand on the door. His connection to the storm surged within him, and he felt the familiar hum of power. The seal reacted to his touch, the runes shifting as they glowed brighter. Kaelen spoke the words he had learned during his training, reciting the ancient incantation to open the seal.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a low rumble, the stone door began to shift, slowly creaking open. A gust of cold air rushed out from the depths, carrying with it the scent of decay and forgotten things.
The group exchanged a look of determination, then stepped forward into the unknown.
The entrance led them down into a long, narrow hallway, lined with ancient statues and forgotten carvings. The walls were adorned with scenes of battles long past, depicting warriors and beasts locked in eternal combat. Kaelen couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as they walked deeper, the air thick with the weight of centuries.
"This place is… unnerving," Lira murmured, her voice low.
"I don't like it either," Garak added, looking around warily. "It's like the dead are watching us."
Seraphine remained silent, her eyes scanning every corner. "There's magic here," she said softly. "Old magic. Powerful enough to twist the very air we breathe."
Kaelen nodded, his grip tightening around his weapon. He could feel the weight of the power surrounding them, pressing in from all sides. It wasn't just a physical barrier—it was a spiritual one, as if the very walls were alive with the remnants of those who had fallen here long ago.
They continued on, their path illuminated by their torches, until they reached a large chamber at the heart of the labyrinth. The room was enormous, its ceiling lost in shadow. In the center of the chamber stood a massive stone altar, covered in ancient runes similar to those they had seen at the entrance. The air was thick with an unnatural energy, and Kaelen's storm-sensing ability flared, warning him of something dangerously close.
"The Forgotten Lord is here," Kaelen muttered, his voice tight.
Seraphine stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Not just his prison—his influence. It's strong."
Garak raised an eyebrow. "So, we're dealing with a god-level threat. No big deal, right?"
Kaelen shot him a look, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. "Just stay focused, Garak."
As they approached the altar, the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. The runes on the altar glowed brighter, their energy pulsing in sync with the rhythm of the tremors. Kaelen felt a coldness settle into his bones as the presence of the Forgotten Lord began to stir, the ancient magic pulling at him, trying to find a way to escape its prison.
And then, in the eerie silence that followed, a voice echoed through the chamber, deep and rumbling like the very earth itself.
"You dare enter my domain?"
Kaelen's heart pounded in his chest as the ground cracked open beneath their feet. The altar began to rise, its stones shifting as the power of the Forgotten Lord surged to life.
"We didn't come to listen to threats," Kaelen said, his voice steady despite the overwhelming force gathering before him. "We came to make sure you stay where you belong."
A dark laugh reverberated through the chamber. "Foolish mortals. You cannot defeat what is already eternal."
The battle was about to begin.
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