As they ventured deeper into the mysterious passage, the group's unease grew. The castle's interior was unlike anything they'd seen before - ancient, rugged, and foreboding.
"Yo, guys, why didn't you tell me your family's castle can do that?" Mikeal asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
No one responded, their focus fixed on navigating the darkness.
Kendrik led the way, his steps with cautious. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay.
The walls, made of rough-hewn grey stone, seemed to belong to a bygone era. The absence of electricity or any modern illumination forced the ground to rely on Kendrik's guidance.
"Anyone with light or fire magic would be really helpful right now," Mikeal whispered.
His suggestion fell on deaf ears, as the others were too engrossed in their own fears.
The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
As they descended the seemingly endless stairs, a faint, unsettling noise drifted up from below.
"What the hell is that?" Mikeal panicked, his voice trembling.
The group silenced him with a collective "Shhh!"
Mikeal whispered again, his anxiety palpable, "Okay, sorry, but what the hell was that?"
The sound grew louder, its nature still unclear, but unmistakably menacing.
Kendrik halted, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
"Wait," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "Let's proceed with caution."
The group froze, their hearts pounding in unison.
Kendrik blindly felt the walls, desperate for a light source. "Damnit!" he muttered.
Recalling Rumbus' words, "The map will show you what you need to know when you need to know it." Kendrik's eyes widened. He rummaged through his bag, retrieved the map, and unfolded it.
"I hope this works," he whispered, removing the rubber band.
As the map opened, blinding light illuminated the dark passage. Kendrik saw something that made him hastily refold the map.
"Okay, guys, I don't mean to alarm you, but I think we've crashed a slumber party," Kendrik warned, his voice barely audible.
Jakob and Mikeal exchanged skeptical glances.
"What are you talking about?" Jakob asked.
Kendrik pointed upward, but the darkness obscured his gesture.
Tomaso facing up, whispered, "Guys, there's something above us."
Mikeal's voice rose. "Huh?"
Kendrik urged silence. "We're in the Shallows' nest. Be quiet."
Jakob and Mikeal scoffed. "Yeah, right!"
"Oh really?"
Kendrik unfolded the map slightly, revealing a faint sparkling light. The sight about made Mikeal shriek, and Jakob swiftly covered his mouth.
The group froze, paralyzed by the horror above.
Mikeal's adrenaline-fueled panic sent him sprinting down the stairs, Jakob hot on his heels. "Mikeal!" Jakob shouted.
Kendrik knew they had to be silenced before they awakened the Shallows. He ordered the recruits to stay back and chased after the duo.
Without the map's light, Kendrik relied on instinct, his feet pounding the stairs. Fear and adrenaline numbed his exhaustion.
Finally, he reached Jakob and Mikeal, who stood frozen, their gazes fixed on something.
"Guys, are you okay? What's wrong?" Kendrik asked, approaching cautiously.
Neither responded, their silence sending a chill down Kendrik's spine.
As he drew closer, Kendrik's heart pounded, his hands shaking. He followed their gaze, his fear spreading.
What caught their attention?
Kendrik's eyes adjusted to the darkness, and he saw...
As Kendrik followed Jakob and Mikeal's gaze, the vast, eerie chamber unfolded before him. Grey stone pillars, reminiscent of the stone age, supported the structure, while unlit torches hung between them like skeletal fingers.
Six massive, angelic statues encircled the centre, their faces twisted in anguish. A large, bowl-like depression connected to each statue via six lines, forming a sinister hexagon. Symbols etched into the ancient cement floor pulsed with malevolent energy.
"By the gods..." Kendrik whispered.
Tomaso tumbled down the stairs, followed by the battered recruits. The Shallows, awakened by Mikeal's panicked flight, crawled from the stairs, walls, and ceiling, their twisted forms converging on the struggling group.
Jakob and Mikeal remained transfixed, horror-glazed eyes fixed on the ritual circle.
Kendrik sprinted toward Tomaso and the recruits, his sword at the ready. The Shallows closed in, their twisted forms writhing like living darkness.
"Tomaso, get up!" Kendrik should, trying to inspire his fallen comrades.
The recruits stumbled, bruised and battered, as the Shallows closed in.
"Form a defensive circle!" Kendrik yelled.
The recruits scrambled to obey, but their injuries hindered the movements.
The Shallows, sensing weakness, quickened their pace.
But instead of attacking the vulnerable recruits, the Shallows converged on Jakob and Mikeal, still frozen in terror.
"Jakob! Mikeal! Snap out of it! Kendrik shouted.
The Shallows on the ceiling screeched, their claws scraping against the stone as they crawled toward Kendrik's brothers.
Yet, none dared approach the sinister hexagon. They screeched and recoiled, as if an unseen barrier protected the dark ritual site.
A figure materialized within the defensive circle. "You're going to be a problem, aren't you?" he said, his voice dripping with malice.
Before Kendrik could react, the stranger transported him back to the hexagon.
Kendrik's sword flashed in the dim light, striking the individual without warning.
But his attack barely registered. The individual vanished reappearing beside Kendrik, his hand clamping onto Kendrik's shoulder like a vice.
"How do you expect to touch me when you don't even have an itsy bit of magic in you, boy?" The individual's voice was sinister, calm, and deep.
Kendrik wrenched free, his heart racing. He struck the individual's neck, feeling a satisfying crunch.
But his triumph was short-lived.
As Kendrik prepared to aid Tomaso and the recruits, he saw the individual's head twist back into place, the cracking of his neck reversing.
The individual's hand shot out, slamming into Kendrik's face. "And where do you think you're going?"
Kendrik flew through the wall, his body trembling like a leaf. The impact left him gasping, struggling to breathe.
As the smoke cleared, Kendrik watched in horror as the individual casually adjusted his neck, the cracking sound confirming the impossible: he had healed.
The individual's eyes locked onto Kendrik, his gaze piercing.
"They told me you were going to be fun," he said, his voice dripping with malevolence.
Kendrik struggled to stand, using his sword as a crutch. His body trembled with pain, old wounds screaming in protest.
"Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you," Kendrik said, gritting his teeth.
The individual's eyes narrowed, impressed by Kendrik's defiance.
"So, are you going to stand there and look cute or are we doing this or what?" Kendrik taunted, sword trembling in his hand.
The individual grinned, forming fists. With a burst of speed, he lunged at Kendrik.
Kendrik dogded instinctively, avoid the strike by a mere inches. The individual crashed into the same wall he had sent Kendrik into, the impact resounding the chamber.
Seizing the opportunity, Kendrik sprinted toward the stunned individual. With a fierce cry, he plunged his sword into the individual's heart.
The force of the blow surprised Kendrik. His sword pierced the individual's chest, exiting through the stone wall behind.
Kendrik stumbled back, panting. The individual's eyes widened, shock freezing his face.
As the individual slumped, Kendrik realized the extent of his strength. He had single-handedly taken down a powerful foe, despite his non-magic status.
But at what cost?
Kendrik's vision blurred, exhaustion and pain overwhelming him.
Kendrik's vision blurred, and he felt an intense pain in his chest. He looked down to see a sword lodged in his heart, blood pouring from his mouth.
A familiar voice spoke from behind him, "You claim to be the strongest Shallow, yet again you were defeated by a mere human with zero magic."
Another voice scoffed, "Pathetic."
As Kendrik's senses returned, he saw the individual he had stabbed earlier freeing himself from the sword lodged in the wall.
The individual walked toward Kendrik, joining the two familiar voices. Kendrik's gaze followed, and his heart sank as he realised who the voices belonged to - Jakob and Mikeal.
They stood beside the individual, their eyes fixed on Kendrik with an unnerving intensity.
Mikeal spoke, his devoid of emotion, "So what about him?"
The individual turned to Jakob, awaiting instructions.
Jakob's response sent chills down Kendrik's spine, "I'll handle him. You guys take care of those annoying recruits."
Mikeal and the individual obeyed, walking toward Tomaso and the recruits. The Shallows parted, allowing them to pass.
Kendrik watched in horror as Mikeal slaughtered Tomaso, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. The individual devoured the other recruits, their screams echoing through the chamber.
Jakob's voice drew Kendrik's attention back to him. "Don't focus on them, brother. Focus on me."
Jakob's eyes locked onto Kendrik's, his gaze piercing and unsettling.