The silence that followed the fall of the stone golem was thick with tension, broken only by the echo of their breathing. The group stood amidst the rubble, the dust settling in the cold air. Calen's heart still raced from the fight, but as he took in the sight of the crumbling ruin, something deep inside him stirred.
The remnants of the stone creature lay at their feet, a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in the ancient mountain. But it wasn't just the golem that had captured his attention. The symbols on the pillar, now dim, seemed to pulse faintly in the fading light. There was something about them, something unsettling.
"We should keep moving," Ronan said, sheathing his sword and scanning their surroundings. His voice, though firm, held a note of wariness. "We're not alone here."
Calen could feel it too—like an invisible presence watching from the shadows, waiting for something. He glanced at Vera, who was studying the stone pillar with narrowed eyes.
"Vera," Calen said hesitantly, "what exactly is this place?"
Vera turned toward him, her expression unreadable. "This is an ancient site, older than the empire itself. The symbols on the pillar… they're part of an old magic. A kind of forgotten power." She paused, her gaze flickering to the distant peaks. "Something the empire is desperate to find."
"Why?" Calen asked, his curiosity piqued. "What makes it so important?"
Vera shook her head, her eyes darkening. "I don't know all the details, but the empire's always been obsessed with control. If they're after this place, it's because they want to harness whatever power it holds."
Seris stepped forward, her silver eyes scanning the surroundings. "We don't have time for more questions. The wind's shifting. We need to keep moving."
Calen hesitated, his thoughts still on the pillar. "What if we're walking right into a trap?"
"That's a risk we'll have to take," Ronan replied. "But we'll be ready. We have to find out what's hidden here before the empire does."
The group pressed forward, navigating through the winding corridors of the ruin. The air grew colder as they descended deeper into the heart of the structure. With each step, the sense of foreboding grew stronger.
The walls were lined with more of the strange symbols, but they were less defined now, worn down by the passage of time. The ground beneath their feet felt unstable, as though the ruin itself was slowly crumbling.
They reached a large, open chamber, the ceiling lost in shadows above them. At the center of the room stood a massive stone door, adorned with more of the glowing symbols.
"This is it," Vera said, her voice low. "The heart of the ruin."
Ronan's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword. "Are we sure we want to open it?"
"I don't think we have much of a choice," Vera replied. "If we want answers, this is the only way."
Calen felt a knot form in his stomach as they approached the door. He could feel the hum of magic in the air, thick and oppressive. It was as if the stone itself was alive, breathing, waiting for something.
Vera stepped forward, placing her hand on the door. The symbols glowed brighter in response, and the ground trembled beneath them. For a moment, it seemed as though the door might open on its own, but then it stopped.
"That's odd," Vera muttered, frowning. "This should have triggered the mechanism."
Seris raised an eyebrow. "Maybe it's not just about power. Maybe we need something else."
"What do you mean?" Calen asked, confused.
Seris's silver eyes glinted in the dim light. "What if this isn't just a test of strength? What if it's a test of magic?"
Vera's eyes narrowed in thought. "A test of magic…"
Calen's mind whirred. Could the door be connected to his own magic? His heart skipped a beat. It was as though the ancient structure was somehow calling to him. He stepped closer to the door, his hand hovering above the surface.
"This could be a mistake," Ronan warned, his voice tense.
But Calen wasn't listening. He felt something stir within him—a spark of power, wild and untamed, thrumming beneath his skin. He reached out, placing his palm against the stone.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sudden rush of wind and a deep, resonant hum, the door began to move. Slowly, creaking like an old ship, it shifted open.
The air in the chamber seemed to grow even colder, and an eerie silence fell over them as the door creaked fully open, revealing what lay beyond.
What they saw made Calen's breath catch in his throat.
Inside the chamber was a massive stone altar, its surface covered in strange runes and carvings. Surrounding it were dozens of statues, each one frozen in an unnatural pose, their eyes staring vacantly into the room. But it wasn't the statues that caught Calen's attention.
Atop the altar lay a dark, pulsing crystal, its surface swirling with dark energy. The air around it seemed to shimmer, like heat rising from the surface of a fire.
Vera's voice broke the silence. "This is it," she whispered. "The heart of the power the empire is after."
Calen took a cautious step forward. The closer he got, the stronger the pull of the crystal became. It was as if it was calling to him, urging him to come closer, to claim it.
"Calen," Ronan said sharply, his voice filled with concern. "Don't touch it."
But Calen couldn't resist. The pull was too strong.
With a shaky breath, he reached out, his fingers brushing the surface of the crystal.
The moment his skin made contact, a surge of energy shot through him. His mind was flooded with visions—images of distant lands, of armies marching, of faces he didn't recognize. It was as if the entire history of the world was flashing before his eyes.
Then, as quickly as it began, the visions stopped.
Calen stumbled back, gasping for breath. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands trembled from the overwhelming energy he had just experienced.
"Are you alright?" Seris asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I—" Calen started, but his words faltered. He could still feel the pull of the crystal, as if it was now a part of him.
Vera, who had been watching silently, spoke up. "The crystal has chosen you, Calen. But you're not the only one who will feel its call."
As the words sank in, a distant sound echoed through the ruin. A low, rumbling growl, like the growl of a beast awoken from slumber.
The empire had found them.