The silence that followed Leon's death was deafening. The oppressive weight of the cave's presence lifted almost immediately, replaced by a strange stillness that felt unnatural.
Mikel's dagger slipped from his trembling hand, clattering against the cold stone floor. Lyra stood frozen, her blade still slick with Leon's blood, the faint glow of the runes around them now fading into a dull gray.
No one moved.
Fiona's voice broke the silence. "Leon…" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She dropped to her knees beside his crumpled form, her hands shaking as she reached for him.
"We can save him!" she cried, her voice rising in desperation. "We just need to—"
"Stop."
Professor Althea's voice was sharp and commanding, cutting through the group's panic. She stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Fiona's shoulder. "It's too late."
Fiona stared at her, wide-eyed and uncomprehending, before turning her gaze back to Leon's still body.
Before anyone could speak, a familiar, sinister voice echoed through the cavern, dripping with satisfaction.
"Ah, at last!" it exclaimed, its tone filled with maniacal glee. "I am free! Free!"
The runes along the walls flared to life one last time, their light flickering wildly as the ground beneath them began to tremble. Cracks spread across the stone floor, and pieces of the cavern ceiling started to fall, crashing around them.
"Run!" Althea barked, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The group didn't need to be told twice. Fiona stumbled to her feet, Rurik pulling her along as they fled toward the tunnel they had entered through. Mikel and Lyra exchanged a brief, horrified glance before following, their legs moving mechanically as their minds reeled from what they had done.
Behind them, the voice continued to laugh, its tone growing louder and more unhinged.
"Yes… yes!" it cried. "You've given me the key, and now nothing will stop me from—"
The laughter abruptly stopped.
"What?" the voice hissed, its earlier glee replaced by confusion. "What is this?"
The ground shuddered violently, and the glowing runes along the walls began to disintegrate, crumbling into specks of dust that drifted into the air like ash.
"No… no, this isn't right," the voice muttered, its tone rising in panic. "Where is it? Where is the corpse?!"
Mikel stumbled, his heart pounding as he glanced back over his shoulder. Leon's body—only moments ago lying still on the cavern floor—was gone. Only the bloodstains remained, dark and glistening against the stone.
"This isn't possible!" the voice roared, its fury shaking the walls. "The vessel... the key! Where did it go?!"
The cavern began collapsing in earnest, the floor cracking and shifting beneath their feet as massive chunks of the ceiling rained down. The faint light of the runes had vanished entirely, plunging the group into near darkness save for the faint glow of Althea's staff.
"Keep moving!" Althea shouted, her voice strained as she conjured a barrier to deflect falling debris.
Mikel's legs burned as he ran, his thoughts a chaotic swirl of guilt and confusion. Lyra ran beside him, her face pale and her breathing ragged.
Behind them, the voice's tone grew more frantic, its earlier confidence replaced by despair.
"No!" it cried, its maniacal edge replaced by something almost pitiful. "This was my chance—my only chance!"
The group reached the final stretch of the tunnel, the distant glow of sunlight visible at the end. The ground heaved beneath them, and a deafening roar echoed through the cavern as the walls themselves began to disintegrate.
"Move faster!" Rurik shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
The group burst into the open air just as the cave behind them collapsed entirely, the entrance sealing itself as if it had never been there.
They stood panting in the clearing, their bodies trembling from exertion and fear. The sunlight felt harsh after the darkness of the cave, its warmth a cruel contrast to the cold, suffocating guilt that hung over them.
As they caught their breath, the voice returned one last time, echoing faintly in the air around them. Its earlier confidence and fury were gone, replaced by a sorrowful, broken tone.
"How...?" it murmured, more to itself than to them. "How did the corpse vanish? What force... what magic could have done this?"
The voice let out a bitter laugh, its tone dripping with despair.
"You've taken even this from me," it said quietly. "This was my escape... my freedom... and now it is gone. All because of him."
The group stood frozen, their breaths shallow as the voice continued.
"Enjoy your lives while you can," it whispered, its tone growing fainter. "I may be trapped, but I am not done with you. Not yet."
And then, the voice was gone.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The clearing was silent save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Fiona broke the silence first, turning to Mikel and Lyra with fire in her eyes. "You heard it, didn't you?" she demanded. "The voice. You knew it was there, and you still—"
"Enough," Althea said sharply, cutting Fiona off. She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the group. "This isn't the time for accusations."
Fiona opened her mouth to argue but closed it again, her hands clenched into fists.
Althea turned to Mikel and Lyra, her expression unreadable. "What were those artifacts?" she asked quietly.
Without a word, Lyra reached into her bag and pulled out the dagger and the amulet, both of which pulsed faintly with a dark, unnatural energy. She handed them to Althea, her hands trembling.
"They're cursed," Lyra said, her voice hollow. "The voice gave them to us... after Leon." She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Althea studied the items for a moment before nodding. "We'll deal with these at the academy. For now, we need to return and report everything we've seen."
The walk back to the academy was a blur. The group moved in silence, their faces pale and their eyes hollow. The weight of what had happened hung over them like a dark cloud, each step heavier than the last.
Mikel kept his head down, his thoughts replaying the moment he had plunged the knife into Leon's chest. Lyra walked beside him, her expression unreadable, but the slight tremble in her hands betrayed the storm raging within her.
Fiona and Rurik walked ahead, their silence filled with tension. Fiona's eyes burned with anger, while Rurik's were clouded with confusion and guilt.
As the academy gates came into view, Althea stopped and turned to the group.
"What happened in that cave cannot stay buried," she said quietly. "We will speak to the headmaster and ensure this is dealt with. But you must all be prepared for what is to come. This isn't over."
No one responded.
The group entered the academy grounds, the weight of their secrets pressing down on them as they disappeared into the halls.