The ruins loomed before Kael, their cracked stones and etched runes seeming to breathe with an unseen energy. The air felt thick here, charged with something primal. Every step he took was deliberate, his instincts sharpening as he approached the threshold.
The rune in his chest pulsed faintly, a steady rhythm that matched his heartbeat. It wasn't painful, but it was insistent, like a voice whispering in the back of his mind.
"You brought me here," Kael muttered under his breath, gripping his spear tightly. "Now let's see why."
He stepped into the ruins, the temperature dropping noticeably as he crossed the threshold. The vines that had overtaken the outer walls seemed to recoil slightly, their tendrils pulling back as if unwilling to venture inside.
The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint echo of his footsteps. The rune's pulse quickened.
Kael hadn't gone more than ten steps when he felt it—a subtle shift in the air, as if the very fabric of reality had rippled around him.
He froze, his eyes scanning the chamber. The walls were adorned with ancient runes, their shapes unfamiliar yet oddly mesmerizing. They glowed faintly, their light pulsating in time with the rune in his chest.
A low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing moment. Kael's grip on his spear tightened as a sudden burst of energy erupted from the floor.
A barrier of shimmering light sprang up behind him, sealing the entrance.
"Figures," Kael muttered, turning back toward the chamber.
The hum grew louder, and from the shadows emerged the first trial. A creature stepped into the dim light—a golem, its body forged of jagged stone and glowing veins of molten energy. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light as it locked onto Kael.
Kael didn't hesitate. He darted to the side as the golem swung a massive arm, its strike smashing into the ground with enough force to send shards of stone flying.
His spear lashed out, striking the golem's arm. The tip scraped harmlessly against its rocky surface.
"Of course you're tougher than you look," Kael growled, dodging another swing.
The rune pulsed again, this time stronger. A faint warmth spread through Kael's body, his movements feeling more fluid, his mind sharper.
Kael ducked beneath another swing, his eyes narrowing as he noticed something—cracks forming along the golem's joints. The creature was strong but not invincible.
He focused his strikes, aiming for the vulnerable points. Each blow chipped away at the golem's armor, the cracks spreading with every hit.
The golem roared, its movements growing more erratic as Kael pressed the attack. Finally, with a well-placed strike to its knee, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into a pile of rubble.
Kael stepped back, breathing heavily. The rune in his chest pulsed once more, a faint glow spreading from his chest to his hands.
"Still useful," he muttered, glancing at his glowing palms before the light faded.
The barrier sealing the entrance vanished, and the chamber grew quiet again. Kael took a moment to catch his breath before pressing onward.
The next chamber was larger, its walls lined with shelves that had long since decayed. Fragments of books and scrolls littered the floor, their pages yellowed and brittle with age.
Kael moved cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of traps or threats. The rune's steady pulse offered no warning, though he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
His gaze fell on a pedestal in the center of the room. Atop it rested a single book, its leather cover surprisingly intact. The air around it shimmered faintly, a sign of the protective enchantments guarding it.
Kael approached the pedestal, his spear at the ready. As he reached out, a burst of energy erupted from the floor. Runes lit up around the room, their glow forming intricate patterns that pulsed with arcane power.
The air grew heavy, and Kael felt a sharp pressure against his chest. The runes around him began to move, their light coalescing into a humanoid figure.
The construct stood tall, its form made entirely of glowing energy. Its "eyes" locked onto Kael, and without warning, it attacked.
Kael barely had time to react as a blast of energy streaked toward him. He rolled to the side, the projectile exploding against the ground where he had stood moments before.
The construct moved with unnatural speed, its attacks relentless. Kael could feel the rune within him reacting, its energy coursing through his veins.
He dodged another blast, his spear lashing out in a desperate counterattack. The weapon struck the construct, but instead of solid resistance, it passed through harmlessly.
Kael cursed under his breath. "Of course it's not that easy."
The construct pressed its attack, forcing Kael to rely on his speed and agility to avoid its strikes. He realized quickly that brute force wouldn't work here.
As he dodged another attack, Kael's gaze fell on the glowing runes that had formed the construct. They pulsed faintly, their rhythm matching the rune in his chest.
A realization struck him.
Kael focused on the rune within him, willing its energy to flow. A faint warmth spread through his body, his mind sharpening as he attuned himself to the construct's rhythm.
The next time it attacked, Kael didn't dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, his hand outstretched. The rune in his chest flared, and the energy of the construct faltered.
Kael felt a surge of power as the rune absorbed the construct's energy. The glowing figure flickered and dissolved, its light drawn into Kael's body.
He stumbled back, his chest heaving as the energy settled within him. The room grew quiet once more, the protective runes fading into darkness.
Kael turned his attention back to the pedestal. The book was still there, untouched.
Kael approached cautiously, half-expecting another trap. When none came, he reached out and lifted the book from its pedestal.
The leather cover was cool to the touch, the faint scent of aged parchment filling his nostrils. He opened it carefully, the pages surprisingly well-preserved.
The text was written in a language Kael didn't recognize, but as he stared at the symbols, a strange sensation washed over him. The rune in his chest pulsed, and the symbols began to shift, rearranging themselves into words he could understand.
The book was a grimoire—a tome of arcane knowledge written by a long-dead sorcerer. It detailed the fundamentals of magic, from the basics of channeling energy to the advanced techniques used by master mages.
But what caught Kael's attention was a section on meditation. The grimoire described a technique used to attune oneself to the flow of magic, a method that required both focus and discipline.
Kael's lips curled into a dark smile. "Finally," he muttered.
The book also spoke of the levels of magic, each one a step closer to true mastery. It described the progression from Initiate to Adept, and eventually to the pinnacle of power: Archmage.
Kael closed the book, his mind racing. The path to power was clear, and he was ready to take the first step.