Cire's fall ended with a sudden plunge into freezing water. He was submerged, flailing in the dark, struggling to stay afloat. His legs, lifeless and unmoving, offered no aid, and the cold quickly sapped his strength. Panic gripped him as water filled his lungs.
'Am I going to die here?' The thought whispered through his mind. 'Maybe… maybe it's better this way.'
He stopped struggling, his body sinking into the icy depths. Just as the darkness seemed ready to claim him, a piece of clothing floated into view. Tucked within it was something strange—like a finger, but not a human one. It was larger, thicker, and unnervingly alien. His father's words echoed faintly in his mind. ' My birthday gift '
The memory reignited something deep within him. What am I doing? Giving up? After everything they did for me? No. I have to survive. At least… until my birthday.
Cire forced his arms to move, thrashing against the water. But he didn't know how to swim, and his limbs grew heavier every second. The cold numbed him, and despair crept back. I'm sorry… Mom, Dad, Sergei, Todd. I've wasted your sacrifice. Please… someone… help me.
The light in his eyes dimmed, fading into oblivion.
Then, a radiant light erupted from nowhere, blinding him and flooding the cave with brilliance. Cire's body was lifted from the water, weightless as if cradled by an invisible force. His gray eyes adjusted to the glow, revealing an astonishing sight: a massive underground chamber, its walls carved with ancient runes. Six towering statues surrounded the now-drained lake, each depicting a dragon with intricate detail.
One statue stood out—it was damaged, its surface marred by cracks. Beneath it, an inscription caught his eye. Though some words were obscured, he could still make out part of the text:
"I am spoken in whispers or shouted in hope,
As light as a feather but heavy to cope.
I am sought by the desperate, the dreamer, the wise,
Yet I vanish in smoke or take to the skies."
Cire stared at the words, his heart racing. He looked toward the lake's center, where the mysterious finger-like object shone brighter than ever. Understanding dawned on him. "It's a wish," he whispered.
As if responding, the light intensified, shooting toward the empty seventh pedestal. The cavern trembled, and the water evaporated, revealing a spiral staircase leading toward the statues. Below, Cire saw them—monstrous figures, grotesque and otherworldly. They were statues, frozen mid-charge, their twisted forms overlapping as if scrambling to ascend.
A chill ran down his spine. The creatures resembled no animal he had ever seen: wolves with skeletal faces, serpentine beasts with jagged scales and abominations—a fusion of human and animal parts that felt wrong to even look at.
'They're not moving… right?' He stared at them for what felt like an eternity, his breathing shallow. When he was confident they were still, he turned his attention to the staircase ahead.
'Is this some kind of test?' He clenched his fists, frustration mounting. 'I need to get out of here.'
Crawling toward the stairs, Cire hoisted himself onto the first step. The effort was immense, his body trembling with each movement. A low rustle from behind made his blood run cold. No… He glanced back and saw cracks forming on the statues of the monstrous creatures.
'Blast!!' His mind raced as he clawed upward, dragging himself step by step. The air grew heavier with each ascent, an invisible pressure pressing down on him like a mountain. Three steps remained, but his body refused to move.
White particles began to float around him, glowing like snowflakes yet radiating an overwhelming energy. He reached out to touch them but found himself frozen in place. The silence shattered with an ear-splitting screech from below.
"SCREEEEEE!"
'Blast, blast, blast!' Panic surged through him. Desperately, he focused on the glowing particles, willing them to move with his mind. To his astonishment, they responded, fusing together into a radiant orb that drifted toward his chest. When it touched him, a searing pain coursed through his body, followed by an overwhelming surge of power.
With renewed strength, Cire propelled himself to the top of the stairs. He turned just in time to see the monstrous statues cracking apart, their forms shifting as if ready to spring to life.
A voice boomed in his head, loud yet soothing, harmonious yet commanding. "Mmm… that will do. Rest now, child."
Before he could respond, Cire's vision blurred, and darkness claimed him once more.