The Ashen Hollow revealed its cruelty as the second day began. The mist seemed thicker, swirling unnaturally through the ruins. Distant roars echoed across the desolate landscape, a chilling reminder that the beasts of the Hollow were waking.
Ravok crouched low beneath a crumbled archway, his crimson eyes scanning the terrain ahead. The Hollow's ambient energy hummed around him, subtly distorting the air and making his every step feel like a gamble. The ground was uneven, the ruins jagged and sharp, but Ravok moved with precision, his senses attuned to every shift in the environment.
Behind him, Lara Ironshade followed silently, her twin daggers glinting faintly in the dim light. Despite their tenuous alliance, she kept a careful distance, her sharp eyes watching both their surroundings and Ravok himself.
"This path leads to the relic cache," Lara said in a low voice, pointing to a narrow passage flanked by collapsed stone walls. "But it's a choke point. If anyone got here before us, they'd set an ambush."
Ravok nodded, his gaze narrowing. "Then we won't give them the chance."
---
Setting the Stage
Ravok moved quickly, examining the ruins for opportunities. The narrow passage was treacherous, with loose rubble on either side and jagged debris underfoot. Perfect for a trap—but not the kind Lara feared.
"We're not walking into their ambush," Ravok said, his voice calm but commanding. "We're laying our own."
Lara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're assuming there's already someone ahead?"
"There's always someone ahead," Ravok replied, his tone laced with quiet certainty. "If they're not there now, they will be soon. Either way, we take control."
Without waiting for a response, Ravok began working. He collected loose stones and shards of metal, carefully arranging them along the edges of the passage. The jagged debris would force anyone approaching to funnel into the narrowest point, where they'd have no room to maneuver.
Lara watched in silence, her sharp mind quickly catching on. "You're herding them."
Ravok smirked faintly. "Trapped animals make mistakes. We'll make sure they regret crossing this path."
---
The Waiting Game
They took positions on opposite sides of the passage, hidden in the shadows of the crumbled walls. Time dragged as they waited, the silence broken only by the occasional distant roar or the faint crackle of unstable energy. Lara's grip on her daggers was steady, but Ravok could see the tension in her posture.
"You're too calm," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ravok didn't look at her. "Calm wins battles. Panic gets you killed."
She chuckled softly. "You talk like a veteran."
"I've survived worse than this."
---
The First Prey
The sound of footsteps broke the stillness. Ravok's eyes sharpened as two figures emerged from the mist, their silhouettes flickering in the dim light. Both carried weapons—one a heavy axe, the other a spear—and their movements were cautious but confident.
Ravok's voice was a whisper. "Two targets. Focus the spearman. He's faster."
Lara nodded, her daggers shifting slightly in her hands.
The pair moved into the passage, their eyes scanning the ground for traps. They paused as they reached the narrowest point, their gazes flicking to the jagged debris that forced them closer together.
"Something's off," the spearman muttered, his voice low. "This doesn't feel right."
The axe-wielder snorted. "You're paranoid. Let's just—"
Ravok struck.
A jagged shard of stone flew through the air, slamming into the spearman's shoulder and sending him staggering backward. The axe-wielder turned, his weapon raised, but Ravok was already moving.
From the opposite side, Lara darted forward like a shadow, her daggers flashing. One blade sliced across the spearman's leg, while the other drove into his side. He fell with a cry, his weapon clattering to the ground.
The axe-wielder roared, swinging wildly at Ravok, but the narrow passage worked against him. The heavy weapon struck the wall, sending debris scattering but leaving him open. Ravok stepped in, his stolen dagger slicing across the man's exposed wrist. The axe fell, and Ravok's next strike drove the blade into the man's thigh.
The fight was over in moments.
---
Aftermath
The two attackers lay on the ground, groaning in pain. Ravok crouched beside the axe-wielder, his crimson eyes cold. "You've lost. I suggest you leave before I decide to finish this."
The man's glare was full of hate, but he nodded, dragging his injured companion as they limped away into the mist.
Lara watched them go, her expression unreadable. "You let them live."
Ravok straightened, sheathing the dagger. "Dead men don't spread fear. Let them tell the others what happens when they cross us."
She smirked faintly. "Practical. I like it."
---
The Relic Cache
They pressed on, the passage opening into a wide clearing surrounded by towering ruins. At the center, partially buried beneath rubble, was the relic cache—a chest faintly glowing with runes. The air here was heavier, charged with energy that made Ravok's skin prickle.
Lara approached cautiously, her daggers at the ready. "It's warded," she said, pointing to the faint lines of light circling the chest.
Ravok knelt, studying the runes. They were old, but not unfamiliar. Kael's fragmented memories whispered fragments of recognition, and Ravok pieced them together quickly.
"It's a containment ward," he said. "Crude, but effective. If you disrupt it the wrong way, it'll collapse—and take us with it."
Lara frowned. "And the right way?"
Ravok didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached into his pouch, pulling out one of the spirit stones he'd collected. He held it to the rune, letting the energy flow into the glowing lines.
The ward flickered, then dissolved with a faint hum. Ravok stood, brushing dust from his hands. "That."
Lara rolled her eyes. "Show-off."
Together, they opened the chest. Inside were several small relics—an intricately carved amulet, a glowing crystal shard, and a pair of metallic bracers. Each radiated power, but none revealed their secrets immediately.
"We split the haul," Lara said, already reaching for the amulet.
"Not yet," Ravok replied, his voice sharp. "We need to get out of here first. This place isn't secure."
Lara hesitated, then nodded. "Fair point. Let's move."
---
Foreshadowing the Next Threat
As they left the clearing, Ravok's senses prickled with unease. The air felt heavier, the distant sounds of the Hollow growing closer, more distinct. The trial's true dangers were stirring, and Ravok knew their presence hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Something's coming," he said, his voice low.
Lara glanced at him, her expression tightening. "Beasts?"
"Or worse," Ravok murmured, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows.
The Ashen Hollow was far from finished with them.