The fall seemed endless.
Aric's arms flailed instinctively, his sword lost somewhere in the tumbling chaos. The faint glow of the battlefield above grew smaller, swallowed by the chasm's endless dark. Wind howled past his ears, a cold, biting gale that carried whispers in a language he didn't understand.
Then, suddenly, gravity shifted. His descent slowed, like plunging into deep water, and the air around him grew thick and oppressive. He landed with a jarring thud on a cold, uneven surface, the impact driving the breath from his lungs.
Pain flared in his shoulder as he rolled onto his back, gasping for air. Above him, the abyss stretched endlessly, its walls illuminated by faint veins of light that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Still alive, knight?"
The voice came from behind him, sharp and taunting. Aric sat up slowly, ignoring the ache in his ribs, and turned to see Kael standing a few paces away. The villain's fiery eyes burned brighter here, casting eerie shadows on the walls. He looked no worse for wear despite their battle, though his injured side was streaked with dark ichor.
Aric forced himself to his feet, his legs shaky beneath him. "What is this place?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Kael glanced around, his expression unreadable. "You tell me," he said, flexing his massive hands. "You woke it."
The ground beneath them trembled slightly, as if stirred by their presence. Aric could feel it now—a low hum resonating through the stone, pulsing in rhythm with the veins of light. The air was charged with an energy that set his teeth on edge.
"We shouldn't be here," Aric muttered, gripping his empty scabbard. He felt naked without his sword, its comforting weight conspicuously absent.
Kael chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "Afraid, knight? The great Aric Thane, hero of the realm, afraid of a little darkness?"
Aric glared at him but said nothing. He scanned the cavern for any sign of an exit, but the space stretched endlessly in all directions, the pulsing light offering little solace.
"Mock me all you want, Kael," Aric said finally, his voice steady despite the knot in his chest. "But even you can't deny this place feels… wrong."
Kael didn't respond immediately. He was staring at the ground, his expression unusually grim. "You're not wrong, knight," he admitted after a moment, his voice quieter. "This place is alive."
As if in response to his words, the hum grew louder, reverberating through the cavern. The veins of light brightened, casting strange, shifting patterns on the walls. A cold wind swept through the space, carrying those same eerie whispers that had haunted Aric during their fall.
"We need to keep moving," Aric said, forcing himself into motion. He ignored the throbbing pain in his limbs and began walking, his eyes scanning for any sign of a path.
Kael hesitated, his fiery eyes narrowing. "Don't think this makes us allies, Thane."
Aric didn't look back. "We'll see how long you hold onto that sentiment."
The two enemies moved cautiously through the cavern, their footsteps echoing eerily in the vast space. The light veins seemed to guide them, their glow shifting subtly as they walked.
After what felt like hours, they came to a towering doorway carved into the stone. The massive double doors were engraved with intricate symbols that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Aric reached out to touch the surface, his fingers brushing against the cold, smooth stone.
The whispers grew louder, forming half-words that teased the edge of understanding. Kael stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the engravings.
"This is no ordinary place," Kael muttered, his tone more subdued than Aric had ever heard.
"Nothing about this is ordinary," Aric replied.
The ground shuddered violently, and a deep, guttural roar echoed from somewhere behind them. Aric turned sharply, his instincts screaming danger.
"We're not alone," Kael growled, stepping back from the doorway. His fists ignited with crimson flames, the light casting menacing shadows on the walls.
From the darkness emerged a shape—a massive, lumbering creature with jagged, stone-like skin and glowing eyes that matched the veins in the walls. It moved with deliberate purpose, each step shaking the ground.
Aric's heart pounded in his chest as he reached for his sword, only to remember it was gone. He glanced at Kael, who was already preparing for battle, his fists burning brighter.
"For once, I'm glad you're here," Aric said, his voice tinged with grim humor.
Kael smirked, his fiery eyes locking onto the advancing creature. "Try not to die too quickly, knight. I'd hate to lose my favorite punching bag."
The creature roared, the sound deafening, and charged.