The faint glow of enchanted lanterns illuminated the narrow corridors of the Spire's lower levels. Unlike the grandeur of the upper halls, where tamers and their beasts proudly roamed wide, arched pathways, the lower levels felt cramped, forgotten, and humming with mystery. The walls were carved from smooth, black stone that shimmered faintly in the low light, as though veins of magic ran through the very rock itself.
Azhaan's footsteps echoed faintly as he descended deeper into the labyrinthine passages, the sound swallowed quickly by the damp, still air. Shade moved beside him, its red eyes casting faint flickers of light across the stone. The bond between them pulsed faintly with curiosity, an echo of Azhaan's own unease.
The underground network stretched far beyond the market he had visited the day before, with tunnels branching off into shadowy paths that seemed to lead nowhere. Yet, the faint hum of magic lingered everywhere, a constant reminder that this place wasn't as abandoned as it seemed.
Azhaan paused at a junction, where the path split into three directions. Above each archway, glowing runes marked the way, their soft light pulsing in rhythmic waves. He frowned, trying to decipher their meaning.
"Do you even know where you're going?" a familiar voice cut through the silence.
Azhaan turned to see Kaela stepping out from one of the shadowy paths. She leaned casually against the wall, her silver hair catching the faint glow of the runes. Lirian perched on her shoulder, its crystalline wings folded neatly as it regarded Azhaan with an almost smug expression.
"I thought you said you'd stay out of this," Azhaan muttered, trying to mask his embarrassment.
Kaela smirked. "And let you get lost in the maze under the Spire? Not a chance. This place has swallowed rookies like you whole."
Azhaan glanced back at the glowing runes. "What do these even mean? They look like… directions?"
Kaela stepped closer, her eyes scanning the markings. "They're old tamers' runes. Leftovers from when this part of the Spire was used for training recruits centuries ago. Each path leads to a different wing of the lower levels."
She pointed to the leftmost archway, where the runes glowed faintly blue. "That leads to the Arcane Archives. It's mostly sealed off now, but some of the instructors use it for research."
Her hand shifted to the middle path, where the runes glowed a deep green. "This one goes to the Beast Crypts. That's where they used to store relics and remains of ancient beasts. Nobody goes there anymore, but some say the magic down there never truly faded."
Finally, she gestured to the rightmost archway, where the runes glowed a faint gold. "And that leads to the Foundry—a workshop where they used to craft gear and tools for tamers. It's still partially active, but only the senior staff have access to the main forge."
Azhaan stared at the paths, his curiosity piqued. "So why is this part of the Spire even open to students? If it's so abandoned, why not seal it off?"
Kaela shrugged. "Tradition, maybe. Or maybe they want people like you to get lost and toughen up."
Kaela led the way down the rightmost path, the golden runes flickering faintly as they passed. The air grew warmer as they descended, the faint hum of machinery replacing the stillness of the upper corridors.
The Foundry wasn't entirely abandoned. Azhaan could hear the faint clinking of metal against metal and the occasional whoosh of air, like the sound of bellows fanning a fire.
The corridor opened into a large chamber, where the walls glowed faintly with runes that seemed to pulse in time with the machinery. Long, stone tables lined the edges of the room, covered in tools and half-finished artifacts. At the center of the chamber stood a massive forge, its heart glowing with a golden flame that flickered but never seemed to waver.
A handful of figures moved about the room—students and staff alike. Most were tamers, their beasts standing watch as they worked on their projects. Azhaan noticed one tamer bending over an anvil, hammering a shard of crystal into a blade that shimmered faintly with magical energy. Beside him, a massive hound-like beast with silver fur and glowing blue eyes stood guard, its presence both intimidating and strangely calming.
Kaela gestured to the forge. "This is one of the few active places in the lower levels. The Foundry's still used for crafting gear and tools, but only if you can get permission from an instructor. Most students don't even bother coming here."
Azhaan frowned, his gaze lingering on the glowing flame at the forge's center. "What about that? What kind of flame burns like that without going out?"
Kaela's expression turned serious. "That's the Eternal Ember. It's what keeps this place running. The Spire's older than most people realize, and that flame is said to be as old as the Spire itself. Nobody knows how it works, but without it, the Foundry wouldn't exist."
Azhaan nodded, filing the information away. He couldn't help but feel a faint sense of awe at the sheer history of the place.
As they moved deeper into the Foundry, Azhaan's attention was drawn to a small alcove along the wall. Inside, a series of tablets were displayed, their surfaces etched with ancient runes and illustrations of beasts.
Kaela noticed his interest and stepped closer. "Those are relics from the old days. They tell stories of the first tamers—how they formed bonds with beasts and discovered the art of evolution."
Azhaan traced a finger along one of the tablets, his eyes scanning the intricate carvings. One image showed a tamer standing beside a massive serpent-like beast, their hands raised as if performing a ritual. Beneath the image, the runes glowed faintly, their meanings lost to time.
"Ever wonder how it all started?" Azhaan asked quietly.
Kaela tilted her head, her gaze thoughtful. "The bond between tamers and beasts is ancient, older than the Spire, older than any of the guilds. Some say it was a gift from the First Tamer, others think it's just nature. Whatever the truth is, it's been passed down through centuries."
Azhaan nodded, his thoughts drifting to Shade. The Shadow Stalker watched from a distance, its red eyes glowing faintly as it stood in the golden light of the forge.
"We'll figure it out," Azhaan said softly, more to himself than anyone else.
Kaela smirked. "You'd better. The academy doesn't have much patience for slow learners."
Azhaan chuckled, shaking his head. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
As they left the Foundry, the faint hum of machinery fading into the distance, Kaela turned to Azhaan. "If you're serious about evolution, you should talk to Miren again. She's one of the few instructors who knows how to work with rare materials like the Shadow Obsidian. And if you're lucky, she might even let you use the forge."
Azhaan nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Kaela smirked. "Good. You're going to need that attitude if you want to survive here."
As they made their way back to the dormitories, Azhaan couldn't help but feel a faint spark of hope. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, he felt like he was starting to find his footing.