Darius shifted on the narrow bed, unable to sleep through the creaks and murmurs drifting from the hallway. He had grown used to late-night vigilance, but the inn's thin walls meant every footstep resonated. Lodan snored softly in the cramped space beside him, blissfully unaware of the uneasy quiet outside.
A light knock at the door broke the silence. Darius reached for his dagger, heart pounding.
"Who's there?"
Ilsa's voice sounded through the wooden panel.
"It's nearly sunrise. Thought you'd want to know. Some folk in the taproom asking about strangers."
Darius got up, unlocking the door just enough to catch a glimpse of her wary expression.
"Do they look dangerous?"
Ilsa shrugged.
"Two travelers, robed. Not stirring trouble yet, but I don't like their questions."
He thanked her, then gently shook Lodan awake.
"Time to get moving."
Lodan blinked himself into awareness.
"Already?"
"There are people downstairs asking around. Ilsa isn't sure they're friendly."
His companion rubbed his eyes.
"Then we should probably slip out before they decide to come up here."
Darius gathered his belongings, counting the remaining coins in his pouch. Just a few left.
"We can't afford another night anyway."
They descended the stairs to find the inn's small dining area mostly empty, but a hint of tension clung to the air. Ilsa stood behind the counter, pretending to polish cups while keeping a sharp eye on two hooded figures whispering at a side table. Darius noticed the faint swirl of embroidered patterns on their sleeves, reminiscent of the robed mages who had cornered him back in Blackstone. His grip tightened on the dagger.
Ilsa nodded to the door, as if urging them to leave quickly.
"Safe travels."
Darius and Lodan headed out into the cool morning street. The air smelled of damp stone and faint cooking fires. They heard no immediate footsteps following them, but Darius urged caution.
"Let's circle around a few blocks before heading to that library."
Lodan agreed with a curt nod, and they took a winding route through alleyways and quieter side streets. The sky was pale gold with the rising sun, illuminating the tops of tightly clustered buildings. Vendors and shopkeepers began to roll carts onto the main avenues, preparing for the day's business.
After a short walk, they reached a wide square where tall columns framed a structure of worn gray stone. Weathered carvings above the entrance suggested it had once been grand, but moss and cracks hinted at long neglect. A faded sign by the doorway read "City Archives," though many letters were chipped away.
Lodan frowned.
"This is the library Sella mentioned?"
Darius stepped closer to the thick oak doors.
"She said 'old library,' so I'm guessing it's the same place. Let's see if she's here."
They pushed the doors open to find a dim foyer lined with shelves. Dust motes drifted in the shafts of morning light. Rows of books stretched into a cavernous hall, though most volumes looked ancient or damaged. A single, unlit chandelier hung overhead, swaying slightly with the draft.
A hushed voice called from near a tall stack of worn tomes.
"You made it."
Sella emerged, followed by the same cloaked companion from the inn. Darius noticed that her companion was shorter, with a gentle posture. No immediate threat. He offered a guarded nod.
"We said we'd come."
She beckoned them into a secluded alcove behind a half-collapsed bookshelf. A battered wooden table stood in the corner, its surface etched with names and symbols.
"No one uses this corner anymore. You'll have privacy."
Lodan eyed Sella's companion warily.
"Who's that?"
The cloaked figure lowered the hood, revealing a boyish face and kind eyes.
"I'm Taric. Sella's brother."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"You're both here to help us?"
Sella pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Help—or at least point you in the right direction. People appear in Astrath with odd stories all the time. Some talk about orbs, strange trials… a system of sorts."
She cast a meaningful glance at Darius.
"You're not the first I've heard of, though you're the first to show up in a while."
His heartbeat quickened.
"How do you know about the orb?"
Taric spoke softly, leaning against the table.
"There are a few records in this old library—journal entries from travelers decades ago. They mentioned being tested, guided by messages only they could see. It's the same pattern you're describing."
Lodan folded his arms.
"Great. So we're just another footnote in some dusty books?"
Sella's eyes flashed with something like sympathy.
"Not if you make use of that knowledge. Look here."
She pulled a thin, worn volume from her satchel and flipped through yellowed pages. Faded ink sketches depicted a glowing sphere, nearly identical to the orb that had appeared before Darius. Lines of cramped writing followed, detailing encounters with "trials" and a requirement to "prove worth."
Darius skimmed the cramped text.
"These trials… did the travelers in these records pass them?"
Taric grimaced.
"Some claimed success, others vanished. One mentioned ascending to a higher realm, whatever that means."
Lodan's expression darkened.
"That doesn't sound reassuring."
Sella tapped a final page.
"According to this, there might be a place just beyond Astrath, an old ruin deep in the hills where some test was held. At least, that's what the traveler wrote. It could be the next step for you."
Darius considered the risk. Leaving the city to chase an ancient rumor seemed reckless. Yet staying in Astrath without more clues wouldn't solve anything.
"Where is this ruin?"
Taric produced a rough sketch of the city's outskirts.
"Follow the south trail. After a day or so, you'll see a stone arch and a path leading into the hills. The traveler said an entrance lay near a waterfall, marked by glyphs."
Lodan shifted on his feet.
"A day's travel, at least. We barely have supplies."
Sella offered a small pouch of dried rations.
"It's not much, but it should get you started."
Darius reached for it, eyes flicking from Sella to Taric.
"What do you want in return?"
A brief pause hung in the air before Sella answered.
"For now, nothing. If you do find something out there, evidence that this system isn't just a rumor come back and share what you learned. That knowledge might help others."
Lodan let out a breath.
"Sounds fair."
They spent the next few minutes poring over the map, pinpointing landmarks. Darius noted any hazards mentioned in the journal, from prowling beasts to rumored bandits. He glanced at Sella and Taric, uncertain if they could be trusted but sensing no immediate deceit.
When they finished, Sella closed the book.
"Be careful. And watch for robed strangers. Word is, certain cultists have been circling Astrath, drawn by stories of otherworldly magic."
Darius nodded.
"Thanks for the warning. We ran into a few suspicious types already."
She held his gaze.
"Then you understand the danger. Go soon, and stay alert."
They parted ways near the library's entrance. Sella and Taric disappeared into the shadows between towering shelves, while Darius and Lodan stepped back out onto the streets of Astrath. The morning had grown brighter; more people filled the roads, and the sounds of commerce mingled with distant shouts from street vendors.
Lodan studied the makeshift map.
"Should we buy supplies before leaving?"
Darius glanced at the dwindling coins in his pouch.
"We can afford a little, but not much."
They moved through the market, picking up a second waterskin and a few additional strips of dried meat. The bustling crowds jostled them from every side, making it easy to remain anonymous among so many travelers. Still, Darius kept a wary eye for any sign of the robed figures Ilsa had mentioned.
Once they had enough provisions to last a couple of days, they headed south, away from Astrath's high walls and the noise of the city. Past the gates, the road opened onto rolling plains that gradually sloped toward a distant line of hills. The sun climbed higher, bathing the land in a bright warmth that contrasted with the city's claustrophobic streets.
Lodan walked in silence for a while, squinting at the map to keep them on the right path. At length, he let out a low sigh.
"Hard to believe this is where we ended up. Yesterday we were just surviving in some inn, and now we're trekking into who-knows-where."
Darius managed a faint smile.
"I've done worse hikes. But we should stay cautious. If this ruin is tied to the system, the orb might show up again. Or someone else might be waiting."
They fell into a steady rhythm, boots crunching along a dirt road flanked by swaying grass. Occasional trees dotted the landscape, their branches casting long shadows under the midday sun. The air was fresh, carrying hints of wildflowers and distant woodsmoke.
By late afternoon, they caught sight of an old signpost leaning precariously. One arrow read
"Eastlake," another simply broken off, while a rough carving of a waterfall symbol pointed toward a narrow path. It felt like a confirmation of the journal's directions.
Lodan crouched to study the carving.
"This must be it."
Darius nodded, a flicker of resolve in his eyes.
"We follow the path until we find that waterfall. Keep your eyes open for glyphs."
They left the main road, venturing deeper into untamed land. With each step, curiosity and apprehension knotted in Darius's mind. If this ruin truly existed, it might explain why the orb—or system had brought him here. Yet the thought of encountering more robed adversaries or deadly traps made his grip on the dagger tense.
Evening shadows lengthened, and the path narrowed until it was little more than a faint trail through the underbrush. At last, they heard distant rushing water, and the faint roar grew louder with every stride. The trees parted to reveal a small canyon, steep rocky walls framing a cascade that plunged into a clear pool below.
Lodan took in the view with cautious awe.
"Beautiful. Where do we start looking?"
Darius scanned the stone walls, noticing faint markings etched into the rock near the waterfall's base. A sense of anticipation curled in his chest.
"There."
They clambered down a gentle slope, coming to stand by the pool's edge. Intricate runes spiraled across the wet stone, nearly invisible in the fading light. Some were worn down by time, but a symbol shaped like an open eye caught Darius's attention.
He reached out, tracing the grooves with a fingertip.
"Feels warm."
As if on cue, a soft glow shimmered across the runes, and a gentle vibration hummed in the air. The echo of the waterfall seemed to recede, replaced by a tingling energy that wrapped around them.
Lodan took a wary step back.
"I've never seen magic like this."
Darius felt a prickle along his spine.
"It must be the trial."
A faint light emerged near the largest rune, flickering in and out as if uncertain of its own existence. Darius recognized that soft radiance, it was the same glow he'd seen in the orb.
He clenched his jaw, preparing for whatever might come next. Part of him feared the robed cultists or another violent ambush. Yet he knew there was no turning back. If he wanted answers about this system and the powers that had saved him, stepping into the unknown was the only way forward.
Lodan swallowed hard.
"You ready?"
Darius nodded, heart thumping.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Together, they stepped closer to the glowing runes, braced for whatever test awaited them in the depths of this forgotten place.