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Though he remains silent, the maelstrom of emotions storming behind his piercing blue eyes speaks volumes—bone-deep terror at nearly losing me, warring with white-hot fury at the forces that keep aligning to rip us apart.

I cling weakly to him, the solid anchor of his embrace the only thing still grounding me against the chaos. With great effort, I manage a faint reassuring nod, signaling that I remain unharmed despite it all. But my trembling body betrays the lingering effects of my trauma. I know with solemn certainty this vision of the gaping black void below will haunt my dreams for many nights to come.

I hear Adrian’s desperate call, a beacon of light in the oppressive darkness surrounding us. “Dani! Rhyland!” His voice reverberates through the cave like a thunderclap.

“We’re here!” I yell back as an overwhelming sense of relief washes over me. Rhyland and I lock eyes briefly and begin our treacherous climb up the rocky slope, both of us driven by the thought of seeing Erik and Adrian again.

As we reach them, Erik’s face holds a mix of concern and relief. “You Okay?” he asks, his voice rough with worry.

“We’re fine,” Rhyland reassures, his grip on my hand a silent testament to our survival.

Adrian’s eyes scan the cavern’s expanse, his voice calm. “This place is something else, huh?”

Erik nods, his gaze searching the rocky walls around us. “We can’t stay here, though. Who knows when another tremor might hit.”

I direct my floating orb of mystical light to resume drifting higher, gradually illuminating the full mind-boggling vastness of the ancient underground chamber we found ourselves in.

The rocky terrain underfoot descends into fathomless depths wreathed in shadow far below—while high overhead, the cavern ceiling glitters with ancient mineral deposits that have built up in beautiful cascades over the centuries. This hollowed cathedral buried deep in the valley's bowels positively overflows with the weight of eons and the tangible air of timeless mystery.

Rhyland’s grip on my hand tightens, his determination evident. “Agreed. Let’s find a way down. There’s another opening down there.”

He points at the lower reaches of the cavern, where a faint glimmer of light marks a potential path.

We pick our way cautiously down the slippery decline, every step heavy with purpose. The slick ground is treacherous, making our slow and laborious progress all the more excruciating. But we press on, lured onward by the promise of another opening, a hidden cavern to explore that lay just beyond our reach.

As we descend lower into the cave, the air changes from warm to cool. My light grows dimmer, casting soft shadows on the walls of a forgotten sanctuary.

We step carefully across the wet stone floor as thin streams of water trickle around our feet. Scattered sections of intricately carved pillars and partially ruined structures line the perimeter, flanking broad ceremonial staircases now choked with rubble and tangled vines creeping in from the damp ceiling. Elaborate bas-relief friezes depicting mysterious rituals, mythical beasts, and celestial figures adorn nearly every wall not already claimed by the steady decay of time. This clearly was once a vast gathering hall and temple complex of profound spiritual importance to the Ancients who originally dwelt here.

I trail my fingers over the worn carvings, strangely compelled to learn their half-erased stories. If any location here still retains traces of the potent psychic aura emitted by the relic we seek, surely this ritual site bursting with long-forgotten occult significance may be our most promising chance of success.

“It’s like a hidden city,” I whisper,

Erik nods, his eyes wide as he examines the surroundings. “Incredible.”

Adrian points toward a set of stairs carved into the rock, leading further down. “Should we go?” he asks, his excitement barely contained.

Rhyland looks at me, his eyes seeking my consent. I breathe deep into the heavy earthen air and consciously extend my mind outward, casting psychic feelers into the ancient darkness shrouding this hallowed place.

For endless creeping minutes, only silence answers my wordless call. But then, just on the cusp of perception, a faint harmonic hum teases tantalizingly at my senses. Somewhere ahead amid the sprawling catacombs, the artifact calls to my blood, its siren song resonating through my core with purpose. My inner compass is true once more.

With renewed conviction, I directed toward the source of that insistent mental pull.

With a nod, I echo his sentiment. “Let’s see what else lies beneath.”

Danica

70

Step by step, we descend into the heart of this underground marvel. The air grows cooler as we move farther down, and the sense of discovery fills every breath we take. This subterranean realm, hidden from the world above, holds secrets to be unveiled.

We come across an array of majestic statues, cold and silent sentinels in stone, lining the walls every few feet.

They stand tall, mysterious, and foreboding, and I can almost feel their watchful eyes on us as I ask, “What do you think these are?”

Adrian reaches out and runs his hands slowly over the ancient statues. They are tall, with intricate carvings of symbols etched down their faces.

He squints up at them as if trying to decipher a puzzle. “These are guardians,” he finally says. “I’ve read about them. They protect certain things with immense power and magic. If they sense danger approaching, they won’t hesitate to unleash it if they’re active.”