My body was heavy. It was difficult to stand. Even breathing made it feel as if I was submerged in water. All of this due to a quaking vibration coming from a small sphere in a wire cage. Through my breathing, I was able to control my body.
Greed alone was not the reason I still held onto it, I was unable to open my fingers or attempt any fine motor skills. I could hardly move my arms. As I brought the charm closer to my chest, I could feel the weight shifting toward my core. This made it much easier to bear the phantom weight offered by my new treasure. When I made contact with my skin I felt a sharp spark of energy bolt through me.
I yelped to no one, and found myself stumbling backwards onto the ground. As I laid there on my back, the weight returned, and it felt as if I was sinking, The scraping sounds, and a quick glance to the side confirmed it. I was sinking down on a large stone platform.
Once again I attempted to control my breathing. The heavy fall on my back made it difficult to get a full lung of air, but I persevered. My breath returned my movement, and I struggled to sit up. My silver lined surroundings were fading, so I reached to the edge of the darkness, and found the surrounding walls cold, and smooth like stone.
I sank for what felt like minutes, the whole time accompanied by the sound of the stone platform, and walls scraping together. It forced the mind into a deep meditative state.
The people of this ancient city were surely more than meer brutes used to smash. I hope to find something that is in working order. How fascinating it would be to see something operational.
My thoughts, and surroundings were disrupted by the faint glow of torch light.
The platform sank into a large chamber lined with torches. My eyes adjusted just as I came to a stop. With intent, I could take sluggish steps into the room.
The sand was harder to walk on compared to the cold stone floor I had been traversing, and filled with faded papers and scrolls. Many just a bunch of scratch calculations written down in a hurry. Door upon door was scattered through the walls, and the ceiling above contained many secrets the weak torchlight couldn’t reveal, The edges of giant contraptions, and machineries being held by a network of ropes and pulleys.
I plucked a torch from its holder, and tried staunching it in the sands. It went right out. Strange…. Usually a magically lit torch is much more difficult to put out. This leads me to believe that someone else has been here recently. Could there be an ancient being that has lived here all these years?
A chill bolted down my spine, and my guard was lifted. Hopefully its just an old spell losing its effectiveness. Regardless, I snatched another torch, and carried on with more caution.
I attempted to remove the caged sphere pendant, but it remained caught around my neck by an invisible cord. After some exploration, my movement was less encumbered, but my agility was far from what it normally is.
I wandered through the doorways for hours. Each opened into a long narrow hallway that led to other small chambers with more doors. Trekking on for hours, I could feel another presence in the maze, and I refused to rest until I found a safer spot.
Eventually I was heading down a path that came to a dead end. I searched the wall, and easily found a small switch that continued the path a short way around a corner. As I made a step towards it, I felt a tug on my collar, and I fell to my back again.
When I sat back up, I couldn’t see anyone behind me, but a toxic looking haze had started to form in the hidden hallway. Just as the vapor came to the edge of the door, it snapped back shut trapping the gas inside. Perhaps the other presence in here is not as dangerous as I thought.
Soon when I found myself in a new chamber, a door would already be a jar. I could be falling into another trap, but I figure this to be my best option. As I followed through the doors, I swear I caught glimpses of a shadowy figure leaving the hallways.
I found myself able to achieve a brief jog while running down the final straight away until finding myself, alone, in a room overlooking a massive pit. The pit seemed endless, and the darkness it provided consumed more of my view as I walked closer.
The only thing that broke the darkness was an ornately sculpted pedestal with a crystalline box resting on top. Although the box was made from what appeared to be black tourmaline, the silver veining on the edges kept its outline crisp against the pit.
When I drew near, it was as if I was an out of tune band. Different hums, and tones began to shake me, causing them to osselate with one another. It stripped me to my core, and the only reprieve I could find was from singing tones myself.
A chaotic symphony echoed through the chamber, and soon all but two voices could be heard. The roars of my crimson dragon pendant, and some enchanting giggles.
A hot flash rushed through my face, as I thought back to my moon haired maiden Selene. Here laughter was imprinted in my mind, and I twisted around in hopes of finding her next to me. They were dashed however, as I remained the only one in the chamber. I searched for the pendant I won off of her, and found it vibrating in the bottom of one of my bags.
The colors in the stone were shimmering, and swirling. Vapors of lavender, and white began to fall from it. A tremendous roar reminded me to produce the dragon eye from around my neck, it already swirling with its crimson energy.
The two trinkets held close together formed an uplifting magenta light that began enveloping the box. The silver veining seemed to absorb the energy, and began to glow with the color. I could barely stand to look directly at it, and soon the box let off a powerful flash of magenta. When I could see again, I found the box had a silver vein running along the middle, cutting it in half.
I removed the lid, and was stunned by what was in front of me. Such a big box for just a tiny ring.
However, when I picked it up, I could see the energy in the center stone waiting to get out. Rainbow flecs somehow float in crystal, moving like campfire embers. I couldn’t help but place the ring on my finger. As soon as I did… my feet were swept up from beneath me.
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