Everett

The large cavern was embedded with well-crafted pavement and perfectly sculpted stairs fanning off down several different pathways. However, the most obvious and largest path was directly in the centre and framed by thousands of small blue lights that seemed to wiggle side to side across the cavern’s ceiling.

“So Everett, what do you know about Aragarth?” Elder Dragomir questioned as she began down the central archway. “The kingdom of the first ones?” I replied not confident in her question. 

Without saying a word the elder instead nodded her head slightly in an ascertaining kind of way. ‘I have no clue why she's so on edge but ever since I woke up this morning she's been almost jittery. ‘It’s actually rather worrying,’ I thought to myself.

“Well all that's coming to mind is the fact that it was a symbol of peace and connection between humans and the ones who brought Zoi to the land of Ravaryn, through a marriage joining the two races,” I answered in a well-versed and worryingly nerdy fashion.

After a long pause and no reply from the elder I instead looked to Cayden. He was standing level beside me with a sweaty nervous expression plastered on his face. Glancing back at me he gave me a soft half-faced smile, that he matched with a slight shrug of his shoulders. 

Judging by his expressions he too can tell something is up with the elder except judging by his nervousness I'm certain that he plans to stay silent.   

“Uuum… well I also know that they all died because of the toll from creating the great Maldi,” I proceeded, in a desperate attempt to break the silence. 

“No,” the elder finally spoke. “Nobody knows how they died, in fact, a race as powerful as theirs should have been able to handle that spell with little to no fatalities at all,” she protested whilst picking up her pace.

“Forgive me elder but I’m honestly slightly confused,” I paused. Compiling my thoughts I began to match her pace. “What is the monarchy so afraid of that they would try to destroy this place, and how does that relate to the fall of Aragarth?” I pondered aloud. 

“Because of a prophecy,” the elder paused. “The only thing that was left behind by the people of Aragarth after the war was a prophecy engraved into their king's throne,” she answered whilst still masking her expression. 

“And before you ask the answer is no, I haven't the slightest clue what the prophecy says. It was written in High Agarthan, and although there are many copies of it, all the people who could speak the language have died, as you know. However, I can certainly make a guess, especially after what happened the other night,” she turned as the hallway began to grow wider. 

“Are you talking about that weird blue light during the battle,” Cayden chimed. “It is said that zoi didn't exist in our world until the First One came which would explain why no legendary Etherium crystals have formed since their absence, until now that is.”

“What do you mean until now,” I questioned. “On the night you almost got yourself killed the sky began to pulsate with a bright blue light of pure Zoi which has only ever happened after the birth of a legendary Etherium crystal one that could rival the strength of the great kingdoms,” Cayden answered hesitantly, after the elder waved in his direction.

“So another giant ether crystal has formed for the first time in 500 years,” I levelled. “You don't think that means the people of Aragarth have returned right?” I gulped wondering if I had read too far into the situation.

“It doesn't matter what I think, all I know is that the monarchy recently sent soldiers to search every inch of Ravaryn,” she huffed. “But why?” I questioned, my mind still clouded in confusion. 

“For power,” Cayden began, as his expression too had become dim. “If they have returned then that would threaten the Monarchy’s supremacy,” he finished somberly. “There's no way, how could they be that greedy…” “Enough,” the elder shouted.  

“We’re here.”

–

My mouth gaped open as we walked up next to the elder. The path had opened up into a gigantic dome-shaped cavern. Light beamed through small cracks in the rocky roof revealing grandiose limestone pillars that reinforced the outer cavern walls.

The entire room, even the beams of light from above all centered around a circular plateau which was located in the cavern's centre along with a large stone bridge leading towards it. 

‘Woah,” Cayden beamed as his jaw almost reached his chest. I scoffed in agreement before continuing to gaze upon the spectacle, unable to say a word. Everything, the pillars, the floor, and even the fence at either side of the bridge was inlaid with detailed carvings and even depictions of past battles.

“Even with 100 skilled Stonemasons and Sculptors it would take years to build something like this,” Cayden erupted, as his awe and fascination echoed across the cavern. 

“Well at the time this was built there were a great deal many tools crafted by spell weavers for the use of ordinary men,” the elder chimed as she began to walk the bridge. “Simply imagining what you wish to create and slamming such tools into the stone was enough to design this cavern.”

“It's kind of ironic. Makes you wonder who were really the tools and who were the craftsmen. BAHAHAHA,” the elder rambled. 

Following the elder across the bridge, I stared at her back, assessing her every move. There was something about her today that wasn't quite right. Instead of her usually bubbly smile she had become more stern and cold. She even walked with more dignity and presence despite her age. It was almost as if…

“Waaaaaaaah,” Cayden leapt, crashing into me. “I Could have sworn I saw something down there,” he poised. Straightening his coat and recollecting his mature facade. “Aaaah you must be talking about the Silverdrakes,” the elder stated.

“THE WHAT,” I shot back. “You know, big spiky river mammals born of the purest of silver, nothing too special, just oversized crocodiles really,” the elder retorted, still sounding very out of character. 

Placing both my hands on the smooth railing I slowly craned my neck out of a sceptical sense of curiosity. The stone cliff seemed to expand far below to the point where I could hardly make out the river at the bottom. I stared for a minute as the cavern remained still, convincing me that Cayden was mistaken.

“SHING.” a deafening screech erupted from below. Long fin-shaped blades jutted out from the waters below creating sparks as they brushed across the rocky cliffside. I flung my body up back to the sadness of the bridge as I realised Cayden had been peering over the ledge at my side. 

Slowly turning my head in his direction we inevitably shared a horrified stare before clasping across the stone floor as we made a beeline for the elder. We gasped for air as we slid over to the elder's side, not realising that she had already traversed the entire bridge.

“Umm… those things…. That can’t climb right,” Cayden wheezed, as he slumped to his knees. “BAHAHAHA, of course not, or we would be dead already,” the elder laughed in amusement. 

“In any case, I present to you Aragarths Truth, the very secret which the Monarchy is trying to erase,” she finished with a certain rigour bleeding from her voice.

“HUHHH,” Cayden bellowed. “But it's just a giant slab of stone with some weird runes that no one can understand,” what on earth is the council thinking,” he continued. 

I stared forward nodding to Cayden’s words. A giant bridge that spanned hundreds of metres led to a grand plateau only for there to be a giant stone cube that was raised in its centre. However, the words written on it were something I had definitely seen before. 

“Well of course no one can understand it. It's written in high Agarthian,” the elder retorted. “However this is an exact copy of what was carved into Aragarths throne on the day they had vanished.

“Ummmm, I’m sorry but can you not read that,” I pointed towards the cube unsure of what was going on. “HUH,” the pair retorted as they snapped their heads in my direction with eyes wider than dinner plates. 

“You mean to tell me that you understand what that says,” Cayden whispered, as he was still out of air. “Of course he can read it that is why I have brought you here child,” the elder replied gesturing towards the inscriptions. 

“Um… well,” I crooked, clearing my throat and preparing to read the lengthy inscription aloud. “It says…”

“It was the land of Ravaryn we nurtured and raised,

 our kindness and protection that humans once praised.

However our deeds were punished by blood-soaked blades, and the 

traitorous backstabbing of your greed uncaged.

After day comes night and after summer comes the snow, like an endless clock time 

continues to flow. 

When despair returns and the darkness pervades,

it will be us who will guide you up from your graves.

With arms reached out in a warm embrace, 

Aragarth shall return like a heavenly grace.”