The hum of the altar deepened, vibrating through the cavern and settling into Kaelen’s chest like the heartbeat of some ancient beast.

"This isn’t just a warning," Sigrid said, her voice low and steady, though her eyes betrayed unease. "It’s alive. Whatever this seal was holding back, it’s trying to communicate—or manipulate."

"Seems like the manipulating kind," Kaelen quipped, stepping closer to inspect the fractured stone. His fingers hovered just above the glowing runes.

"Careful!" Sigrid barked, her magic sparking to life in her palm as she watched him.

Kaelen glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. "Relax. Just looking for—"

Before he could finish, a faint whisper drifted from the altar. It wasn’t a language he recognized, but the tone sent chills down his spine. The whispers grew louder, overlapping, until they became a cacophony of voices—pleading, threatening, promising.

Nessa stepped between them and the altar, her daggers raised defensively. "We need to leave. Now. Whatever this is, it’s not something we’re equipped to handle here."

Sigrid nodded, already moving toward the rope they’d used to descend. "She’s right. We can’t face this blind. We need to regroup, gather resources, and find someone who knows more about this seal."

Kaelen hesitated, his gaze lingering on the glowing runes. For a moment, the voices seemed to focus on him alone, speaking directly into his mind.

Kaelen... defender of nothing... abandon the others... embrace the power... you will need it.

He staggered back, clutching his head as the voices abruptly ceased.

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"Kaelen!" Sigrid was at his side in an instant, her hand on his shoulder.

"I’m fine," he muttered, shaking his head to clear the fog. "Just... let’s get out of here."

Climbing back to the surface felt like a victory in itself. The fresh air was a welcome relief after the oppressive darkness below. Nessa collapsed onto the grass, staring up at the sky as if it were the first time she’d seen it.

Sigrid, however, remained tense, scanning the treeline with a wary eye. "The corruption has already spread beyond the cavern. We can’t waste time."

Kaelen leaned against a nearby boulder, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We’ve got time for one thing: payment. The village promised gold for taking care of their problem, and I intend to collect."

Sigrid frowned. "Their problem isn’t solved."

"No," Kaelen agreed. "But the Thalgrith is dead, and the villagers don’t need to know about the glowing altar of doom just yet."

Nessa chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "Cold-hearted and practical. I like it."

With a nod, the group made their way back to the village.

The mood in the village was no lighter than when they’d left. The streets were empty, shutters bolted tight, and the distant sound of sobbing drifted through the air.

When they reached the elder’s home, they found the old man pacing nervously, his hands wringing. He looked up sharply as they entered.

"You’re back," he said, his voice trembling with equal parts relief and fear. "Is... is it done?"

Kaelen stepped forward, setting a piece of the Thalgrith’s blackened armor onto the table. "Your beast is dead. We’ll take our payment now."

The elder stared at the armor, his face pale. "But... the nightmares persist. The people—"

"The nightmares aren’t our problem," Kaelen interrupted. "You wanted the beast gone, and it’s gone. If you want the rest fixed, you’re going to need a bigger purse."

Sigrid shot him a disapproving look but said nothing.

The elder hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. I’ll gather what we promised."

As he shuffled off to retrieve their payment, Nessa leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "Not exactly the hero’s welcome, is it?"

Kaelen shrugged. "Heroes don’t get paid. Hunters do."

Later, as they sat around a fire outside the village, splitting the gold between them, Sigrid broke the silence.

"The runes on the altar—they weren’t just a seal. They were instructions, of a sort. We might be able to repair it, or at least delay whatever’s coming."

"And where do we find someone who can read ancient runes?" Kaelen asked, tossing a coin into his pouch.

"Not someone," Sigrid corrected. "Something. There’s a library—an old one—in the city of Velrath. If the knowledge exists, it’ll be there."

Kaelen groaned. "Velrath’s a week’s ride, and that’s if the roads are clear."

"Do you have a better plan?" Sigrid snapped.

Kaelen grinned, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Velrath it is."

Nessa stood, sliding her daggers into their sheaths. "Then we leave at first light. Whatever’s coming, we’ll need to be ready."

As the fire crackled and the night deepened, Kaelen stared into the flames, the whispers from the altar still echoing faintly in his mind.

He didn’t know what lay ahead in Velrath, but one thing was certain: their journey was only beginning.