Did her new companion know where to go? It was worth checking, at least. The girl had no other options.

The wind whipped across the open plains and carried a chill that clung to Catty's skin. She zipped her windbreaker fully and pulled her trucker hat down, squinting against the setting sun, which cast long shadows across the land. In the distance, the ancient city rose from the earth like a phantom. Its tall towers were barely discernible through the haze of mist that lingered in the air.

High above, a flock of birds circled lazily, their dark silhouettes stark against the orange walls colored by the evening sky. Their caws echoed, adding to the desolate atmosphere that surrounded the city.

The path before them was rugged and uneven, and the slope of the hill was dotted with monoliths jutting from the ground. Each stone was covered in carvings, appearing through the moss, and symbols pulsed with hidden power.

The man walked a few paces ahead of the girl, following a path he had traveled before. Judging by his equipment, the man was a pathfinder. His movements and eyes scanned the horizon and the city beyond with familiarity. He glanced back at Catty. She trailed slightly behind, her attention split between the strange monoliths and the distant town.

"There it is," the man said, his voice filled with reverence despite the pipe sticking out of his mouth. "Every time, it's like seeing it for the first time."

He was stocky with large hands. The right hand didn't have the little finger. Catty picked up her pace, catching up to the man, and nudged him lightly with her elbow.

"So, Fitzlucia, you sure this is the place? Looks like something out of a ghost town story, doesn't it?"

The man gave her a sidelong glance, the awe in his expression replaced momentarily by irritation.

"I'm Fitzmaria," he grumbled through his thick red beard. "And yes, this is it. The path leads directly to the observatory. It's tucked away behind those towers. Just follow me."

Catty nodded, her eyes returning to the distant structures, "Right, Fitzisabel, lead the way. I just hope it's worth the trip."

Fitzmaria didn't bother to correct her this time, his focus returning to the path. The last rays of sunlight painted the ancient stone walls in shades of scarlet, making them appear alive as if the town was awakening after centuries of slumber. The birds continued their slow circles overhead.

The closer they got, the more anxious Catty felt. She tried to push this feeling aside as they continued forward, but she couldn't shake the sense that they were approaching something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.

The ancient city loomed larger with every step, its details becoming clearer—massive, crumbling walls and towers reaching impossibly high into the sky. Now, it was silhouetted against the darkening horizon.

Catty broke the quiet, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"So, Fitz..." she began, her tone becoming more serious, "...Fitzmaria, what did you do here before? You said you've been here. What were you looking for?"

The man glanced at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, you know, the usual—fame, fortune, the meaning of life," he replied with a dry chuckle, "but it turns out this place is better at giving you a lot of dust and dead ends."

Catty raised an eyebrow, "And now?"

Fitzmaria's gaze shifted back to the towering walls ahead, his smirk fading slightly.

"Now? Let's hope this time, we get more than dust."

The path narrowed as they descended the final slope, bringing them closer to the ancient city. The towers of the once-great civilization now loomed overhead, their sheer scale becoming more daunting with each step. The imposing walls were etched with the scars of time and weather.

As they approached the outskirts, the details of the stonework became clearer. The carvings that adorned the walls—now worn and partially obscured by creeping vines—spoke of a time when this place was alive with activity, a hub of knowledge and power. Now, the city stood silent, its grandeur reduced to shadows of its past.

Fitzmaria's pace slowed as they neared the city entrance. His eyes scanned the towers.

"These walls have seen better days," the man muttered, more to himself than to Catty. Then, he turned to the girl. "Guess the observatory is still intact. We're close."

"How close?"

"Five pipes," the man answered.

"Pipes?.."

"Yep!" Fitzmaria pulled the pipe out of his mouth and tapped it on the nearest monolith, knocking the ashes out.

Catty glanced up at the towers that loomed above them, and her worry increased. The structures were not just tall—they were monumental, built to withstand the test of time, and yet time had taken its toll. Large chunks of stone had crumbled away, leaving gaping holes and jagged edges that added to the city's eerie look.

"So, where's this observatory of yours, Fitzelena?" Catty asked, her voice quieter now as if this place demanded reverence.

The man's beard twitched.

"Just ahead. We'll have to pass through the main courtyard and take the tunnel. Stay close."

They continued forward, the walls ahead rising higher and higher until the sky above was just a sliver of darkening blue. The air grew cooler in the shadows, and their footsteps echoed off the stone, breaking the silence that enveloped them.

As they reached the outskirts of the city, Fitzmaria paused to take in the sight of the structures. His expression shifted to admiration as if he were greeting an old friend who had fallen on hard times.

"This place… it was magnificent once. You're right. Now, it's just a ghost of what it was."

Catty said nothing, her eyes tracing the outlines of the towers as they disappeared into the night. She couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding—a nagging certainty that whatever lay ahead would not be easy.

With a final glance at the stone walls, Fitzmaria led the way forward.

The path before them sloped downward, leading into a deep hollow beneath a vast rock overhang. The air grew cooler as they descended. The city walls gradually gave way to the rugged rocks that served as their foundation.

Then, they saw the tunnel entrance ahead—a dark, foreboding maw carved into the solid crag.

Fitzmaria slowed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the tunnel's opening. "Here we go," he said, pointing to the emptiness. The words heavily hung in the air. The tunnel was wide enough to accommodate a caravan of travelers, but its darkness swallowed the light.

Catty paused at the entrance, peering into the inky blackness beyond. Her boldness faded as she took in the passage that led straight into the earth's bowels. The faint sound of trickling water echoed from within, mixing with the distant rustle of the wind.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"This is where it gets interesting, huh?" Catty said, her voice tinged with unease. She clenched her fists, glancing over at Fitzmaria, who had already taken out a small lantern from his bag.

"Interesting is not the right word," Fitzmaria replied, lighting the lantern. "Dangerous is the correct one. Stay close and watch your step. This tunnel... it's old and not stable."

As the lantern's glow flickered to life, casting long shadows across the stone walls, Fitzmaria led the way into the tunnel.

The air grew damp and musty as they ventured deeper, their footsteps echoing in the confined space. The further they went, the more the light from the entrance faded. All that remained was the small circle of illumination cast by Fitzmaria's lantern. It danced off the uneven surfaces as they moved.

The walls closed around them, and the mountain's weight pressed down. The tunnel was a narrow artery leading to the heart of the ancient city.

Catty felt a shiver run down her spine as the darkness enveloped them. Every sound was amplified—the scrape of their boots against the stone, the distant drip of water, and the occasional rumble from deep within the earth.

"Not too late to turn back, you know," Catty joked, though her voice was tense.

Along with her words, a low rumble echoed through the tunnel, growing louder by the second. Fitzmaria stopped in his tracks, his lantern casting frantic shadows as he turned to look behind them. The sound deepened into a roar, and the tunnel behind them began to collapse before they could react.

Chunks of stone and earth rained down from the ceiling, and a wave of dust and debris surged toward them like a living thing. Fitzmaria grabbed Catty's arm, pulling her forward as the cloud of dust enveloped them. She stumbled, the force of the collapse almost knocking her off her feet, but Fitzmaria's grip was firm, steadying her as they pressed on.

The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. Catty coughed, trying to clear her lungs. Her heart calmed as the collapse finally subsided, leaving only the echo of falling rocks. The girl looked back, but the tunnel was now completely blocked. Tons of rubble buried the way they had come from.

Fitzmaria glanced back at her, his face half-lit by the lantern's glow, his expression grim. "No turning back now."

The travelers were sealed in—the only way left was forward. They continued deeper into the city's heart, and the darkness thickened around them. With every step, Catty couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched and the shadows were alive, waiting for the right moment to reveal their true nature.

They went forward, the tunnel curving and twisting as it burrowed into the earth. The passage seemed endless, taking them further from the world above and closer to the secrets hidden in the city.

The tunnel finally straightened, and a faint light appeared at the far end, barely visible in the distance. Fitzmaria quickened, and his assurance became in his pace.

"Almost there," he said with relief.

When Catty and Fitzmaria stepped out, the tunnel's darkness gave way to a pale moonlight. The air was cool and damp, carrying the scent of stagnant water. Before them, the city lay submerged, its streets a water labyrinth. Giant pillars rose from the water, their surfaces slick with algae. The remnants of grand structures loomed ahead, hidden by twilight.

Fitzmaria didn't waste time. He moved to the water's edge and jumped into dense thickets of reeds growing along the shore.

"Still here," his voice came in a minute. Then, a weathered boat appeared—the man pulled it free from the reeds. He began to push the boat into the water, and Catty joined him to help.

"You've got a boat stashed in every lost city, or is this a special occasion?"

Fitzmaria smirked, his hands working deftly to free the boat. "Let's just say I like to be prepared. You never know when you'll need a quick exit."

He glanced back at her, his expression momentarily serious. "Besides, this place has a habit of swallowing those who aren't ready for it."

Catty raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She stepped into the boat, feeling it shift under her weight. Fitzmaria followed, pushing off from the shore. The boat glided onto the open water. The man sat on the stern, and the oar cut through the smooth surface.

As they drifted through the flooded streets, the city unfolded around them—columns and statues, once standing proud, now barely visible above the waterline. The moon's rays filtered through the mist, casting a glow over the city and making the ruins haunting and serene.

The boat creaked gently as it cut through the calm waters. The soft lapping of waves was a soothing rhythm in the quiet night. Catty leaned against the side of the boat, her gaze fixed on the distant silhouette under the starlit sky. Fitzmaria, with a steady hand on the oar, guided the boat with the expertise of a traveler who had navigated these waters before.

"Why are we here?" Catty's voice broke the silence. "And why did I listen to you?"

Fitzmaria glanced over at her, the flicker of the lantern casting shadows on his weathered face.

"Because this place is the key to your riddle," he began. "The guardians and the elements..."

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

"...Okay, I'll explain it again."

Fitzmaria rowed with measured strokes, and his gaze fixed forward. The quiet splash of the oar against the water matched the rhythm of his words, deep and deliberate.

"It's an ancient site," the man explained. "It was the Celestial Observatory hundreds of years ago. I've been here before..."

"Are you a tomb robber?"

Fitzmaria stopped rowing and put the oar aside. The boat was floating slowly out of inertia. The man took the pipe out of his pocket, slowly filled it with tobacco, and lit it. His face was hidden in shadow, but as Fitzmaria drew on his pipe, its heat illuminated his beard.

The girl unzipped her windbreaker and, as if by accident, showed the dagger hanging at her side.

"Exactly," Fitzmaria nodded with a smirk.

"How did you figure out it's this place?"

"That riddle's got more twists than a snake with a grudge," Fitzmaria chuckled. "But I've been here before, got it? And seen what's left of the observatory. It was right there in the riddle."

Catty frowned, leaning back against the boat's edge, eyes narrowing as she tried to imagine what he saw. "Right there?"

"Four guardians hold the key, standing tall," Fitzmaria began, reciting the lines from memory. "Round the circle, they await the dragon's call. That's the first clue. The four guardians—they're not just the Element symbols—they're real pillars."

"The pillars at the observatory?"

Fitzmaria nodded, a small, satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Exactly. The Celestial Observatory was designed to align the world with the stars. It helped the sages explore the Multiverse and track the movement of heavenly bodies..."

Catty nodded, the pieces beginning to fall into place, "...and those pillars mark the cardinal directions? North, south, east, west…"

"The South Pillar aligns with the southern celestial pole, used to mark the summer solstice—it represents fire, fierce and free. The West Pillar points toward the setting sun and links to the water—the depth of the sea."

The man paused, puffing on his pipe. The boat gently rocked.

"The East Pillar catches the first rays of the equinox sunrises, symbolizing new beginnings and the winds that heed no walls," Fitzmaria continued. "And the North Pillar aligns with the North Star, representing the stability of earth, where secrets fall."

"How can those pillars line up with both the North Star and the southern celestial pole? Aren't they in opposite directions?" the girl was surprised.

"You're smart!" Fitzmaria smirked. "This place isn't like any other. It's got magical properties that let it align with both, simultaneously. The ancients built it that way to connect with the Multiverse."

"But what about 'heart unseen, beneath the stone'?" Catty asked.

"That's the tricky part, isn't it? The 'heart unseen'… it's the central platform, the Star Dial. This piece of stone is a guide. But only if you know how to align it and make the stars reveal their secrets."

Catty leaned forward, her voice excited. "So the egg…"

"Yes, it's under the central stone. It's placed where the stars say it should be," Fitzmaria nodded, his gaze steady on the temple's looming form. "That's the theory. Will see. The ancients believed the stars held power and could guide us and reveal truths we couldn't see. The observatory was built to tap into that power. But the observatory… it's old, and its secrets aren't given up easily. One wrong move, and we might never find what we're looking for."

'The question is, why do you need it?' Catty thought but remained silent.

The man took up the oar again.

The water around them grew darker and stiller. The boat drifted closer to the temple and bumped gently against the stone pier. Catty stepped out first, her boots hitting the slick stones. Fitzmaria followed and tied the boat to a post.

Ahead, two massive gates stood side by side, set into the towering wall before them. Above the gates, an inscription in an ancient language was carved deep into the stone. The man illuminated the words with the lantern.

Catty squinted up at the unfamiliar script. "What does it say?"

Fitzmaria stepped forward, his eyes tracing the characters, a smirk forming on his lips.

"One way is short, the other is right. Choose," he read aloud, his voice carrying a hint of bitter amusement.

Catty turned to him, "And which way did you take last time?"

Fitzmaria paused, the smirk growing into a grin.

"Took the short way," he replied casually, as if the memory of that choice amused him more than it troubled him.

"That means now we have to choose the right one!" Catty said.

Fitzmaria's grin widened, but his eyes stayed sharp.

"Oh, no doubt about it," he said, taking a slow drag, letting the smoke curl into the night air. "But here's the thing about the right way, Catty. It's never the easy one."

He let that hang in the air for a moment before he continued, his tone dropping into something darker, almost a whisper.

"So whatever's waiting for us behind that gate... just be ready. The right way's always got a cost."

Catty nodded, her expression serious as she turned to face the gates. "We've come this far. No turning back now."

Fitzmaria laughed and knocked the pipe out on his heel. "Damn right. For a long time now!"

With that, he pushed the gate open. The old hinges groaned.