**Chapter 9: The Forgotten Doorway**

The group continued their hunt, the fading light of the setting sun casting long shadows through the ancient trees. The forest was calm, almost unnervingly so, and for the last few hours, they had encountered no more beasts, nor anything of particular interest. Griffin led the group steadily, eyes scanning the woods as they made their way deeper into the forest.

"It’s getting late," Griffin called out to the group, his tone steady but edged with caution. "We should start heading back. The forest isn’t safe at night."

The others exchanged brief glances, acknowledging the logic behind his words. There was no denying that this hunt had been less fruitful than they had hoped—except for the rare beast core from earlier, they hadn’t found much. Lyra, Kael, Finn, and Soren all appeared ready to retreat, but Kael, lingering at the edge of the group, suddenly froze.

"Wait! Over here!" Kael’s voice broke through the quiet, sharp with excitement.

Everyone turned toward Kael, who was standing near a dense part of the forest, where the trees and brush were thicker, the air cooler. As they moved closer, they noticed something partially obscured by vines and foliage—a doorway, ancient and weathered, hidden deep in the woods.

"What in the world is that?" Soren asked, his usual composure slipping as he stepped closer, examining the structure. It was not just any doorway. Massive stones framed the arch, and strange symbols, intricately carved, adorned every surface of the stone.

Elias stepped forward, his heart pounding with curiosity. He could feel an energy radiating from the doorway, something old, powerful, and almost… otherworldly. His excitement grew.

"It’s beautiful," Lyra whispered, awe in her voice as she ran her fingers over the carvings. "But these symbols… they’re not ordinary. They’re runes."

Griffin’s eyes narrowed. "Runes?" He had heard the word before, but the weight in Lyra’s voice made it sound far more significant.

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Lyra nodded, her voice low with reverence. "Runes are the long-lost language of the gods, from the ancient times, before the era of sorcerers. Few have ever seen them, and even fewer understand their meaning. It’s said they hold incredible power."

Elias’s heart raced. A doorway with runes, connected to the gods? His thoughts whirled with possibilities. This could be it—his chance to finally awaken his magic. If the gods were involved, surely their power could help him. His excitement bubbled over, visible in the eager light in his eyes.

Griffin, however, didn’t share the same enthusiasm. His face darkened with concern as he approached the doorway, his instincts screaming that this discovery could be dangerous. "We shouldn’t mess with this. There’s no telling what lies beyond a door like this. Ancient things are often better left alone."

The others, however, were captivated by the potential power before them. Soren, who had spent time studying ancient magic and languages, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I’ve studied runes before," he said confidently. "I can read them… at least, enough to activate this doorway."

Griffin frowned deeply. "Activate it? You’re out of your mind if you think we should be opening some ancient, unknown door. We don’t know what’s on the other side."

"But think of the possibilities!" Soren pressed. "If this is truly a doorway connected to the gods, there could be unimaginable power behind it. If Elias awakens his magic here, it could change everything."

At the mention of his name, Elias perked up. "Wait, what? You think this could help me awaken?"

Lyra stepped forward, her voice gentle but persuasive. "If there’s anywhere you might have a chance of awakening, it would be here. Something like this… it’s not just coincidence that we found it. It could be a sign."

Griffin’s frown deepened. "Or it could be a trap. You’re not thinking straight. This could be dangerous—more dangerous than any of us realize."

Kael spoke up, his eyes flashing with excitement. "But we can’t just walk away from this, Griffin. We may never get another chance like this. Elias deserves a shot, and if there’s any hope of him awakening, don’t you think we should try?"

Griffin looked around, reading the expressions on everyone’s faces. They were all captivated by the doorway, by the potential that lay beyond it. Even Elias, his expression hopeful and eager, stared at the doorway like it held all the answers he had been searching for.

Griffin sighed heavily, a grim look settling on his face. He knew this was a bad idea. Every instinct screamed at him to stop this, to drag the group away from this ancient place and return home. But then he looked at Elias again, saw the hope in his eyes, and felt the weight of his own reluctance fade.

"Alright," Griffin finally said, his voice resigned. "But we proceed with extreme caution. If anything feels off, we turn back immediately."

Elias’s face lit up with excitement, while the others nodded, the thrill of the unknown fueling their determination.

Soren wasted no time, stepping up to the doorway. He ran his hands over the runes, carefully deciphering their meaning. The air around them seemed to thicken, an electric energy building as Soren muttered an incantation under his breath.

The ground beneath their feet rumbled faintly, the runes on the doorway glowing with an eerie, ancient light. Slowly, the stone door began to shift, grinding against the earth as it opened, revealing a dark, yawning passage beyond.

As the door fully opened, Griffin’s unease grew, but Elias, filled with anticipation, stepped closer, staring into the darkness.

"Here we go," Soren said, his voice barely a whisper, as they all prepared to step into the unknown.

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