As they made their way through the dark cavern, Liam reflected on how he’d ended up here. He remembered shouting during the fight outside, in the midst of the warring clans: “I didn’t choose any of this!” But he knew that wasn’t true. He had chosen this path. It was either this or stay dead. This or lose the chance to ever meet his unborn daughter. The Jackal had mentioned nothing about being unable to return, and though the odds were slim - with him now in Pangaea, the primordial supercontinent - he still clung to hope.

The title he bore, Heir of Gilgamesh, made him wonder. Gilgamesh, the ancient god-king who had sought immortality and failed. As far as Liam could remember, the Epic of Gilgamesh was a series of trials, fights with monsters, and clashes with gods, none of which ended as the king had hoped. Details escaped him now, but he understood one thing: to survive here, he would have to live in the present, take on this “Legacy of the Immortal” on his own terms.

This “System” seemed interesting - a sort of intuitive guide, like in a video game. He knew enough about these mechanics to guess that the System might not always be helpful, or that it might operate with its own agenda. Some systems he’d seen in games acted like companions, guiding heroes through their quests. This one, though, seemed a bit more… aloof.

Ahead of him, Kaelin moved with fluid grace. She was an enigma, her every movement precise, like a predator stalking unseen prey. Even here, with just the two of them in these dark tunnels, she remained alert, her hand never far from her blade. He watched her silently, noting the defined muscles in her legs and back - she wasn’t some casual fighter or wannabe warrior; she was powerful, capable, and entirely intimidating.

Curious, Liam pulled up his skills list, reading over the single ability he’d unlocked: Warden’s Endurance, which granted him increased stamina and resilience. Interesting, he thought. Maybe I can unlock other abilities in a similar way. This one had surfaced in the heat of battle, and though he hoped future abilities wouldn’t require such peril, he steeled himself for the possibility.

As they continued, Kaelin’s voice broke the silence. “What’s on your mind?” she asked, her tone neutral but watchful. “Hungry? Thirsty?”

He hesitated before answering, then nodded, realizing she couldn’t see him. He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. “We’ll stop at the next waypoint. The tunnels have caches of supplies - assuming the creatures here haven’t raided them. If they have, we’ll hunt.”

She picked up the pace, her strides confident as the faint glow of the walls illuminated their path. Shadows flickered around them, and he felt as though they were walking along some mythical road, the path of legends.

“What is this path, exactly?” he asked after a few moments. “Feels like we’re in some epic quest or something.”

Kaelin chuckled, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s called the Dragon’s Road. It’s the way you must take to reach the City of Kings.”

Liam shrugged. “I’d just like to know what I’m walking into. I prefer having some agency in my life, making my own decisions.”

She laughed - a genuine sound - and turned to look at him, her eyes hinting at a smile. For the first time, he noticed her features beneath the layer of ash and armor; she was rather striking.

“You’re almost likeable when you’re not complaining,” he said, offering a half-smile.

Her expression hardened immediately. “This path will test you, outsider. It will forge you, shape you for your arrival at the City of Kings. If you truly are the Heir, as your mark suggests, then perhaps this world is not doomed after all.”

He fell silent, considering her words. They kept moving steadily through the tunnels until he finally cleared his throat. “How far until we can stop?” he asked, a little awkwardly.

She looked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “I need to, uh, go to the bathroom.”

Kaelin’s brow furrowed. “You need to… what?”

He gestured vaguely. “The little boys’ room? The bathroom?”

Her eyes followed his hand, realization dawning as a laugh burst from her. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

She led him to a small side passage just ahead, a narrow crevice that sloped downward. As they reached it, a faint sulfuric odor rose up, making him wrinkle his nose in disgust.

“How often are these tunnels traveled, anyway?” he asked, glancing around at the dark passage.

She shrugged. “As far as I know, we’re the first to pass through in my generation.” She stood with her hands on her hips, offering him a small bit of privacy but not letting him out of her sight.

“Not letting me out of your sight?” he muttered, feeling her eyes on him.

Kaelin’s shoulders slumped slightly, a sigh escaping her. “If anything happens to you, the responsibility would be on me. I would lose my honor.”

“Wait, you’ve sacrificed something by taking me?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“By all rights, I should have taken you to the elders and let them decide your fate,” she replied, her tone steady but edged with regret. “But I was… impulsive. It’s gotten me in trouble before.”

“Really?” he asked, hoping to keep the conversation light.

She nodded, her gaze serious. “If you don’t succeed - or if you die - I’ll be an outcast.”

Liam cleared his throat awkwardly. “Right… well, do you mind giving me a moment?”

She rolled her eyes, turning and stepping back into the main tunnel. “Don’t take too long, or I’ll come back in here.”

“Do you happen to have any, uh, tissues?” he asked, unsure how to phrase it.

She glanced over her shoulder, squinting. “Tissues? For what?”

“To, you know… wipe?”

Realization dawned, and she shook her head, sighing as she walked away. Once alone, Liam looked around the small chamber, sighing to himself. “Well, this sucks.” Resigned, he tore a strip from his shirt and used it before tossing it into the crevice, catching a whiff of the sulfurous gases seeping from the earth.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The air was thick, almost suffocating, and he realized the tunnels could easily turn deadly without proper ventilation. Light-headed, he rejoined Kaelin, wiping sweat from his brow as he emerged.

“Finished?” she asked, her hand resting on her blade as she waited with a smirk.

“All done. Now, let’s go see the Wizard.”

She furrowed her brow, suddenly suspicious. “Wizard? Who’s this wizard?” Her hand moved toward her blade, her stance shifting into an aggressive posture. “What are you talking about?”

Liam held up his hands in a calming gesture. “Whoa, whoa! It’s just a joke. It’s from a movie. I just meant I’m ready to go.”

She eyed him for a long moment, then relaxed, her hand falling from her weapon. “Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s go see this ‘wizard.’”

“Touchy…” he whispered under his breath.

“What was that?” she asked sharply.

“Nothing, nothing.” He quickly shook his head, falling silent as they continued their journey into the darkness.

***

Liam fell in step beside Kaelin, the rhythm of their boots echoing off the stone walls. Despite the gloom around them, he couldn’t resist trying to draw her out, curious about the mysterious warrior who seemed to know more about his fate than he did.

“So, Kaelin,” he began, a smirk tugging at his lips, “tell me - do you always drag strangers through haunted tunnels for fun, or am I just special?”

Kaelin glanced at him, her expression impassive, though he caught the faintest twitch of a smile. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you expect a grand tour with refreshments?” Her voice was dry, laced with a humor as dark as the cavern. “You’re lucky I didn’t leave you back there as bait for the shades.”

Liam chuckled. “Noted. I’ll be sure to remember that next time I’m dragged into a realm of ancient spirits and ominous paths. So, tell me - you said something about me being marked… chosen… What exactly do you think I’ve been chosen for?”

Kaelin’s gaze shifted, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the walls ahead. “You are marked by the ancients, yes. Some say it’s a gift, others a curse. Your purpose? Well, that’s for the City of Kings to decide. The mark only appears on those with an ancient lineage, the blood of kings - or perhaps monsters - coursing through their veins.”

Liam arched a brow, trying to keep the banter light. “Monsters? That’s reassuring. And this journey to the city… how far are we talking?”

She shrugged. “If we don’t get killed along the way? It’s far - leagues upon leagues.”

“Great,” he muttered, glancing down the dark path that stretched endlessly before them. “Is that ‘leagues’ as in a couple of miles, or more like ‘leagues’ as in ‘I hope you brought a spare pair of boots because you’ll be walking forever’?”

Kaelin’s smirk returned, but there was a flicker of something serious in her eyes. “We’re talking about nearly three thousand kilometers, outsider. And those are leagues filled with creatures and spirits that won’t take kindly to trespassers.”

Liam let out a low whistle. “Three thousand kilometers… no wonder you didn’t bother with specifics. Any chance there’s a fast-travel option around here?”

“Fast travel?” Kaelin repeated, confused.

“Never mind.” He sighed, suppressing the urge to check his character sheet for some hidden transportation ability. This wasn’t some easy game with shortcuts - it was clear he’d be walking every step of the way.

They continued on in silence, but Liam’s curiosity got the better of him. “You seem to know a lot about this place,” he said, his tone probing. “More than just a fighter, I’d say. How do you know so much about… the Otherworld, was it?”

Kaelin’s face grew guarded. She glanced down at her hands, flexing her fingers absently as if the words tasted strange on her tongue. “The Otherworld is a middle realm - it borders all planes of existence, neither fully alive nor dead. It connects the world of spirits, the land of gods, and our mortal plane.” She hesitated, her gaze hardening slightly before continuing. “I know this because I was training to become a wise woman for my tribe. A shaman, a seer. I studied the paths between realms, the signs and omens. But…”

“But you chose another path,” Liam finished for her.

“Yes.” Her voice was firm but laced with something that felt suspiciously like regret. “I turned from the path of the soul to the path of the blade. I became a warrior. And because of that, I brought shame on my people.”

Liam raised a brow. “Shame? For wanting to protect them?”

“To some, protecting the body is noble. But among my people, protecting the soul is paramount,” she replied, her gaze distant. “I gave up my right to walk the path of souls. The elders no longer looked to me for guidance; they looked at me as… a failure.”

For a moment, silence settled between them, the only sound the steady drip of water echoing through the passage. Liam felt a pang of sympathy, despite Kaelin’s stoic exterior. He knew what it was like to walk a path alone, doubted by others, doubting himself.

“So, you traded destiny for a sword,” he said softly. “Sounds like we’ve both made some tough choices. But if you’re not a shaman, why lead me down the Dragon’s Road? Why risk it all on a stranger with a mark?”

She looked at him sharply, her expression unreadable. “Because your fate may mean the difference between life and death for this world. If you are truly marked, and you fulfill your destiny, perhaps the path I chose won’t be for nothing.” Her words held a fierce determination, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as him.

Liam scratched the back of his head. “Right… no pressure, then.” He tried to hide his nervousness with a smirk, but the gravity of her words weighed on him. “What exactly does it mean to be ‘chosen,’ anyway? Is it some kind of title, or am I supposed to start shooting lightning bolts from my hands?”

Kaelin snorted, a rare, genuine laugh breaking through her stoic demeanor. “If that’s what the mark gave you, it would be a short journey indeed. No, being ‘chosen’ simply means you have the potential. But potential is just that - potential. You’ll have to fight, bleed, and claw your way to the city before the mark decides to awaken anything more… divine in you.”

Liam mulled over her words, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “So it’s like leveling up in a game,” he mused. “Progression by pain, experience points through survival.”

Kaelin shot him a skeptical look. “A strange way to put it, but… yes, you’ll grow stronger as you endure these trials. The Otherworld was designed for that. Every creature, every trial, is a test, a chance to prove yourself.”

He chuckled. “Well, I’ll take what I can get. Any chance there’s a skill tree I should be looking out for?”

“Skill tree?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, you know… like abilities, powers. Things to unlock when I’m… let’s say, not about to be skewered by some ancient spirit.”

Kaelin shook her head, smiling faintly. “You’ll find that the path to power here is earned the hard way. Every skill you unlock will be through blood and sacrifice, not some convenient menu.” Her expression softened a fraction. “If you’re looking for shortcuts, you may as well turn back now. The Dragon’s Road is no place for the faint-hearted.”

He rubbed his temples, feeling both daunted and, strangely, exhilarated. “Got it. Earn my skills, no shortcuts, and beware of anything that looks like a shortcut.”

A shadow passed over her face. “Trust me, in the Otherworld, every shortcut comes at a high cost - and those who take them rarely survive long enough to regret it.”

They walked in silence for a time, the air growing thicker, carrying a metallic tang that prickled Liam’s senses. The faint glow from the walls cast eerie shadows, the shapes shifting as if they were alive, watching.

Liam broke the silence. “So, this journey - three thousand kilometers of monsters, pitfalls, and a city at the end that may or may not kill me. Is there anything else I should know?”

Kaelin paused, turning to face him, her expression grim. “Only this: you may find allies along the way, but do not place your trust easily. This is a world built on bargains and sacrifices. Even those who seem to help you may ask a price.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” he replied dryly, though he couldn’t quite hide his unease. “And what about you, Kaelin? Should I be trusting you?”

She studied him for a moment, her eyes shadowed. “I’ll guide you to the city, as my people’s oaths demand, but once we arrive, the choice is yours alone. I have no use for your trust or doubt. I have my own reasons for being here.”

Liam rolled his eyes, grinning despite himself. “You’re a real open book, you know that?”

Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile. “Keep your wit, outsider. You’ll need it if you want to survive the trials ahead.”

They walked on, the echoes of their footsteps fading into the tunnel, leaving behind the faintest promise of camaraderie, woven through wit and shared purpose.