Jun's POV

The map weighed heavily in my pack, though its physical weight was nothing compared to the burden it represented. I had seen plenty of strange and dangerous things in my life—cursed relics, treasures people were willing to kill for—but this was different. The intricate lines and symbols seemed to hum with an energy I couldn't explain, as if the map itself were alive.

The girl—Little Rat—hadn't stopped looking over her shoulder since we left the wrecked ship. Her fear was justified. This island had a way of creeping under your skin, making you question every sound, every shadow. Even I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

The path we followed was barely more than a trail, overgrown with tangled roots and thick vines. The air was damp, carrying the faint scent of decay that seemed to permeate the entire island. I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword, every sense on high alert.

"Do you think it's safe?" the girl asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I glanced back at her. She was clutching the dagger I'd given her like it was the only thing keeping her alive. Her dress was still in tatters, offering no real protection from the elements, but she didn't complain. Not out loud, anyway.

"No," I said bluntly. "It's not safe. So stay close and keep quiet."

Her glare was sharp enough to cut, but she obeyed, falling into step behind me.

We reached a small clearing as the sun began to set, the light casting long shadows across the ground. It wasn't an ideal place to stop, but I didn't want to risk traveling in the dark.

"Here," I said, gesturing for her to sit. "We'll rest for a while."

She sank onto a fallen log, her shoulders slumping with exhaustion. I busied myself with setting up a perimeter, marking the edges of the clearing with small traps designed to give us some warning if anything—or anyone—approached.

When I returned, she was staring at the map, her fingers tracing the strange symbols.

"You shouldn't touch that," I said, my tone sharper than I intended.

She looked up, startled. "Why not?"

"Because we don't know what it is," I replied, taking the map from her and rolling it up carefully. "And I don't need you accidentally setting something off."

She frowned but didn't argue.

The fire crackled softly as night fell, the warmth doing little to dispel the chill in the air. The girl sat across from me, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared into the flames.

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"What do you think it leads to?" she asked after a long silence.

I hesitated. "Something dangerous."

Her gaze flicked to me, her eyes wide. "Then why are we following it?"

"Because dangerous things are often valuable," I said simply. "And this map... it might be the most valuable thing I've ever come across."

She didn't respond right away, her brow furrowing as she considered my words.

"Do you think it could help?" she asked finally. "With the sickness?"

I leaned back, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. "Maybe. But I wouldn't count on it."

Her face fell, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt.

I took the first watch, my eyes scanning the darkened forest as the girl curled up near the fire. She fell asleep quickly, exhaustion overtaking her, but I remained alert. The island was too quiet, the kind of quiet that set my teeth on edge.

Hours passed, and I saw nothing—no movement, no signs of life. But the feeling of being watched only grew stronger.

When it was her turn to take watch, she didn't argue. I showed her how to stoke the fire and handed her my knife, just in case.

"Wake me if anything happens," I said, lying down with my sword within arm's reach.

She nodded, her expression determined despite the fear in her eyes.

Morning came slowly, the light filtering through the dense canopy above. I woke to find the girl still sitting by the fire, her eyes heavy with fatigue.

"You should have woken me," I said, standing and stretching.

She shrugged, her voice hoarse. "You looked like you needed the rest."

I didn't bother responding. Instead, I packed up the map and gestured for her to follow.

The trail grew steeper as we climbed, the air thinning as we ascended the rocky terrain. The girl struggled to keep up, her breath coming in short gasps, but she didn't complain.

When we finally reached the top, the sight before us took my breath away.

A massive stone structure stood at the center of the plateau, its surface covered in the same intricate symbols as the map. Vines and moss clung to its surface, but the stone itself was unweathered, as if it had been built yesterday.

The girl stepped closer, her eyes wide with awe. "What is this place?"

I didn't answer, my focus on the massive doors at the base of the structure. They were carved with the same circular pattern that marked the center of the map, and as I approached, I felt a strange pull—an almost magnetic force drawing me closer.

"Stay back," I warned, my hand on my sword.

She hesitated but obeyed, watching from a safe distance as I examined the doors. There was no obvious mechanism, no handle or keyhole, but the symbols seemed to pulse faintly, as if responding to my presence.

The map.

I pulled it from my pack, unrolling it carefully. The circular design at its center matched the one on the door exactly, and as I held it closer, the symbols on the door began to glow.

"What are you doing?" the girl asked, her voice tinged with panic.

"Opening it," I said simply.

The ground beneath us trembled as the doors began to move, the ancient stone grinding against itself.

Behind them, a faint light glowed, illuminating a narrow staircase that descended into darkness.

"Stay close," I said, stepping inside.

The girl hesitated but followed, her dagger clutched tightly in her hand.

The air inside was cool and dry, the walls lined with more of the strange symbols. The staircase seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning until I lost all sense of direction.

When we finally reached the bottom, the sight that greeted us was unlike anything I had ever seen.

A massive chamber stretched out before us, its walls lined with shelves of ancient tomes and artifacts. At the center of the room was a pedestal, and on it rested a single object: a small, intricately carved box.

The girl gasped, her eyes fixed on the box. "Is that...?"

I didn't answer, stepping cautiously toward the pedestal. The air seemed to hum with energy, and as I reached out to touch the box, I felt a surge of heat.

It wasn't just an artifact.

It was power.

And I wasn't sure if it would save us—or destroy us.