Yuming's POV

The box sat on the pedestal, glowing faintly in the dim light of the underground chamber. It was smaller than I expected, carved from a dark, smooth stone and etched with the same symbols that covered the walls around us. Despite its size, it felt like the entire room revolved around it, like it was the heart of this ancient place.

Jun stood before it, his hand hovering over the surface. His usually confident expression was replaced by something I'd never seen before—hesitation.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder at me, his sharp eyes narrowing. "You don't touch things like this lightly," he said.

I frowned, stepping closer. The air around the box seemed heavier, almost charged. "Do you think it's the cure?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't look at me. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's powerful. And power like this always comes with a cost."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I tried to ignore it. "Then maybe we shouldn't take it."

"We don't have a choice," he said, his voice firm. "If this can stop the sickness, it's worth the risk."

He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing the surface of the box. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber, and I flinched, my heart leaping into my throat.

The symbols on the walls flared to life, their light bathing the room in an eerie glow. The air grew thicker, and I felt a strange pull in my chest, as if the box were reaching for me, too.

"Jun," I said, my voice trembling.

"I know," he replied, his voice steady despite the tension in his posture.

The box opened with a soft click, its lid sliding back to reveal what lay inside.

It wasn't what I expected.

A small vial of liquid sat nestled in the center of the box, its contents glowing with a faint, otherworldly light. Beside it was a rolled piece of parchment, tied with a delicate golden thread.

Jun picked up the vial carefully, holding it up to the light. "This must be it," he murmured.

I moved closer, staring at the vial in awe. "It's so... small. Can something like that really stop the sickness?"

"We'll find out," he said, tucking it into his coat. He then reached for the parchment, untying the thread and unrolling it with care.

The symbols on the parchment were similar to the ones on the walls and the map, but they seemed more intricate, more deliberate. Jun's brow furrowed as he studied them, his lips moving silently as if trying to decipher their meaning.

"Can you read it?" I asked.

"Not all of it," he admitted. "But it's some kind of instructions... or a warning."

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I swallowed hard. "A warning about what?"

He didn't answer, his focus still on the parchment.

A low rumble interrupted the tense silence, and I felt the ground beneath my feet begin to shake.

"What's happening?" I asked, panic rising in my chest.

Jun rolled the parchment quickly, stuffing it into his coat. "The chamber's unstable. We need to move—now."

The shaking grew more violent as we ran back up the staircase, the walls around us cracking and crumbling. The glowing symbols dimmed one by one, plunging the passage into darkness.

"Keep moving!" Jun shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of collapsing stone.

I followed as closely as I could, my legs burning with effort as we climbed higher and higher. The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe, but I didn't dare slow down.

We burst out of the chamber just as the entrance collapsed behind us, a cloud of dust and debris billowing out into the clearing. I stumbled, falling to my knees as I gasped for air.

Jun was beside me in an instant, his hand gripping my arm to steady me. "You're all right," he said, his voice rough but reassuring.

I nodded, though my heart was still racing. "That... was close."

"Too close," he muttered, his eyes scanning the treeline.

The island was silent again, but it was an unnatural silence, heavy with tension.

"What now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"We get back to the ship," he said, helping me to my feet. "And we figure out what this thing can do."

The journey back to the ship felt even more dangerous than before. The forest seemed darker, the shadows deeper, and every sound made me jump.

Jun stayed close, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword. I clutched the dagger he had given me, my knuckles white as I tried to ignore the prickling sensation on the back of my neck.

It wasn't just paranoia.

We were being followed.

"Jun," I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. "Do you hear that?"

He nodded, his expression grim. "Keep moving. Don't look back."

The sound of rustling leaves grew louder, and I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder again. Shadows moved between the trees, their shapes too human to be animals.

"They're getting closer," I said, my voice shaking.

"I know," he replied. "Run."

We sprinted through the forest, the shadows closing in around us. I could hear their footsteps now, faster and heavier than my own.

Jun drew his sword without breaking stride, his movements fluid and precise. "Stay close to me," he ordered.

I didn't argue, my fear drowning out any protest I might have had.

The first attacker came from the left, lunging out of the shadows with a guttural snarl. Jun met him head-on, his sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy.

"Keep moving!" he shouted, shoving me forward.

More figures emerged, their faces twisted and vacant, their movements unnatural. They looked like the sick people we'd seen in the city, but worse—like something had taken hold of them and turned them into something... else.

Jun fought them off with brutal efficiency, his blade cutting through the chaos as he cleared a path.

"Go!" he shouted again, his voice filled with urgency.

I ran, my heart pounding as I navigated the treacherous terrain. The sound of fighting faded behind me, replaced by the steady rhythm of my own footsteps.

When I reached the edge of the forest, the ship came into view, its sails gleaming in the sunlight. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.

One of the creatures had followed me.

I turned, raising the dagger in a feeble attempt to defend myself. The creature lunged, its claws reaching for me, and I braced for impact.

But it never came.

Jun appeared out of nowhere, his sword plunging into the creature's chest. It let out a horrifying screech before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

"You're not very good at following orders, are you?" he said, his voice breathless but sharp.

I stared at him, my chest heaving. "You're welcome."

He shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's go."

We reached the ship just as the rest of the crew returned from their search. The relief on their faces quickly turned to curiosity as they noticed the tension between Jun and me.

"Set sail," Jun barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The crew scrambled to obey, and I followed Jun to his cabin, my mind racing.

"What's in that box, Jun?" I asked once we were alone.

He unrolled the parchment, his eyes scanning the symbols. "Something that might change everything," he said, his voice low.

I didn't press him further. The weight of what we had found was enough to keep us both silent as the ship sailed into the horizon.