As soon as Raven entered the cave, his instincts kicked in, and his eyes began adjusting to the darkness. At first, the cave walls seemed to stare at him with a menacing silence. The damp air clung to his skin, and with each breath, he could smell the cold, earthy scent of the underground. As he moved quickly, he noticed that what initially appeared to be a narrow entrance was actually a massive cave. The echoes of his every step seemed to grow, as though shadows themselves amplified them.

Panting heavily, the details around him grew sharper. Scattered stones littered the uneven floor, and water dripping from the ceiling occasionally broke the oppressive silence. Ahead, the wind’s low howl snaked through the depths of the cave like a whisper in the darkness. Two separate paths loomed before him, each resembling a gaping mouth leading into the unknown. The cave was vast and wide, but a single mistake could bring all his plans crashing down. Raven leaned against the wall, moving like a shadow. The stones beneath his feet alternated between slippery and jagged; every step had to be deliberate.

Thanks to the map, he knew exactly where the guards were stationed: two at the entrance and another two at the branching paths. The right passage led to a storage room and a resting area. The storage room had two guards, while six others rested in shifts in the resting area. The paths were narrow, but the uneven ground made running through them nearly impossible. In total, twelve potential adversaries could be waiting ahead. Raven’s objective was clear—he would take the left path.

Using the darkness to his advantage, he quickly slipped past the guards. The cold air of the cave sent a shiver down his spine. The darkness felt like a protective shroud, yet even the smallest error could expose him to the watchful eyes of the guards. The sound of his footsteps blended with the faint whistle of the wind inside the cavern. Water dripping from the ceiling whispered of the instability of the rocky layer above.

One of the guards he passed paused suddenly, looking around before calling out to another:

“Did you hear that?”

The other grumbled, replying irritably, “Stop shouting in this echoing cave! There’s nothing here but damned dripping water and rats!”

As the first guard turned back, Raven’s heart raced slightly. He was keenly aware of the tension he left behind. A greater challenge awaited him: in the middle of the first large chamber, ten guards patrolled in a circular formation. These guards scanned their surroundings attentively, constantly altering their patrol patterns. The circle expanded outward toward the room’s edges, then contracted again. This strategy ensured that every corner of the room remained visible, making it nearly impossible for Raven to slip through unnoticed.

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As Raven approached the room, he noticed the immense stone pillars stretching from the floor to the ceiling. Each pillar merged seamlessly with the shadows of the cave, obscuring visibility further. The walls of the chamber, rugged and imposing, resonated with faint howls whenever the wind rushed through. The steady sound of boots on the stone floor echoed, alerting Raven to the movements of nearby guards.

Raven struggled to control his breathing. A plan formed in his mind, but doubt crept in:

“What would the Hunter family have suggested for this place?”

He mentally reviewed the map. When the guards grouped at the center to form a circle, he would use the darkness to cling to the right-hand wall and sneak past. However, the room’s sheer size made every possibility more complex. He had no time to think further. Holding his breath, he edged closer to the wall and began to move.

Raven darted along the room’s edge. The faint “tap” of his shoes on the stone floor echoed just enough to be noticeable. The room was so vast that the reflections from the pools of water in its center barely reached the walls. The cold dampness of the high ceiling pressed down on him like a heavy cloak.

Suddenly, he noticed movement to his left. All the guards stopped at once, turning their gazes toward his direction. His heart pounded. He froze in place, relying entirely on the darkness to conceal him.

Two guards began approaching Raven’s position. He managed to disappear like a shadow within the darkness. When the guards reached the wall, all they found was a rat. The rat scurried away, and the guards cursed under their breath as they returned to their posts.

Taking advantage of their distraction, Raven used the uneven surface of the wall to climb. His fingertips clung to the rock as his heart threatened to burst from his chest. Gripping one of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling, he scanned the room below. Just as the guards completed their circular patrol and prepared to regroup, Raven released himself from the stalactite and quickly headed toward the first stone chamber.

Upon entering the first chamber, he pressed against the wall. Water dripping from the ceiling glistened on the surface of the pedestal at the center. A lone guard stood facing forward. Moving silently, Raven slipped past the guard and into the second chamber on the right. Once there, he avoided the guard’s line of sight and quickly pressed against the opposite wall.

The stone chambers were smaller than the others, but the pedestal at their center was illuminated by a faint light. The glowing stone stood out like a star in the dark room.

Raven knew he had only three minutes to retrieve both stones. With time pressing down on him, he steadied his breathing. His movements were swift and silent, but the threat of danger loomed over him with every step. His heart thundered in his chest, and a single thought echoed in his mind:

“Now is not the time for mistakes.”