The chamber beyond the sentinels was eerily quiet.
Kiera moved cautiously, her sword still drawn as we approached the far end of the room. A large door loomed before us, carved from the same black, glass-like material as the floor. It was covered in glowing runes, their light flickering like fireflies.
“Looks like the end of the line,” Kiera muttered, lowering her sword.
I nodded, my chest still heaving from the fight. My entire body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder, but I forced myself to stay upright.
“Think there’s treasure in there?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Kiera shot me a look. “Let’s hope it’s worth the trouble.”
The door opened with a low rumble, revealing a small, circular chamber bathed in soft light. At its center stood a pedestal, and on top of it sat a glowing orb, faint tendrils of light curling around its surface like smoke.
Kiera approached it cautiously, her eyes scanning the room for traps. When nothing happened, she gestured for me to follow.
“Looks like we’re clear,” she said, though her tone was wary.
I stepped closer, my gaze fixed on the orb. It was mesmerizing, the light inside it swirling like a miniature galaxy. As I drew near, the air around me grew warmer, and I felt a strange pull in my chest—like the orb was calling to me.
“Hiro,” Kiera said sharply, breaking my trance. “Don’t touch it.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
I hesitated, but the pull was too strong. Before I could stop myself, my hand reached out and brushed the surface of the orb.
The moment I made contact, the room shifted.
A blinding light filled my vision, and I stumbled back, clutching my head as a sharp, burning sensation tore through my skull.
Images flashed through my mind—fragments of places I didn’t recognize, faces I’d never seen. A voice, faint and distorted, echoed in my ears:
“You do not belong here.”
When the light faded, I was on my knees, gasping for breath. The orb was still on the pedestal, but its glow had dimmed, the tendrils of light now sluggish and faint.
“What the hell was that?” Kiera demanded, her voice tense.
“I… I don’t know,” I said weakly, my hands trembling.
The air around us felt heavier, and the runes on the walls pulsed faintly, their light flickering erratically. Something was wrong.
Kiera grabbed my arm, pulling me to my feet. “We’re leaving. Now.”
I nodded, stumbling after her as we made our way back through the dungeon. The sentinels were still where we’d left them, their lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor, but the atmosphere had changed.
The walls seemed darker, the runes dimmer. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the dungeon itself was… watching us.
When we finally stepped back through the archway, the cool air of the forest hit me like a splash of water. I leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath, but the feeling of unease lingered.
“What did you see in there?” Kiera asked, her tone sharper than usual.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “It was like… flashes of something. Places, people. And that voice…”
“What voice?”
“It said I didn’t belong here.”
Kiera’s expression darkened, and for a moment, she said nothing. Finally, she sheathed her sword, turning away from me.
“That thing you touched—it wasn’t meant for you,” she said. “But it reacted to you anyway. That’s not a good sign.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, my voice shaking.
“It means this place is paying attention to you,” she said grimly. “And if you’re not careful, it’ll tear you apart.”
As we left the dungeon behind, I couldn’t help but glance back at the archway. The runes were still glowing faintly, but their light seemed… different now. Dimmer.