Eadric started to talk to Kinro, who responded with noncommittal enunciations. As they spoke, I silently stood up and walked away from the light of the campfire. I had business to attend to just outside of camp, and that moment was an excellent time to make a quick exit.
Soon after the light from the fire faded behind me, I walked far enough to exit the clearing. I had lived in that clearing for about two months by that point, so I knew where everything was, even in the near-total darkness of night.
Once I was sure that no one sitting at the campfire could see me, I snapped my fingers, and a mote of Hellfire began to float next to my head. With my path now illuminated, I saw that the ground was covered in wild roses.
As I walked, making sure to step around the sharp thorns, I remembered that the crest of House Polaris was that of a rose. Roses appeared frequently in Etronian politics and art since they naturally grew near the capital. That was also why the name “Thorn” was so prevalent in the region.
I walked through the illuminated darkness for less than ten minutes before I reached a small, dilapidated structure that was once part of a large medieval fortification. A great castle or fort once stood there, but all that remained in the year 630 CA was an ivy-laden archway and a barely standing stone wall.
Running parallel to the stone wall was a hidden staircase that descended down into the ground. Foliage grew around the staircase in thick growths, so it would be difficult to spot for anyone who didn’t already know where it was.
With no hesitation, I started walking down the staircase as a small spark of Hellfire lit my way.
Johan. What are you doing? This is a cairn! Even at the height of my power, I wouldn’t dare enter one of these! You are low on mana, and you’re level 20! You couldn’t possibly survive this!
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The original Thale Feldrast’s appeared in my mind. His voice was much stronger now, and he could remain awake for much longer compared to six years ago.
You’re right. This is a cairn. Luckily for us, however, the test within this cairn is one of knowledge, not one of combat. I’ve completed this cairn a few times. It’s definitely the easiest to complete, as long as you know what to say.
I responded to Thale’s inquiry with a casual tone. Would “tone” be the right word here? The communication was entirely mental.
Many great heroes have been brought low by hubris. I know that you have great knowledge of this world, but you are underestimating the danger here. Do not enter the cairn.
A grunt of annoyance escaped from my throat as I reached the bottom of the steps.
Well, I need to complete the cairn, no matter what you say. There’s something at the end of this cairn that will increase my power significantly. We both agree that I need power, right?
A door stood at the bottom of the steps. On this door, an advanced warding rune had been inscribed. At my level of experience, I couldn’t even imagine trying to dispel the ward.
“Rosa alba,” I muttered the password casually.
A few seconds passed, but the ward did not fall away. Instead, the arcane runes shifted in place, forming a single line of text. A pervasive feeling of shock seeped into my bones as I realized that the words were written in my native tongue: English.
SPEAK THE PASSWORD AND ENTER
A confused voice echoed through my mind.
What language is that?
I knew the answer after less than a second of thought. I said two words that sounded alien in my new mouth, “White rose.”
Immediately, the runes shifted. It was as if some great puzzle was solving itself in front of me. Small geometric shapes fit into others, and criss crossing white lines linked together into a large, pleasing symmetry. Just as the ward transformed into its most simplistic form, it flashed slightly and then faded completely from view.
A moment after the ward disappeared, the large metal door creaked open ominously.