image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]

The four ventured deep into the eerie woods, shrouded in cobwebs that clung to the trees like ghostly veils. This was Hilmor, a place once plagued by haunting wraiths that had tormented the land. It was thanks to Arbious's efforts, that they had successfully banished the malevolent spirits that haunted the woods, bringing solace to the once-dreadful place.

Yet, the lingering remnants of the wraiths' presence remained, serving as a haunting reminder of the suffering they had caused. They couldn't help but imagine the countless innocent souls the wraiths had consumed in their time. As they delved further into the heart of the woods, a somber atmosphere settled around them, making their senses keen and alert. They knew that where wraiths once dwelled, there was a possibility of encountering other undead beings.

Leading the group with his seasoned expertise, Graybeard tightly gripped his trusty axe, ready to defend them against any lurking threats. As they pressed forward, navigating the dense foliage and gnarled trees, their journey led them to a profound discovery—a mysterious cave entrance that delved deep into the underground depths.

As the four made their way to the cave, Arbious mumbled underneath his breath, a chant of the 6th tier. "Reveal the secrets of this land to me."

image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]

6Th Tier Magic: Revelation of the accursed

Effects: This spell highlights the outline of surrounding creatures. This spell targets creatures of negative alignment. As each enemy is highlighted, the caster and only they can see the creatures surrounding them for a limited duration.

Casting requirement: Adept in Dark Arts / Negative alignment

Pre-Requisite: Minor Revelation - 4th tier.

image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]

Empowered by the activated spell, Arbious cautiously surveyed his surroundings, ensuring not to draw any undue attention to himself. Sensing the moment was opportune, Mila and Graybeard bravely forged ahead, their footsteps echoing faintly as they ventured closer to the enigmatic mouth of the cave. Meanwhile, Aria, ever vigilant and poised, remained behind, patiently awaiting their signal—a subtle gesture or distinct sound that would communicate their findings and guide their next course of action.

I don't sense any evils lurking about...

Mila's wave caught Arbious's attention, her encouraging gesture signaling him to follow her lead. Meanwhile, Aria, perceptive as ever, took in her immediate surroundings. "They're signaling for us, let's not keep them waiting,"Arbious said.

Aria, momentarily hesitated, her face clearly resembling one of worry and doubt. According to her book, a dragon had made this cave its home for a century. Though not inherently evil, dragons were creatures who were seen as absolute forces of destruction in the world. Even a small dragon would require a battalion of skilled mages to take down. Their fiery breath would melt stone to iron, proving castles and swords ineffective combatants. If a dragon had made its home here and grew over the years, certain death waited for them. Yet before she could voice her worries, Arbious swiftly left her side, making his way to the entrance of the cave.

Aria followed behind, frustrated by his behavior. She was ever so cautious of Arbious ever since she had laid eyes on him. She sensed a deep, evil, dark presence emanating from within him, but believed herself to be paranoid and dismissed the thought. Arbious was well aware of her feelings, yet he did not care for how she felt, though he was intrigued by what she would do.

Lady Gray... And Aria Gray, they seem powerful enough to have people like Prince Avo address them formally. I need to have Alpos investigate into Aria.

As Arbious reunited with the group, his mind was deep in contemplation. The cavern before him ran deep and was devoid of light. Though no creatures of evil resided within the cave, Arbious remained perplexed by Aria's strange behavior. There was something she was hiding from the entire group.

"I don't trust this cave, lad," Graybeard voiced his concerns.

His admission caught Arbious off guard and surprised as Graybeard rarely divulged his fears so openly. He understood Graybeard's caution and despite his awareness that no immediate danger lurked within, he respected Graybeard's worry.

Arbious spoke, "It ultimately falls to Aria to decide," he mused, turning his gaze towards Aria as she caught up with him. "If she chooses to turn back, I will fully support her decision. But if she deems it necessary to press forward, then we shall face whatever lies within."

Aria's voice brimmed with determination as she spoke, her resolve resolute and unyielding. "We cannot turn back now. The fate of the elves hangs in the balance, and we are their only hope. Even if we wished to retreat, we cannot forsake our duty."

"Then we press forward." Mila spoke, admired by Aria's resolve.

Graybeard's weathered gaze pierced through the veil of darkness that consumed the cave's interior. Its impenetrable depths seemed to hold secrets and unknown dangers, leaving a lingering sense of unease in the air. Aria playfully nudged Graybeard, her voice carried a teasing tone, breaking the tension that hung in the air. "Are you scared?" she asked mischievously, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

A faint chuckle escaped Graybeard's bearded mouth, the grizzled lines of his face softening momentarily. "Scared? Me? Never,"

Though he replied playfully, his eyes betrayed his true feelings. Seeing his uncertain expression, Mila's voice resonated with a tinge of genuine concern as she addressed Graybeard. "Gray... If you don't feel up to it, perhaps you should sit this one out," she suggested, her worry for him evident in her tone.

Graybeard's eyes met Mila's, his weathered face etched with a mixture of determination and hesitation. Interrupting her, he interjected, his voice carrying a weight of contemplation. "But...," he began, pausing momentarily as he gathered his thoughts.

"Is something the matter?" Arbious asked, surprised by Graybeard's actions, sensing his inner turmoil and fear pulling him back.

"He doesn't have a good experience with caves..." Mila replied mischievously.

"SHUT IT!" Graybeard's voice thundered through the tense air, his anger unleashed in response to Mila's remark. His outburst betrayed the depth of hurt he felt, realizing that his trusted secret had been inadvertently exposed. In that moment, his emotions spiraled, a mix of anger, vulnerability, and guilt consuming him.

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, the echo of his outburst reverberating through the surrounding silence. Yet, as the intensity of the moment settled, a wave of remorse washed over Graybeard, his anger giving way to a profound sense of regret. He had lashed out in his pain, aware that his anger was misdirected.

Both the uncertainty of the cave, and Arbious's actions weighed heavily on Grayebeard's mind. He was the only one suspected something was not right with him. His mind couldn't wrap around the fact that Arbious easily eliminated all the wraiths, and every time he looked at his blood red eyes, he felt a weight being placed on him, growing heavier and heavier.

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At the same time, guilt seeped into his voice as he spoke again, this time with a tremor of vulnerability. "I... I didn't mean to yell," he admitted, his words filled with remorse.

Mila, taken aback by Graybeard's sudden outburst, felt a mixture of surprise and empathy flood through her. As a dwarf, caves were typically regarded as a familiar terrain, a domain in which they excelled and found comfort. However, Graybeard's fear in the face of this particular cave defied those expectations.

Graybeard's gaze shifted back to the dark expanse of the cave, not wanting to appear weak before Arbious. A false resolute expression replaced the earlier turmoil that had consumed him. Determination filled his voice as he responded, his tone tinged with a touch of self-deprecating humor to ease his mind. "Well, I can't afford to look like a loser in front of our client now, can I?" he mused. "I'll just have to swallow my worries and deal with it."

A mischievous glint danced in Aria's eyes, and she couldn't help but smile at Graybeard's newfound resolve. Her voice dripped with playful admiration as she responded, "How excellent. You truly are worthy of protecting me."

Graybeard let out a faint chuckle, his eyes still fixed on the darkness of the cave.

Seeing Graybeard's unease, Arbious spoke, "I have an idea," he said, capturing the attention of the group.

Peering upwards, Arbious swiftly swung his hand, cutting through the air with a sharp motion. A powerful gust of air surged forth, slicing through a nearby tree branch, causing it to plummet to the ground.

Mila's eyes widened with excitement. "What kind of magic is that?"

With a smile, he replied, "This is a modified version of third-tier wind magic called Air Slash."

"Modified?" Mila inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Arbious nodded, allowing a hint of mystery to linger. "If you haven't noticed yet, then let me demonstrate once more."

Swinging his hand thrice, he released three more air slashes, causing multiple branches to cascade down around them, causing a loud sound to echo through the cave.

Mila's face lit up with understanding. "You're not chanting the spell, but you're still able to use it!"

Aria furrowed her brow, perplexed by the situation. "How is that possible?" she asked, her voice filled with confusion.

"It's called a silent chant," He explained, addressing Aria's skepticism before turning his gaze to Mila. "A silent chant is a technique where you recite the incantation in your mind while visualizing the spell you wish to invoke. It's mostly effective with shorter chants, like 'air wave.'"

Mila pondered his words, speaking softly to herself. "I've never witnessed this method in practice... but I have heard rumors of such a skill."

Eager to learn, she turned to him with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "So, how exactly do I do it?" Mila asked, attempting to mimic his earlier motions by slashing her hands through the air, yet achieving no visible result.

Observing her efforts, Arbious offered guidance. "You're focusing too much on the physical movement. Instead, you need to tap into your imagination and truly believe in the power of the spell. Feel the magic coursing through you, visualize it, and let it come alive within your mind."

Mila nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. She continued to swing her hands, still struggling to manifest the desired effect.

Ugh... She's hopeless...

"Keep trying this on your own... You will get the hang of it soon enough..."

I really doubt she'd be able to do it.

Graybeard tugged at Arbious's sleeve, catching his attention. He turned to face him as Graybeard leaned in, his voice barely audible as he whispered, "Do you mind if we get this job done quickly?"

Understanding his desire to proceed, Arbious glanced at the fallen branches, deciding to refocus everyone's attention on the task at hand. Taking one of the branches in hand, he concentrated his magic on its tip. The wood ignited, flames dancing atop the branch. The fire burned brightly, casting flickering shadows across the cave entrance.

"You never cease to amaze, lad," Graybeard exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement at the prospect of having a torch to guide them through the darkness ahead.

Mila, her curiosity unquenched, murmured to herself, "Another silent chant?"

He nodded in affirmation. "Right, although silent chants are quick and efficient, their true power lies in their unpredictability. With silent chants, it's harder for an opponent to read your spell and gives less time for effective counterplay. It's a perfect tool for dueling."

"I see," Mila replied, her brow furrowed in deep thought as she contemplated the implications of silent chants.

Graybeard interjected; His tone lighthearted. "Is there a spell to find these bloody mushrooms quickly?"

Arbious chuckled in response. "Haha, no, I'm afraid not. We'll have to rely on our own eyes and instincts for that task."

Graybeard feigned disappointment, but a glint of mischief sparkled in his eyes. "A shame. I was hoping for a shortcut."

Though he had suspicions for Arbious, Gray had come to the conclusion that it was just his imagination, driven by his fear for dark caves. How bad could Arbious be, after all, he did save them twice now.

The group's attention turned to the cave looming before them, the flames that danced atop the branches cast an amber glow, dispelling the fear that once gripped Graybeard's gaze. He expressed his gratitude for Arbious's assistance, his appreciation shining through his eyes.

With newfound confidence, Graybeard, torch in hand, took the first step into the cave, and Arbious followed closely behind. Aria and Mila, understanding the importance of being together, decided to stay together at the back of the group, ready to provide support as needed.

image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]

After what felt like an hour of exploration into the cave, the group had come before an expansive chamber, its walls glistening with moisture and illuminated by an eerie, phosphorescent glow. Stalactites and stalagmites created an unsettling atmosphere, and the air was thick with the smell of damp earth and something else—something ancient. The group's torches flickered, casting long, wavering shadows that danced on the stone walls, revealing the presence of ancient drawings.

Curiosity sparkled in Mila's eyes as she observed the intricate figures. "What do these drawings represent?" she inquired, her gaze traversing the intricate depictions as they ventured deeper.

Graybeard, moving his torch closer to the walls, shed light on the mysterious artwork. "These are remnants from ancient times, back when the first war unfolded between the forces of good and evil," he explained. "The first men attempted to capture what they witnessed by etching these images into the stone."

Aria's curiosity was piqued, and she sought further clarification. "The first war? The one where the Demon God's physical body was destroyed?"

Graybeard nodded somberly, his voice carrying the weight of history. "Indeed, his divine form was shattered, but his essence endured."

The torchlight danced upon his weathered face, accentuating the weight of his words. "The sheer devastation he unleashed upon the ancient lands was beyond measure."

Aria's expression turned serious. "I've only heard stories of the destruction he caused. It seemed unfathomable."

Graybeard turned to face Mila, a grim expression etched on his weathered face. "The humans of old suffered immensely under the Demon God's reign of terror. Many detailed records of his atrocities were documented, but only the elves possess the most accurate accounts. The great elven city of Tasildor houses the largest archive dedicated to ancient texts about him."

Mila's eyes widened with curiosity. "Tasildor... I've heard stories about its legendary library. Do you think we'll find the answers we seek there?"

Graybeard nodded slowly. "Even I don't fully understand how the war began, but I am certain that the ancient tomes hidden in their archives will provide much-needed answers, however horrible they may be."

"Perhaps if we visit the Elven Kingdom one day, we can scour their archives and find the truth regarding the war..." Mila pondered aloud, casting a glance in Arbious's direction from behind. "And when that time comes, you will be there, right Arbious?"

I see... It appears the common people have forgotten why the war began. If that is the case, it would be to my benefit to ensure it stays that way. Ignorance is a powerful tool, after all. Still, I find myself curious. How did the historians and scholars who recorded the first war describe its events? What narratives did they craft, and what truths did they hide? Those ancient tomes might hold secrets even I am unaware of. Secrets that, if uncovered, could either bolster my plans or unravel them entirely. Perhaps it is time to investigate these records myself, to ensure that any inconvenient truths remain buried.

"I will."