The oppressive weight of the mountain’s depths grew heavier with each step, the air thick with an ancient malice. The flickering torchlight did little to ease the sense of dread that clung to the walls, and their shadows stretched long and distorted, mimicking the twisted creatures they’d faced.

After several hours, they reached a narrow alcove where Kronmud suggested they rest. As the group settled, Kronmud muttered something about scouting ahead and disappeared further down the tunnel, leaving Mihai, Elanor, Cian, and Raven in a rare moment of calm.

They sat quietly for a time, each lost in their thoughts, until Elanor shifted closer to Mihai, her expression contemplative.

“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you,” she began softly, her eyes reflecting the gentle glow of the torchlight. “Something that… my people don’t share easily.”

Mihai turned to her, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?”

Elanor hesitated, her gaze dropping briefly before meeting his eyes. “Among my people, we only choose one partner in our lives. It’s a bond that runs… very deep. We’re bound, heart and soul, from that moment on.”

Her voice grew softer, filled with both vulnerability and strength. “I’ve chosen you, Mihai.”

Mihai’s breath caught, the weight of her words settling over him. It was more than a confession—it was a promise, one that went beyond simple affection. He felt the gravity of her choice, the depth of trust she was placing in him.

“Elanor…” he began, his voice unsteady. He reached out, taking her hand gently in his. “I… don’t know what to say. I’ve never felt anything like this.”

She smiled, a faint, almost shy expression that softened her usual composure. “You don’t need to say anything, Mihai. Just… know that whatever happens, I am here with you. I chose this path, and I chose it with you.”

They shared a quiet moment, and Mihai leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers in a soft, tender kiss. It was a silent acknowledgment of the bond they now shared, a bond as unbreakable as the mountain’s stone.

Raven, watching them from his place beside Cian, let out a quiet, approving rumble, his amber eyes glowing softly. Cian caught his gaze and shook his head with a faint smile, muttering under his breath, “At least someone’s happy down here.”

Their rest was short-lived. Kronmud soon returned, his face tight with concern. “We’d best move quickly,” he muttered, his gaze flicking back to the shadows. “There’s somethin’ foul stirrin’ further down, an’ I’d rather not be here when it comes callin’.”

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The group gathered their gear, and they moved on, their steps quieter now, each one carrying the weight of Elanor’s recent words and the silent understanding that lay between her and Mihai.

The tunnels wound down steeply, and the temperature dropped further, the damp chill gnawing at their bones. The air grew stale, laced with an earthy, metallic scent that hinted at both ancient stone and something darker, a corruption that clung to the walls like a shroud.

After nearly an hour, they entered a cavern so vast the walls disappeared into darkness. Strange crystal formations jutted from the ground, their surfaces dull and cracked, as if something had drained them of their light. Kronmud inspected them, his fingers tracing the fractures.

“These used tae be brimming with energy,” he murmured, his tone somber. “The darkness here… it’s eatin’ away at everything. Even the earth itself.”

Cian tensed, his bow drawn as he scanned the area. “I feel like we’re being watched.”

At his words, shadows shifted near the edge of the cavern. Two new creatures emerged, each one twisted and monstrous: Lurkers—ghastly figures with elongated limbs and featureless faces, their forms constantly shifting between solidity and shadow. Their bodies dripped with a tar-like substance, each step leaving a trail of dark sludge on the ground.

“Stay together!” Kronmud barked, raising his axe. “Lurkers are quick an’ slippery. They’ll try tae separate us.”

One of the Lurkers lunged at Cian, its twisted arm stretching unnaturally as it swung toward him. Cian dodged, quickly pulling back and releasing an arrow that struck the creature’s chest, causing it to hiss as dark energy oozed from the wound. The Lurker stumbled, but it soon reformed, the injury closing as if nothing had happened.

Raven darted forward, growling as he snapped at the creature’s leg, managing to pull it down momentarily. Mihai seized the opening, bringing the Twin Flames down in a swift arc that sliced through the creature’s shoulder. The Lurker screeched, its form flickering as it recoiled, but even injured, it continued to press forward, its remaining arm reaching out with a ghastly, relentless hunger.

Beside them, Elanor muttered an incantation, her Spirit Caller’s charm glowing as she summoned a spectral shield to block the Lurker’s attack. The creature’s tar-like arm hit the shield, splattering against it with a wet, sickening sound, unable to break through.

Kronmud, with a fierce grin, raised his axe high. “Ye don’t frighten me, ye slippery devils!” He brought the axe down on the second Lurker’s arm, severing it in a single blow. The creature screeched, writhing in pain, but Kronmud showed no mercy, delivering a final strike that sent the creature collapsing into a pool of shadow and sludge.

Raven and Mihai worked together to finish off the remaining Lurker. Raven clamped his jaws on its leg, anchoring it in place, while Mihai drove his sword through its head, the blade flashing as it connected. With a final, piercing wail, the Lurker dissolved, its form fading back into the darkness it had emerged from.

With the creatures defeated, they took a moment to regroup. Mihai glanced at Elanor, her face calm yet alert, her strength and poise a quiet reassurance. She met his gaze, her soft smile a reminder of the moment they’d shared, grounding him even in the face of the darkness.

Kronmud grinned as he wiped the dark sludge from his axe, casting a knowing glance between Mihai and Elanor. “Nice work,” he muttered with a wink, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. “An’ here I thought ye two were just tae make eyes at each other.”

Elanor’s cheeks flushed, but she held her ground, smiling faintly as Mihai chuckled, the moment breaking the tension of the fight. “Seems even in the dark, some things can’t hide,” he murmured, his hand brushing hers as they turned to press onward.

They moved deeper, the darkness growing denser and more unnatural, as if the very mountain resented their presence. But despite the weight of the journey and the threats lurking in every shadow, Mihai felt a renewed strength in their shared purpose. He would protect Elanor, Cian, Kronmud, and Raven—and together, they would face whatever horrors lay ahead.

As they walked, Mihai felt a chill settle over him, a feeling that this journey would test more than his strength.