Dominic’s voice echoed faintly in the dark chamber, his question hanging in the air. Selene and Marcus turned to him, their expressions shifting from concern to alertness.
"Hear what?" Marcus asked, his tone low and cautious.
Dominic strained his ears, trying to catch the voice again, but the cave was now silent, save for the soft crackling of Selene’s magical light. The oppressive atmosphere, however, remained, pressing down on him like a heavy blanket.
"I thought I heard something," Dominic said, shaking his head. "A voice, but… it’s gone now. It was speaking in a language I didn’t understand."
Selene exchanged a worried glance with Marcus. "This cave is filled with dark magic, Dominic. It’s possible that you’re more attuned to it because of your unique connection to the arcane. We need to be extremely careful."
Marcus nodded in agreement, his grip tightening on his sword. "We can’t afford to dismiss anything. If you hear or feel something, let us know immediately."
Dominic swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the room rise. "I will."
They continued their careful examination of the chamber, looking for any clues that might explain the source of the dark magic. The altar, with its dried blood and carved symbols, remained the focal point of their investigation. Marcus ordered the guards to fan out and search the surrounding area, leaving no stone unturned.
As Dominic approached the altar, the warmth within him flared once more, reacting to the lingering energy that surrounded the stone slab. The symbols on the altar seemed to pulse faintly, as if resonating with his presence. He reached out with his magic, trying to feel the flow of energy, to understand its source.
For a brief moment, Dominic felt a connection—a thread of energy that linked him to the altar, to the cave, and to something far more ancient and powerful. It was as if the very earth beneath him was alive, pulsating with an ancient force that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Suddenly, the whispering voice returned, louder this time, and filled with anger. The cave around them trembled, and the symbols on the walls began to glow with a sickly green light. The guards drew their weapons, their eyes wide with alarm.
"Get back!" Marcus shouted, his voice cutting through the growing chaos. He pulled Dominic away from the altar just as a burst of dark energy erupted from it, sending a shockwave through the chamber.
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The guards staggered back, struggling to maintain their footing as the cave shook violently. Selene quickly raised her hands, conjuring a protective barrier of shimmering light around them.
The voice grew louder, more insistent, its words incomprehensible but filled with malevolence. The green light intensified, casting twisted shadows on the walls as the air grew thick with dark magic.
Dominic’s heart raced, his magic flaring in response to the danger. He could feel the presence behind the voice—an ancient entity, awakened and enraged by their intrusion.
"We need to get out of here!" Selene shouted, her voice strained as she maintained the barrier against the growing force of the dark magic.
Marcus didn’t hesitate. He ordered the guards to retreat, pulling Dominic along with him as they made their way back toward the cave entrance. The ground continued to tremble, and the walls seemed to close in around them, as if the cave itself was trying to trap them.
Dominic could feel the presence following them, the voice echoing in his mind, filled with rage and desperation. He tried to push it back, to protect his thoughts from the invasive force, but it was like trying to hold back a tidal wave.
Finally, they burst out of the cave and into the relative safety of the forest. The tremors ceased, and the oppressive atmosphere lifted, leaving them all panting and shaken.
Selene lowered the barrier, her face pale and strained. "That was too close."
"What in the name of the gods was that?" one of the guards asked, his voice trembling with fear.
Marcus sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "Whatever it was, it’s still in that cave. We’ve disturbed something ancient and powerful. We’ll need reinforcements and more specialized knowledge to deal with this."
Dominic felt a cold sweat on his forehead as he tried to shake off the lingering effects of the dark magic. The voice still echoed faintly in his mind, a reminder that they had only just begun to uncover the true depth of the threat they faced.
"We can’t leave it like this," Dominic said, his voice steady despite the fear that gripped him. "If that thing gets out, it could destroy the entire village—and who knows what else."
Marcus nodded, his eyes hard. "You’re right. We need to act quickly, but we can’t do this alone. We’ll return to Tiberios and report everything to Lord Aelric. We’ll need more than just soldiers to deal with whatever is in that cave."
As they began the journey back to the village, Dominic couldn’t help but glance over his shoulder, half expecting the dark presence to follow them out of the cave. But the forest remained eerily quiet, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
He knew that they had only scratched the surface of the darkness lurking in Andaria. Whatever was in that cave had been awakened, and it was angry. But as terrifying as the experience had been, it also strengthened his resolve. He couldn’t afford to be afraid. If he was going to survive in this world, he needed to face the darkness head-on.
And with Marcus, Selene, and the knowledge he was gaining under Master Eamon’s tutelage, he was determined to do just that.