In the shadowy expanse of the Soul Weaver spider’s lair, Gabe sat pensively by the small campfire. Professor Alrik had allowed Nightvision to fade, allowing the fire’s light to create ghostly patterns upon the metallic threads that crisscrossed the chamber. Unfortunately, the intricate beauty of the nest, a true masterpiece of nature, was lost on him tonight. His thoughts were consumed by the haunting images of the visions that Professor Alrik had shown him.

Simon watched Gabe, concern evident in his eyes. He cleared his throat, trying to find words that would provide comfort or clarity. “The vision…” he began, but hesitated, searching for the right way to continue.

Gabe's gaze remained fixed on the flames, the slight tensing of his body the only indication that he heard Simon. The glow from the fire illuminated his face, revealing eyes that were clouded with confusion and a touch of fear.

“The position of the wound,” Simon finally said, his voice low and careful, “it’s symbolic, Gabe. It could represent vulnerability, maybe even an unexpected twist of fate.”

Gabe looked up, his eyes locking with Simon’s. “When Professor Alrik first told me about the vision, I thought it would be during a battle. An honorable end, in some epic clash. It’s silly, no matter how heroic it is, death is still death, and yet somehow that made it better in my mind. Even now, hearing the full extent of the lies and deception, I never imagined it would be like this... a wound from behind. It suggests deception, betrayal.”

He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And there’s no one else here except you two.”

This was the point that had really been sticking in Gabe’s mind. Even though he didn’t agree with it, he could understand why they had kept secrets from him. Part of the reason he’d convinced himself to come along was because of how open Professor Alrik had been with teaching him the basics of magic. That kind of information was not something someone of his station in life could regularly access. As his frequent interactions with the Scholar’s Guild attested, he was used to people in power withholding information from him.

But this, this was something different. Would it be a beam of light or a stone spear that caused that wound? Or perhaps an unknown assailant attacking from the shadows? His thoughts drifted to the figure from the vision of war.

Professor Alrik, who had been silently observing the exchange, leaned forward. “I understand if you doubt the truth of my words Gabriel, I have given you more than enough reasons for that. However, I hope that you believe me when I tell you that for all its power, Futureweaver’s Insight is not a perfect predictor of the future. The visions it conjures deal with symbols and possible futures. We cannot know precisely what will happen until the moment comes to pass.”

A heavy silence settled over the trio, punctuated only by the soft crackle of the fire. Gabe’s mind raced. He contemplated the implications of the image and of what Professor Alrik said. If he expected the blow, how could he be betrayed? And what is the connection between the image and discovering the secret to weaving mana through the soul? The questions gnawed at him, planting seeds of doubt and mistrust. How could he go on with this journey, knowing that every step could bring him closer to that dreaded moment?

Tentatively, Simon moved closer to Gabe and gently placed a hand on his back. “Gabe, I wish we had better answers for you. There’s nothing else we’re keeping from you so from now on we’re all on the same page. I can’t even imagine what must be going through your head right now, but I know that I’ve had many sleepless nights thinking about that vision of the coming war. All we can do is keep on the current path and hope that it will be enough to stop it.”

“Remember, the future is not fixed in place,” added Professor Alrik softly. “Each decision we make, every action we take, can shape the threads of fate.”

“But didn’t you say that things in the short term are harder to change? You conjured this vision what, a little over two weeks ago? Is that a long enough period of time for the image to no longer be true?”

Professor Alrik’s silence spoke louder than any response.

Gabe nodded slowly. It’s what he expected. He needed time to process, to come to terms with the path ahead. With a deep breath, he said, “I’m going to go to bed. Tomorrow, we move forward.”

With those words, the tension in the room eased slightly, though the specter of the vision remained, lurking in the shadows. The three men settled into their makeshift beds conjured from the earth by Simon, but sleep, especially for Gabe, would be a long time coming.

The depthless dark of the underground made the concept of time a fickle thing. A sense of morning hung in the air despite the consistent shadow surrounding them. Forgoing a fire, Professor Alrik recast Nightvision on the group and once more the full splendor of the nest was on display. They convened for a simple breakfast, Drevock’s absence once again making itself known. Gabe mechanically chewed on dried meat, his thoughts adrift.

The memory of the vision from the other day, the one which foretold Drevock's demise, crept into his mind. It had been a poignant image: a figure of orange light whose radiance was slowly fading, reaching desperately toward a vast, star-speckled sky. Gabe could now see the eerie parallel. Drevock, drained by soul sickness, had gifted his Titan mana pattern to Skarnarra, a final act that mirrored the tragic silhouette of a figure reaching for the unreachable.

He matched the symbolism with the events that actually transpired in the vain hope of better understanding the image of his own fate, but the exercise was futile. There was simply too much he didn’t understand. He kept going in circles trying to ascribe meaning to every little detail to no avail. The weight of the necklace against his skin was the only thing that brought him any semblance of comfort. He’d originally thought he might have to use it if he’d expended too much of his mana during a fight, but now with the prospect of betrayal looming on the horizon, he took satisfaction in knowing that he had a few secrets of his own.

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With their meal finished and introspections set aside, they ventured forward, their spider guide leading them away from the center of the nest and towards a large tunnel cut a few feet off the ground. As before, the tunnels created by the larger variety of spiders didn’t always stay at an angle that was easily traversed by the trio and Simon frequently shaped the stone into steps, ledges, and handholds.

Without warning, the organic chaos of the spider's realm transitioned abruptly as the tunnel they were in intersected the smooth worked stone of a Vlatiryx-built tunnel. It was a change felt both in the air and underfoot; the wild randomness was replaced by the calculated precision of ancient craftsmanship. Here, polished stonework marked the walls, evidence of hands and minds that were once sculpted and shaped with deliberate intention.

These passages were much easier for them to navigate and they maintained a steady pace. Gabe worried they would encounter more traps or monsters, but either this part of the Vlatiryx tunnel system was devoid of those concerns, or their guide knew a way around them as they didn’t run into any issues.

A surprise came later when they came across several vast murals, their grandeur echoing tales of a time long forgotten. The artwork, vibrant and detailed, showcased what had to be the Vlatiryx in moments of intense spell-casting. The figures were surrounded by thread-like patterns that seemed to dance and whirl around them, tying them to constellations of symbols. These woven designs appeared both chaotic and orchestrated as if every strand had a predetermined place in this intricate tapestry of existence.

Professor Alrik paused before one mural, captivated. The design showcased a Vlatiryx mage, his outstretched hands weaving patterns in the air. Around him, a series of symbols connected by shimmering threads formed complex patterns.

“This...” Professor Alrik began, his voice betraying his wonder, “...is an astounding synthesis of the spellforms we know and compound mana node patterns.”

“How do you mean?” Gabe questioned.

During the trek, Gabe had mostly remained silent despite Simon’s regular attempts to include him in his and Professor Alrik’s conversations. Seeing these murals and hearing the astonishment in Professor Alrik’s words broke him out of his ruminations however and his curiosity broke through his anxiety.

“These symbols,” Professor Alrik pointed, “resonate with the mana nodes patterns we are acquainted with. But it's these interconnections, these threads that are truly wondrous. They suggest flows, routes of mana transfer that are unprecedented and there are far more than I'd ever anticipated."

Simon stepped up next to the mural and traced some of the lines and symbols with his finger. "If these are supposed to be mana node symbols, then why are there so many connections between them? It almost looks like a half dozen or so compound mana nodes connected together, but that would be impossible. A person would need thousands of years to strengthen their soul enough for that.”

"Exactly," Professor Alrik said in awe. "Some aspect of their mana weaving technique allowed them to do things that today would be impossible. And look here,” he said pointing to another group of symbols. “These look like simplified spellforms but they too are connected to the larger system. This is truly fascinating.”

The gravity of Alrik's words loomed large as they pressed on after Professor Alrik took a few moments to sketch the patterns in a notebook he had Simon pull out of the pack. To Gabe, these murals weren't merely remnants of a lost civilization; they were keys, riddles waiting to be deciphered. They hinted at the secret they were there to discover, the secret that was supposed to cost him his life.

The looming city of the Vlatiryx seemed less a destination and more a door to even deeper enigmas. The vision of his own fate, and the unresolved feelings it stirred, were now intertwined with the unraveling mysteries of the Vlatiryx legacy.

Following the seemingly endless labyrinth of tunnels, the trio, with the silent guidance of their spider guide, continued their descent into the subterranean realm. The walls seemed alive with tales of the past. More murals graced the surfaces, their vibrant colors undimmed by the passing of ages, depicting scenes of celebration, harvests, ceremonies, and other slices of daily life from the Vlatiryx civilization.

A particular depiction caught Gabe's eye: a massive creature, reminiscent of a dragon but with feathery plumes, encircled by Vlatiryx who were channeling energy through threads of light toward it. The intricacies and the fine details of the mural made him wonder aloud, "Were the Vlatiryx capable of fighting such magnificent beasts?"

Simon squinted, studying the image. "Or perhaps it's an allegory for their relationship with nature. A harmony that they aspired to or achieved."

"It is hard to say," Professor Alrik added. "We have barely scratched the surface of understanding their culture and capabilities."

Their conversation was halted abruptly as the tunnel’s confines gave way to an expansive chamber. Ahead, a platform overlooking a sight that left them in awe: an ancient city, untouched by the passage of time, lay sprawled before them. Grand spires, labyrinths of alleyways, courtyards with dried-up fountains, and statues of prominent Vlatiryx figures dotted the landscape.

"By the ancients..." Professor Alrik's voice trembled. "This... This is it! The first fully preserved Vlatiryx settlement ever discovered. The answers we seek are somewhere down there."

Gabe could only gape, the sheer magnitude and perfection of the city challenging his comprehension. Each stone, each tower, each bridge, seemed to hum with stories of a time forgotten, waiting for someone to listen.

Directly below the platform, a pathway carved into the very stone itself snaked its way down to the city's entrance, a grand gated archway decorated with ten symbols. Gabe noticed that one of them was the same symbol used to represent life mana. A quick confirmation from Simon let him know that the rest of the prime mana nodes were represented there as well. Gathering themselves, the group began their descent. The closeness of the ancient metropolis invoked a profound reverence in them.

As they neared the city's gates, however, a strange and unsettling noise reached their ears. It was a chorus of guttural, echoing clicks, followed by a long, drawn-out hiss that sent a chill down Gabe’s spine.

Simon's hands immediately went up, his fingers trembling slightly as he readied himself to weave mana. "That doesn't sound like any creature I'm familiar with."

Alrik's brow furrowed, the joy of discovery momentarily replaced by caution. "The city might have been abandoned by the Vlatiryx, but it seems something else has taken up residence."

The echoes grew louder, more distinct, a blend of chattering and growling. A quick scan of the nearby alleyways and shadows revealed nothing, yet an unsettling presence was palpable. Gabe tried and failed to imagine the creatures behind the noise. Whatever they were, the realization hit him that this city, as marvelous as it was, might not welcome its new visitors.

Taking a deep breath, he glanced at his companions. Their faces, though tense, mirrored his own determination. The city's secrets lay just beyond those gates, and they were not about to be deterred by the unknown.

The echoes grew louder, now accompanied by the unmistakable sound of many feet – or claws – scuttling on the ancient stone.