Aemon stared at the entrance of the dark cave, his heart tightening as if something within him was awakening. The discomfort was undeniable, almost suffocating.

— Something... something is calling me, — he muttered to Lilith, feeling an inexplicable connection to the place.

Lilith, her gaze sharp and instinctive, stopped for a moment, watching him closely.

— This is the cave, — she confirmed, her voice serious and without hesitation. — We need to hurry.

Both entered, the shadows swallowing them as they descended deeper. The pain in the prince's chest intensified with every step, pulsing with an alarming strength, as if the cave itself were alive, pulling him into its depths. The pressure in his mind was as strong as the weight in his heart.

Lilith, noticing the visible strain on his face, frowned.

— Are you okay? — she asked, her voice revealing a touch of concern.

— Yes, — he replied with difficulty, his expression marked by pain. — We can keep going.

The further they went, the more a bright light shone in the distance, intense and almost supernatural, as if they were nearing the heart of the place. The atmosphere was thick with something dense and unexplainable.

Lilith looked around, trying to grasp what was coming.

— It seems we're approaching a chamber... — she said, her words filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

The pain in the prince reached its peak, but he pressed on, his instincts telling him that their destination was just ahead.

The agony in his chest became unbearable. Without warning, he collapsed to his knees, pressing his hand against his chest as if something inside him was about to break.

— Aemon! — Lilith exclaimed, rushing to his side. — What's happening?

He looked at her, his face pale and his breathing labored.

— It feels... like something is pulling me, as if my heart is... going to split... — he said with difficulty, trying to stand. — Help me keep going; we need to reach the end.

Lilith, concerned but determined, wrapped her arm around his waist, helping him to his feet. Together, they continued descending deeper into the cave until they reached a massive stone staircase leading to a colossal door carved into the rock. Beside the door stood a small stone altar, strange in its simplicity, as though it had been sculpted to receive something very specific.

Lilith studied the structure for a few moments, trying to understand its mechanism.

— The key... — she murmured. — It could be your blood, Aemon. This... makes sense. — She turned to him, her gaze firm.

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The prince, still in pain, hesitated.

— No. I... I won't cut myself. I hate the idea of spilling my own blood, — he said, his voice somewhat stubborn as he tried to finish speaking.

Before he could complete the sentence, Lilith, quick and impulsive, scratched his arm with her sharp nails, causing blood to flow instantly. Without giving him time to protest, she gently pushed him toward the altar, letting his blood drip onto the stone.

— Lilith! — he gasped, both surprised and irritated.

But it was too late. The blood dripped onto the altar, and something in the cave began to react. A low sound, almost like an ancient whisper, echoed through the stone walls as the altar absorbed his blood. The pain in his chest, surprisingly, began to subside, as if the sacrifice had somehow relieved the pressure.

As soon as the prince's blood touched the altar, the massive stone door began to shift, releasing a deep, reverberating groan, as if the very heart of the cave was awakening from an ancient slumber. He stood frozen, his eyes wide with both shock and awe, watching the colossal portal slowly open, revealing a soft, golden light spilling from within.

Lilith noticed his expression and let out a quiet chuckle.

— You've seen magic before, my prince, — she said, her tone playful, though there was a subtle edge of anxiety in her voice.

He took a steadying breath and stepped forward, his muscles still tense from the recent ordeal. As they crossed the threshold, both fell silent, utterly captivated by the sight that lay before them.

The chamber they had entered was vast, far greater in size than anything the prince had ever seen. The ceiling rose impossibly high, studded with shimmering stalactites that glistened like stars, casting soft reflections across the space. Rivers of crystal-clear water wound around the floor, their gentle currents leading to luminous waterfalls that cascaded down smooth, glimmering stone. The sound of the water was melodic, almost like an ancient lullaby, harmonizing with the faint hum of magic that permeated the air. The golden light bathed the entire hall, its source mysterious, diffused, creating an ethereal glow that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the heartbeat of the earth itself.

At the very center of the chamber lay the remains of a dragon. Its bones, monumental and awe-inspiring, rose from the ground like the ruins of a forgotten civilization. Its ribcage arched into the air, forming a skeletal cathedral, while its skull, massive and intimidating, faced the intruders with a gaze that seemed to transcend time. The dragon's jaw was slightly open, as if frozen in a silent roar that echoed through the ages. The bones, though ancient, shimmered faintly, suggesting a lingering magic within them.

Lilith, overwhelmed by the sight, could barely contain her excitement. Her eyes gleamed with intensity as she rushed toward the enormous skeleton, her movements quick and almost reverent.

— Aemon, look at this! — she gasped, her voice trembling with awe as she reached out to touch one of the dragon's ribs. Her hand shook as her fingers brushed against the cool, smooth surface. — A dragon... — she whispered, her tone laced with reverence.

The prince, still processing the grandeur of the chamber, let his eyes wander. The scale of the place was incomprehensible, and everything felt alive, as though the very air breathed with the memory of the dragon that had once dwelled there. The waterfalls sparkled with life, their waters creating swirling reflections on the cave walls, and every stone seemed to hum with the weight of untold history. It was as if they had stepped into a sacred realm, untouched by time, a place where the past still lingered, powerful and watchful.

— I've never seen anything like this... — he murmured, his voice low as he finally joined Lilith near the center. His footsteps were quiet on the smooth stone, the echoes barely audible over the gentle sound of flowing water. The air around them felt charged, heavy with the presence of something ancient, something that had not yet fully revealed itself.

As the prince stood before the towering skeleton, he could feel it — a deep, thrumming connection to this place. The chamber, with its radiant waters and the slumbering bones of the dragon, seemed to guard mysteries beyond imagination. Secrets woven into the very fabric of the world, waiting for the right moment to be unraveled.