Chapter 28: Into the Depths
The city's deepest archives were a place of myth and legend, whispered about in the darkest corners of taverns and hidden in the forgotten crevices of the old temples. Tara had heard rumors of its existence, but even she had never truly believed that such a place could hold the answers they needed. Now, it was their only hope.
The journey to the archives wasn't one that could be taken lightly. The Council had warned them of the perils that awaited, and the ominous tone in Lady Jara's voice only confirmed how dangerous their mission was. The archives were located beneath the city, far below the surface, in a labyrinthine network of tunnels and chambers that few had ever entered—and fewer had returned from.
Tara, Emrick, and Kael stood at the entrance to the passage that would lead them into the depths. The heavy stone doors were ancient, covered in cryptic symbols and inscriptions that had long since faded with age. A faint glow emanated from the cracks in the door, an eerie sign that something beyond was waiting for them.
"We're sure this is the only way?" Kael asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Tara nodded, her jaw set in determination. "The Council didn't give us much choice. If the answers are anywhere, it's down there."
Emrick adjusted the straps of his armor, his usual confidence tempered by the looming uncertainty. "We've faced the gods themselves, Tara. This shouldn't be any different."
She didn't share his confidence. The First was something else entirely—an ancient entity that had been sealed away for reasons far darker than anything the gods had created. But there was no turning back. They had to find a way to stop it, or everything they had fought for would be meaningless.
With a final glance between them, Tara pushed open the heavy door. A cold gust of air rushed past them, carrying with it the scent of damp stone and the weight of untold years. The stairs descended sharply into the earth, winding down into a darkness so complete that it seemed to consume everything around them.
They lit their torches, and the flickering flames cast long shadows on the walls as they made their way deeper into the depths of the city. The further they descended, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air grew thick, and every step seemed to echo in the silence, a reminder that they were venturing into a place where few had dared to go.
"Do you feel that?" Kael asked, his voice a whisper.
Tara nodded, her instincts on high alert. There was something wrong about this place, something unnatural. It wasn't just the oppressive darkness or the silence that hung in the air—it was the feeling of being watched. Every footstep they took seemed to disturb the stillness, but Tara couldn't shake the feeling that something unseen was lurking just beyond the reach of their torches.
They reached a large chamber, its stone walls lined with rows upon rows of shelves filled with old scrolls, tomes, and artifacts. The room was vast, stretching far beyond what their torches could illuminate. At the far end of the room, a large stone pedestal stood, covered in dust and cobwebs. On the pedestal, a single book lay open, its pages yellowed with age.
"That's it," Emrick said softly, pointing toward the pedestal.
Tara stepped forward cautiously, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger. The silence pressed down on them, thick and oppressive. There were no guards, no traps, nothing to indicate that they had entered a place of such importance. It was almost too quiet, too easy.
As she approached the pedestal, a sudden chill ran down her spine. She reached out, her fingers brushing the pages of the open book. The moment her touch made contact, the entire room seemed to shudder. The stone floor beneath them trembled, and the torches flickered violently.
"Get back!" Kael shouted, pulling Tara away from the pedestal.
But it was too late.
A deep rumbling sound filled the chamber, and the walls began to crack. The book on the pedestal glowed with an unnatural light, its pages turning on their own, as if some invisible force was reading them aloud. Shadows shifted and twisted around them, forming shapes that seemed to breathe and move with a life of their own.
Tara felt the air grow thick with power. The room seemed to warp, the very fabric of reality stretching and distorting around them.
"This was a mistake," Emrick muttered, his sword drawn and ready, though his gaze darted nervously around the room. "What did we just awaken?"
"I don't know," Tara said, her voice tight with fear. "But we need to stop it, now."
The shadows that had gathered around them began to coalesce into solid forms. Dark figures with glowing eyes, their features distorted and twisted. They moved with purpose, closing in on the trio. The air grew colder, and Tara felt the weight of an ancient, malevolent presence press down on her.
The figures surrounded them, but Tara and her companions stood firm, weapons drawn, ready to face whatever nightmare had been unleashed.
One of the figures stepped forward, its form shimmering with dark energy. It spoke, its voice like the sound of a thousand whispers.
"You should not have come here. You should not have disturbed the truth."
Tara narrowed her eyes. "We don't have a choice. We're here to stop what's coming. If you know anything, tell us. If not… we'll make you."
The shadow figure chuckled, a sound that echoed in her mind. "You think you can stop what's already begun? The First is awakening. It cannot be stopped. The seal was never meant to hold it forever. You are too late."
The air seemed to grow even colder, and Tara realized with a sinking heart that they had only uncovered a fragment of the truth. The First was no longer the only threat. Something much darker, much older, was stirring in the shadows—and they were in its grasp.