The legend of an immeasurable power that lies hidden beneath the decadent mountains resonates in the myths of the world. A power so immense that it is capable of razing cities to the ground and leaving nothing but embers and ashes.
"Or so the myths of Runt say."
-They are not just myths. My family has been here for hundreds of years, and you will understand once you look at it- A short man with dozens of wrinkles on his face was the one who spoke. He was the leader of this platoon of soldiers who had arrived in search of hope for his people.
-I still can't believe we are wasting our time on these stupid children's stories instead of fighting the demons that plague our people out there,-- Markin, his frustration was evident in his voice, but what seemed to bother him the most was the idea of his people being slaughtered in thousands by the second.
-We have already talked about this, even if we were there, our lives would not be worth more than a few seconds for the civilians,-- answered Emil, Corporal second in command of the platoon and who after a vote decided to come in search of a miracle, --If we succeed in this, maybe we could increase that figure to a few hours.
-Maybe even save everyone - Vendria, war medic and Emil's right hand man, had participated in dozens of battles together, and there were rumors that the two had had an affair in the past.
-They won't seriously believe that nonsense. If the Inquisition finds out, we will be executed, and I'm not talking about a simple firing squad.
-Silence, it has been centuries since these mines have had people walking on them. -The Old Man spoke again as he looked down the passages of the cave. He was the guide in charge, and his family had navigated the hundreds of different passages of the mine until it was closed.
-Please, old man, there are more important matters than giving importance to some simple mines. -Rodrik was the one who answered the old man. As did Markin.
-With the old man's words, all the others looked to where the old man was looking, noticing the traces of something that seemed to have destroyed everything. With dozens of footprints all over the place.
Rodrik approached the tracks. as he reached his hand towards the ground and grabbed some ash between his fingers.
-Flesh Hounds, at least two dozen, and led by a lesser demon.
-So the tales were true; there is something here that interests the demons enough to send forces in search of them.
-We are dead if we fight in this place, with its labyrinthine passages. -This time, it was Aaron who spoke, a quiet man who always read in his spare time.
-We'll be dead anyway if we let them get that power. - Emil turned to the ten men in his platoon who accompanied him. -We'll go on no matter what.
After that, they put aside their conversation and continued walking, following the old man's lead. He was not someone they had chosen at random to be their guide. In the area, his family had been recognized for being one of the few who knew all the passages of the mines to the letter.
Something they didn't seem to take as a joke, since despite his wrinkled skin, tattoos of the mine passages could be seen all over his body.
-What the fuck are those voices old man, I doubt the demons have anything like songs-Markin was the one who spoke after hours of walking.
The others hadn't paid attention to him the first time he said it, believing it to be madness, but he continued.
-The old man answered calmly; he knew what Markin was talking about. -Then there were the unfortunate ones, those who had lost their family. They all said something different when asked what they said or what they sounded like, but they all agreed that they were beautiful songs.
-So this idiot here is complaining about a few simple songs? - Vendria's joke caused the whole group to laugh.
-They give me chills. I feel how it strangely affects my mind every time I hear it....
-I've heard about something similar with demon worshippers. They say they hear the voices of their masters in their heads, commanding them to bring chaos and destruction.
-What if the power they are talking about is a demon? What if it is something they sealed millennia ago, and that is why they have come to our planet? We could be accelerating the fall of Magog instead of saving it.
-It is not the first time that Magog has been threatened by demons, and I have also heard the stories. But why explain it?- The old man turned to Markin -Tell them what the chants cause in you.
Markin seemed hesitant to explain what he was experiencing, but the expectant looks of his companions left him no choice. -...Calm, my mind feels clearer, and at the same time, I am frightened by the strange calmness in me.
Everyone was astonished by his words, and some, curious to know what he was referring to, tried to pay more attention to their surroundings, trying to listen to those chants.
-It doesn't matter what's there; we've all seen the fissure this time. We'll be lucky if the defenses last a few weeks; the planet will fall this time, no matter what we do. If we release something worse, maybe it will save our suffering and do it faster. - Emil's voice returned to his commanding tone as he made sure everyone was clear. -Let's move on, old man. We can't waste any more time, I don't want the demons to secure the place first.
-No matter what kind of demons or beasts they are, they won't get there before us. Even the most capable bloodhound couldn't find the place without getting lost hundreds of times along these paths.
-That's why they closed this place. Why did everyone get lost? - I would come. I had always been curious about the history of places, and a place like this was only worse.
-It was one of many, but not the main one. Hundreds of families had already become accustomed to its strange mysteries; the value of Bauxanium was worth it.
But although many came for the mineral, others wanted the source of the rumors.
-Had there been prospectors before? - The question came from
Rodrik, who was in charge of checking the motion sensor to make sure they weren't ambushed.
-Thousands for centuries, dug endlessly. With countless of them dead to the point of exhaustion, coveting from the depths of their souls that power for themselves. It was not until two hundred years ago, after thousands of searchers' deaths, that a discovery was made. A giant chamber full of strange figures, all with the same appearance. But the rumors reached the inquisition, who decided to close the mine and shut it down, declaring it to be heretical despite the pleas of the surrounding citizens.
-The cult of the rock. - Aaron intervened.
-A stupid name given to simple citizens by the Inquisition, all with the excuse of being able to murder them all. -The old man seemed annoyed by the words, almost insulted. But in their attempts to wipe everyone out, they managed to create what they feared: a cult of something worse.
-So this is where the demon worshippers who caused the rift came from? - Emil had never heard about something like that, something normal since they were simple soldiers and the high command would never inform on simple disposable pieces.
-That's right, some were innocent children who didn't understand why their superiors wanted to kill them, but they grew up with resentment, and although they tried to make the "rock" listen to them, they fell on deaf ears until apparently something did.
-Then someone reminds me, what are we doing in a place that no one has managed to free whatever it is that is here?
-Two days ago, a signature of unknown power lit up the sky as thousands of demonic creatures ravaged the area. Which caused the death of any demonic creature or follower. -It was Paul who had spoken; he was one of those who believed that whatever was in this place could help them.
- From now on, keep quiet. We will cross through the strangest passages to get there sooner, and you can hear voices that want to guide you to other places. focus on my song, and everything will be fine. -The old man's voice gave no room for replies, and everyone followed his instructions.