Setting up the base inside the Gate took nearly four hours. The team worked efficiently, establishing a secure perimeter, setting up tents, and organizing supplies. The air inside the ruins was heavy with an unexplainable energy, making every breath feel slightly different from the world outside. The researchers were eager to begin their work, while the combat team remained on high alert, their hands never straying too far from their weapons.
Meanwhile, the scouts and analysts conducted their initial survey, mapping out the immediate surroundings and identifying potential threats. They returned with reports of strange creatures—wild animals, mutated beasts, and lesser-known species that had adapted to the mana-rich environment. Most were non-aggressive unless provoked, but a few predator species had been sighted on the outskirts of the ruins.
"The safest route to the main area is through the central thoroughfare," one of the scouts explained, marking a rough path on their map. "It'll take us directly to what appears to be the heart of the city."
After a brief break, the team finalized their preparations. Weapons were checked, equipment secured, and research tools packed. It was time to move deeper into the ruins.
---
The ancient city beyond the Gate was a breathtaking sight, yet eerily desolate. Towering structures, once grand and imposing, now stood crumbling under the weight of time. Some had collapsed entirely, reduced to piles of rubble and dust, while others still bore remnants of their former glory—pillars adorned with intricate carvings, pathways lined with moss-covered statues, and great stone staircases leading to buildings whose purpose had long been forgotten.
A strange, ethereal glow emanated from certain parts of the ruins. It wasn't the artificial light of their equipment, nor was it the reflection of the celestial ring above. Rather, it was as if the ruins themselves pulsed with energy, whispering secrets of the past to those willing to listen.
Adam walked alongside the group, his eyes scanning everything with a mixture of fascination and awe. He had always been drawn to knowledge, but to stand in the midst of such history, surrounded by the remnants of a civilization lost to time—it was beyond anything he had imagined.
As they passed through what seemed to have once been a grand boulevard, Adam noticed ancient texts etched into stone slabs, worn by age but still somewhat legible. He activated his Insight ability, focusing on the inscriptions. The patterns of mana around the text shifted, allowing him to grasp fragments of their meaning.
"Some of these are just building names," he murmured, running a hand over one inscription. "Market District… Grand Hall… Celestial Plaza… It looks like these were signposts."
His observations drew the attention of some of the researchers, who eagerly noted his findings.
"Anything else?" one of them asked.
Adam moved to another slab, this one featuring more complex symbols. He furrowed his brows as he attempted to decipher them. "Some of these… they don't translate directly. They feel more like runes than standard text."
"Runes?" Garrett, the team leader, echoed. "Could they be related to magic?"
Adam hesitated. The concept of magic was still being explored in this new era. Ever since mana had flooded the world, people had been developing new abilities, and ancient artifacts had started to show signs of activation. The connection between language and magic wasn't yet fully understood, but this could be a clue.
"I can't say for sure," Adam admitted, "but they definitely hold some significance. We should document them."
They continued their journey deeper into the ruins, the buildings around them growing more elaborate as they approached the heart of the city. The remains of great domes and temple-like structures hinted at the presence of a ruling class. The air felt heavier here, as if history itself was pressing down upon them.
Finally, they reached the city's center—a massive, open plaza surrounded by the remnants of what had likely been the ruling district. In the middle stood a grand, crumbling estate, its architecture distinct from the rest of the city.
"This must have belonged to a high-ranking individual," Garrett said, surveying the area. "A noble, or perhaps a ruler."
The team moved toward the compound, stepping carefully over broken stone and twisted roots that had begun to reclaim the land. The entrance was partially collapsed, forcing them to squeeze through a narrow gap to enter the interior courtyard.
Despite the decay, the estate still retained traces of its former majesty. Grand archways lined the walls, leading to different wings of the building. Carvings of figures in regal attire adorned the stone, their expressions frozen in time.
"The quest objective should be inside," Garrett announced. "Stay together, and keep an eye out for anything unusual."
As the team proceeded deeper into the ruins, Adam's gaze was drawn to a particular doorway. Unlike the rest of the estate, which had been worn down by time, this door stood remarkably intact. Strange symbols lined its frame, pulsing faintly with residual energy.
He stepped closer, his Insight flaring as he examined the inscriptions.
A moment later, his breath caught in his throat.
"It's a library," he whispered, his voice tinged with excitement.
Garrett turned to him. "Are you sure?"
Adam nodded, his fingers tracing the etched words. "The inscription translates to 'Vault of Knowledge' or 'Archive of Truth.' This is where they must have stored important records."
The significance of the discovery was not lost on the group. If this truly was a library, it could contain invaluable information—about the civilization that once thrived here, about their knowledge of mana, and possibly even about the origins of the Gates themselves.
Garrett exhaled slowly. "Alright. We were sent here for one objective, but this changes things. We'll explore this place carefully."
Adam's pulse quickened. He had spent years searching for understanding, for something greater than himself. And now, standing before this ancient repository of knowledge, he felt as though he was on the verge of something truly groundbreaking.
Whatever secrets lay beyond that door, they were waiting to be uncovered.