Gabriel's eyes widened as he gazed up at the creatures. "Eldrians," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
He had seen them before, in his dream, from the windows of the castle. They were a majestic people, with heads adorned with intricate wreaths made of flowers. But now, their wreaths were made of dry, withered leaves, a stark contrast to their former beauty.
Their long robes, once a vibrant tapestry of colors, had faded to a dull monochrome of browns and greens. The Eldrians' eyes, once bright and full of life, now seemed dull and lifeless.
Gabriel felt a pang of sadness as he gazed up at the Eldrians. What had happened to these people? Why had they fallen from their former glory?
The leader of the Eldrians, a tall, gaunt figure with a wreath of dry leaves on its head, spoke again in its guttural language. Gabriel, still entranced by the sight of the Eldrians, didn't notice Ryan and Alex exchanging worried glances.
"What's going on, Gabriel?" Ryan whispered, tugging on Gabriel's arm. "Who are these people?"
Gabriel slowly turned to his friends, his eyes still haunted by the sight of the Eldrians. "They're... they're the Eldrians," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've seen them before, in my dream."
As the crowd parted, a towering figure emerged, draped in a flowing green robe that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. His presence was imposing, and an aura of power radiated from him, making the air seem to vibrate with energy.
His eyes, a piercing blue, gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, and his silver ornaments, intricately woven into his cat-like ears, seemed to reflect the faint light, casting an ethereal glow on his face.
A long, flowing moustache framed his lips, giving him a wise and ancient appearance. In his arms, he cradled a massive stalk, its surface etched with strange symbols that seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.
As he approached the edge of the pit, the three friends cowered, their hearts racing with fear. They felt tiny and insignificant in the face of this powerful being, and their minds recoiled in terror as they gazed up at him.
The green-robed figure loomed over them, his blue eyes burning with an unnerving intensity. For a moment, he simply stood there, regarding them with a calculating gaze, as if sizing them up for some unknown purpose.
Then, in a voice that was both ancient and timeless, he spoke, his words dripping with an otherworldly authority. "So, you are the ones who have awoken," he said, his voice echoing off the walls of the pit. "I have been waiting for you."
Ryan's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs felt like lead, refusing to budge. Alex, on the other hand, seemed to have lost all sense of composure, his eyes wide with fear as he grasped Ryan's shoulders, holding on for dear life.
Ryan, already startled, let out a tiny yelp as Alex's grip tightened. "Alex, dude, what are you doing?" he whispered, trying to shake off his friend's grip.
But Gabriel, seemingly oblivious to the commotion, continued to gaze up at the green-robed figure. The big man's piercing blue eyes locked onto Gabriel's, and for a few moments, they simply stared at each other.
Then, in a deep, rumbling voice, the big man spoke, his words echoing off the walls of the pit. "Who are you?" he asked, his gaze never leaving Gabriel's face.
Gabriel swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm Gabriel.They are Alex and Ryan, my friends"
Gabriel's voice trembled slightly as he asked, "May I ask, who are you, sir?"
Kaelin's gaze seemed to intensify, his piercing blue eyes boring into Gabriel's very soul. For a few seconds, he simply stared, his expression unreadable.
Then, in a thick, resonant voice, he replied, "I am Kaelin. Keeper of the late Queen Libertas." His words were laced with a hint of reverence and a deep sense of loyalty.
Gabriel's eyes widened slightly as he took in Kaelin's words. Queen Libertas? He had seen her in the dream. The blue robed women with the crown. Murdered in the courtroom.
Kaelin's gaze seemed to bore into Gabriel's very being, as if daring him to ask another question. "And you," Kaelin continued, his voice dripping with authority, "are in my territory."