The passage hidden beneath the ruined outpost yawned open, a spiraling staircase of obsidian descending into darkness. The obelisk's pulse had revealed the way—a relic of the lost civilization buried in Zeta's heart. Dust swirled in the air, stirred by long-forgotten currents. The silence was heavy, unnatural.
Alex led the way, his mana senses alert. The ring on his finger glowed faintly, guiding him. Nyssa and Soren followed close, blades drawn, while Veridia trailed behind—her expression a blend of reverence and calculation.
"This place predates the empire," Soren whispered. "Even the oldest records only speak of it as myth."
"Then we walk through myth," Alex replied, his voice echoing.
The deeper they went, the colder it became—not physically, but spiritually. It was as if something was watching them, measuring each step they took. Strange carvings lined the walls, shifting slightly when viewed from different angles—Saint script, but older, rawer.
Nyssa paused beside one of the markings. "These aren't just warnings. They're… memories. Imprints."
Veridia's voice floated from behind. "The ancient civilization didn't just use magic—they lived through it. Their thoughts, emotions, even their language was inscribed into the very stones."
Soren frowned. "Then why is this place sealed?"
Alex stopped at a massive door of black stone, covered in six interlocking sigils—fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, and shadow. One of them—the sigil of fire—glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with Alex's heartbeat.
"The seal responds to your mana," Veridia said. "One element at a time."
Alex stepped forward. The moment his hand touched the fire sigil, a shockwave of red energy burst outward, and the sigil spun. The first lock disengaged with a deep, resonant clang.
"Five more," he muttered, stepping back.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. From the walls, dark forms began to emerge—twisted shapes with glowing eyes and warped limbs.
"Guardians," Nyssa hissed, blades ready. "They woke up."
"They're not going to let us pass without a fight," Soren said.
Alex drew his blade, fire igniting along its edge. "Then we give them one."
The guardians lunged.
Magic lit the chamber. Alex moved like a storm, channeling flame and shadow, slicing through one guardian while dodging another. Nyssa danced beside him, swift and lethal, while Soren backed them up with precision blasts of wind and lightning.
Veridia didn't fight.
She simply watched, recording every movement, every surge of mana.
As the last guardian fell, the chamber fell silent once more. The next sigil—wind—flickered faintly.
Alex turned to the others, breathing hard. "This isn't just a vault. It's a test."
Soren nodded. "Only someone with control over all elements—except light—can unlock it."
Nyssa looked at him. "You can do it. But not alone."
Alex looked at his companions—Twilight rebels, spies, outcasts.
"I won't be alone."
Veridia stepped forward, her voice quiet. "There's more to this than unlocking a gate. What lies beyond... may unravel everything we know."
Alex looked back at the five remaining seals.
"Good."