I followed the strange scent for hours, navigating through the barren landscape of this desolate part of the Mystic Realm. The map I'd acquired from an old trader before Tyler's sabotage guided me through twisted rock formations and dead vegetation. According to the crude markings, I was getting close to something significant.
The air grew heavier with each step, that cloying sweetness mixed with decay intensifying until it coated the back of my throat. This wasn't natural. Something ancient was buried here—something powerful.
"This has to be it," I muttered, studying the map again.
I knelt on the hard ground, running my fingers over the cracked earth. Small particles of unusual energy clung to my skin, confirming my suspicions. I began methodically tapping the ground with the hilt of my dagger, listening for any hollow sound that might indicate a chamber or artifact below.
