Buried Beneath the Earth
The roar of collapsing stone had finally died.
Dust and debris filled the air, thick and suffocating, making every breath feel like swallowing ash.
Lyra coughed into her sleeve, her heart hammering. The weight of the stone above them felt suffocating—they were deep underground now, cut off from the surface.
Callan's voice broke through the silence.
"Everyone alive?"
Elaris groaned, pushing a heavy wooden beam off her legs. "Define 'alive'…"
Lyra ran a hand along the rough cavern wall, trying to orient herself. The Syndicate's outpost had collapsed—but where had they landed?
She squinted into the darkness.
Faint glows flickered ahead, casting eerie green-blue hues across the stone.
They had fallen into a labyrinth.
---
A City of Stone and Secrets
The cavern stretched far beyond what should have been possible.
The walls were carved with intricate symbols, flowing like an ancient script of alchemy and forgotten magic.
Glowing fungi clung to the cracks in the stone, illuminating a network of tunnels leading in different directions.
Callan ran a hand over one of the carvings. "Who built this?"
Lyra stepped closer.
The engravings depicted alchemists, hooded and robed, performing complex rituals.
"The ancient alchemists," she whispered. "They were far more advanced than we realized."
Elaris let out a slow exhale. "We need to move. The longer we stay, the harder it'll be to find a way out."
Lyra nodded, pulling her satchel tighter. They had no choice but to move forward.
---
Crafting the Luminance Elixir
The darkness was thick, swallowing the glow of the bioluminescent fungi within a few paces.
They needed light.
Lyra knelt, opening her alchemical kit. If this place was designed by ancient alchemists, she needed to use ancient alchemy.
Ingredients:
✔ Bioluminescent Moss – Collected from the glowing fungi around them.
✔ Crystal Shards – Found embedded in the cavern walls, humming with dormant energy.
✔ A Drop of Blood – A personal connection to the magic of the labyrinth.
She carefully crushed the moss into a fine paste, then added the crystal dust, which shimmered like captured moonlight.
Finally, she pricked her finger, letting a single drop of blood fall into the vial.
The mixture flared to life, swirling with golden-white light.
When she uncorked the bottle, the elixir pulsed softly, casting a steady glow around them.
---
Navigating the Labyrinth
With the Luminance Elixir lighting their way, the carvings on the walls became clearer.
They moved carefully, watching their step.
The floor was uneven, worn smooth in some places but cracked and treacherous in others.
Then, the first trap activated.
A deep grinding sound rumbled from the walls.
The ground shifted beneath them.
Callan swore. "Something's happening—"
Stone pillars shot up from the ground, nearly crushing Elaris as she jumped aside.
The corridor was rearranging itself.
Lyra whirled, scanning the walls.
"The labyrinth is reacting to us!"
A puzzle. A test, designed by the ancient alchemists.
Lyra's mind raced.
The carvings—they weren't just decoration.
They were instructions.
One engraving depicted a figure pressing their hands to the stone.
Lyra followed the image, reaching out and pressing her palm against the cold wall.
A low hum vibrated through the air.
The shifting stones slowed… then stopped.
Elaris blinked. "Did you just… solve an ancient death trap?"
Lyra swallowed. "I think so."
Callan let out a breath. "Let's not trigger another one."
They pressed forward, now more cautious than ever.
---
Discovery of the Celestial Compass
The labyrinth led them deeper and deeper, until they reached a massive chamber.
The walls stretched high above them, vanishing into shadow.
At the center stood a pedestal.
Resting atop it was a circular artifact—intricately designed, etched with silver and gold filigree.
Lyra felt a pull toward it.
She stepped forward, reaching out—
The moment her fingers brushed the metal, the chamber ignited with light.
The Celestial Compass flared to life, its surface shimmering with cosmic energy.
It spun, glowing brighter as it adjusted itself—
And then, it locked in place.
Pointing east.
Callan stared. "What just happened?"
Lyra's pulse raced.
"The Compass… It's reacting to me."
Elaris frowned. "Why?"
Lyra didn't know. But deep in her bones, she felt it.
This artifact—it was meant for her.
---
The Betrayal
As they turned to leave, the air grew heavy.
A slow clap echoed through the chamber.
They whirled around.
A man stepped forward from the shadows.
Tall. Cloaked in dark leather. His face was familiar—too familiar.
Elaris froze.
Her eyes went wide with shock, then fury.
"…Master Raedin?"
The man smirked.
Elaris' former mentor.
A man they had trusted.
A man who had been working with the Syndicate all along.
Lyra's grip on the Compass tightened.
They weren't out of danger yet.