Me, Talia, and Aida finally arrived at a cave that looked really small from the outside, but once inside, it felt like nothing even existed—just thick, heavy darkness swallowing everything.
The sun hadn't set yet, and we each took on our roles.
I'd be up front using my Eno (fire) magic to light the way. Aida would take the rear in case anything went wrong, acting as our defense. Talia stayed in the middle—she was the most vulnerable if we got ambushed, and she was also our healer, so super important.
"You guys ready?" I asked after explaining our positions.
Both of them nodded, signaling they were good to go.
We stepped into Alburita Cave. I lit up my palm with fire, casting just enough light for us to see the path ahead. As we walked, the darkness got deeper and thicker—but still, no danger.
Step by step, we found ourselves in a large open space with a steep drop below. We had to be extra careful.
Then I felt someone tug my sleeve.
"Theo… is it just me or is it getting too dark?" Talia asked, clearly scared.
I held out my hand to her. "If you can't handle it, just say so," I said, and she took my hand.
The moment our hands touched, the fear seemed to ease up a bit.
"Guys… did you hear that?" Aida asked, stepping closer, cautious.
Tik. Tik. Tik.
Yeah, I heard it too.
"Just bats," I said, trying to ease the tension.
Aida and Talia came closer.
"You think I don't know the sound of bats? That's not it," Aida replied, frowning.
I paused, trying to hear it again.
sssssss...
It was soft—but terrifying. The quieter it got, the scarier it felt. My heart started pounding. I remembered legends about five ancient gods, each with their own domain—and one of them was tied to a cave.
Then I saw it—rising from the darkness of the chasm below. A giant serpent's head, its glowing eyes locked on us. Just the head alone was massive—like the size of a whole ship. I didn't even want to imagine how big the rest of its body was.
I gulped, frozen in place. This thing wasn't just big—it was impossible. Unreal.
Talia and Aida stood like statues, too. Talia's grip on my hand tightened like she was trying not to fall apart.
"Sssss... Who are you?" the serpent asked in a low, chilling voice.
I tried to speak, feeling pressure like I'd never felt before.
"We're here on orders... to inspect this cave," I said, my voice shaky.
It stared at me, almost like it was reading my soul.
"Who are you, human?"
"I'm Theo Lancaster… a student from the academy," I replied.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Its laugh sent chills down my spine. Like hearing a doomsday alarm.
"Humans like you shouldn't be here. This place is forbidden. If any of your kind enters… know that I will rise—and this world will become a beautiful gray wasteland drifting in the cosmos."
"I know… one of the water gods just cried out in death. No way a normal human could've done that—unless you carry the bloodline that disappeared centuries ago."
"Let it be known… a disaster is coming. One even we fear. Hide, or fight—for your own survival."
I had no idea what it was talking about. My whole body was trembling.
I turned, still holding Talia and Aida's hands. They looked dazed, like they weren't fully present. I yanked them with me and ran toward the light ahead.
Right before we escaped, I heard the serpent laugh one last time. Terrifying.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Once we got out, I collapsed, catching my breath. I looked up—sunlight was still in the same place. What the hell?
We'd been inside for what felt like hours… but time hadn't moved at all.
Both Talia and Aida looked super confused.
"Were we attacked?" Aida asked, rubbing her head.
"What just happened, Theo?" Talia asked, totally baffled.
I froze. They looked like they didn't remember anything.
Aida stood up, face serious. "Let's head back in and finish this."
I grabbed her arm and yanked her down, hard.
"What the hell, Theo?" she snapped.
"We're leaving. Now," I said, still shaken.
They both looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Talia stepped closer and held my hand.
"Theo, what really happened in there?" she asked gently.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing mind.
"I just saw a giant, terrifying serpent," I said quietly.
"And then?" Talia asked, her smile suddenly weird… off. Creepy, even.
Aida was smiling too. Same strange look. I blinked—were they still real?
I stepped back, heart racing.
"Theo?" Talia called.
"Theo,"Aida echoed.
"Theo…" they both said in sync, stepping closer.
"Theo…"
—
"THEO!!!"
I shot awake, gasping, eyes wide. It was just a dream.
I was still in the cave.
"You okay?" Talia asked, tears in her eyes, her hand on my chest as she used healing magic.
"What happened?" I asked, still trying to make sense of things.
"You fainted while walking. I was so scared you were gonna die," she sobbed, soaking my shirt with her tears.
I smiled, patting her head. "Sorry. If I was stronger, I wouldn't have passed out."
I was beyond thankful she kept healing me. Her magic kept me grounded.
"Should we keep going?" Aida asked, face serious.
"No… we're heading back. I already have the answer I needed," I said, confusing them both.
I tried to pull away from Talia, but she held me tight.
"Theo… just a little longer," she said, and I gave a small smile, letting her hold on as long as she needed.