Greed gleamed in Theron's eyes. "The king's tomb! I can't believe it was here all along!" He turned to the stoic Magnar. "Shatter it!"
Magnar swung his greatsword repeatedly, each blow chipping away at the thick stone slab until it finally shattered, revealing a dark tunnel beneath.
Ronan approached Cael, his voice filled with awe. "How did you know there was something down there?"
Cael shrugged, his eyes green with uncertainty. "I can't explain it. I just...saw through the ground."
"That's never happened before," Ronan said, his brow furrowed.
"There's a first time for everything, I guess," Cael replied, his gaze shifting to the jubilant Theron, his eyes turning yellow. "There's something more worrying than my eyes right now."
"Like that warning on the stone plate?" Ronan suggested, his hand resting on his bow.
"That old man is hiding something," Cael murmured, a sense of unease settling over him.
"What do we do now?"
Ronan grinned, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "We might die today."
Theron called his companions together, his voice firm. "We've reached our destination. We'll uncover the secrets of this world. Remember, protect me at all costs."
"We'll do our job, old master," Magnar replied stoically.
"As long as you keep your end of the bargain," Rednar added, his eyes lingering on Ronan and Cael.
"You'll have it all," Theron assured him.
"Then we'll gladly give our lives for you," Rednar declared with a smirk.
Ronan scoffed. "Protect you from what? It's just a hole in the ground. What are you afraid of?"
"I don't know yet," Theron admitted, "but if you protect me, I might be merciful."
Cael knew Ronan well enough to predict his next move. He expected him to abandon them, his curiosity sated, leaving them to face the unknown dangers alone. But to his surprise, Ronan said, "You have my word, old man. I just want to know what you find down there."
Cael's eyes turned orange with a surge of loyalty. "And you have mine."
Theron smiled. "Good. Now, let's descend into the tomb of the ancient king!"
"The Ashen King?" Cael asked, his eyes green with wonder.
"Yes, this is what I've been searching for," Theron said, his voice filled with passion.
Cael could not help but wonder if Theron was driven by more than just a desire to prove his theories right. A nagging suspicion took root in his mind. Does he want to hide the king's existence from the world?
Grave-Walker stepped forward, his demeanor unexpectedly authoritative. "I've raided many tombs. I will lead, you follow closely. Stay within sight, three steps apart. This tomb could be riddled with traps. Obey my commands."
"What if we run out of air?" Tamsin asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"Tombs have airways for the workers. We'll have plenty of air," Grave-Walker assured her.
Magnar nodded. "Let's proceed."
They entered the tunnel, their torches casting flickering shadows on the damp walls. The air smelled stale, yet surprisingly cool.
"What do you expect to find here besides dusty scrolls, old man?" Ronan asked as they walked.
"You'll see," Theron replied cryptically.
Cael pondered Theron's words, his eyes turning yellow with contemplation. He recalled the scholar's mention of The Ashen King's miracles – holding light, raising the dead. Was it all true? Or was it just a desperate man's hope?
"I've been thinking," Ronan said, breaking the silence. "If the Ashen King was so great, why is he forgotten? Why are there so few records of him? Even a king from ten thousand years ago should have a monument, something... but there's nothing."
"Many men die and leave nothing behind," Theron replied. "But this tomb proves he was who I believe him to be. His knowledge, his accomplishments were unparalleled. He was worshipped as the Sun-Serpent incarnate."
Cael's suspicions grew. Did he want to hide his existence from the world? He could not contain his curiosity. "Is there something else you seek down here, besides being right?"
"Indeed," Theron smiled. "Answers. And his knowledge."
"Knowledge? Not gold?" Ronan asked, surprised.
"There are things more precious than gold," Theron stated.
"Nothing is more precious than gems," Cael countered.
"There is. You're too young to understand," Theron said gently. "Like saving the lives of those you love."
Cael's eyes turned green with realization. He would sacrifice anything for his parents. "You're right," he admitted softly.
"But how can knowledge save lives?" Ronan inquired, his brow furrowed.
"The knowledge the king possessed is more powerful than you can imagine. He could hold light, even raise the dead," Theron explained, his voice filled with a desperate hope. "I intend to use it to save my daughter and her child. They are afflicted with an incurable illness. I'll do anything to save them."
Cael's eyes turned green with sympathy. He understood Theron's desperation now.
"Raising the dead?" Ronan scoffed. "That's witchcraft!"
"No," Theron countered. "It's the power of knowledge."
"You believe that?" Cael asked, his eyes turning black with skepticism.
"I do," Theron affirmed.
"If it's true, I want to see it for myself," Ronan said, intrigued despite his doubts. "But you seem cautious for someone seeking knowledge."
"Seeking his knowledge is considered heresy. I don't want to attract unwanted attention," Theron explained. "And there might be treasure beyond imagination here, which also draws unwelcome visitors."
Ronan grinned. "So you were after treasure after all!"
"It was a possibility," Theron sighed. "Now let's proceed."
They walked in silence for a while, and then emerged into a vast, circular chamber. The ceiling, studded with luminous crystals, bathed the space in a warm, yellow light. A grand staircase spiraled down into the depths, each landing adorned with intricate carvings.
"This is what I saw!" Cael exclaimed, his eyes green with wonder.
"I didn't expect it to be so deep...and dusty," Rednar muttered with a grimace.
"Afraid of the dark, little Rednar?" Astrid teased.
"Shut up, Astrid!"
"This tomb is immense," Tamsin remarked. "It feels like it goes down to the center of the world."
"Intriguing," Ronan said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I never imagined something like this existed here."
Cael felt a strange familiarity with the staircase, as if he had seen it before. How is this possible?
"Let's go," Theron urged, his eagerness palpable.
They descended for what seemed like hours, the air growing colder and denser with each step. Finally, they reached the bottom, another tunnel stretching before them.
"Grave-Walker, what now?" Theron asked, his voice echoing in the cavernous space.
"I'll scout ahead. Wait here."
They settled down, the flickering torchlight doing little to dispel the oppressive darkness. As they ate, Tamsin voiced her concerns. "It's a long way down. How deep are we?"
"Pretty deep," Astrid replied playfully, sensing her friend's anxiety.
Grave-Walker returned, his expression grim. "Strange."
"What do you mean?" Theron asked, rising to his feet.
"This tomb... There are no traps. Only a long tunnel and some strange circular carvings on a wall. And this massive staircase. Are we in the wrong place?"
"No, this is it," Theron insisted. "These stairs are proof. And the carvings... they could be inside. This place is vast, there must be something more."
"He's right," Astrid added. "It's an ancient tomb, built for the greatest king in history. Of course, it's odd."
"Let's go inside and see for ourselves," Magnar said decisively.
They followed Grave-Walker into the tunnel, Ronan's apprehension growing with each step. Tamsin noticed his discomfort and could not resist a jab. "Is the big, tough guy scared of the dark?"
"Shut up, woman," he growled.
"I know this woman kicked your ass and saved your life all in one day," she said with a smirk.
"Just lucky," Ronan muttered.
"Silence!" Magnar commanded. "This is no time for flirting."
Tamsin scoffed under her breath. "I wasn't flirting."
Astrid chuckled. "You were."
They reached the end of the tunnel, stepping into an oval-shaped chamber illuminated by the soft yellow glow of the ceiling crystals. Before them stood a massive wall of black iron, its surface adorned with golden circles and intricate symbols. A single word, carved into the center of the largest circle, dominated the wall:
"Absolute."
"You were wrong, Grave-Walker," Theron said, his voice trembling with excitement. "This is it! Behind this gate lies what we seek!"
"It's a dead end!" Rednar exclaimed, examining the impenetrable wall. "How do we get past it?"
"There are no cracks, no openings," Grave-Walker confirmed, his fingers tracing the smooth surface.
Cael joined them, his eyes turning yellow with curiosity, then black with frustration. There was no way through. Even the experienced Grave-Walker seemed baffled.
"What about those glowing stones on the ceiling?" Astrid wondered, but her question was ignored.
"This wall was built to keep everyone out," Grave-Walker stated. "There's no way to break through. We're stuck."
"We must find a way!" Magnar insisted, his voice firm.
"The tunnel is the only entrance and this wall... It is solid iron. We can't pierce it, we can't crack it."
Just then, Theron's voice boomed through the chamber. "You're wrong! There is a way!"
"How?" Grave-Walker asked incredulously. "Whoever built this wanted to keep everything sealed inside."
Cael watched as Theron approached the wall, his eyes shining with renewed determination. "Iron forging was only discovered around five thousand years ago. But if this is the Ashen King's tomb, his civilization must have mastered it even earlier. The knowledge behind this wall is invaluable."
"Fascinating," Tamsin said sarcastically. "But how do we get through?"
"This wall is a door," Theron explained, "and like any door, it has a key. These writings will show me how to find it."
"It might work," Grave-Walker conceded.
For hours, Theron studied the symbols, his frustration growing with each failed attempt. He threw his notes and scrolls down in defeat. "SerpentCreed be damned! This is harder than I thought! One wrong combination and the gate will be locked forever."
His companions watched helplessly as he despaired. Cael picked up a scroll that had landed near his feet, his eyes turning blue, and then green, as a strange compulsion drew him towards the wall. He touched the cold surface, his gaze scanning the symbols. He pressed small circles, one after another, until he reached the eighth.
A thunderous roar echoed through the chamber as the ground trembled. The wall split down the middle, slowly opening like a giant gate, revealing a passage beyond. Theron stared at Cael in disbelief, his despair transforming into elation.
"Unbelievable! A shepherd boy did what a Grandmaster of Meridium could not!"
"You could have ruined everything!" Rednar shouted at Cael.
"But he didn't," Ronan defended him.
Rednar glared but fell silent.
"How did you do that?" Ronan asked, his eyes wide with amazement.
"I don't know," Cael replied, his eyes still green with confusion. "I just did what I saw that man do...pushed the circles in the same order."
"What man?" Astrid asked, bewildered. "We were all here, and none of us touched the wall."
"I...I can't explain it," Cael stammered, his eyes turning black.
"It doesn't matter," Theron said excitedly. "Let's go!"
"Follow me," Magnar ordered, his voice regaining its usual authority. "Stay alert."
They cautiously entered the passage. Cael sensed their suspicion, their wariness of his strange abilities. Even Ronan seemed unsure of him now. Only Theron, his eyes shining with greed, remained oblivious to the unease that permeated the group.
They emerged into a vast, circular chamber, its ceiling adorned with the same luminous crystals. A series of descending staircases led to the center of the hall, where an unbelievable sight awaited them. Mountains of gold and shimmering gems glittered under the crystal light, filling the chamber with an almost blinding radiance.
Gasps of awe and shouts of joy erupted as the group beheld the unimaginable wealth before them. All except Theron and Magnar, who remained focused on their mission.
"Look at all that gold!" Rednar exclaimed, his eyes wide with greed.
"You lied, old man!" Ronan laughed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "You said there was no greater treasure than knowledge! This is the greatest treasure in all the lands!"
"Stay focused," Theron reminded them, his voice firm despite the excitement bubbling within him. "We can celebrate later. Let's proceed."
"We split into groups of two and explore," Magnar suggested.
Astrid paired with Magnar, Rednar with Ronan, Cael with Tamsin, and Theron with Grave-Walker.
Cael and Tamsin marveled at the golden artifacts and fist-sized gems that filled the chamber, their imaginations running wild with the possibilities this newfound wealth presented. Then, they saw Astrid running towards them, her face pale with urgency.
"Come quick!" she cried, then turned and ran back towards the center of the hall.
Cael and Tamsin exchanged a worried glance and followed. The others had gathered around something, their faces etched with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Magnar...do you think...?" Rednar stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
"I believe so," Magnar replied, his brow furrowed in confusion. "But...it can't be."
"It's impossible!" Tamsin gasped.
Cael stared, his left eye green with astonishment, his right brown with disbelief. Was he seeing things?
"We all see it," Theron confirmed, his voice hushed with reverence.
In the center of the chamber, lying upon a golden altar, lay the perfectly preserved body of a naked man.
Ronan, recovering from his initial shock, broke the stunned silence. "Old man... is that your king?"