The heavy silence of the dwarven hall still echoed in Mamir's ears as he, Runya, and Ener followed the guards through the mountain corridors. The king's words weighed on him like iron: his mother was not dead. Kirarya Turok lived—yet she was imprisoned in the darkest pit of Elandur.
At the threshold of a hidden passage, the dwarf captain halted and turned to them.
— "If you truly mean to seek your mother, you will find her in a place we call the Inferno of Elandur. A prison carved by shadows themselves. Many have entered its depths… none returned."
Mamir clenched his fists, the image of his mother flashing before his eyes.
— "Then I will go. No matter what awaits."
The dwarf let out a bitter laugh.
— "Even steel forged in our forges bends uselessly there. The servants of Ostomas guard that abyss. Unless you wield the light of the elves, you cannot even wound them."
Mamir stepped forward, his cloak stirring as he drew the sword at his side. Its silver edge gleamed with a faint, pure radiance.
— "This is no common steel. Seron Valar himself placed it in my hands—the Elf Light Sword. If there is any weapon that can cut through the darkness, it is this."
The council chamber fell silent. Murmurs spread among the dwarves.
Then Mamir turned to his companions. His eyes fell on Ener.
He unfastened the short blade at his belt—a dagger glowing faintly green.
— "This dagger belongs to you now. You earned it during the trial of the Threefold Forest. It bears the same blessing of light. Wield it well, Ener."
Ener's eyes widened, but he accepted the weapon with solemn resolve.
Finally, Mamir looked to Runya. His voice lowered, almost pleading.
— "Runya… if you wish, stay here in the safety of the dwarves. Where I must go is no mere danger. It is a descent into hell itself."
But Runya stepped close, her gaze unshaken. Her hand brushed his.
— "And what better way to prove my love, Mamir, than to leap into that hell at your side?"
For a moment, the hall seemed to fade away. Only her voice, her courage, her warmth remained. Mamir's heart steadied.
The king, who had watched in silence, rose once more. His tone was heavy, but there was a glint of respect in his eyes.
— "Then go, son of Harland. If you succeed in this, you will not only reclaim your mother—you will win the love and loyalty of the dwarves."
The gates to the lower tunnels opened, revealing a path that seemed to breathe with a cold, unnatural wind.
Together, Mamir, Runya, and Ener stepped toward the abyss. The journey to the Inferno of Elandur had begun.