"Come on just a little further...." Mira muttered under her breathe The wind carried her words away as they pushed through the dense forest, branches snapping underfoot. Her companion, a grizzled tracker named Kai, glanced back at her with a knowing look. "You're still thinking about the village, aren't you?"
Mira's fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger as she stepped over a fallen log. The distant sounds of the settlement they'd left behind echoed in her mind—children playing, the blacksmith's hammer, the murmur of voices. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the path ahead.
"Those tracks lead toward the old ruins," Kai continued, pointing to the broken stone path nearly swallowed by moss and undergrowth.
Mira smiled, "I know I overheard the bar keep boasting about it." She turned her back to Kai, "Apparently there's a diamond ore. Could sell for a pretty amount-" Kai rolled his eyes, "We don't have the resources for that right now. Plus, it will put us behind schedule we have to meet Vernon soon."
Mira's jaw clenched at the mention of Vernon. The merchant had become an unavoidable presence in their lives over the past few months, his promises of easy coin always dangling just out of reach. She wiped sweat from her brow and studied the overgrown ruins ahead, the crumbling stone walls barely visible through the thick foliage.
"We go in, get the ore, then head to the tradepost," she said firmly, more to convince herself than Kai. "Vernon can wait another day."
Kai let out a long breath, shaking his head. "You know he won't wait. If we miss this deal, we'll be eating berries for winter." He paused, considering. "But..."
"...if there really is that much ore, maybe we can afford to be a little late."
Mira nodded grimly, already moving toward the ruins with renewed purpose. As they approached the stone archway marking the entrance, Kai held up a hand to signal silence. Through the ancient gateway, shadows moved between the broken columns—too large and deliberate to be wind or small creatures.
"Company," Kai whispered, his hand instinctively moving to the crossbow slung across his back. Mira drew her dagger, the familiar weight of the blade providing little comfort as she realized the shadows belonged to at least three figures. One broke away from the others, stepping into a shaft of sunlight that filtered through the collapsed roof above.
"Well, well." Mira recognized the trio instantly she set down her dagger sighing, "Seriously?"
The man who stepped forward was lean, sharp-featured, with deep-set eyes that glittered with amusement. His clothes were well-maintained despite the dust and grime of the road—an adventurer who knew how to make coin. His two companions remained in the shadows, but Mira caught glimpses of steel at their hips.
"Mira and Kai," the man drawled, rubbing a gloved hand across his stubbled jaw. "I was hoping to see you two again. Our last encounter... let's just say I had hoped for a different outcome."
Kai shifted his weight slightly, crossbow still loose in his grip. "Vernon's been talking about us, I see," he said flatly.
Mira smiled crossing her arms, "Who wouldn't we're good looking after all." The man chuckled, a dry sound that scraped against Mira's nerves. "Indeed, you are. That's why I'm so disappointed we never got to... work together more closely." His gaze lingered on her a moment too long before flicking to Kai. "Though perhaps now we can remedy that."
Mira felt Kai tense beside her. His fingers flexed against the crossbow's stock—not drawing yet, but ready. The two figures in the shadows had gone utterly still, their presence like coiled springs waiting to snap. The space between them crackled with hostility, charged with the memory of past dealings gone sour.
"I don't think so." Mira sighed, "Jax. Do you even know how to get in this ruin? Or have you 've been waiting around for rescue?"
Jax's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold and calculating. "Oh, I know my way around plenty of places," he said, stepping closer. The two figures behind him eased forward as well—taller men with the lean muscle of seasoned fighters. Their weapons were visible now: one a curved sword, the other a hammer that looked far too heavy for any reasonable person to wield.
"Though I'll admit," Jax continued, glancing up at the crumbling walls, "this one does seem particularly... dangerous. A shame, really. I hear there's quite a fortune in here." He turned back to Mira, gaze settling on the dagger at her hip. "Or so I've been told."
Mira cocked an eyebrow before drawing out a sweet smile, "Well I have a suggestion."
"Mira-" She didn't listen to Kai's protest, she waved a hand before continuing, "We can work together split the gold? Besides. I'm the only one here with magic."
Jax's smirk widened at the suggestion, his eyes glinting with the promise of easy coin. "Work together you say?" He glanced at his two companions, who exchanged a brief look before stepping fully into the light. The one with the hammer grinned, revealing teeth stained yellow from years of chewing tobacco.
"Well now, that changes things considerably." His voice was rough as gravel, thick with the accent of the southern mining camps.
Kai stepped closer to Mira, his crossbow now held ready but not yet aimed. "Mira, we don't know these men. They tried to ambush us last time." Mira shot Kai a silent look one that said, Trust me.
"We can let bygones, be bygones, right?" She flashed a bright smile her dark eyes lined with black.
Jax's smirk widened, his gloved fingers tapping against the hilt of his sword. "Beggars can't be choosers," he said, voice dripping with amusement.
"Though I should warn you—my men and I aren't exactly known for our... patience." The two companions stepped closer, the one with the hammer resting the massive weapon on his shoulder. "Ain't that the truth," he rumbled. "Last time we ran into these two, they left us bleeding in the dirt."
Kai's grip tightened on his crossbow, but he didn't raise it yet. "And you nearly left us dead in an alley," he replied, voice even. "Consider us even."
Mira clapped her hands together breaking the tension, "We don't have all day gentleman, shall we?"
Jax's smirk faltered for just a moment, his calculating eyes narrowing slightly as he reassessed the situation. He was used to people cowering before him, not standing toe-to-toe with such confidence. The shift in Mira's stance as she moved forward—shoulders squared, chin lifted—caught him off guard. He had miscalculated something, and he didn't like that.
The two thugs at his sides glanced at each other uncertainly. They had seen Kai's crossbow before—seen what it could do at range. And while they were confident in their own abilities, the prospect of walking into an enclosed space with armed strangers was making them uneasy.
"Alright, alright." Jax raised his hands in a mocking gesture of surrender, though his fingers still hovered near his sword hilt. "Let's see what this ruin has to offer. But remember, sweetheart—" His eyes locked onto Mira's with a hungry intensity that made her skin crawl. "—if you try anything funny, I'll make sure you regret it."
Mira smiled sweetly, "Oh I'm sure you would try." She gestured toward the crumbling archway, "Shall we? I can smell the ore from here." Jax's companions exchanged another uneasy look before nodding, and the small group moved toward the entrance.
Kai hurried behind her she heard him grumbling under his breath, but she paid him no mind. He was like a younger brother to her she was twenty-nine years old. He was barely twenty-one but at times he seemed more mature than her. Kai's breath came in short bursts as he followed behind Mira, his crossbow half-raised and his eyes darting between the three strangers who now walked beside them. The crumbling stone archway loomed ahead, its ancient carvings of writhing serpents and faceless figures scarcely visible beneath centuries of moss and decay. Jax's two companions moved with the casual confidence of men who had survived worse places, their weapons gleaming dully in the filtered light that streamed through the collapsed sections of the roof above.
"Watch your step," Jax called out as they entered the ruins proper, his voice echoing off the broken walls. "Some of these stones are loose. Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt." His tone carried an edge that made it clear he was talking about more than architectural safety.
The air inside the ruins hung heavy with the musty smell of old stone and something else—something that made the hair on the back of Kai's neck stand up. Mira walked ahead without hesitation, her boots crunching on ancient bones and pottery shards buried beneath years of accumulated debris. The walls here were covered in strange symbols and pictographs that no one in their group could decipher, though their primitive nature suggested this place predated even the oldest human settlements in the region.
"Look at this." Mira ran her fingers along a carving of a many-armed beast, its face twisted in agony. The stone felt warm under her touch, almost alive. Jax stepped closer, his shoulder nearly brushing hers as he examined the same carving. His cologne mingled with the dust and decay, sharp and unpleasant.
"Interesting." His breath tickled her ear as he spoke. "I wonder what it's supposed to represent." Mira stepped away, forcing a polite smile. "A monster, probably. These old ruins always have stories about them." Her fingers itched to summon her magic, to cast a protective ward just in case.
The group pressed on she eyed Jax with curiosity, her voice echoing off the walls, "How did you find out about these ruins - or should I say who commissioned you?"
Jax chuckled, the sound reverberating off the stone walls. "Let's just say I have... connections. People who appreciate things others might overlook." His eyes flicked meaningfully to the carvings before settling on Mira. "And what about you? You seem unusually interested in this place. Almost like you knew it was here all along."
Mira's smile never wavered, but her grip tightened subtly on the dagger at her hip. "Wouldn't be much of a thief if I didn't do my research, now would I?" She turned away, leading the group deeper into the ruins.
She turned away, leading the group deeper into the ruins. The passage narrowed as they continued, forcing the group to walk in single file. Ancient stone steps descended into near darkness, their surfaces worn smooth by countless footsteps from centuries past. The air grew colder as they descended, carrying an earthy dampness that made Kai's skin prickle with unease. Jax brushed against Mira as they navigated the narrow passage, his touch deliberate and unwanted. She moved away instinctively, but the cramped space left little room for retreat.
"Careful there," Jax murmured, his voice dripping with false concern. "Wouldn't want you to stumble in the dark." His companions chuckled darkly behind them, their boots echoing off the stone walls.
Kai pressed himself forward blocking her from the men he was tall and thin though he couldn't put much of a fight he wasn't going to let these men have their way. Kai's sudden movement startled Mira as he positioned himself between her and the men, his slender frame doing little to project confidence but everything to express loyalty. The narrow stone corridor seemed to constrict around them, ancient moisture seeping through the walls and pooling at their feet in dark puddles that reflected the dim light filtering down from above. Jax's companions shifted uneasily behind them, their weapons scraping against stone as they tried to maintain formation in the confined space.
"Easy now, kid," Jax drawled, his gloved hand resting casually on his sword hilt. "We're all just here to make some coin, right?"
"Dead end." Mira called ahead, her voice echoing off the walls as the passage came to a sudden stop at a massive stone door, its surface carved with the same writhing symbols as the walls. The door stood slightly ajar, revealing only impenetrable darkness beyond. Jax stepped forward to examine the mechanism, his fingers tracing the grooves and ridges that formed some kind of locking mechanism.
"Hmm. This isn't going to be easy," he muttered, testing the door's weight. It didn't budge. Kai glanced around nervously, his crossbow still ready but useless in the confined space. The two thugs had stopped just behind them, their massive frames filling the narrow corridor.
Mira pushed Jax aside harshly, "It'll only respond to magic. If you don't mind? Can I have some space."
Jax smirked but stepped back, gesturing grandly. "By all means, sweetheart. Show us what you can do."
Mira's jaw clenched at the patronizing tone, but she ignored it, focusing on the runes before her. Her fingers traced the symbols, feeling their ancient energy hum beneath her touch. She murmured the words of power, the syllables forming a complex pattern in the air, her magic responding to her will. The runes flared to life, casting eerie blue light across the stone face. The massive door groaned, protesting as it was forced open by unseen hands. Beyond lay a chamber, its ceiling arching high above, supported by pillars carved with more of the same writhing creatures.
Kai shivered, "Don't be dramatic." The chamber beyond the door opened to reveal a cavernous space lit by flickering torches that seemed to have burned for centuries without fuel. Ancient bones littered the stone floor—some human, others far larger and stranger in shape. Jax's companions moved forward first, their weapons drawn as they surveyed the chamber with wary eyes. The air here felt different, charged with an almost palpable energy that made the hair on Mira's arms stand on end.
"Well, well," Jax murmured, his gaze fixed on a massive chest that stood against the far wall, its surface gleaming with intricate metalwork. "Looks like our little theory was right." Kai stepped forward one of the men stopped him, "We'll do the honors."
Kai's face flushed with anger as the larger man's hand gripped his shoulder, his fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt. The confined space of the corridor made resistance futile—three against one, and the two thugs behind him could easily pin him against the stone walls. He glanced back at Mira, her dark eyes reflecting the eerie blue light of the runes as she watched the exchange with a measured expression.
Jax chuckled darkly as he brushed past Kai toward the treasure chest, his boots crunching on ancient bones. "Smart boy. Save your strength for what really matters." His two companions followed, their weapons still drawn as they surveyed the chamber for any other threats.
Mira watched as the men approached the chest they were going in blind, they couldn't see the magic emanating from the chest. It's a trap. She kept her mouth shut. The lock on the chest began glowing with an inner light as Jax's fingers closed around it. His men froze, their grips tightening on their weapons as the air in the chamber thickened with energy. The symbols carved into the pillars suddenly flared to life, casting writhing shadows across the walls. Jax cursed, yanking his hand back as the glow faded from the lock, leaving his fingertips tingling with residual magic.
"What the hell was that?" The taller thug growled, shifting his grip on his hammer.
Jax rubbed his hand, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "Some kind of ward. Probably meant to stop grave robbers." His eyes flickered to Mira with a sharp intensity. "You didn't warn us about this."
Mira shrugged, feigning innocence. "Would it have made a difference? You still would have tried to open it."
Jax's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes remained cold. "You're right. I would have." He turned back to the chest, studying its intricate design. "But now we have a problem. This thing's locked, and clearly not with something as simple as a key."
One of his men, the shorter one with the curved sword, stepped forward. "Blast it open. The metal looks thick, but not thick enough for a proper vault."
Jax shook his head. "Not yet. We need to understand what we're dealing with first." His gaze flicked to Mira. "Since you seem to know so much about this place, maybe you can tell us what that ward was for." Mira leaned against the stone doorframe, crossing her arms. "It was a binding ward. Probably meant to keep something inside the chest contained." She nodded toward the lock. "The glow you saw? That was the magic activating. It would have released whatever's inside if you had forced it open." Kai let out a quiet breath, some of the tension easing from his shoulders.
The larger thug snorted. "So what, we just leave it? All this work for nothing?"
She sighed, "Move aside please." Jax stepped back, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you plan to do?"
Mira approached the chest, her fingers tracing the glowing runes. "The ward isn't just a lock—it's a key. But it needs the right magic to activate properly." She closed her eyes, feeling the ancient energy humming beneath her fingertips. The chamber walls seemed to pulse with it, the air thrumming like a plucked string.
"I need to channel power into it," she murmured, her words carrying an almost hypnotic quality. "It'll take a moment.
" Jax watched with open fascination as the runes on the chest began glowing in a slow, deliberate sequence. The magic flowed through her like liquid fire, burning but not consuming as it connected to the ancient ward. The chamber itself seemed to hold its breath as the symbols pulsed with increasing intensity, their light casting jagged shadows across the walls. Kai moved closer, his crossbow forgotten in his hands as he watched Mira work. He had seen her use magic before, but never anything like this—never something so powerful that it made the very stones vibrate.
Jax leaned in, his curiosity evident despite his attempt to maintain an air of detachment. His men shifted uneasily, their weapons still drawn but now uncertain what to aim them at. It took a moment then the lock snapped open they all gasp the chest was filled with gold—ancient coins glinting in the torchlight, their edges worn smooth by centuries. But it wasn't just gold. Nestled among the coins were strange artifacts—crystals that pulsed with an inner light, metal figurines of creatures that seemed more nightmare than reality, and a single object that drew Mira's eye immediately: a pendant suspended from a chain of pure black metal. The pendant itself was a flat disc, its surface carved with a pattern that seemed to move when looked at directly, like a spiral of smoke trapped in stone. She reached for it instinctively. Kai's hand shot out to grab her wrist. "Wait—" he hissed, eyes wide. "Mira, don't—"
Jax's hand closed around her other wrist before she could touch the pendant. His grip was firm, his fingers like iron bands. "Now that," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear as he leaned in close, "is interesting."
His eyes burned with the same hunger he'd had when he first saw the ruins, but now it was sharper, more focused. "Something tells me that little trinket is worth more than all this gold combined."
Mira tugged against his grip, but he didn't loosen his hold. His men had stepped closer, their shadows falling across the treasure chest like dark sentinels. "What happened to splitting huh?" His grip tightened slightly, just enough to make his point. "New deal. You get to keep your life. I get that." He nodded toward the pendant.
His two companions had positioned themselves to block any escape, their weapons still not raised but ready. The narrow corridor they'd entered through yawned behind them like a black throat, the exit now impossibly far away.
Mira's pulse hammered in her throat, but her expression remained cool. "Figures."
Just as she finished the chamber groaned to life, it trembled like a great quake. Mira snatched the pendant, "Kai! Come on!" The chamber was no longer silent—it echoed with a low, thrumming sound, like the beating of a massive heart. Dust cascaded from the ceiling as the ancient stone pillars shifted, their bases grinding against the floor.
Jax recoiled, his grip on Mira's wrist finally breaking as the floor lurched beneath them. His men stumbled back, their weapons swinging wildly as they tried to maintain their footing.
"What the hell is this?" the taller thug shouted, his hammer raised defensively.
Mira didn't answer. She clutched the pendant to her chest, the cold metal burning against her skin as if it were alive. Kai grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the corridor they'd entered through.Mira squeezed the pendant tighter, and it warmed against her palm as she channeled energy into it. The chest shrank, folding in on itself until it fit neatly into her pocket. The thrumming grew louder, more insistent. The massive pillars lining the chamber began to shift, their bases uncoiling like serpents awakening from slumber. Jax's men swore as the stone beneath their feet twisted and split apart, forming gaping crevices in the floor.
Jax's face contorted in rage and fear as the chamber transformed around them. "You knew this would happen!" he snarled, lunging toward Mira.
Kai shoved Mira aside, bringing his crossbow up just in time as Jax charged. The bolt fired true, catching him in the shoulder and spinning him sideways with a grunt of pain. His men moved to intercept, their weapons flashing in the dim light as Kai stumbled back, reloading with desperate speed.
Mira didn't hesitate. She grabbed Kai's arm and pulled him toward the corridor as the chamber continued its violent transformation. The ceiling had started to descend, ancient stones grinding together as the chamber sealed itself shut. Jax shouted orders over the deafening roar, but his men were already struggling to maintain their footing as the floor buckled beneath them.
"Keep running! we'll get crushed! Don't look back." She yanked Kai's arm his large hands took hers as he took the lead.
The two raced down the tunnel not daring to look back. Behind them, the ancient stones continued their relentless descent, crushing the chamber and its remaining contents beneath tons of solid rock. Jax and his men had no choice but to flee as the corridor began to collapse in sections, their boots pounding against the crumbling stone as they struggled to stay ahead of the advancing wall of debris. The narrow passage that had once seemed confining now became their lifeline, the only escape route from the chamber's lethal transformation.
Kai and Mira burst from the tunnel into the main courtyard of the ruins, gasping for breath in the open air. When the looked back the tunnels entrance was embedded, "Shit- it completely caved in." Kai gasped for air.
"Did the others make it?" Mira's face was ashen as she wiped dust from her face. "I don't know. Probably not." She clenched the pendant tighter in her pocket, its heat still pulsing against her thigh.
The ruins seemed eerily still now, the ancient walls standing silent witness to whatever had transpired below. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the broken stones, making the carvings seem to writhe in the flickering light.
Kai ran his hands through his dusty hair. "Jax said he had connections... You think anyone will come looking for them?"
Mira shrugged, her breathing still uneven. "Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, we need to get out of here."
The two ran from the ruins only slowing down when they reached the road, "Mira. You are insane you know that."
Mira let out a sharp laugh, wiping dust from her cheek. The pendant in her pocket still thrummed with residual energy, its heat seeping into her thigh like a second heartbeat. "Better insane than dead, Kai. And right now, I feel pretty damn lucky."
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing pulse. The ruins loomed behind them, their jagged silhouettes cutting against the darkening sky. The sun had begun its descent, casting the land in deep oranges and reds that made the dust in the air glow like embers. "We need to put some distance between us and this place. Who knows what else is down there."
"We're meeting Vernon and the Crow Man's inn. Come on we can still make it." Kai nodded, falling into step beside her as they started down the road. The dust settled on his dark curls, turning them gray at the tips. "You're really not worried about Jax?" He asked, glancing back toward the ruins.
Mira shrugged, adjusting the straps of her pack. "Worried? No. Concerned? Maybe a little." She sighed. "But if he survived, he'll come after us. And if he didn't..." She let the thought hang, unspoken but clear. Jax had been ruthless, yes, but he was also smart. And survival was his specialty.
"Did you know that was going to happen?" Kai asked as they walked Mira glanced at him sideways, a small smirk forming. "No. But I knew something would happen. I felt it in the air when we first entered the chamber." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pendant, holding it up to catch the dying sunlight.
The swirling patterns seemed to pulse with an inner light, though none could be seen in the stone itself. "This was worth more than whatever was in that chest. And Jax wanted it too badly to let me keep it." She tucked it back into her pocket, feeling it settle against her leg with its steady, pulsing heat. "I just didn't know it would trigger a collapse." Kai let out a low whistle. "Well, it worked out."
Mira shot him a wink as she pulled out the palm sized chest, dangling it in front of him, "You have no idea."
Kai's eyes widened as he watched the chest unfold from its tiny size back to full capacity, the intricate metalwork gleaming in the dying sunlight. "How did you—" He began, but stopped as his fingers brushed against the smooth surface of a particularly ornate coin. The metal felt warm under his fingertips, almost alive.
Mira smiled at his reaction, clearly pleased with the display. "Magic, Kai. Simple magic." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the pendant again, holding it up between them. The swirling patterns seemed to move faster now, casting prismatic light across her face as the last rays of sunlight caught the stone. "But this... this is something else entirely."
Kai leaned closer, watching the patterns shift and twist like smoke in a breeze. "What is it?"
Mira's face darkened as she studied the pendant, her fingers tracing the warm metal. "I don't know yet. But it's powerful. I can feel it." She closed her fist around it, the heat seeping into her palm. "And whatever it was doing in that chest, it wasn't meant to be disturbed."
A shiver ran down Kai's back as he glanced over his shoulder at the ruins, half-expecting to see a figure emerging from the dust cloud that still hung over the entrance. "Then why did you take it?"
Mira's smile was small but fierce. "I guess I'm a no-good thief that can't keep her hands off shiny things." Mira tucked the pendant back into her pocket with a wink, the weight of it settling against her thigh like a promise—or a warning.
Kai shook his head with a quiet chuckle. "You know, that's what gets you into trouble." He adjusted his crossbow on his back, the leather straps creaking softly. "And me, by extension."
The road stretched before them, dusty and winding, leading away from the ruins and toward the village where they'd agreed to meet Vernon and the others. The setting sun painted the sky in rich oranges and deep purples, turning the distant hills into silhouettes against the darkening horizon.