Storm's group set off immediately after their meeting was over.
While they were flying, they discussed what could possibly be waiting for them at the site.
"Mages, especially older more powerful ones, tended to become fiercely independent and isolationist. Especially towards other mages.
We would most likely have to face a single, powerful wizard, a handful of apprentices, and probably some hunters." Said Razor.
"Would you be able to defeat an archmage if we encountered one?" Asked Aurora.
"It's difficult to say! No two archmages are alike! And that makes it difficult to judge their strength!
I'm no slouch when it comes to magic though! I can definitely keep one at bay for a time." Explained Razor.
Once they reached the mountains, Storm felt Mimereus beginning to use his eyes to study the landscape below.
After a moment Mimereus pointed out a clifface to him.
"The entrance is over there!!" Said Mimereus.
Storm took the lead and guided them all to the ground in front of the clifface.
As they landed, Mimereus spoke up.
"Hold on!! Something is wrong here!!"
"What is it?!" Asked Storm.
"There should be glyphs on the wall?!" Explained Mimereus.
"Are you sure this is the correct place?!"
"I'm positive! The landmarks are still here! This is definitely the place!" Pointed Mimereus out.
Storm turned towards Razor.
"Do you detect any enchantments on the wall?"
She reached out with her magic sense, then shook her head.
"Nothing that I can detect! Seems like a perfectly normal wall to me!
I admit though that divination was never my area of expertise!"
"Storm, I might be able to do better than her! But I would need direct control of your body and I will need to cast a spell through you!" Suggested Mimereus.
Storm gave his consent and his connection to Mimereus grew stronger as his consciousness spread through every muscle in Storm's body.
As strange as the sensation was, it felt even stranger when Storm's limbs moved of their own accord without his consent.
A brief moment of panic and helplessness flared in Storm's heart before Mimereus reassured him.
"Fear not, young one!! Just relax and all will be well!"
Storm felt Mimereus tapping into his magical reserves as he began to cast a spell.
"Mysticatus Oculatum" declared Mimereus.
Storm's vision lost all color and grew darker as the magic took effect.
As Mimereus looked around the area, Storm saw that his companions were glowing with an inner light.
Razor glowed the brightest and it burned his eyes when he focused on her for too long.
Mimereus directed their eyes to the clifface again, until he saw a glowing blue glyph on the wall.
Mimereus pressed one of Storm's claws against it, and the entire wall lit up with glyphs.
Mimereus studied the glyphs for a moment, before he began pressing several in quick succession.
As he pressed the final glyph. A low hum came from the wall.
It blurred and dissappeared, revealing a large tunnel that led deeper into the heart of the mountain.
"Revertum" Exclaimed Mimereus and Storm's vision returned to normal.
Everyone stared at Storm with open mouths.
"Storm? How did you know it was here?" Asked Aurora.
"...I... don't know..." lied Storm.
"And since when did you know divination magic?!
That wasn't a novice spell either?!" Exclaimed Razor.
"... I... have been studying it in my spare time... Figured it could come in handy to find the hidden hunter base one day." Lied Storm.
His companions didn't seem convinced, but chose not to press further.
They stepped into the tunnel and began making their way deeper into the mountains.
After a short walk, they entered what appeared to be some kind of high security checkpoint.
The furniture seemed to have been made by a strange stone Storm wasn't familiar with.
Parts of it actually reminded Storm of Razor's own home back at her village.
"Could this be a former Dwarven settlement?" Asked Aurora.
Razor immediately dismissed the theory.
"No, this is Fallen One architecture."
"What are the Fallen Ones? I've never heard of them before?" Asked Aurora.
"Fallen Ones are a magical race that died out centuries ago.
No one knows much about them, but ancient depictions of their appearance shows them somewhat resembling elves.
This has led to some people speculating that they may be the ancestors of the modern day elves we have today." Explained Razor.
"The Griffin is correct! Each Fallen One ruin was built for a singular purpose.
The one in the Griffin village was built as some kind of observation post.
Studying the movements of the stars as well as the effects these movements had on our world.
This one seemed to be built to experiment and hold the ancestors of modern day griffins and dragons. " Explained Mimereus.
"They experimented on our kind here!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"Experimented, and Studied.
They had something of a fascination for our kind.
Some records that survived the passage of time indicated that we were vastly different to any other creatures from that time.
So much so that the Fallen Ones believed that weren't native to this world. Explained Mimereus.
So... lots of races weren't native to the continent. " Said Storm.
"You misunderstand, Storm.
The Fallen Ones empire spanned this entire world, 'including' other continents , and yet they never encountered anything like us.
As a result , they suspected we came from an alternate dimension, or another world." Explained Mimereus.
"How is that even possible!?" Asked Storm.
"Whatever our origins were, it has been lost to time.
Some dragons believed that the memory of it was forcefully stripped from us.
Studying Fallen One ruins was something of an hobby of mine while I was still alive." Explained Mimereus.
They walked past the checkpoint and entered a large room, with several siderooms along it's walls.
One of these siderooms had magical barriers in place and were occupied by a dragon prisoner.
The others contained Griffins or Manticores.
In the center of the room was a large pit with a similar barrier in place, a large Chimera was locked up in the pit.
It snarled and lunged at the barrier when it saw them, but it held against the assault.
Blood and other fluids covered the walls and floor of the pit.
Storm detected the scent of arousal and male musk and immediately realized what it meant.
The Chimera had performed intercourse recently, and based on the blood on the walls. His partner was an unwilling participant.
Storm bared his teeth and began advancing on the pit.
"SAVAGE CREATURE!!
I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB FOR THIS!!!" Thought Storm.
A call from Aurora dispelled Storm's bloodlust.
She was standing in front of one of the barriers.
Two dragons were locked in the chamber, and one of them seemed to be unresponsive.