The stone steps were cold and uneven.
Arjun moved slowly, one hand touching the rough wall beside him. The crack above had fully closed now. There was no moonlight. No way back.
Only the faint blue glow from below.
Each step echoed too loudly, as if the underground chamber were listening to him.
When he finally reached the bottom, he stood before the massive stone door.
It was taller than two men standing on each other's shoulders. Ancient cracks spread across its surface like veins. Dust covered the carvings—but the eye symbol in the center was clean.
As if it had been waiting.
The key in Arjun's hand felt heavier now.
He stepped closer.
The air suddenly changed.
It became thick.
Hard to breathe.
Then—
A deep grinding sound filled the chamber.
Arjun turned sharply.
From the shadows behind him, something moved.
At first, he thought it was just darkness shifting.
But then two faint golden lights appeared.
Eyes.
Large. Unblinking.
A shape stepped forward.
It was tall—almost touching the ceiling. Its body looked like it was made of stone and shadow mixed together. Cracks ran across its surface, glowing faintly like lava beneath rock.
A guardian.
Ancient.
Silent.
Arjun's legs trembled, but he forced himself to stand still.
The creature did not attack.
It only watched him.
Then a voice echoed inside the chamber—not from the creature's mouth, but inside Arjun's mind.
"The Seal has been touched."
Arjun's breath caught.
"I… I didn't mean to," he whispered.
The golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"No one finds the Key by accident."
The ground vibrated softly under their feet.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The guardian took one heavy step forward. The sound shook the chamber.
"The Door protects what must never rise."
Arjun swallowed. "What is behind it?"
Silence.
Then—
"Power."
The single word echoed like distant thunder.
The key in Arjun's hand began to burn with light.
The symbol on the door responded, glowing bright blue.
The guardian turned its head toward the door.
For the first time, its voice carried something different.
Not anger.
Concern.
"The Seal weakens."
A loud crack split the stone door.
A thin line appeared across the eye symbol.
Light burst through it.
Not blue.
Red.
The guardian stepped between Arjun and the door.
"If the Door breaks… the hills will fall."
The crack widened.
The red light grew stronger.
Something on the other side was pushing.
Hard.
The guardian turned back to Arjun.
"Choose."
The key pulsed in his hand.
The door was breaking.
And whatever was behind it—
Was trying to come out.