Professor Halvek approached the edge of the newly opened shaft and studied the darkness below.
"Lower the lantern," he said.
One of the miners tied a lantern to a rope and slowly lowered it into the cavern. The light swung gently as it descended, illuminating the stone walls of the shaft.
Halvek watched carefully.
"Stable enough," he said after a moment.
He turned to the group.
"Dr. Solen, with me. Aria, Darius — you're coming as well."
The professor looked briefly toward Garrick.
"Only a short inspection."
Garrick nodded.
Kael stepped forward before he could stop himself.
"I can guide you down," he said.
Halvek regarded him thoughtfully.
"That would be helpful."
Within minutes the small group descended into the cavern.
The lantern light revealed the wide chamber Kael had described earlier. Broken stone from the collapse lay scattered across the floor, but most of the cavern remained intact.
Darius looked around with open interest.
"Bigger than I expected."
Aria walked slowly across the chamber floor, her eyes moving across the walls.
"There," she said quietly.
One of the cavern walls held faint carvings.
Runes.
Halvek stepped closer.
Dr. Solen activated a small scanner and swept it across the stone.
"Definitely Aethari script," she said.
Halvek traced one of the lines lightly with his finger.
"Architectural markings," he said. "Possibly part of a structural chamber."
Darius peered down one of the deeper tunnels.
"How far do these run?"
Kael shrugged.
"Didn't explore them."
Halvek studied the darkness stretching into the tunnel.
The passage descended deeper into the mountain, twisting beyond the reach of the lantern light.
Aria stepped closer to the tunnel entrance.
"The air current changes deeper in," she observed.
"Meaning?" Darius asked.
"More cavern systems."
Halvek nodded slowly.
"That would be my assumption."
Dr. Solen glanced at the scanner again.
"The tunnels extend far beyond the collapse area."
Halvek straightened.
"Too far."
Darius frowned.
"You're not serious."
Halvek looked back toward the shaft above them.
"This site is unstable. Unknown caverns, unknown fauna, and possibly extensive ruins beneath the ridge."
He turned to Garrick's son.
"Kael, you were fortunate to survive your fall."
Kael nodded slightly.
"I figured that out later."
Halvek smiled faintly.
He gave the cavern one final look before speaking.
"We've confirmed Aethari markings. That alone justifies a proper expedition."
Dr. Solen nodded.
"We'll need a full survey team."
"And structural specialists," Halvek added.
Darius sighed.
"So we're leaving?"
"For now," Halvek said calmly.
"We return with a larger team."
The group climbed back to the surface.
Once everyone was clear, Halvek gestured toward the opening.
"Seal it again."
Darius and Aria stepped forward once more.
The ground trembled slightly as the two students guided the slabs back into place.
The stones slid together smoothly, locking the shaft shut.
Several miners watched in quiet admiration.
Even Garrick shook his head slightly.
"Wish I had that kind of control in my crew."
Halvek brushed dust from his coat.
"You train miners to work the earth."
He glanced toward his students.
"The academy trains people to understand it."
Then his attention returned to Kael.
"Now," he said calmly.
"About that test."