There was a striking attraction that pulled her towards the tomb, and it was similar to how a moth would be drawn to a flame. Every single one of Lyra's instincts screamed at her to back away, but she turned her mind off and her feet began to move, taking her into the dark. The closer she got to the stone structure, the more she could feel something like a current vibrating in her body, as if it were beating in time with her heart. It was getting heavier, the dark of the night settling in, yet something in her gut—something old and primal—pushed her on.The tomb loomed before her, its presence overwhelming. Its massive stone surface seemed to breathe with life. The carvings etched into it appeared to move in the dim light, as though frozen in time, waiting for someone like her to release their secrets. Lyra hesitated, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the worn stone. The rough surface felt ancient, pulsating beneath her fingertips, as if it held a life of its own.What lay

Zarekth’s gaze was unwavering, cold and detached as Lyra’s words hung in the air. The weight of his skepticism pressed down on her, making her feel as though the very concept of friendship was somehow trivial, unworthy of his understanding. His expression remained impassive, and for a brief moment, Lyra felt the sting of his indifference.“Your friends?” he echoed, his voice laced with disdain, as if the idea was beneath him.Lyra’s frustration surged. She stood straighter, trying to push back against the god’s towering presence. “Yes, my friends,” she repeated, sharper now, anger flaring in her chest. “We were exploring some ancient ruins for a history project. None of us were trying to summon gods or meddle with forces we didn’t understand. We were just—” She hesitated as the memory of the storm returned to her mind ever so vividly. "A storm occurred," she managed to say, although the peg of her voice quivered as that image played out in her mind.“The ruins started collapsing. D

Zarekth knelt on the cold, unforgiving stone floor, his long fingers methodically tracing lines in the dust with a stick he had found nearby. Lyra watched him from a distance, curiosity beginning to overcome the wariness she felt whenever he withdrew into these strange, silent tasks. She edged closer, tilting her head to get a better look. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice breaking the heavy silence that filled the cavern. Without looking up, Zarekth responded with a grunt, his tone rough with impatience. “Is it not obvious?” He continued sketching, the stick moving in sharp, deliberate strokes across the ground. It looked disorganized in the beginning, a few stray lines and angles traced in the dirt but upon further inspection, Lyra was able to discern a pattern, or a rough representation of a map even. She frowned and attempted to understand the meaning of it. "Are we really that far from Nerathia?” she asked looking at the map and then at his face for any sign of

Lyra awoke slowly, and as she did, a wave of soreness pulsed throughout her body, making it difficult for her to move. Her throat felt sore, her body was rigid, and for a brief moment, she was unable to tell where she was. The first thing she glanced at was Zarekth, sitting across from her, his silver eyes fixed on her expression which was unreadable as usual.A small fire crackled between them whose flames offered little illumination, just enough to see his sharp features.She blinked to allow her eyes to adjust to the dim light. They were out of the Abyss of Oblivion. She knew right away there was no oppressive blackness, no stench of death pervasive in the atmosphere.They were in a place where a sky was directly above them, without any covering, and dotted with stars as if someone poked holes in the vast canvas. The night air was cool against her skin, making her shiver slightly, as the soft wind blew her hair back. They were not enclosed. They had escaped.She tried to utter som

Lyra awoke to the soft sounds of movement nearby. Blinking her eyelids open, she watched Zarekth squat next to the remains of their campfire and carefully snuffed out the remaining embers. A subtle dawn light made its way across the horizon, spreading faint light all over the scene. The cold air of the morning hit her and sent her slightly shivering as she sat up.Zarekth noticed her stirring. “It’s dawn. About time that we leave,” he declared impassively, looking elsewhere. Lyra arched her back, bothered by the discomfort of her muscles affected by the previous day’s journey, although not as intense as it had been. Food and water had given her sustenance, enough to keep going.She rose, and brushed dirt from her clothes, and nodded.“I’m ready," she remarked, feeling more energized and awake than in days.They set off in silence, the quiet of the early morning surrounding them as they walked.The ground beneath them was hard and uneven, but Lyra barely noticed. She kept glancing at