Chapter 14: Between the Rocks and the Sky

Caelum and Alaric moved silently through the narrow passage, the rock walls surrounding them like the jaws of some ancient creature. The sky above them shrank to a band of azure as they moved deeper into the pass. The sounds of combat had faded behind them, replaced by the oppressive silence of the mountains.

Caelum, despite the gravity of the situation, could not help but feel a surge of adrenaline. He knew that Aldric and Lyra's survival depended on their ability to move quickly, but that did not prevent him from feeling a certain unease. The silence was too perfect, and he could not help but find it suspicious.

"You know, Alaric," he said, finally breaking the silence, "if I had to choose a place to die, it certainly would not be here." Too… mineral for my tastes."

Alaric glanced at Caelum, a small smile appearing despite himself. "I suppose you'd prefer a blazing battlefield, with a dramatic epitaph?"

Caelum shrugged as he clambered up a loose rock. "Well, let's just say that if I'm going to end up in dust, I'd prefer it to be with a little more style." He hauled himself up to the next ledge, his breathing heavy, but he couldn't help but continue. "Maybe under a hail of arrows, or facing an entire army. Not crushed under a boulder in the middle of nowhere."

"I'll make a note of that," Alaric replied, his tone slightly amused. "I'll make sure you have a proper exit."

Caelum's smile widened, but his gaze quickly hardened as he noticed marks on the rock walls. "These engravings…" he murmured as he approached, fingers brushing over the time-worn symbols. "Have you seen them before?"

Alaric stepped closer, peering at the mysterious signs with growing interest. "No, but it might confirm that we're on the right track. If these engravings have anything to do with the City of the Ancients…"

"Or maybe it's just some bad graffiti from a lost tourist," Caelum joked, though his tone betrayed some concern. He stepped back, scanning his surroundings with renewed attention. The passage was too narrow for an ambush, but something about it made him uneasy.

They continued forward, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone. The path grew steeper and steeper, climbing steeply toward a higher plateau. Caelum, despite his young age, showed surprising endurance, but Alaric could see the fatigue starting to weigh on him. Yet his dark humor never seemed to falter.

"What if this city doesn't exist?" Caelum said, breathless. "Maybe we're just running toward a slow, painful death."

Alaric shook his head. "It does. We have to believe in it."

"Of course," Caelum replied with a smirk, "because if we don't find anything, we can always open a souvenir shop here. Rocks, old prints… they sell well, don't they?"

Alaric burst out laughing despite himself, a rare sound in this oppressive environment. "You have your own way of seeing things, Caelum." »

"It's what keeps me from going crazy," Caelum replied, though he knew deep down that his jokes were just a facade. The truth was, he was afraid. Afraid of the unknown, afraid of what lay ahead, afraid for Aldric and Lyra.

Finally, they reached the top of the path, emerging onto a plateau overlooking the valley below. The wind blew hard at this altitude, whipping through their clothes and whistling in their ears. But the view before them was spectacular. The gorge stretched out before them, a gaping cleft in the mountain, and in the distance, a blue light seemed to emanate from the depths.

"This is… incredible," Alaric breathed, his eyes fixed on the light.

Caelum, for once, remained silent. He felt something grand awaited them, something far beyond what he had imagined. His mind, usually quick to joke, was now captured by the majesty of the moment.

"We're almost there," Alaric finally said, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as Caelum.

They slowly descended toward the gorge, the light growing brighter as they approached. The path was treacherous, the rocks slippery, and each step required total concentration. But neither of them faltered.

Finally, they reached the entrance to the gorge. Before them, a huge door carved into the rock loomed, adorned with ancient symbols, far more detailed than those they had seen earlier. The blue light emanated from crystals embedded in the stone, illuminating the entrance in an unearthly way.

Caelum stepped forward cautiously , his eyes widening in awe and fear. "Alaric, this is… this is it, isn't it?"

Alaric nodded slowly, his voice barely audible. "Yes, Caelum. We're here."

But before they could fully rejoice, there was a thud behind them. Caelum whipped around, his heart racing. Enemy scouts, the ones they'd tried to outrun, emerged from the rocks, their dark silhouettes silhouetted against the blue glow.

"Well," Caelum murmured, his tone sharp again despite the fear. "Looks like the party's only just begun."

Alaric got into position, ready to defend their discovery. "Get ready, Caelum. We're going to have to fight our way in." »