The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner : 023

The sun had just come up when Lucian and his group reached the edge of the old city of Eldoria. The city was once great, but now it was just ruins, with broken buildings and roads that had been covered up by nature.Eldoria was an ancient civilization that was destroyed by a great war hundreds of years ago.

"This is the place," Alden said, looking around the ruins. "Eldoria. Not many people know its history, except that it was once a center of culture and magic."

Eris, who was walking behind, took out a worn map from her bag. "According to the witch in the forest, there is something hidden beneath this city—perhaps a clue to the artifact's next location. But we have to be careful. Eldoria is known for its ancient traps that not even time can destroy."

Lucian nodded, his steps entering the city full of mystery. But he felt doubt in his heart. They had faced too many betrayals, and he knew that the group was not completely united.

In the middle of the city, they found a big plaza with ancient statues. Most of it had been destroyed, but one statue remained: a knight with a sword raised to the sky, as if giving a warning to anyone who saw it.

Eris pointed at the map. "This is it," he said. "Under this statue there should be an entrance to Eldoria's dungeon."

But as they got closer, the ground under their feet started to shake. A deep voice sounded, like the roar of thunder that echoed throughout the city.

"Who dares disturb Eldoria's rest?"

The knight statue began to move, and its stones broke apart to form a larger, more terrifying body. The statue's eyes glowed red, and its angry voice made the air around them feel heavy.

"You've got to be kidding," Alden said as he got his sword.

Lucian stepped forward, fearlessly facing the stone giant. "We did not come to destroy. We seek the truth."

The giant laughed loudly. "The truth is only for those who are worthy. If you want to go inside, you'll have to pass my test."

With that, the rock giant swung its sword, creating a wave that destroyed a portion of the plaza. Lucian and his group were knocked flying, but they got back on their feet quickly.

"Exams, huh?" Eris said while reciting a protection spell. "Then let's see if we can get through!"

The fight against these guards is difficult. The giant not only attacked with brutal force, but also used the terrain to his advantage, creating an illusion that kept them separated. Lucian is forced to face his own shadow, representing his past life as Caelum.

"You can never escape what you did," the shadow said, mockingly.

Lucian answered firmly, "I can make up for it," and then used his sword to destroy the shadow.

Meanwhile, Eris used her magic to create a trap that slowed down the giant, and Alden attacked the weak point behind its body. With their combined efforts, the giant finally falls, turning back into stone.

"Your exam has been completed," the giant's voice sounded one last time before disappearing. "You have proven your courage. Come in, and find what you are looking for."

The basement entrance opened on its own, and a staircase came down into the dark. The air felt thick and heavy, as if filled with secrets from the past.

As they stepped inside, they saw that the walls were covered in ancient carvings. These carvings told the history of Eldoria. One of the carvings depicted a great war against shadow creatures that looked like spectra.

"This is definitely related to the Order of the Dusk," Eris muttered while examining one of the carvings. "It seems like they have existed since ancient times."

At the end of the room, they found an altar with a large crystal ball on top. The ball glowed gently, emitting an aura that made them feel calm.

"It's a Memory Ball," Eris said, her eyes widening. "Legend says that the orb can show the past and the future to those who hold it."

Lucian went over to the ball, but he seemed unsure about touching it. When his hand touched the ball, a bright light filled the room and they entered the vision.

In the vision, they saw a young man leading an army against a huge shadow that threatened Eldoria. The man used a sword that glowed—the Sword of Dusk—to defeat the creatures. After the battle, he sealed the sword in a hidden place because he was afraid of its power.

The vision then changed to show the Order of the Twilight searching for the sword. Their leader, a mysterious figure wearing a black robe and silver mask, spoke to his followers.

"The Twilight Sword is the key to changing this world. With its power, we will destroy everything old and rebuild a new world."

When the vision ended, Lucian woke up, gasping for air. He looked at Eris and Alden with a serious expression.

"We have to find the sword before they do. If the Order of the Twilight gets it, this world won't survive."

Eris nodded. "But we need to know where the sword is hidden."

"The vision gives us a clue," Lucian answered. "We just need to find a place that matches the picture in the vision."

As soon as they came out of Eldoria's dungeon, Lucian felt that they had stepped deeper into this dangerous game. The Twilight Order was clearly getting closer to achieving their goal, and the time to act was growing more urgent.

However, Lucian couldn't ignore the strange feeling he had. The power awakening within him, his past as Caelum, and his mysterious connection to the Order of the Dusk—it all felt like pieces of an unresolved puzzle.

"What's the next step?" Alden asked, tightening the strap of his sword.

"We're going to Arcadia Academy," Lucian said. "We need his help. This time, it's about all three of us. We have to protect him from destruction."

In the distance, the sound of night birds could be heard, signaling that it was evening. But for Lucian and his group, their journey has just begun.