Chapter 13: The Price of Freedom

The cavern's exit led into a misty, overgrown valley, where ancient stone pillars jutted from the earth like forgotten sentinels. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie silver streaks across the ruins. The air was thick with damp earth and the lingering scent of decay.

Elena, Tobias, and Rafael stumbled forward, their bodies aching from the desperate escape. None of them spoke for several moments, too shaken by what they had just endured. The memory of Aurelian's burning gaze still lingered in Elena's mind, his final words echoing like a curse.

"You cannot escape the curse."

She shivered, hugging her arms to her chest. "Do you think he's truly trapped?" she finally asked.

Tobias exhaled, glancing back at the cave's blocked entrance. "For now. But if history has taught me anything, it's that curses don't die easily."

Rafael remained quiet, kneeling by a moss-covered stone. He ran his fingers across the surface, brushing away centuries of grime. Beneath the dirt, faint carvings were visible—symbols similar to those in the underground chamber.

"This place…" he murmured. "It's connected to the temple. Maybe even to the curse itself."

Elena crouched beside him. "What do you mean?"

Rafael traced one of the symbols. "These markings—I've seen them before in old texts. This isn't just a ruin; it's a place of sealing. If Aurelian's curse originated from the treasure, this might be where the people of his time tried to contain it."

Tobias crossed his arms. "And judging by the fact that he's still walking around centuries later, I'd say they failed."

Rafael nodded grimly. "Which means we might need to do what they couldn't—stop the curse for good."

Elena exchanged a glance with Tobias. The idea of breaking an ancient curse sounded impossible, but after everything they had seen, was anything truly impossible anymore?

Before she could respond, a distant sound made her freeze. Hoofbeats.

Tobias's expression darkened. "That doesn't sound like ghosts."

Elena's stomach twisted. "No. It sounds like riders."

From the shadows of the valley, figures emerged—men on horseback, their armor glinting under the moonlight. The crest on their cloaks was unmistakable.

Lord Castillo's men.

"Dammit," Tobias muttered, his fingers twitching toward his dagger.

Elena's breath quickened. If Castillo's men were here, that meant he knew about the treasure. And worse—he was after them.

The lead rider pulled his horse to a stop, his sharp gaze locking onto them. "You three," he barked. "By order of Lord Castillo, you are to be taken into custody."

Rafael rose slowly, hands raised. "We don't want trouble."

"Then surrender quietly," the soldier replied.

Tobias tensed beside Elena, but she quickly shook her head. Fighting now would only get them killed. They needed to think.

Elena lifted her chin. "And if we refuse?"

The soldier smirked, raising a hand. Behind him, more riders emerged, their weapons gleaming.

"You won't like the consequences."

Elena swallowed hard. They had barely escaped Aurelian's wrath, and now they were walking straight into another trap.

One curse had nearly killed them.

Now, they were about to face another.