The Dead Seekers' Camp (2)

Atlas crouched down and touched the surface carefully.It was icy cold.It was as if her whole life had been drained out of her.Atlas took his hand away from the scorched earth and slowly stood up.

If this is not an isolated case, then perhaps there are other similar tracks in the camp.He began the inspection.

Sin flew higher, helping with the view from above.Step by step, Atlas moved through the camp, studying the land touched by the mysterious influence.

There were three such tracks in total: The first is in the center of the camp, the second is next to a fallen crate of supplies, and the third is at the entrance to one of the tents.

They all looked the same–burned, dried, and feeling cold.There was a strange pattern between them – they formed an even triangle.

[You have found a pattern in the tracks of the Seekers' disappearance.]

Atlas frowned at the air.Triangle… Is this an accident or part of something bigger? Sin twitched again, and her fins stood on end. It was as if something was bothering her.

The wind picked up.

Atlas took a deep breath: "If it's a magical trace, then maybe you can feel something."

He chose the one that was closest, the footprint of the fallen crate.The air shark froze in the air, clearly sensing something strange.Atlas crouched down and carefully extended his hand.

As soon as his fingers touched the scorched earth, the world changed dramatically.

[A hidden memory has been activated.]

My vision went dark.The sounds disappeared.

And then there was a flash.

"Oh, it looks like they decided to show me a cut scene."

He saw everything through someone else's eyes.

–Damn, that's not what we were looking for! – Someone's voice, panic.

– Let's go! Immediately!

The magician raised his hands, drawing complex symbols in the air.

But something invisible covered the camp.The wind froze.

The ground turned black.The people... they just disappeared.

Without shouting. Without a trace.

Space shook... and there was another flash.

Atlas staggered back, exhaling sharply.

The air shark flickered alarmingly, sensing its master's tension.

[You have witnessed the disappearance of the Seekers.]

[But what caused it?]

Atlas still felt cold inside himself.

These footprints... they were just there.Someone or something killed these game characters.

And it could still be here.

Atlas wiped his palm on his armor, his fingers were numb from the cold.But he wasn't going to back down.One trace gave information. It means that others can give more.

He went to the second one, the one at the entrance to the tent.The air shark twitched nervously in the air, but did not move away.

–If something goes wrong, take me to hell, okay? – Atlas muttered.

She didn't respond, but her body lit up slightly, preparing for action.

He crouched down and carefully touched the footprint.Darkness again.

But the sounds were clearer now.

–Are you sure it's here? –A man's voice, agitated.

–Yes. It should be here. ???... it should not be left on the surface.

Someone was fumbling with a bag, pulling out something heavy.

[A new element has been fixed – ???.]

–Hurry up, before anyone finds us.

And then... something went wrong.A sharp flash.The dull sound of falling.

Someone shouted:

– NOOOO!

Everything was gone.Atlas abruptly opened his eyes, breathing heavily.

The air shark hovered over him, its body flickering faster than usual.

[You witnessed the events before the Seekers disappeared.]

[New information has been discovered – a certain ???.]

Atlas stood up, thinking about what he had seen.

So they were looking for something. Some kind of thing. And, apparently, it was he who caused the disappearance.

But what is this thing? And where did she go?

There was still one more trace.Atlas walked slowly towards him…

–The two cut scenes have already given too much information. – The

air shark was circling tensely above him, its body flickering alarmingly.

The last trace.In the very center of the camp.He crouched down and touched the blackened ground.

Darkness, darkness again.But now... she was alive.She was moving. It felt like something reasonable.It's not just magic. It's more than that.And in that darkness... a voice.

–You... shouldn't have touched that.

And then there was a flash.The camp was shaking with powerful energy.The seekers tried to escape, but... disappeared one by one.

Space seemed to collapse around them, devouring their existence.The last thing Atlas saw was the magician's hand reaching for ???

–Stop it… Stop it...

And he disappeared too.

Atlas inhaled convulsively, abruptly opening his eyes.The air shark froze above him, its light fading.

[You have witnessed the disappearance of the Seekers.]

[You heard a voice... something was watching them.]

Atlas stood up, clenching his fists.

–It's not just magic.It's something else.And that something... could still be here.

And now he knew one thing– that [ ??? ] was not an ordinary relic.

It was a trap.

Atlas stood in the center of the camp, taking in what he had seen.The air shark was moving restlessly nearby, its body flickering with a dim light.

–The thing. She was here. The seekers found it, tried to use it, but…Something went wrong. And if ??? He didn't disappear with them... so he's still here.Somewhere in the camp.

Atlas moved slowly, carefully scanning the ground.He checked the remains of the campfire, overturned crates, and torn tents.But there was nothing like a thing.

Or someone took it away.…

Or it is hidden.

As soon as he got closer to the center of the triangle of footprints, something changed.Sin jerked violently, her fins tensing.

The air became denser.It was as if something was hanging here... invisible.

[You feel the presence of a hidden object.]

Atlas froze: – It's here.

There was tension in the air.

"There's something here. It's nearby."

He glanced at the air shark: – Come on, try to hit here.

Sin froze, her body lit up.She opened her mouth – and a sharp stream of compressed air hit directly into the center of the invisible field.At the same moment, there was a resonance.

The space trembled, as if a wave had passed through the air.And then...something showed up.An object appeared in the very center of the camp, floating in the air.

It was a small pendant, darkened by time.

"Another artifact in the form of a pendant?"

But it wasn't ordinary.He seemed to vibrate, distorting the air around him.

Atlas took a look at the system.

[You have discovered a hidden artifact: the Eye of Silence.]

[This item is of unknown origin. His power suppresses magical traces.]

Atlas raised his hand and slowly reached out to him…But as soon as his fingers got closer to the artifact, everything changed. Sin jerked back.

The air crackled and twisted.The shadow... began to come out of the artifact.

Something invisible, formless… but it's alive.And it was looking right at Atlas.

–You... came too late.

Atlas felt his body tighten involuntarily.

–No, it's better to take your time.

He slowly took a step back, not taking his eyes off the shadow.The air shark trembled in the air, its body glowing faintly.

She could feel the creature, too.It wasn't an ordinary monster.

The creature did not move.It didn't attack, it didn't try to interact.

But... it was watching.Through.It was as if it had seen not only Atlas, but also something behind his back.

"It's too late... too late..."

The voice echoed in his head.Atlas clenched his fists.

"Too late for what? To save the seekers?"

Or... for himself?The shadow wavered.And then... she started disappearing.

It slowly spread through the air until there was only one thing left–the artifact.

–You... will find the truth...

And the darkness dissipated.

The Eye of Silence artifact was still in the air.But now... he looked different.Less threatening.It was as if his power had weakened with the disappearance of the shadow.

The air shark approached cautiously, but showed no more fear.Atlas took a deep breath.

–Well...I'm still curious to know what's going to happen next.You can take it now.

To be continued, please like and save…