The Silence Beneath

The path south took them underground.

The map gave no name for the place—only a symbol: a broken circle, ringed with teeth. The entrance lay at the edge of the Frostlands, hidden beneath a cave of jagged obsidian. The air grew warmer again, but heavier. As if every step downward pulled at their souls.

Ren lit the lantern. "Smells like sulfur."

Mike nodded. "Something's wrong here."

They descended into a world of tunnels and caverns, of ancient stone and pulsing veins of dim orange light. The silence was absolute. Even Aero walked soundlessly. And that silence…it wasn't peaceful. It was pressurized. Like something listened from every shadow.

Hours passed.

Then something found them.

⸻

It came first as a flicker—barely seen.

A figure made of shadow, flickering at the edge of their torchlight. It moved like smoke and glided without form. When Mike turned, it vanished. When they walked, it followed.

"Not natural," Ren muttered, drawing his knife.

Then it struck.

A wall of force slammed into Ren from the side, hurling him across the chamber. He smashed into a stalagmite and dropped to the floor, unmoving.

Mike shouted his name and fired an arrow at the darkness. It vanished on impact.

Another blast threw Aero into a wall. She screeched but stayed standing, silver feathers flaring with defensive light.

The air around them twisted. Whispers crawled through Mike's skull—half-formed thoughts, fears, memories twisted into lies.

"You're alone."

"You left Jake behind."

"Ren will betray you."

Mike clutched his head. The shadows thickened. The force moved again, hurling stone, cracking the walls.

Then it surged toward Ren's limp body.

"No!" Mike cried.

He ran forward, diving between the shadow and his friend. His bow glowed hot in his hand, pulsing with energy as he raised it like a shield.

The shadow struck.

Mike screamed.

The pain was cold—like drowning in ice and fire at once. But he held firm, anchoring himself over Ren's unconscious form.

The shadow reared back—

And then light split the cavern.

Flame and autumn gold. A scent like wind through leaves. The shadows hissed and fled.

Lirien.

She stood at the edge of the stone, her fur glowing like embers, eyes blazing with ancient fire.

"The silence beneath was not made for you," she said. "Return to your sleep."

The cavern obeyed.

The shadows crumbled like ash.

The pressure lifted.

Mike collapsed beside Ren, gasping.

Lirien padded toward him. "You should not have entered this place without the third seal. But you spoke truth. And truth has its price."

Ren stirred with a groan.

Mike crawled to his side. "Ren. You're okay."

Ren opened his eyes slowly, looked around, then at Mike. His voice was hoarse.

"You shielded me."

"You'd have done the same," Mike said.

Ren grabbed his wrist. "No. You don't get it. I would've left before. A month ago, I'd have run. But you—you stayed. You stood against something no one could even see."

He sat up, shakily.

"I'm done pretending I don't care. I swore to survive before. But now I swear to follow. To fight with you. No matter where this path goes."

Mike stared at him, unsure what to say.

Aero trilled softly beside them.

Lirien stepped forward, nodding.

"Spoken like a true companion."

She lowered her head and touched Mike's chest with her nose.

"You carry more than a bow now, Speaker. You carry loyalty. And that is rarer than magic."

She vanished once more, leaving behind a faint echo of wind and gold.

Ren stood, leaning on Mike. "So. What now?"

Mike looked toward the next tunnel, where the map pulsed faintly in his pack.

"Now we keep going. Together."