Echoes Beneath the Stone

The deeper they walked, the less the forest made sense.

The trees twisted in unnatural spirals, their bark riddled with ancient carvings. The air was heavier here — humid, metallic, and humming with power. Something old lived beneath the ground, and it didn't like to be disturbed.

Pate crouched by the edge of a stone circle, fingers grazing strange symbols etched into its surface. "This isn't Valorian," he said quietly. "It's older."

Gage whistled low, tossing a smooth rock between his hands. "You've got a gift for old languages, huh?"

"Sort of a habit," Pate replied, not looking up. "Most of it's gibberish, but this one…" He pointed. "It means blood."

Gage raised an eyebrow — just slightly. "Creepy. Convenient."

"Why?" Pate asked, glancing at him.

Gage just smiled. "No reason."

They moved deeper into the ruins, past archways half-swallowed by roots. The light was dim, filtered through thick vines overhead. At the far end, they reached a wide stone door, split down the center.

Symbols pulsed faintly across its surface — including the same one they saw outside.

Pate reached forward.

The door didn't open.

But the ground beneath them shook — low and slow.

Then… a voice. Faint. Echoing.

"Two enter. One leaves."

Gage stepped back, hand twitching toward his side. "Okay, no. Not liking that."

Pate's glow pulsed brighter. "I think it's a test."

Gage glanced at the cracks forming beneath their feet. "Yeah? What if we fail?"

Pate smirked. "Then we break the rules."

He raised a hand — and light burst from his palm, pushing against the seal.

A low growl echoed from the stones.

And deep beneath the ruins, something ancient began to stir.

Suddenly, the wall behind them cracked open — and three creatures emerged.

Hunched. Mottled skin. Long arms tipped with jagged claws. No eyes — only slits where their faces should be.

They lunged.

Pate reacted fast — a wave of light blasted one into a column.

But the other two kept coming.

One lunged at Gage.

He didn't move.

Until the very last second.

The moment the creature reached him, Gage lifted his hand and dragged a nail across his palm — slow, intentional.

Blood welled up.

And the creature stopped midair.

Its veins bulged.

Blood poured from its eyes, mouth, and ears — as if something inside was tearing it apart.

Pate stared in shock.

The creature collapsed.

The second one darted in.

Gage's expression didn't change.

He flicked his wrist — blood from the air solidified into a blade, curved and glinting red.

He threw it.

It hit the creature clean between the eyes.

Silence returned.

Pate stepped back, eyes wide.

Gage casually wiped his hand on his sleeve, then gave a lopsided grin. "Bit intense, yeah?"

"You… never said you could do that."

Gage's Irish accent curled around his words. "Didn't say I couldn't."

Pate didn't respond.

Because he'd seen power before.

But never like that.