Chapter 9: The Ruins.
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Aura spun in midair, her tiny doll-like form glowing softly with wind magic as she giggled and twirled in circles around Karli.
"I have a name! I have a name~!" she chimed gleefully. "And it's a pretty one too!"
Karli chuckled, her heart blooming with warmth at the sight.
It was strange. Just a few moments ago, she had been lost in deep thoughts — heavy ones, about the past she left behind and the fate she was ready to fight.
But now, watching Aura flutter around like a sparkling blue butterfly, she felt something different.
A quiet kind of happiness.
The kind that didn't come from safety or peace.
But from connection.
"…I'm glad you like it," Karli said softly, reaching up to tap Aura's tiny head with her finger. "It suits you."
Aura beamed proudly, puffing her cheeks in delight. "I'll be the best wind spirit ever! You'll see!"
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Once Aura finally calmed down and settled on Karli's shoulder like a tiny guardian, Karli opened the book once more and as she continue to read— Divine Blade: First Treasure — she finally found it.
The illustrations were clearer, the language sharper.
> "Behind the ancient tree that stands at the edge of the Elven realm lies a path long forgotten, swallowed by nature and sealed in silence. Within the overgrown jungle that follows, the First Treasure rests beneath the ruins where moonlight never touches."
Karli stared at the words, rereading them carefully.
"Behind the World Tree…" she muttered, lifting her gaze.
The massive trunk of the tree loomed ahead, silver-blue leaves whispering softly in the wind.
Aura leaned forward from her shoulder. "So, the treasure's in a jungle past this tree?"
Karli nodded slowly. "Seems like it. There's a place hidden beyond — and somewhere inside those ruins… the weapon that can change form by the wielder's will."
Aura tilted her head. "But why would they hide it in such a creepy-sounding place?"
Karli gave a dry smile. "Probably to make sure random people don't just stumble across it. Besides, creepy places usually hide cool things."
Aura puffed out her chest. "Then let's go find something cool!"
Karli stood up, brushing leaves off her cloak, and tucked the book into her bag. "Right. But let's be careful. The elves won't chase us into the World Tree… but beyond that tree, we're on our own."
She turned, her eyes scanning the bark until she found it — a narrow path partly hidden by roots, just wide enough for someone to squeeze through.
Beyond that was a dense wall of creepy greenery.
A jungle forgotten by time.
Karli stepped forward.
Aura floated beside her like a small lantern of blue light.
And together, they crossed the threshold, where the World Tree's protective glow faded into shadows.
The real trial was just beginning.
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Karli paused just after stepping into the shadowed path .
"Oh right," she muttered, reaching into the inner pocket of her cloak. "Almost forgot about that guy."
She pulled out the sleek, black ring Kaelir had handed her earlier — the one enchanted with a communication spell.
> "Use this when you are done ," he had said.
Typical Kaelir .
Karli held the ring up, cleared her throat, and spoke into it like a crystal microphone.
"Testing. Testing. One, two, three… Mr. Almighty Grumpy dragon, do you copy?"
The ring glowed faintly.
She smirked.
"Anyway—just wanted to let you know: I'm going into the jungle behind the World Tree. You know, that death forest no one talks about."
She glanced toward the shifting greenery ahead.
"Oh, also — minor update: the elves might know I'm here. Tiny accident. Nothing serious. I might have made the ancient magical library light up like a festival lantern. Oops."
The ring glowed brighter. A voice replied, dry and unimpressed:
> "You what."
Karli grinned. "Too late to scold me now. I'm already halfway into the land of doom and mosquito bites."
> "Karli—"
She interrupted quickly.
"This could be my last message, so I'll make it dramatic."
She took a deep breath and placed a hand over her chest.
"Oh, mighty dragon who I totally respect and fear—if I do not return, know that I bravely met my end searching for magical loot while being hunted by pointy-eared scholars with excellent archery skills."
> "Karli—!"
"Also, please don't eat my stash of dried mangoes. I will haunt you."
The ring pulsed once, as if Kaelir was too tired to respond.
Karli gave a small wink and whispered, "See you soon, maybe."
She placed the ring gently back in her pocket, turned to Aura, and smiled.
"Alright. Let's go find a treasure before Kaelir shows up with his lecture hat on."
Aura giggled, floating beside her.
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As Karli and Aura ventured deeper into the jungle behind the World Tree, the world around them began to change.
The trees grew denser, older, and their twisted branches tangled above like ancient hands clasping secrets. The sunlight vanished completely, replaced by a dim, bluish twilight that seeped through the thick shades. The air was damp and heavy, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
It was the kind of place that made your spine itch — like something was watching from behind the bark.
Karli lit a small flame on her palm, shaping it into a hovering orb that floated ahead like a lantern.
"Well," she said, voice quiet, "this place definitely wasn't in the travel booklet."
Aura floated beside her, unusually silent, eyes darting through the shadows.
The further they walked, the more unnatural the silence became.
No chirping birds.
No rustling leaves.
No distant footsteps.
Just silence — heavy, pressing, ancient silence.
"Not even an angry elf in sight," Karli muttered. "I expected pitchforks and lectures by now."
Aura shivered slightly. "This forest… doesn't like visitors."
Karli glanced sideways. "Yeah? Well, I don't like creepy forests either, so I guess we're even."
A few minutes passed like that — cautious steps, flickering firelight, and cold sweat.
Then, just beyond the curve of twisted roots and moss-draped stones, they saw it.
A half-sunken structure, swallowed by time and tree roots. Crumbled walls of old white stone stood like the ribs of some fallen beast. Strange carvings, long faded, still clung to the stone. Vines twisted over broken pillars, and the remnants of a cracked archway stood like a forgotten gate.
The ruins.
Karli's eyes widened slightly. "Found it."
Aura hovered closer, blinking.
"It feels… wrong here," the spirit whispered. "Not evil, but… waiting."
Karli nodded slowly, stepping forward as her firelight illuminated a set of stairs leading down into the darkness beneath the ruin.
She grinned, but there was a flicker of nervous excitement in her voice.
"Well, Aura… let's find this so-called first treasure before something finds us."
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