Chapter 36 - The Map Answering

The burnt fragments of the wall faded into smoke.

Ren stepped forward, crouching to clear the entrance with his hands, stone by stone.

Sera raised an eyebrow. "You seriously doing that by hand?"

Before he could answer, she floated forward, just inches off the ground. "Stand back."

No chant. No theatrics.

A ring of fire bloomed around her, pulsing outward. Small stones turned to dust. Larger ones cracked, then crumbled, all reduced to soft ash. Clean. Controlled. Not a hint of heat touched him.

Ren clapped twice. "Impressive."

She didn't look at him. "Let me handle the heavy work. You stick to the brain stuff."

"That was heavy work? You barely moved."

"Still counts."

As the heat faded, Ren unwrapped the map. It shimmered.

The line darken its color. A Tunnel beneath the mountain, curving toward distant ruins on the far side. Not a dead end. A hidden route.

They stepped inside, the tunnel lit itself.

Pale blue light bled from gem-like stones embedded in the walls.

Each one pulsed to life as they passed, lighting the way ahead while those behind dimmed.

Sera scanned the walls. "...This isn't magic I know."

"They're not hot," Ren said. "They're… responding."

"Natural?"

"No. Crafted by someone maybe." He stared at the stone, something stirring in the back of his mind. "I think I've seen this stones. But I don't remember where…"

***

The next morning, three wagons assembled near the tunnel.

Ren's was at the front, Becca pawing the earth, restless.

Sera sat beside Fera. Behind them came London's wagon, then the Union's, packed with tools.

"We found this last night," Ren said. "Old tunnel. Hidden. Too perfect to be natural."

Sera added, "We didn't go far, but it's real. And stable."

Murmurs spread among the Union men.

"Tunnel here? Never heard of it."

"The city has been here over a hundred years."

"Not on any map," someone muttered.

"That's why we're walking," Ren said. "One driver and one passenger stays with each wagon. The rest, with me. Bring tools."

He turned to Sera. "Can you cast a signal? something visible from above, once we reach the other side?"

She smirked. "Easy."

Ren nodded. "Wait for the signal. Once it's safe, bring the wagons."

He stepped toward Becca. She nudged him gently. He stroked her neck.

"Not this time," he whispered. "Later. You'll walk beside me soon enough."

She stilled, ears twitching.

Sera glanced over. "She listens like she understands you."

"She does," Ren replied.

They stepped into the tunnel with five others. The lightstones bloomed to life, casting the tunnel in pale blue. The floor was smooth. The slope gentle.

"No tool marks. No erosion. No magic residue," said another.

"Like a subway tunnel," Ren muttered.

"Sub... what?" Sera asked.

"Built by people. From my place before."

"You're still hiding things."

"I'll explain. When the time is right."

They continued in silence, deeper into the mountain. The air cool. Still. The path lit as if it remembered them.

Behind him, Ren looked once more toward the entrance.

Becca stood still. Waiting.

Ren and Sera stand at the front, poised and alert.

Behind them, a group of union members follows closely, each gripping the tools they brought. Worn but reliable, ready for whatever comes next.

After hours walking, nothing is changing. This tunnel is stable, Ren glance at the map, he had a feeling that they will soon find the end of the wall.

Then the map is shows the wall standing,

Ren tell Sera, "This is the exit. This must be."

Sera said, "Move, I'll break it."

She did the same thing for the entrance.

Sera raised a spear of fire and hurled it forward. The stone ruptured and collapsed into ash.

Sunlight flooded in.

They all raised their arms to shield their eyes.

"Exit!" someone behind shouted.

Ren blinked against the light. "Yeah... we made it."

No danger. No traps. The tunnel had been safe after all.

They stepped into a broad stone chamber near the exit, some room enough to rest. Ren nodded to Sera.

She stepped forward, flames swirling around her fingertips. A single flare shot skyward. High and loud, bursting like a signal across the sky.

The others waited in the shade of the exit tower, catching their breath. Better than standing in the open under the sun.

Once regrouped, they continued toward the village.

This tunnel was needed. Badly.

What used to take three days around the mountain could now be done in less than one. With wagons? Even faster.

Efficient. A game-changer.

***

The village wasn't far.

As they came into view, Tobren spotted them first. His eyes narrowed.

"How the hell did you get here so fast?"

"We found a hidden tunnel," Ren said. "A sealed tunnel. With a bit of rest, it takes a third of the day. Maybe half a day if you don't stop."

Tobren gave him a long look. "Of course you did. That sounds like something you'd find."

Then his expression shifted. "There's a problem with the drill."

Ren's expression hardened. "What happened? Did it break?"

"Completely. Might be dead for good." with Tobren serious face.

"Where is it?"

Tobren pointed, "In the tower."

"Let me see it. While I'm at it, help unload what we brought from Ironpeak. I also brought extra hands from the Trade Union."

He turned to Sera. "Come with me."

She followed without a word, gaze lingering on the state of this village. It was… truly pitiful in her eyes.

Inside the tower, Ren picked up the drill. It was heavier than it looked. Worn, dented. But not lifeless.

Sera eyed it. "What even is that? I can feel something… magical."

"I don't know," Ren said. "The map led me to it."

She crossed her arms. "The map again…"

She didn't sound convinced even after the tunnel.

Ren turned the drill over. Something caught his eye, just beneath the handle. The rust had worn thin around a strange indentation.

A plus-shaped mark. A screw.

He reached for a small knife from his belt and twisted it. One turn. Two. The fourth screw came loose, like unlocking a hidden panel.

The back popped open with a soft click.

Inside, nestled in the hollow core. Was a stone.

Not just any stone.

It glowed faintly.

Not dead yet.

Just barely.

But it's still alive.

Ren picked up the stones.

"This is the problem… I think."