The faint light from the writing on the walls still held its glow. My gaze drifted to the empty ceiling above. Before full consciousness could claim me, Adrix loomed over, his hair endearingly disheveled from sleep.

“Good morning, Lyra,” he rumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. “Why don’t you sit up and eat?”

I pushed myself up slowly. “What’s for breakfast, and where did you even find food down here?”

“Dried beef.” He held out a stick of it. “Nothing exciting, but it’ll fill you up.” As if on cue, my stomach let out a low growl. “See? You definitely need something to eat,” he chuckled.

I took a bite. The jerky was tough, brittle, and almost devoid of flavor. Far from my ideal breakfast, but sustenance nonetheless. “And to answer your question,” Adrix continued, “I always keep spare food in my dimensional storage when I travel.”

I continued to chew on the stiff jerky, the dryness catching in my throat. A sudden, harsh coughing fit seized me.

“Here, some water to help it go down.” Adrix swiftly pressed a simple clay cup into my hand, a shimmering stream of water materializing within it. I gratefully took a slow sip of the cool liquid; it was surprisingly refreshing.

“Thank you for the food and water,” I managed, my voice still a little rough from coughing.

“No problem. Looks like my survival rations aren’t exactly a crowd-pleaser,” Adrix said with a wry smile. “Remind me to pack something a little less… aggressively dry next time.”

We both chuckled at the thought of such rations. After finishing the last bite, I rolled up my bedroll and handed it to Adrix, who efficiently stowed it away. “So,” I asked, “any idea what direction we’re even going in?”

“Not a clue,” he replied, with a slight shrug. “But we can make the best of it.”

We traveled the echoing halls for what felt like an eternity, the rhythmic tap of our footsteps against the worn stone the only constant sound. Each chamber we passed was a mirror of the last – empty, silent, and offering no clue to the whereabouts of the others. How long are we going to be stuck here? I wondered, a familiar knot of frustration tightening in my chest.

The stale, scentless air had begun to carry a faint but distinct metallic tang, a smell that prickled my senses. Weapons. There had to be weapons nearby.

Rounding a bend, the corridor opened into a scene of devastation. The walls had collapsed, a chaotic jumble of stone and debris piled high. Partially buried beneath the rubble lay the skeletal remains of several individuals, their bones bleached and brittle with age. Scattered amongst them were a number of rusted swords, their once sharp edges now dulled and pitted. “I wonder what happened here,” I murmured, a chill tracing its way down my spine.

Adrix’s gaze swept over the grim tableau. “I’m guessing a group of mercenaries got lost in here at some point.” A faint shimmer of mana began to swirl around him, the air subtly charged. Focusing, he began to lift and shift the heavy debris, clearing a narrow path through the ancient tragedy.

“After you,” Adrix said with a slight bow, gesturing towards the narrow passage he’d cleared.

I carefully made my way through the opening, my eyes scanning what lay beyond. Two imposing, ancient statues stood sentinel in the next chamber. Of course, I thought, a chill renewing its path down my spine as the earlier scene of devastation flashed in my mind. Statues. “Adrix,” I called, my voice tight, “I’m going to need help. There are two up here!”

Instinctively, my hand flew to my side, grasping the hilt of my dagger before I consciously released it. Instead, I summoned a flash potion into existence with a flick of my wrist and hurled it at the two looming figures. My hope was to disorient them, to buy us precious seconds until Adrix could join me.

The statues’ creaking, slow movements faltered as the potion erupted in a blinding explosion of light. The intense glare forced me to squint, and a disorienting ringing filled the air. But as the light subsided, their stone bodies began to lumber forward again, their ancient eyes fixed on me.

Just as they started to advance, Adrix appeared beside me, his mana a visible swirl of energy around him. Without a word, he unleashed a focused blast, and the statue on the right exploded into a shower of stone fragments. Then, with another powerful surge of mana, he ripped through the remaining figure on the left, leaving only a pile of dust and rubble where they had stood moments before.

I noticed an archway leading to another room on my right. “So, should we try this space?” I asked, gesturing towards it.

“We have nothing better to do down here,” Adrix replied, his gaze following mine. “Want to place bets on whether it’s empty or not?”

“Oh, it’s definitely empty,” I stated with confidence.

He took a step closer, and I found myself looking up as he looked down at me, a playful glint in his eyes. “And if it’s not,” he said softly, “what do I get?”

I instinctively took a step back, avoiding his gaze. His scent still lingered. It was a balance between natural freshness and a subtly applied fragrance. It wasn’t overtly perfumed, but carried a clean, appealing quality that felt deliberate and attractive. “No idea,” I responded, trying to sound nonchalant. “Whatever is in the room.” I shrugged for emphasis.

“Avoiding my gaze now, are we?” Adrix chuckled softly, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, Lyra, surely your imagination can conjure something more exciting.”

“I’m not avoiding your gaze,” I retorted, meeting his eyes directly, though I could feel a slight flush creeping up my neck. His amusement was evident; he clearly wasn’t buying it.

“Alright,” I conceded, trying to sound firm. “Winner chooses the direction, and if there is something in there, you can have it.”

“Fair enough,” Adrix said, a hint of anticipation in his voice as he stepped into the room.

I scanned the area. It looked just like all the others – stone walls with the glowing ancient writing and an empty floor.

“Looks empty to me,” I declared. “Guess I’ll be choosing the way we go next.”

“Not so fast, Lyra. Take a closer look.” He pointed towards the far side of the chamber. There were three stone steps leading up to what appeared to be an empty pedestal. Except… vibrant mana danced and shimmered around it, an ethereal glow in the otherwise dull enclosure.

“Oh,” I breathed, my eyes fixed on the swirling energy. “Why is the mana dancing around the pedestal?”

“Wait… you can actually see the mana?” Adrix’s eyes widened in complete surprise, his playful demeanor vanishing instantly.

“Yes,” I replied, a little taken aback by his reaction. “Can’t you?”

“Well, yes, I can,” he said slowly, his gaze intense. “But I’m a mage. You aren’t. You shouldn’t be able to see mana.”

“I’ve seen mana for a while,” I said, slightly confused. “I thought everyone could. It’s not something I really thought about.”

“Normal people can only see mana when a spell has already been activated,” Adrix explained, his surprise still evident.

“Well, I’m definitely not a mage,” I clarified. “I’m just an alchemist who can also apply alchemy to weapons.”

“I think there is more to you. But I’m not sure what,” he murmured, his gaze now drawn back to the pedestal. The earlier surprise in his eyes had been replaced by a spark of excitement, his attention completely fixated on the swirling energy.

He carefully examined the mana. “I don’t want mine to mix with it. I need to disrupt it,” he murmured, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Remembering how we had broken those magical restraints back in the day, a plan formed in my mind. I drew my dagger. Holding it steady above the dancing energy, I asked, “Can you tell me if I am at the main point of the mana?”

I positioned the dagger, centering the tip where I felt the core of the energy resided. “Here?” I questioned.

“Yes,” Adrix confirmed, his voice low and focused. “Perfect.”

I stabbed straight down, stopping just after the blade pierced the invisible energy, and immediately jumped back, bracing for any unforeseen reaction. The swirling mana faltered, its vibrant dance slowing, then steadily dissipating.

As the last wisps of energy faded, they revealed a breathtaking artifact resting on the pedestal. I could suddenly understand Adrix’s fascination with such objects. It was round, crafted from a dark obsidian metal, and covered in intricate, delicate filigree patterns. A subtle inner sheen emanated from its surface. In the center sat a large, vibrant gem, swirling with a nebula of colors – deep blues, purples, and hints of shimmering gold that seemed to shift and move within its depths, even when still. It pulsed with a soft, internal light. The gem was flawlessly cut in an unusual, multifaceted shape that defied typical gem cutting styles.

“Do you have any idea what it does?” I asked, finally tearing my gaze away from the mesmerizing artifact.

“I have no idea. I’d have to carefully examine it,” Adrix replied, his hands gently grasping the obsidian. “I’ll have to put it away for now until I can properly study it.”

He turned back to me, a smirk on his face. “You know, Lyra, you did say if I won the bet anything in this room is mine.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” I conceded, a little reluctantly. “The artifact is all yours.” I’m definitely curious about what it does, I thought to myself.

“Well, we better keep moving. And next time we have to pick a direction, it looks like we journey in my preferred one,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he gave me a small, knowing smile.

Exiting the room, we turned back towards the rubble from the ancient statues. “So, did you know there was something in that room?” I asked, a hint of suspicion in my voice. His earlier confidence when proposing the bet suddenly seemed more pointed.

“I didn’t know for certain,” Adrix replied, his gaze thoughtful. “But I did notice that something was different in that direction, so I had a hunch.”

Eh, it’s not that big of a deal, I thought, shrugging it off, though a mental note was made: be more careful with wagers in the future. I shook my head slightly at the thought.

“Let’s go to the right of the halls.” Adrix said. I pulled out my dagger and scratched a mark onto the wall, continuing our established system for navigation. This trek was becoming increasingly monotonous; every passage looked identical, the ancient writing patterns repeating endlessly. “Do you think the writing on the walls means something as simple as ‘light’?” I asked, a flicker of curiosity finally breaking through the boredom.

“I’m really not sure. I like artifacts, but surprisingly enough, I find the ancient language rather boring,” he admitted.

“I’ve never had a chance to learn it, but I must admit the script looks rather graceful, the way they bend and curve,” I commented.

“I just appreciate the subtle light in this place.” We reached a four-way intersection of hallways.

“Let’s keep going straight,” he decided.

As we ventured farther down the passageway he’d chosen, the distinct clang of metal smashing against rock began to echo in the distance. “Someone may be ahead,” I urged. We both broke into a jog, the metallic sounds growing louder with each step. Rounding a corner, we found Noctis. He was slowly, methodically chipping away at one of the guardian statues, and he’d actually managed to remove a hand completely. The entire sentinel was marred with significant chunks missing from its form. The walls and floors around Noctis bore significant damage, proof of the forceful slams of the statue’s hammer.

“I should probably help him. He looks like he needs a hand,” Adrix said dryly, his mana beginning to coalesce around him. “Noctis!” he shouted loudly. “Dodge!”

Noctis reacted instantly, leaping backwards and scrambling to the side just as Adrix unleashed his mana. The energy slammed into the already weakened guardian with devastating force, causing it to crumble into a pile of dust and broken stone as it hit the ground.

Noctis was clearly winded as we approached, sheathing his sword with a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Adrix, I really appreciate the help. I have no idea how long I would have been here dealing with this one. The last one took me a very, very long time.”

“Think of all the precious minutes you’ve gained, Noctis,” Adrix said, his tone light but with a subtle edge. “Now you have more time to… admire the local architecture.”

“Yes,” Noctis replied, his voice laced with sarcasm as he gestured vaguely at the endless stone corridors. “I’ve been absolutely riveted by the local decor for the past day or so.” His gaze then shifted to me. “Lyra! Good to see you’re safe, especially in Adrix’s… capable hands.”

I glanced at Adrix, a genuine smile touching my lips. “Yes, I’m incredibly grateful Adrix found me.” I nodded towards the pulverized guardian. “Otherwise, I’d likely be in far more pieces than that.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay,” Noctis replied, a hint of genuine relief in his voice. “We should probably keep moving.”

“That’s a good idea,” Adrix agreed. “When you made your way here, what direction did you come from? I’m guessing the opposite of us.”

“Yes, I came from the opposite direction, though I’ve pretty much kept in a straight line,” Noctis confirmed.

“I think we should double back then to the four-way intersection and decide where to go from there,” Adrix suggested.

Noctis and I both agreed. We fell into step with each other, heading back, leaving the rubble of the shattered guardian behind us and carefully squeezing through the narrow path Adrix had cleared earlier.

We re-examined the two marks I had made earlier and decided to head straight across to the passageway directly opposite.

“I really hope Finnian and Liora are okay,” I said, the thought of them facing the dangers of this place sending a small knot of worry twisting in my stomach. “Finnian wouldn’t stand a chance against one of those constructs, and I really don’t know what Liora could do besides run and dodge.” I finally voiced my concern, curious about their thoughts and hoping for some reassurance.

Noctis slowed his pace, falling into step beside me. “I know they’ll be okay. Finnian may not be able to fight, but he can read whatever is written on these walls or anything else he may stumble across – that’s a valuable skill in a place like this. And Liora, if she’s on her own, will also be just fine. She would run circles around those things before they even noticed where she’d gone.” A slight easing of the tension in my shoulders told me his words had a calming effect.

“I really hope so,” I murmured, my gaze now fixed on the white stone floor.

Wandering these endless halls continued for what felt like hours, the lack of any natural light making it impossible to gauge the time. Finally, Noctis stopped. “Why don’t we break here for now? I can see everyone’s getting tired.”

“Sounds good to me,” I replied, my voice heavy with exhaustion.

Adrix summoned back the two bedrolls from his storage. “I only have two. I think Lyra should take one, and you can take the other, Noctis.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve spent plenty of time sleeping on the ground. Keep it for yourself,” Noctis replied, waving off the offer.

“How about you cut it in half? We both take half. It’s better than laying on this ground,” Adrix suggested, setting one of the bedrolls down.

“That works too,” Noctis agreed. “Lyra, can you take the other half from Adrix so I can cut it?”

I nodded, taking the offered half of the bedroll. With a swift, precise movement, Noctis sliced it perfectly in two. I passed his portion back to him.

I grabbed the bedroll Adrix had placed on the ground, unrolled it, and laid it down. I settled onto it, Adrix lying next to me, and Noctis on the other side of him.

We all tried to find a semblance of comfort on the hard stone floor. I rolled my head over, my gaze falling on Adrix. He lay still, eyes closed, and I found myself unexpectedly noticing the surprising length of his eyelashes.

“Lyra,” Adrix said softly, a playful lilt in his voice. “I can feel you staring at me.” He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting mine. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instantly turned my head away, feigning interest in the opposite wall. A small chuckle escaped him.