We all sat on our bedrolls, the familiar ritual of chewing on strips of dry, leathery beef—a grim necessity to start the day. I really can’t get used to this, I thought, the stuff tasting faintly of the oilcloth it was wrapped in, doing little to lift my spirits.

“Alright, so we really need to solidify a plan,” Adrix said, his brow furrowed in thought. “Should we double back?”

“No,” Noctis replied flatly. “If you haven’t come across them in the direction you came from, they won’t be there. I know Finnian well enough; he would stay put so we don’t end up walking in circles around him.”

“So we keep marking the paths we’ve taken and the ones we’re going down, and hope for the best,” I summarized, a touch of resignation in my voice. “We have to encounter them eventually.”

We then resumed our journey down the agonizingly similar corridors, the endless ancient script on the walls slowly morphing from curious to irritating. I found myself longing for the warmth and brightness of sunlight.

The hallway ahead opened into a breathtaking chamber, less a passage than an audience hall swallowed by shadow overhead. The air here was filled with the stillness of ages, carrying a faint perfume of dust, the chill of untouched stone, and an undercurrent of something ancient and unknowable. Instead of the tight-knit script we’d grown accustomed to, the walls were canvases for colossal carvings – a silent epic of robed figures, fantastical beasts, and celestial dances etched deep into the stone, the artistry still vibrant despite the eons. The ethereal light seemed to seep from the very fabric of the walls, illuminating the carvings in a ghostly tableau. Along the far wall, tiers of stone shelving ascended into the gloom, heavy with countless documents bound in cracked leather, their ties like petrified vines, interspersed with strange vessels of polished obsidian and what looked like ceremonial daggers of tarnished bronze. Dominating the center stood a long, monolithic pedestal, its surface smoothed by time and the touch of forgotten relics. And then, a sharp tug of relief—there, slumped against the far wall near a shadowy corner, sat Finnian and Liora.

They looked utterly spent, pale and gaunt, dark circles stark beneath their eyes. Liora flinched slightly as we approached, her usual vibrant energy completely leached away. “I’m so glad to see you guys,” her voice was a mere whisper, so much softer than her usual bright tone. “Finn and I knew you’d find us.”

Adrix, ever observant, must have registered their desperate need. He wordlessly summoned forth water skins and more of the preserved meat, passing them over. Finnian and Liora accepted the offerings with grateful nods, eating and drinking slowly, their movements languid. Healing magic, as potent as it was, couldn’t replace the fundamental need for sustenance. The most Liora could have done was likely keep them conscious and relatively comfortable. A flicker of recognition, of shared relief, passed between us all before Noctis gently broke the silence. A single tear tracked down Liora’s pale cheek. “This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I was so hungry.” It’s by far the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, I thought wryly, but right now she’s just grateful for anything. We settled down next to them on the cold stone floor, the silence punctuated only by their quiet consumption.

Noctis’s attention now turned to Finnian. “So, you’re the one who woke this place up?”

Finnian shook his head, his gaze apologetic. “It was actually Liora.”

All eyes landed on her, and a wave of mortification washed over her face. She flushed deeper, avoiding our gazes. “Well,” she mumbled, fidgeting with the edge of her tunic, “it was pitch black, and I was feeling my way along the wall near the entrance. My foot caught on this smooth, circular stone embedded in the floor. The moment I stumbled, the entire chamber hummed, and those glowing inscriptions flared to life. And,” she added with a shudder, “so did those enormous statues.”

“They are actually quite easy to disarm,” Finnian added, a bit of his usual intellectual enthusiasm returning. “The texts over there actually carry some interesting information; others, not so much. All you need to know is the ancient language. Simply say, ‘lafeanya dize.’ And they go back to their places and back to sleep.”

“What does ‘laa laa lafeanya dine’ even mean?” I said, clearly butchering the entire phrase.

A small smile reached Finnian’s face. “Good try, Lyra, but it means back to rest.” He continued, his expression turning more serious, “I’ve been trying to piece together how to get out of here once we were all together.”

“Have you found anything of note?” Noctis asked, his gaze intent on Finnian.

“So far, the only thing I know is that it takes considerable energy to draw up a portal out of here, so we’ll need Adrix for that,” Finnian replied, gesturing vaguely. “How he does it, though, I’m not entirely sure.”

“I have tried summoning an exit already,” Adrix interjected, a hint of frustration in his voice. “But it’s as if something is stopping me from completely activating it.”

“When did you try that?” I asked, slightly puzzled.

“When we first got pulled down here,” Adrix replied, a frown creasing his brow. “Though I figured it wouldn’t be that simple. By the way, Finnian,” Adrix said, reaching into his dimensional storage, “are you interested in translating markings on an ancient relic? We found one down here that had some inscriptions on the back.” He summoned the obsidian piece and carefully handed it over.

Finnian’s eyes practically lit up with intellectual excitement. “Yes! I definitely can do that.” He accepted the object with reverence, his fingers immediately tracing the intricate patterns and the unfamiliar script on its surface.

Finnian translated the inscription slowly, his brow furrowed in concentration. “‘Where eyes perceive what is veiled, there lies the hand that commands the flow.'”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Liora chimed in, her gaze also fixed on the dark artifact.

“I’m really not sure,” Finnian admitted, passing the obsidian object back to Adrix. My own eyes, however, were captivated by the mesmerizing way the local energies seemed to coalesce, dance, and swirl directly around the vibrant gem embedded in its center. It was unlike anything I’d seen before, a focused intensity within the background hum.

Adrix held the relic carefully, turning it over. “I’m not sure this will help us get out of here like I initially thought.”

I leaned in closer to Adrix, who sat beside me, my attention still fixated on the object as the others continued their discussion. Almost in a trance, I spoke softly. “Is there a reason the ambient power is dancing around the gem in the center like that?”

His eyes flickered to mine, a clear look of confusion on his face. “There isn’t specific energy coming off just the gem, Lyra. The entire object gives off a faint aura.”

I shook my head gently, my gaze unwavering. “No, I know what I’m seeing. The flow isn’t just radiating outwards; it’s gravitating towards and swirling specifically around that stone.”

“Could the gem be what the inscription was talking about?” Adrix murmured, his eyes narrowing as he examined the stone more closely. “‘Where eyes perceive what is veiled… it is hidden in plain sight.'”

The shift in our conversation had drawn the attention of the others. The low murmur of their voices ceased, and now all eyes in the chamber were fixed on Adrix and the artifact.

“So,” Liora asked, a hint of anticipation in her voice, “are we removing the gem yet?”

“At this point, we have nothing better to do,” Adrix conceded. He carefully examined the stone one more time. His power began enveloping the entire relic, causing the ambient light to reflect strangely off the multifaceted surface of the gem. We all sat in expectant silence, watching as Adrix focused his energy. Within a few tense minutes, a faint click echoed in the hall, and the gem came loose from the dark metal casing. Adrix now held the two separate pieces in his hands, the energy still swirling with a vibrant light around the detached stone.

“Do you see it now?” I asked him, leaning closer, fascinated by the vibrant light playing around the freed crystal.

He shook his head slightly, his eyes narrowed. “No, not in the way you describe. But the ambient energy does look slightly different to me now. Almost… stronger.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but can you try summoning an exit again?” Finnian asked, his voice hopeful.

“Sure,” Adrix agreed, standing up and stepping a short distance away from our group. The ambient power in the chamber began to coalesce around him, swirling and gathering until the familiar shimmering outline of a portal began to form. For a fleeting moment, a beautiful, swirling vortex of light hung in the air… and then, just as suddenly, it vanished. Adrix sighed, a hint of frustration in his tone. “Something is still not right. The gem didn’t change anything.”

“Maybe we should look around this hall again,” Finnian suggested, his gaze sweeping across the vast chamber. “See if the gem looks like it might fit anywhere.”

“We can definitely look around,” Noctis interjected, his gaze sweeping the expansive area. “But Finnian, have you deciphered all those texts over there?”

“No, not all of them,” Finnian replied, glancing towards the towering shelves. “Though I have read more than half.”

“Maybe you can keep working on those writings while we search,” Noctis suggested. “Look for clues on being able to portal out, or anything that might have to do with the gem.”

We fanned out, running hands along cool stone, tapping panels, peering into shadowed corners. The sheer scale of the chamber felt daunting, the minutes stretching into frustrated silence. Finally, my fingers brushed against a subtle indentation in the wall, a narrow slot that seemed precisely shaped for the crystal. “Hey guys,” I called out, excitement bubbling in my chest, “I think I found where the gem goes.”

Everyone gathered around as Adrix carefully examined the opening. With a slow, deliberate movement, he placed the stone inside. The moment it settled, it began to glow with an inner light, and the sound of stone grinding against stone filled the chamber. Dust billowed around us as a section of the wall slid open, revealing a small, previously hidden alcove. At the center of this new space, resting on a low pedestal, was a single document, the ancient writing upon it glowing brightly in the confined space.

Finnian stepped forward, his eyes wide with anticipation. Very carefully, his hands trembling slightly, he unrolled the parchment. We all held our breath, waiting for the knowledge it held. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of awe and certainty. “Adrix will be the one to get us out of here,” he stated. “He must say the words ‘dayash leasemica’ while opening the portal. It’s like a pass code for this place to allow the magic to flow properly. But before we leave,” he added, glancing at the towering shelves, “I’d like to gather a few more texts, if that’s okay with everyone.”

“I’ll get them for you,” Adrix said, walking back towards the rear of the large room. With a gentle wave of his hand, his power carefully lifted a selection of writings from the shelves and stored them within his dimensional storage. “See, you can have them all,” he said, returning to our small group. “Now, if everyone is ready, I’d like to portal us out now.” A chorus of “okay” echoed through the chamber.

Adrix took a deep breath, his energy beginning to gather around him once more. A low hum filled the air as the shimmer intensified, growing brighter and more defined as a beautiful portal began to form. “Dayash leasemica,” he intoned, the ancient words resonating in the stillness. The portal solidified, vibrant blue hues swirling within its depths. My heart practically leaped at the sight. We were actually getting out of here. “After you guys,” Adrix gestured towards the shimmering gateway.

Stepping through the portal felt like being briefly submerged in water, the world around me twisting and reforming before settling into a familiar, unwelcome scene. The cloying smell of decay assaulted my nostrils once more – the looming, oppressive Pillard Forest, the very place we’d been ripped away from days ago. My eyes immediately locked onto Noctis, already engaged in a fierce battle with a thing of tattered shadows and grasping claws—a Shadowveil. Without hesitation, I drew my sword, rushing to his aid. Together, we swiftly cut through the shade-form and another that lunged from the undergrowth. Just as Adrix stepped fully through the portal, a shimmering barrier sprang into existence around our small group. “Much better,” he stated, a hint of relief in his voice.

“I’m not really sure I’d call this forest ‘better’ than wandering those ancient halls,” I grumbled, wrinkling my nose at the damp, fetid air. “But at least we can hope to see the real sun soon.” Though the true hour remained elusive beneath the dense canopy, which choked out most of the light. Finnian knelt, his brow furrowed in concentration as he examined the ancient runes etched into the stones. “Nothing of importance, unfortunately,” he sighed, rising. We began a cursory search for our horses, a heavy knot of dread tightening in my stomach. Days had bled into nights since we’d last seen them; the chance of them still being here felt agonizingly slim. Our brief search yielded nothing. The grim thought of them having become prey to the forest’s unseen denizens sent a sharp pang of grief through me.

“There is a chance they made it out of here,” Noctis interrupted my dark thoughts, his voice pragmatic, “but no guarantee. We should start making our way out too.” We trekked back along the path we had originally taken, the familiar, gnarled trees and twisted undergrowth our constant companions. The forest’s creatures still lurked in the shadows, their unseen eyes undoubtedly watching, but for now, none seemed to detect our presence within Adrix’s protective barrier.

The oppressive darkness of the forest finally gave way to the welcome expanse of the clearing at its edge. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep violet and indigo, but the stars overhead were breathtaking in their brilliance, scattered like diamonds across black velvet. A slight, cool breeze rustled through the trees and danced through my hair, carrying with it a profound sigh of relief – we were out. Adrix illuminated our path with soft orbs of light, guiding us through the encroaching darkness. The gentle glow was mesmerizing, my gaze drifting to Adrix, who strode gracefully ahead, his silhouette framed by the starlit sky.

“We should probably stop here for the night and discuss what we’re doing next,” Noctis stated, his voice carrying the weariness of our journey. We all found a relatively clear spot on the ground. The vast, starry sky felt like a welcome change of scenery after the subterranean complex and gloomy woods.

“Well, we don’t have horses,” Liora stated, a note of sadness coloring her voice.

“That’s true,” Noctis agreed, his gaze thoughtful. “And to make it to the nearest town, which is Glens Crossing, will take at least two days’ journey by foot. We definitely can’t head straight back to Riverwood.”

“Can’t Adrix just teleport us like he did before?” Finnian asked, looking hopefully at him.

“No, that’s not how it works,” Adrix replied flatly. “Normally, you can only teleport very short distances with multiple people. For a farther jump, I could only move myself with the energy I have.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Finnian replied, nodding his understanding.

“So, I think we’ll work our way back to Glens Crossing if everyone agrees, and we can discuss more then,” Noctis proposed.

We all nodded in agreement to Noctis’s idea.

“I also have some things to discuss with everyone once we make it to Glens Crossing,” Finnian added. “Though I need to look through more of the collected writings before I tell everyone what I found. I haven’t pieced everything together yet.”

“Okay, sounds good, Finnian,” Noctis said, his gaze sweeping over our small group. “For now, I think we all should get some rest. We have a long journey ahead of us.”