Sanctuary
The entrance to the sanctuary gaped dark and deep, like the mouth of a colossal monster. A cold wind whipped through the cracks in the rock walls, stinging the skin. The guildmaster drew a small lamp from his cloak and lit it. Its faint glow illuminated the dim space.
The moment they stepped inside, an eerie silence enveloped them. No birdsong, no wind—nothing could be heard. Only the echo of their own heartbeat filled their ears. The air felt heavy, oppressive. This was no mere natural phenomenon. They sensed an unnatural force, strange and potent, permeating the entire sanctuary.
“...Be careful, Mitam,” the Guildmaster's voice echoed distinctly loud in the silence. “This sanctuary is filled with powerful magic... You must not let your guard down.”
I nodded at his words and slowly advanced, keeping a watchful eye on my surroundings. The ground beneath my feet was covered in crumbling rocks and moss-covered stones. One wrong step could send me tumbling into the abyss. This place was danger incarnate.
After walking a while, a strange plant caught my eye. It was long and slender, like a human finger, crawling up from the ground. Its tip was sharply pointed, and I sensed danger in touching it. The Guildmaster signaled for us to avoid it.
Further on, I noticed strange patterns carved into the wall. They closely resembled the writing of the Atlantis civilization. Yet, they weren't an exact match. Some characters differed. Perhaps they belonged to a derivative of Atlantis, or another related civilization.
“...This...” The Guildmaster muttered, pointing at the patterns. “It resembles the writing of the Atlantis civilization... but some parts are different... Could it be some kind of code...?”
I carefully observed the patterns. They were complex, appearing at first glance to be carved randomly, yet I sensed the possibility of some hidden pattern or logic. Even I, immortal, felt overwhelmed by their depth.
“...Allow me to examine it.” Saying this, I touched the pattern. A faint light flowed from my fingertips, illuminating the design. In that instant, a flood of information poured into my mind. It felt as if the pattern itself was speaking to me.
The information concerned the history of this sanctuary and the blood of the Sage. The blood of the sages apparently existed deep within this sanctuary, in the tomb of the sleeping sage. However, a powerful guardian was said to exist within that tomb. And to confront that guardian, a special method seemed necessary...
This sanctuary wasn't merely a dangerous place. It was also a place of trials to uncover the mysteries of the Atlantis civilization and to obtain the blood of the sages.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
