[Chr24] Ancient Ruins and Lost Children

The ancient castle loomed on the hill, its jagged towers silhouetted against a silvered moon. Simon adjusted the strap of his mask, the leather creaking faintly, and glanced at his companions. Ji-Yong, armed with his signature curved blade, scanned the surrounding forest with wary eyes, while Jericho, hulking and silent, clutched a lantern that cast long shadows against the crumbling stone. Lucid, the youngest and most impulsive of the group, fiddled with a rune-etched medallion dangling from his neck.

"This is it," Simon murmured, his voice muffled by the mask. "The tips were clear. The child’s somewhere inside."

"Or what’s left of them," Ji-Yong muttered darkly, his gaze flicking to the shattered windows of the castle.

"Stay focused," Simon replied. "If anything’s left of the Alphas’ influence, we’ll deal with it. Let’s move."

The group stepped through the arched doorway into the castle’s grand hall. Dust hung in the air, disturbed by their movements, and the floor groaned under their feet. Broken chandeliers dangled precariously, and faded banners bearing forgotten sigils fluttered in the draft.

Jericho held the lantern higher, illuminating a path through the rubble. "This place is a tomb," he said, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.

"That’s what worries me," Lucid whispered, his fingers brushing the medallion again. "Tombs don’t stay quiet on Ttakor."

The faint sound of whimpering reached their ears.

Simon froze, raising a hand to silence the group. The sound came again, soft and plaintive, a child’s cry. He gestured toward the far corner of the hall, where a large table lay overturned. The group approached cautiously, Ji-Yong’s blade ready and Lucid muttering.

Simon knelt by the table and peered around it. A small figure huddled there, trembling. The child’s eyes, wide with fear, met his own through the mask. Without hesitation, the child leapt into his arms, clinging tightly. The unexpected weight sent Simon sprawling backward onto the dusty floor.

The group barely had time to react before an ominous sound echoed from outside—a wet, sloshing noise, like something heavy sliding across damp earth.

Simon sat up, cradling the child protectively. "What was that?"

Jericho moved to the nearest window, his frame blocking most of the view. He leaned out cautiously, then stiffened. "You’re not going to like this," he said grimly.

Simon handed the child to Lucid and joined Jericho at the window. Outside, the moonlight glinted off something vast and serpentine, its scales shimmering in shades of green and gold as it slithered past the castle. The creature was impossibly large, its body stretching far beyond what the window could reveal.

"A giant serpent," Ji-Yong whispered, his tone betraying a rare hint of fear.

"It can’t be," Lucid said, clutching the child closer. "They were wiped out centuries ago."

"Tell that to whatever that is," Simon replied, his masked face impassive but his voice tense. "We need to get out of here. Now."

The child whimpered again, burying their face in Lucid’s shoulder. "Shh," Lucid soothed, his voice unusually gentle. "We’ve got you. You’re safe."

A deafening roar shattered the night, shaking the castle’s foundations. The creature’s massive head loomed into view, its eyes glowing like molten gold. It sniffed the air, then turned its gaze toward the broken window.

"It knows we’re here," Jericho said, drawing his weapon from his back. "We’ve got to move."

"Not without the child," Simon said firmly. He turned to Lucid. "Can you use that medallion to shield us?"

Lucid hesitated. "I can try, but if it’s really one of those serpents… it might not hold."

"Do it anyway," Ji-Yong said, positioning himself near the door with his blade at the ready. "Better than nothing."

Lucid began to chant, the medallion glowing softly. A faint, shimmering barrier enveloped the group just as the creature’s massive tail struck the castle wall. Stones crumbled, and the group was showered with debris, but the barrier held.

"This way!" Simon shouted, leading them through a side passage. They moved quickly but carefully, the child clinging to Lucid and the serpent’s roars growing louder behind them. The castle seemed to twist and shift, its ancient halls a maze of shadows and echoes.

"Do you think it’s guarding something?" Ji-Yong asked as they ran. "Why else would it be here?"

"Does it matter?" Simon replied. "Our priority is getting out alive."

They reached a stairwell that spiraled down into darkness. Jericho took the lead, his lantern casting eerie light on the damp walls. The sound of the serpent’s pursuit was relentless, the sloshing and crashing growing ever closer.

At the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in a cavernous chamber. A large, intricately carved door stood at the far end, its surface glowing faintly with runes.

"That’s not ominous at all," Lucid muttered, though he was visibly relieved to see something resembling a way out.

"Can you read it?" Simon asked.

Lucid looked over to the general direction of Simon. " Well if I could see it I might tell you, but just by touching it... It’s an old dialect, but I think it says… ‘Sealed for the safety of Ttakor. Beware what lies beyond.’" He looked up, pale. "This might not be a good idea."

"Do you have a better one?" Jericho growled, hefting his hammer.

Another roar shook the chamber, and part of the ceiling collapsed. The serpent’s head forced its way into the room, its golden eyes narrowing on the group.

"Open it!" Simon ordered.

Lucid hesitated only a moment before pressing the medallion to the door. The runes flared brighter, and the door groaned as it began to slide open.

"Through the door!" Simon shouted, ushering the others forward. Jericho went first, followed by Lucid and the child, with Ji-Yong covering the rear.

Simon was the last to step through, and as soon as he did, the door slammed shut behind him. The roaring ceased, leaving an eerie silence.

The group found themselves in another chamber, this one lined with ancient murals depicting Alphas in their prime. At the center of the room stood a pedestal bearing a strange artifact—a crystalline orb that pulsed with a soft, blue light.

"What is this place?" Ji-Yong asked, lowering his blade.

"The Veilstone," Lucid said, his voice awed. "Legends spoke of a place where the Veilstone power was sealed. This must be it."

"Why would the child lead us here?" Jericho asked, his brow furrowed.

As if in response, the child stirred and looked up at Lucid. Their eyes glowed faintly, and when they spoke, their voice was not their own.

"You have done well to find this place," the child said, their tone ancient and resonant. "But your task is not yet complete."

The group exchanged uneasy glances.

"What do you mean?" Simon asked.

The child smiled faintly, and the orb on the pedestal flared brighter. "The Alpha outside is but the first. Ttakor’s fate rests in your hands."

And with that, the child collapsed into Lucid’s arms, unconscious once more.