Patch of Druid

Alex didn't hesitate. Still kneeling by the stone surface, his heart pounded in his chest. The rune seemed to pulse, as if it was waiting for something… for him. Without delay, he reached for the merchant's dagger—its blade was sharp, glinting under the sunlight.

— What are you doing? — Allys asked, watching him closely.

— If this ruin truly responds to my blood… I have to test it.

Without hesitation, he pressed the blade to the tip of his finger and made a small cut. A thin, crimson line appeared on his skin. Alex let a few drops of his blood drip onto the carved rune.

Silence.

For a split second, nothing happened. Then, the stone began to tremble.

At first, the vibrations were faint, barely noticeable beneath his fingertips. But then…

The ground shook.

Allys inhaled sharply and took a step back as the sand around them suddenly began to sink, slipping down into the earth like golden dust. The tiny grains shimmered in the air before vanishing into the growing chasm below. The tremors lasted longer than expected.

— Damn… — Alex muttered, stepping back just as the sand beneath his feet started to collapse further.

Something beneath them was awakening.

Before their eyes, the earth split open, revealing an entrance of stone stairs, spiraling downward into the darkness.

For a moment, they both stood frozen, staring into the gaping hole, their breaths caught in their throats.

— That was… something new, — Allys murmured, trying to steady her heartbeat.

— No kidding, — Alex replied. He could still feel the residual hum of magic pulsing through his veins. He glanced at his hand—the blood still trickled down his fingertip, but he felt something else. Something deep within him… recognized this place.

He couldn't ignore it.

Turning away, he walked over to the camels. Digging through the supplies, he searched until he found what he needed—torches.

— Here. — He handed one to Allys before striking a flint to ignite his own.

As the fire flickered to life at the torch's tip, the darkness ahead seemed to recede slightly, revealing the first few steps leading down.

— Ready? — he asked, looking at her.

Allys gripped the hilt of her dagger, raised her torch, and met his gaze with a faint smirk.

— We didn't come all this way just to turn back.

Together, they took the first step into the hidden ruins.

The stone staircase led deep underground. Each footstep echoed in the damp silence, swallowed by the abyss below. The air grew heavier, thick with the scent of dust, mold, and something ancient—a presence lingering in the shadows.

The walls surrounding them were adorned with old symbols, faintly etched into the rock. Some were worn down by time, while others still glowed softly, imbued with an eerie, otherworldly light.

Allys ran her fingers along one of the inscriptions.

— This looks like… a language I've never seen before.

— They're runes, — Alex murmured, examining them closer. The patterns felt familiar, though he couldn't explain why. — They could be a key to something… or a warning.

— Let's hope it's not the latter.

The stone beneath their feet was smooth, as if polished by countless footsteps long ago. Yet, it felt as if no living soul had walked here for centuries.

They ventured deeper, the shadows stretching around them. The stairs ended abruptly, opening into a vast corridor.

On either side, stone pillars stood—some cracked, others toppled over, as if a great force had once shaken the structure.

The walls were covered in murals depicting scenes neither of them fully understood. Figures that resembled humans, yet something about them felt… different. Their forms radiated power, surrounded by an aura of energy. Warriors, mages, and creatures of unearthly shapes—their meanings lost to time.

— This place is… — Allys hesitated, searching for the right word.

— Old, — Alex finished for her.

He stepped toward one of the pillars, running his fingers over its rough, cold surface.

Then, he moved forward, raising his torch to illuminate what lay ahead.

That's when he saw it.

A massive doorway.

Partially buried beneath debris, the ancient doors still towered before them, exuding an almost tangible presence. They were adorned with intricate runes, more complex than the ones along the walls.

At the very center—right at Alex's chest level—was a symbol he had seen before.

The same one from his dream.

His heart pounded faster.

— This is it.

Allys stepped closer, lifting her torch to get a better view of the engravings.

— So… what now?

Alex didn't answer immediately.

He lifted his hand and pressed his palm against the rune.

In that instant, the entire corridor ignited with light.

And everything around them began to change.