The Threshold of the Hollow aning the mouth of the dungeon lood before them like the entrance to a buried world. Cold air drifted steadily out of the cavern, carrying the scent of damp stone and sothing older, sothing that had been sealed away beneath the earth for far longer than any living person could rember. For several monts after their arrival, no one moved.
The guards who had escorted them from the capital quietly studied the terrain around the entrance while their horses were led toward a flatter patch of ground nearby. The rocky hills surrounding the cave created a natural bowl-like depression in the landscape, with steep slopes and scattered trees framing the area.
It was a defensible location which was exactly why the convoy began moving almost imdiately. The convoy leader, an experienced interdiate knight with weathered features and sharp eyes, stepped forward and raised a hand. "...Form periter." He commanded.
The guards responded instantly. Several of them moved outward, spreading across the surrounding slopes and rocky outcrops. Two climbed partway up the nearby cliffs to gain a better vantage point over the terrain, while others began securing the horses and supply cart behind a cluster of stone formations that would shield them from direct sight.
Within minutes, the quiet clearing had transford into an organized staging area.
Spears were planted into the ground as temporary markers.
Small signal flags were tied to branches along the periter to indicate watch positions. One guard knelt near the entrance and pressed his palm against the earth, checking for loose ground or hidden fissures. Another unrolled a compact leather map of the region while speaking quietly with the convoy leader.
Rowan stood slightly behind Aurelion, watching the entire process unfold. He had expected guards to simply stand nearby while they entered the dungeon. Instead, the entire group was moving with the efficiency of a military operation. "...They are taking this very seriously," Rowan said. Aurelion crossed his arms as he observed the preparations. "...They are soldiers of the royal guard. Caution is their nature. This much should be expected."
Sally stood nearby with her hands behind her back, rocking slightly on her heels as she looked around with open curiosity. "...All this just for a cave?" Rowan looked at her. "...It’s a dungeon." Sally smiled. "...So far it still looks like a cave."
Before Rowan could respond, the convoy leader approached them. The knight stopped several steps away and bowed his head respectfully. "...Your Highness." Aurelion nodded slightly in acknowledgnt. The knight straightened and gestured toward the entrance. "...My n are securing the surrounding area now. We will establish a watch periter while you are inside."
Aurelion glanced briefly at the guards moving across the slopes."...They will remain outside, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness." The knight’s expression remained calm but firm. "No one besides your party will enter the dungeon." Aurelion nodded once. Dungeons were unpredictable environnts. Sending too many people inside could cause unnecessary complications.
anwhile, near the cave entrance, one of the robed mbers of the convoy stepped forward. Rowan noticed him for the first ti. The man wore a deep blue robe lined with faint silver patterns that shimred subtly when the light touched them. A slender staff rested in his hand, its head capped with a small crystal that glowed faintly.
A mage. The man approached the mouth of the dungeon slowly. He raised one hand and rested his palm against the stone wall beside the entrance. For a mont, nothing happened. Then the air shifted.
Rowan felt it first. A faint ripple passed through the surrounding space like a quiet tremor in the atmosphere. The mage closed his eyes. The crystal atop his staff dimd slightly as pale threads of invisible energy began flowing from the darkness of the cave toward his hand.
Rowan watched with fascination as the energy gathered. The mage’s breathing deepened slightly as he absorbed the flow of mana entering his body. The faint glow along his fingertips pulsed softly while the surrounding air seed to hum with quiet power.
For several long seconds, the mage remained completely still. Then the flow stopped. He opened his eyes. The glow faded. Slowly, he withdrew his hand from the stone. The convoy leader stepped closer. "...What do you read?" The mage adjusted his sleeve before answering. "...The Dungeon is stable." The mage continued. "...The mana density is moderate. The energy pattern suggests a structured interior formation rather than a wild anomaly." The knight nodded. "...And the rank?"
The mage looked back toward the dark opening of the dungeon. For a mont his gaze lingered on the shadows stretching inward. Then he spoke clearly. "...This dungeon is classified as a D-Rank Dungeon." Rowan look nervous though, Aurelion remained calm. Sally tilted her head. "...Is that strong?" Rowan answered quietly. "...Not extrely strong, but still dangerous."
The mage continued speaking. "...Its mana signature carries a cold resonance typical of subterranean caverns. Judging by the flow patterns, the dungeon appears to have ford around a natural cave network."
He paused. "...Given the mana echoes present near the entrance, I would designate this dungeon as..." He glanced once more at the cavern before finishing. "...the Gloomfang Hollow."
Rowan repeated the na softly. "Gloomfang Hollow." The dark entrance resembled the open jaw of so ancient creature waiting patiently beneath the earth. The convoy leader nodded approvingly. "...A fitting na."
He turned toward Aurelion. "...Your Highness." Aurelion looked at him. "...The periter has been secured. We will maintain watch while you explore the dungeon." The knight hesitated then he spoke again. "If you wish, we can send a small support team inside with you."
That seed like a reasonable offer. But Aurelion shook his head almost imdiately. "No." The knight waited. Aurelion gestured calmly. "This is my expedition, not an extermination." Then he glanced toward Rowan. "And a test."
The knight understood. He bowed his head again. "...Very well, Your Highness." He stepped aside. "...If you require assistance, signal us imdiately. We will remain here." Aurelion nodded. Rowan pulled the straps of his backpack once more.
The entrance to Gloomfang Hollow stood only a few steps away now. Up close, the cave looked even darker than before. The sunlight from outside barely reached beyond the first few ters of the entrance.
Beyond that, the dungeon descended into shadow. Cold air continued flowing outward from within. Aurelion stepped forward first. His boots touched the stone floor of the cave entrance.Rowan followed closely behind. Sally walked beside them with curiosity in her eyes.
As they crossed the threshold, the world behind them seed to fade slightly. The sounds of the convoy grew distant. The warmth of the morning sunlight disappeared. Inside the dungeon, the air felt heavier. The stone walls were uneven and damp, shaped by ancient geological forces rather than human hands. Thin veins of faintly glowing moss clung to the surfaces in scattered patches, providing a dim natural light that barely illuminated the winding passage ahead.
Drops of water fell occasionally from the ceiling. Each echoing softly through the cavern. Rowan looked around slowly. The deeper they walked, the quieter the outside world beca. Soon the only sounds left were their footsteps and the faint drip of underground water. Sally stretched her arms above her head. "...Now this feels like a dungeon."
Aurelion glanced forward calmly. The tunnel curved deeper into the earth ahead of them.
And sowhere within those shadows, the true depths of Gloomfang Hollow awaited.
[To be Continued]
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