A/N - Thank you, 3X!3X, & Arkzs, for becoming God of Velmoryn's Patrons!
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Hearing the strain in Aria's voice, I chose not to approach.
She stood still, almost statue-like, her gaze still fixed on the inscription. For a moment, it was as though the runes had rooted her in place. Then she turned back toward us, her face once again composed as her usual calm returned.
"The inscription has changed," she said, in a surprisingly neutral voice. "It now reads: 'Only four shall pass.'"
Her tone remained controlled, but I noticed the subtle twitch of her brow. She was trying to mask her irritation.
"We shall return another time, then," Teryo said sharply, his brows drawing tight.
I chose to ignore the inevitable dispute for now and moved closer to the gate. My curiosity outweighed the argument. I wanted to see the script myself, not just rely on the copied symbols Aria had shown us on parchment. The more of these symbols I saw, the more likely I was to learn their meaning.
ⴍⴌⴊⴈ ⴔⴍⴐ ⴘⴄⴊ ⴔⴀⴑ
It matched what we had seen back at the tribe, save for a single word - ⴔⴍⴐ. Aria claimed it signified "four," but there was no way to confirm her translation. Not yet.
I reached out, letting my fingers hover just above the stone. Lightly, I traced the carved runes without pressing in.
I had learned by now that this world was full of mysteries. The statue of the Goddess. The vessel. The Oak Guardian that had stirred beneath my touch. Even the memory stone, which I kept only because Guidance provided no information. Everything in this world had the potential to respond in a magical way, and I was planning to keep poking everything that'd stand out, because who knew? Maybe it'd activate something.
But this time, the stone gave me nothing.
"Vael Teryo," Aria said, unwilling to admit defeat, "if we turn back now, we will have to wait at least six more months, until the end of winter. And beyond that, we risk losing any chance of persuading the Silver Tribe."
She was still trying to reason with him, still pressing the urgency of the dungeon. But Teryo cut her off with a single word.
"No," he said sharply. No argument. No explanation.
It irritated me. Or maybe, by now, anything Teryo did would always draw my anger.
"If Vael Teryo does not wish to enter," I said, stepping into the conversation, "the rest of us may proceed."
I shrugged as I spoke, basically calling him out. Teryo instantly reacted to my words, wanting to rebuke. Unlike with Aria, he did not mind being rough and rude with me, but before he could speak, I continued.
"Aria is the core of this campaign. We would never ask her to remain behind. Vaelari is our lifeline. His presence is indispensable, and, besides, leaving a healer alone outside would be reckless. As for myself, you've delayed this expedition because you lacked a frontliner. That's why I was brought."
The air tightened. Everyone saw where I was going with this, and they all stilled. Teryo's eyes stayed fixed on me as I continued.
"In the end, it comes down to either Ninali or Vael Teryo. Ninali cannot defend herself, leaving her alone would be dangerous. And we all remember that Vael Teryo is quite skilled at escaping."
I looked straight at him, subtly reminding him that while he could not do anything but flee from the spiders, I had stood my ground and killed one alone.
"So, since he does not wish to enter, let us not delay further," I said. "I'll leave Huanir outside. If something happens, he can provide aid."
It was a gamble.
If the others remained silent and let Teryo respond, he could easily assert his position as technical leader. He could invoke some rule or demand compliance.
But I wasn't guessing.
Aria desperately wanted to enter this dungeon, whether it was driven by her love for magic or something deeper, I couldn't say, but I knew she wouldn't walk away now.
Ninali wouldn't side with Teryo. Her disdain for him was no secret. And she had been edging closer to me for some time now, likely hoping for a blessing. The Velmoryns revered the divine more than humans did in my previous life, but they still believed that the Gods had desires and could be negotiated with. That was why Aria had tried to bribe me with soul essences. That was why Ninali lingered close to me now - she was hoping to get on Verlmoryn God's good side by being close to their blessed one.
And then there was Vaelari.
His bond with Teryo had grown thin recently, as the Vael was starting to make less and less reasonable decisions just out of spite of the new Velmoryn God. Meanwhile, he was very friendly toward me, and I had made a point to reciprocate. But more than that, he still clung to something fragile: hope. The hope that the Goddess might yet live, that something of her remained. He had to believe that. Because if she was truly gone, then the promise he carried, the belief that he would be reunited with his wife beyond death, would vanish with her. And this dungeon was where he hoped to find the proof of her existence.
"I agree," Vaelari spoke finally, stepping toward me like choosing sides. "We have come this far, there is no reason to turn back now."
Teryo still tried to argue, but it was a futile effort. In the end, he relented, agreeing to stay outside and wait for no longer than one month.
The rest of us - Aria, Vaelari, Ninali, and I - stood before the dungeon gate. Huanir sulked nearby, clearly displeased that I wasn't bringing him along.
"Remember," Aria said, raising brows as a warning, "do not let go of one another. That is the only way to ensure we exit the portal together. Otherwise, we risk being scattered."
The formation had already been decided: Aria would hold onto me, I would hold Vaelari, and Vaelari would hold Ninali. Ninali was visibly displeased by the arrangement, probably because I, the strongest among us, would not be the one holding her.
Aria stepped forward and placed her hand against the center of the stone arch.
What had once been a barren cliff face surged with light. The rock shimmered and twisted, replaced by a swirling field of violet energy.
"Whatever happens, do not let go," Aria warned again.
Then she stepped into the portal.
We followed slowly, almost hesitantly. One by one, we passed into the violet field.
I doubt the dungeon truly exists inside the cliff, the portal will likely bring us to somewhere else entirely.
The moment I crossed the threshold, pain struck me.
A sharp headache bloomed behind my eyes. With every step forward, it worsened. My head throbbed violently. My vision blurred, colors bleeding into each other. I had to fight the urge to grab my skull and squeeze, just to relieve the pressure.
The violet light of the portal pressed down on my senses. It was too much, too vivid, too close, too loud in a way color should not be. Everything screamed at me.
Gradually, my limbs began to numb. I could feel strength slipping away, not just from my arms and legs, but from my entire body. Even my thoughts grew sluggish, as though the very act of holding onto consciousness was becoming too much.
I was certain that soon, I wouldn't even be able to focus. Each passing second pressed heavier on my mind, as if someone were stacking weights on my skull.
Just a little longer. I can endure a little longer. How long can passing through a portal really take...
That was my last thought before everything went dark.
Or perhaps I didn't lose consciousness at all. Maybe it was just that I remembered nothing from that moment on, until I opened my eyes again, already inside the dungeon.
As soon as I awoke, my first instinct was to sit up. But my body wouldn't respond. Every muscle was locked in spasms, still echoing from the pain. Even my heart was beating so violently, I wondered if I was dying.
And with that thought came a realization that truly scared me.
I had lost connection with my main self.
Since the moment I had taken control of the vessel, I had functioned independently. But even then, I always understood myself to be a branch, an extension of the greater whole. The connection was constant. Every thought, every decision, was observed, approved, aligned.
But now… I was alone.
What happens if I die? What happens if I leave the dungeon and the link is not restored? Do I remain as Avenon permanently?
My thoughts spiraled, unraveling faster than I could contain them.
Wait… the system. If I can still access it, and it still lists me as a vessel… then maybe the connection is intact. Maybe it's only dormant. Maybe... it will return.
It might have been nothing more than a desperate attempt to comfort myself, but I reached out, willed the system to respond. And something stirred. A faint ripple. Or perhaps I only imagined it. Still, I saw nothing. No window. No text.
Right… the system always appeared in the divine plane, not before the vessel's eyes…
The weight of all these thoughts pressed down on me. I could feel my resolve beginning to fray. So I forced myself to stop thinking about it. Instead, I shifted my focus to where I was.
For the first time since I'd opened my eyes, I truly looked around - not just random glances shot in panic, but full attention. The term "dungeon" was misleading. What surrounded me was little more than a chamber. Four tall walls of smooth gray stone. No carvings. No markings. Not a trace of paint. Just a blank, empty surface.
The only light came from a large crystal embedded in the ceiling, casting a cold white glow across the chamber. I looked up, letting my gaze meet the crystal, and my head throbbed again, like a reminder of the torment I had just endured.
There was only one door in the chamber.
Even the portal that had brought me here had vanished without a trace. I stepped toward the lone exit cautiously, wary that any misstep might trigger something I was not prepared for.
Calling it a door was generous. It resembled the same stone arch that had served as the portal frame, though this one was much smaller, both in width and height.
There must be an engraving.
I remembered the runes carved into the main entrance. It made sense to assume this one bore a message too. I didn't expect to understand the language, but I wanted to memorize as many inscriptions as possible. Every symbol might become important later.
ⴔⴐⴓⴅ ⴈⴍⴐ ⴋⴀⴈⴇ
It was the same script - faint, silver, softly glowing. I raised a finger and brushed the surface, testing it against touch. But nothing happened, just a cool stone beneath my finger. I could tell it was three words. Nothing more, nothing less.
I let out a sigh. I'd have to enter the door without any prior information.
I should've asked Aria to teach me the alphabet.
The thought brought regret, but it was far too late for that now.
I took a moment to inspect my equipment thoroughly, running my hands over every strap of my armor, checking the seams for any signs of wear, and examining the greatsword from hilt to tip for cracks or damage. Everything appeared intact, unchanged since before the portal crossing. Satisfied, I stepped closer to the stone arch and placed my hand against its surface, mirroring the motion Aria had used when she activated the dungeon's entrance.
But instead of glowing, the space within the arch turned translucent, its surface thinning like mist to reveal the path ahead.
I hesitated, unwilling to enter without caution. Leaning forward, I slowly extended my head through the archway, keeping both hands firmly braced against the stone to ensure I could pull back the moment anything felt wrong.
What lay beyond had no resemblance to the chamber I was about to leave.
The next room looked like a self-contained ecosystem. The floor was covered in soil and tall grass. There was even a small lake not too far from the entrance. Yet no matter how long I watched, how carefully I scanned the landscape, not a single living creature moved.
I have no other choice. I must go in.
I stepped forward, easing one foot past the threshold, the sole of my boot brushing the earth with care.
Nothing happened.
I moved further, this time crossing fully into the room, sparing a glance back toward the arch to see whether it would close behind me.
Still, nothing.
Perhaps this place is simply harmless.
The thought offered a brief moment of comfort, though I didn't fully believe it. My body was still recovering, the dizziness from the portal lingered, coiling at the base of my skull. Thirst weighed on me more heavily than hunger.
I approached the lake, hoping the water might be safe. Kneeling at its edge, I cupped my hands to draw a sip from the still surface.
And that was when I heard it - a deep, resonant growl, close enough to rattle the air around me.
I quickly turned around, one hand already grasping the hilt of my greatsword.
But the beast was already mid-leap, its drooling jaw just a few inches away from my throat.
Shit…
**
A/N -
Avenor lost connection to Verde, or at least that's what he thinks.
This should have made clear-er how Avenor/Verde operate simultaneously and why their POVs differ in tone and feeling :3
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