ENCHANTED

CHAPTER 14 - THE CAVERN OF ECHOES

The entrance to the cavern swallowed the light behind them.

Inside, the air was cold and damp. Every footstep echoed loudly through the massive stone tunnels.

Drip.

Drip.

Water fell from the ceiling into shallow pools that reflected their torchlight.

Lyra walked ahead, her sword ready.

“Stay close,” she warned.

As they moved deeper, strange whispers bounced off the cavern walls.

At first Alora thought they were hearing voices.

But then Cael explained.

“The cavern repeats sounds from the past,” he said. “That is why it is called the Cavern of Echoes.”

Suddenly—

A loud roar thundered through the tunnel.

The ground trembled.

A huge creature crawled from the shadows.

It looked like a massive stone wolf, its body covered in glowing cracks of blue light.

Lyra stepped forward immediately.

“A Guardian Beast.”

The creature growled and charged.

Lyra blocked its attack with her sword, sparks flying as metal struck stone.

“Alora!” Cael shouted. “The relic must be nearby!”

Alora looked past the fight and saw something glowing deeper inside the cavern.

A sword embedded in a tall crystal pillar.

The Blade of Stars.

But the wolf guardian was blocking the path.

Alora raised her glowing hand again.

This time she didn’t blast it with power.

Instead, she focused on calm.

Warm light spread through the cavern.

The stone wolf stopped.

Its glowing eyes softened.

Slowly… it stepped aside.

Lyra lowered her sword in shock.

“Well… that worked.”

Alora walked toward the crystal pillar.

The moment her fingers touched the sword—

The cavern exploded with light.