Sparks Beneath the Ruins
682 Words
The journey across the desert lasted two days.
The burning heat of the sun slowly gave way to cooler winds as the dunes began to thin. In the distance, broken towers and collapsed stone walls finally appeared on the horizon.
The ancient city of Astrael.
Even in ruins, it looked magnificent. Tall pillars leaned at strange angles, cracked statues stood half-buried in sand, and pieces of old bridges connected sections of the fallen city.
Lyra whistled softly.
“Wow… this place must’ve been incredible before the war.”
Seraphine’s eyes scanned the structures carefully.
“Stay alert,” she said. “Old cities hide more dangers than monsters.”
Kael walked ahead, his flaming sword sheathed behind his back. The weapon had been quiet for most of the journey, only glowing faintly whenever Kim walked too close.
He still didn’t understand why.
Kim walked beside him now, occasionally pointing out safer paths through the sand-covered streets.
“This road used to lead to the center of the city,” she explained. “My village elders used to talk about it.”
Lyra watched them from behind.
She crossed her arms.
“You two seem to be getting along pretty well.”
Kael blinked.
“What?”
Lyra smirked.
“Nothing.”
But the teasing tone made Kael feel slightly embarrassed.
They eventually reached a large stone archway—the entrance to the city’s inner district.
Massive carved doors stood half-open, revealing dark corridors leading underground.
Seraphine stepped forward.
“This must be the old archive halls,” she said. “If there are answers about the war… they’ll be here.”
As the group entered the ruins, the temperature dropped immediately.
The air smelled ancient, dusty, and quiet.
Torches along the walls had long since burned out, leaving only faint rays of sunlight shining through cracks above.
Kael stepped carefully across the stone floor.
Then suddenly—
Click.
The ground shifted.
Before anyone could react, arrows shot from hidden holes in the walls.
Seraphine instantly raised an ice barrier, blocking the projectiles with a loud c***k.
Lyra laughed nervously.
“Okay… you were right about the traps.”
They continued deeper inside the ruins.
After several winding hallways, the group reached a large underground chamber filled with stone carvings.
Murals covered the walls.
Images of warriors…
Fire…
Ice…
And a great river flowing through a battlefield.
Kael slowly approached one of the carvings.
His eyes widened.
The mural showed a warrior holding a flaming sword exactly like his.
Lyra walked beside him and stared at the carving.
“So… looks like you’re famous,” she joked.
Kael shook his head slowly.
“No… this was made hundreds of years ago.”
Lyra looked at him again.
Then her playful expression softened.
“Well,” she said gently, “maybe destiny has been waiting for you a long time.”
Kael turned toward her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The quiet glow of sunlight from the ceiling illuminated Lyra’s face, and Kael suddenly realized how close they were standing.
Lyra noticed it too.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
Before either of them could say anything—
Seraphine’s voice echoed across the chamber.
“I found something.”
The moment broke instantly.
Kael and Lyra stepped back awkwardly.
At the far end of the room, Seraphine had uncovered a stone pedestal covered in dust.
On top of it rested an ancient scroll sealed with a strange symbol.
Seraphine brushed the dust away.
Her expression turned serious.
“This symbol…”
Kael walked closer.
“What is it?”
Seraphine looked at him carefully.
“It belongs to the order that protected the River Child.”
Kim’s pendant suddenly began glowing again.
Bright.
Strong.
And for the first time—
The scroll slowly opened by itself.
A deep voice echoed faintly from the ancient magic inside.
“If you are reading this… the child of the river has returned.”
The chamber fell silent.
Kael felt the flaming sword vibrate strongly behind him.
Whatever secrets Astrael held…
They were about to change everything.
- Writer
