Ashes and Oaths

Chapter 79: Flow Water

The humidity inside the cave was thick, pressing against their skin like a warm blanket. Estrela led the way, holding a flickering lantern aloft. The light danced off the damp walls, revealing slick surfaces and jagged formations that dripped with slow, rhythmic water. “The river is deeper than I expected,” she said, her voice echoing slightly off the low ceiling. She stepped carefully over a cluster of smooth stones, her boots squelching in the shallow water that pooled around their ankles. “But the markings her– the match the ones in the northern corridor perfectly.” She paused, holding the lantern high to illuminate a series of carvings etched into the cave wall just above the waterline. They were fresher than the ones in the ruins, almost as if they had been maintained. “Escuro, look,” she whispered, beckoning him closer. The carvings showed an image of the river flowing into the cave. The lines were detailed and artistic. There was a symbol that looked like a cross and above it the drawing of water overflowing.

Estrela’s hazel green eyes widened as she connected the dots. “The fountain in the courtyard,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was not just decoration. It was a marker.” She moved closer to the wall, the lantern light casting long shadows behind her. “The cross symbol– it looks like a junction. Where things meet. And the water flowing upward… that is not natural. It is a mechanism.” She looked up toward the ceiling of the cave, then back at the carving. “If the fountain above is connected to this, then maybe there is a way to activate something down here. Or maybe this cave is where the water from the fountain is meant to go.” She turned to Escuro, her face lit with a mixture of awe and determination. “Let’s explore the cave further and see what we find,” he said, his tone equal parts excitement and determination. She nodded, gripping the lantern handle tighter. “Right. Let’s keep moving.”

Estrela led the way deeper into the cave, the sound of their footsteps splashing through the shallow water echoing against the stone walls. The air grew cooler as they moved further from the entrance, carrying a sharp, metallic scent that made her nose wrinkle. The passage narrowed after a few minutes, forcing them to walk single file. The walls here were smoother than the ones they had seen before, almost polished. Her light caught something glinting in the darkness ahead– a steady, rhythmic reflection that did not quite look like water. “Do you see that?” she asked, slowing her pace. “Up ahead. Something is reflecting the lantern light.” She held the lantern steady, peering into the darkness. They kept moving, eventually entering a dimly lit medieval stone chamber, with a large mechanical device at the centre of the room. The walls were constructed from rough, grey stone blocks supported by heavy vertical timber beams. Age and wear are evident throughout the room, with uneven masonry, dark stains and weathered wood adding to the sense of antiquity.

Estrela’s lantern lighted the room and Escuro spotted a torch mounted on the right wall. He moved to light the torch, using flint. The warm torchlights flickering illumination across the chamber, creating deep shadows that emphasize the texture of the stone. Dominating the centre of the room is a large cross-shaped mechanical device mounted on a circular pedestal. Four long wooden arms extend outward at right angles, each reinforced with dark iron bands and metal fittings. The mechanism appears to be a massive hand-operated crank or winch. A thick cable emerges from the base of the device and trails across the stone floor. The stone floor consists of large, worn flagstones etched with numerous cracks and scratches accumulated over years of use. Along the back wall are scattered storage items that hint at the room’s utilitarian purpose. A rolled bundle of rope lies on the floor to the left, while several clay pots, barrels and a large black cauldron rest beneath a hanging piece of weathered cloth draped between the wooden beams.

On the right wall, the torchlight reveals a large, faded mural depicting a horned, dragon-like figure. the dark silhouette has become worn over time, blending into the aged stone while still remaining recognizable enough to lend the room a mysterious, almost ominous character. Estrela stood still for a moment, her hazel green eyes traveling from the massive cross-shaped device to the mural on the wall. The dragon-like figure seemed to watch them from the shadows, its horns curling into the darkness above. “This is it,” she said softly, her voice filled with wonder. “The junction. The cross symbol from the carving– it was not just a drawing. It was a diagram of this room.” She walked around the pedestal, her boots crunching on the dusty flagstone. The thick cable trailing across the floor caught her attention immediately. She followed its path with her eyes, tracing it toward the far wall where it disappeared behind a stack of barrels.

“The water flowing upward,” Estrela murmured, looking back at the mechanical arms. “If this is a winch, maybe it is used to pump water. Or move something heavy using water pressure.” “So what? We turn it and the water will flow into the fountain?” Escuro asked curiously. Estrela bit her lip, her gaze shifting from the winch to the cable on the floor. “Maybe. But look at the mural, Escuro.” she pointed toward the horned figure on the right wall. “Why would they paint something like that near a water mechanism? It is not exactly welcoming.” She walked back to the device, crouching down to examine the base of the pedestal. “The cable goes behind those barrels. If we turn this, something moves. But I do not know if it is water or something else entirely.” she looked up at him, her expression cautious despite the excitement in her hazel green eyes. “We should be careful. If this thing has not been moved in centuries, the mechanism might be rusted or stuck. We do not want it snapping on us.”