The Treasure

"This...this is it," Rourke whispered.

Vincent's men spread out, their flashlights sweeping across the room, revealing more details of the chamber. The carvings on the walls depicted scenes of battles, ancient rituals, and the feared Flame Dragon itself, towering over armies and setting entire villages ablaze with its fiery breath.

"Secure the area," Vincent ordered, his voice breaking the spell of awe that had fallen over his men. "I want to know if there are any traps or hidden surprises waiting for us."

The soldiers moved quickly, their boots echoing in the cavernous space as they began inspecting the room for any signs of danger. Rourke and Sykes stood by the entrance, their eyes locked on the stone sarcophagus at the chamber's center. It was massive, intricately carved with symbols and figures that neither of them recognized.

"That must be the resting place of someone important," Sykes murmured.

"Or something important," Rourke replied, his gaze not leaving the sarcophagus. "We need to be careful. There could be more to this than just treasure."

"Okay, now open the treasure," Vincent commanded, his voice filled with authority as he gestured toward the sarcophagus. His men, still on high alert, watched closely as Rourke and Sykes exchanged a tense glance before stepping forward.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Rourke took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. "Alright, let's do this," he muttered to Sykes. They approached the sarcophagus with caution, knowing that the mechanism to unlock it was as intricate as it was ancient.

Sykes knelt beside the sarcophagus, carefully examining the carvings on its surface. "The mechanism is hidden within the design," he explained to Vincent, his fingers tracing the symbols. "The original settlers were master craftsmen. This sarcophagus isn't just a burial site-it's a vault."

Vincent nodded, watching intently as Sykes began to manipulate the carvings. He pressed certain symbols in a specific sequence, each one causing a soft click to echo through the chamber. Rourke stood by, ready to assist as needed.

After a few moments, there was a louder click, followed by a low rumble as the lid of the sarcophagus slowly began to shift. Dust and debris fell from the edges as the massive stone slab slid to the side, revealing the treasure hidden within.

As the lid fully opened, Vincent's men leaned in, their flashlights illuminating the contents of the sarcophagus. Inside, they saw stacks of gold coins, ornate jewelry, and ancient weapons. Each item was carefully placed, undisturbed by the passage of time.

"This... this is incredible," Sykes whispered, his voice filled with awe.

"Start identifying everything," he ordered. "I want to know exactly what we've found."

Rourke and Sykes nodded, stepping closer to the treasure. They began to carefully lift each item, examining it in the light of the flashlights.

"This here," Rourke began, holding up an ancient sword with a jeweled hilt, "is a ceremonial blade, likely belonging to one of the original settlers. The craftsmanship is exquisite-gold coins alone would not do it justice. In terms of value, I'd estimate it to be worth at least 500 small gold coins."

Sykes reached in next, pulling out a small, intricately carved wooden box. He opened it to reveal several gemstone-encrusted rings. "These rings are likely the family heirlooms of the settlers," he said. "Each one is adorned with rare gems, some of which are no longer found in this region. Combined, these rings are worth around 1,000 small gold coins."

Rourke continued, lifting a set of golden goblets from the sarcophagus. "These goblets are pure gold, but it's the detailing that makes them truly valuable. Each one is engraved with the history of the settlers-battles fought, victories won. Their historical significance, combined with the material, would fetch around 800 small gold coins."

Sykes then uncovered a small chest filled with scrolls and parchments. "These documents could be invaluable," he said, carefully unrolling one of the scrolls. "They might contain the history of the settlers, maps of the region, or even knowledge long forgotten. If these scrolls hold any useful information, their value could be immeasurable."

Vincent nodded, his interest piqued. "We'll have these analyzed later. Continue."

Rourke reached deeper into the sarcophagus and pulled out a heavy, ornately decorated helmet. "This helmet likely belonged to a leader of the settlers, possibly a warrior chief. It's made of reinforced orichalcum, but the gold and jewels embedded in it make it as much a symbol of status as a piece of armor. This alone could be worth 700 gold coins. And this seems to be the end of it."

Vincent nodded, humming in satisfaction. "Well some of the objects, I admit, aren't too interesting but the scroll that you found, maybe it hold some information about this world so I am going to have you give it to us, the rest will be yours."

Rourke and Sykes exchanged a glance, the relief evident in their eyes. They had managed to guide Vincent to the treasure without triggering any traps, and now it seemed they were being rewarded for their cooperation.

Rourke carefully placed the helmet back into the sarcophagus and nodded. "Understood. The scrolls are yours,"

Sykes handed Vincent the scroll, and Vincent accepted it.

"Let's clear this area out," Vincent ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. His men immediately set to work, carefully packing the remaining treasures into reinforced crates.

Rourke and Sykes stood off to the side and watched the procedure. They had come here for the treasure, and now they were leaving with more than they had expected.

As the last of the crates were secured, Vincent turned back to them. "I think this is now a fulfilled agreement."

"Yes it is," Rourke said.

Vincent offered a handshake, his expression as unreadable as ever. Rourke hesitated for a brief moment, but then he extended his hand, meeting Vincent's firm grip.

"Safe travels, gentlemen," Vincent said, his tone almost cordial. "I trust we won't have any more unexpected encounters."

Rourke nodded, releasing Vincent's hand. "We'll be on our way, as agreed. You have what you wanted, and so do we."

***

Meanwhile.

Bren moved quickly through the forest, his focus on getting back to camp as fast as possible. The image of the flying machine stayed with him, a constant reminder that something was very wrong in Ferm. The sound of its blades still echoed in his mind, making him uneasy as he navigated the familiar path.

As he neared the camp, Bren slowed down, making sure not to alert the sentries. He needed to speak to Garrick without causing a scene. The camp was quiet, the men alert but unaware of

the real danger.

He found Garrick near the central fire, talking with a few of the senior mercenaries.

Bren stepped forward, knowing he needed to report what he had seen.

"Garrick," Bren said quietly, getting his attention.

Garrick looked up, recognizing Bren. "You're back earlier than expected. What happened?"

Bren moved closer, the warmth of the fire doing little to calm his nerves. "We saw something unusual," he began. "Ferm isn't just fortified. There's something else-a flying metal machine. We've never seen anything like it."

Garrick's expression became serious. "A flying metal machine? Are you sure?"

Bren nodded. "It's real. Sykes, Rourke, and I saw it. It was flying over the city, circling like it was on patrol. It's not natural-it's some kind of machine with spinning blades that keep it in the air. The noise it made was loud, like a deep thumping sound."

Garrick listened, his face reflecting his concern. "And you're certain it wasn't a trick?"

"There's no mistake," Bren replied. "We watched it for a while. Whatever it is, it's part of the city's defenses. Sykes and Rourke stayed behind to gather more information. They thought it was too risky to leave without learning more."

Garrick nodded, processing the news. "So Ferm is more than just a fortified city-it's a

fortress with technology we don't understand."

Bren could see the wheels turning in Garrick's mind as he considered what to do next. "What's

our next move?" he asked.

Garrick didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked back at the fire, his expression

thoughtful. Finally, he turned back to Bren.

"Get a small team ready," Garrick finally said. "I'll head there with you. I think it's time for

me to see what we are dealing with firsthand."

Bren nodded, sensing the urgency in Garrick's tone. "It's a wise decision sir..."

"We will leave at first light," Garrick finished firmly. "I want everyone well-rested and fully

prepared. We don't know what we're walking into, and I won't risk anyone's life

unnecessarily."

Garrick watched Bren go, his mind already working through the logistics of the mission

ahead. The idea of a flying metal machine patrolling the city was unnerving. It was clear that whatever was happening in Ferm was beyond their usual scope of operations. He needed to see it with his own eyes, but more importantly, he needed to understand what they were up

against.