Arc 1 - Crystal Chamber

We continued deeper into the labyrinthine corridors, the atmosphere growing even more suffocating with every step. The oppressive energy that filled the dungeon seemed to press down on us, making each breath feel like a struggle. My siblings and Zephyr moved quietly, their senses heightened as they scanned the shadows for any sign of danger. Mellander and his group followed closely, their expressions tense as they adjusted to the relentless tension of this dark place.

I could feel the strain in our group, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the air. Even the usually optimistic Lorelin seemed quieter than usual, her eyes flicking from side to side as if expecting something to leap out at us from the darkness at any moment.

As we rounded another corner, the passageway suddenly opened up into another vast chamber. The ceiling was lost in shadows far above, and the walls were lined with strange, glowing crystals that pulsed with a soft, eerie light. The ground was uneven, covered in a thick layer of dust and scattered debris as if no one had set foot here in centuries.

Orish took a cautious step forward, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "This place gives me the creeps," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You're not the only one," I replied, my gaze sweeping over the chamber. "But we need to keep moving. Whatever we're looking for, it's deeper in."

Mellander moved to the front of the group, his green eyes narrowed as he studied the room. He raised a hand, and the faint green glow of his magic illuminated the crystals lining the walls. "These crystals," he murmured, mostly to himself, "they're conduits for dark energy. They're feeding something deeper within the dungeon."

Zephyr glanced at me, his expression serious. "If these crystals are powering the dungeon, we might be able to disrupt them. It could weaken whatever's at the heart of this place."

"Maybe," I agreed, "but we need to be careful. If we tamper with them, we might trigger something even worse."

As we cautiously made our way through the chamber, the air grew colder, and the sense of unease deepened. I could feel the energy of the place thrumming beneath my paws, a constant reminder of the danger we were in. The walls seemed to pulse with a life of their own as if the very dungeon was watching us, waiting for us to make a mistake.

Suddenly, there was a faint clicking sound from ahead, and the ground beneath Orsus's feet began to tremble. He froze, his muscles tensing as the floor shifted slightly. "Uh, guys?" he said, his voice tight with anxiety. "I think I stepped on something..."

Before any of us could react, the floor beneath Orsus collapsed, revealing a gaping pit filled with jagged spikes. Orsus managed to leap back just in time, his powerful legs propelling him out of harm's way, but the jump was too short to let him reach the safe place on the stable ground. I threw myself as some others, but the one closest and fastest was... the warrior.

Ignar caught Orsus by some fur and with lots of strength pulled him back. I could say it was very poetic, as just some time ago we did the same thing for them when their archer almost fell. The warrior fell back together with Orsus, landing on the ground.

The pit yawned open in front of us, a grim reminder of how treacherous this place was. The silence was almost too loud for a moment as we looked there. I was angry with myself... I almost allowed my brother to get hurt or maybe even die. I gritter my fangs harshly and looked at Orsus, as Lorelin went to him to nuzzle his side with her nose asking if he was ok.

"Another trap," Orish muttered, his eyes scanning the edges of the pit. "This place is full of them."

Mellander stepped closer to the edge of the pit, his expression thoughtful. "These traps are designed to protect something—or to keep something in," he said, his voice calm but laced with concern.

Ignar nodded as he stood up freeing himself from under Orsus' weight. "We need to be even more careful from here on out."

I nodded to them, my heart still racing from the close call. "They're right. We need to be more careful. We can't afford to let our guard down, not even for a second." I made sure my family knew what they said.

As we carefully made our way around the pit, I activated my [Eyeglass] skill to scan the room for any other hidden dangers unsure if it could be used this way.

[Activating skill: Eyeglass]

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Ancient Crystal Conduits

Function: A power source for dark magic within the dungeon.

Notes: These crystals draw energy from the surrounding area and channel it deeper into the dungeon, feeding whatever dark force lies at its core. Disrupting the crystals could weaken the dungeon's defences, but it may also trigger unforeseen consequences.

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Here I was trying to find out if I could spot any traps with this skill and in exchange I got some info about the crystals. It was useful sometimes. I've learnt that the information PIA gave me was probably for me to learn even if I didn't know it unless I had the appropriate level.

I relayed the information to the group. "These crystals are definitely powering the dungeon. If we disrupt them, we might weaken whatever's at the centre of this place, but it could also set off some sort of chain reaction."

Orish frowned, his eyes narrowed in thought. "It's a risk, but it might be our best chance. If we can weaken the dungeon, we might be able to get out of here alive."

Mellander nodded after Zephyr tried to somehow pass this knowledge onto him, his expression grim. "I understand... It's a calculated risk, but it's one we might have to take. We can't let this place reach its full power." He quickly explained to his group what Zephyr passed him. Seems our griffin friend could pass some images and feelings at him and it got better with time.

Orish, still watching the crystals with a wary eye, added, "We need to make sure we're ready before we do anything. If something goes wrong, we'll need to be able to react quickly."

As we discussed our next move, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were running out of time. The energy in the dungeon was growing stronger, more oppressive, as if the very walls were closing in on us. We needed to find the heart of this place and shut it down before it was too late.

Just as we were about to move on, the elf, Samara, let out a sharp gasp. She had been examining one of the walls, and now she pointed to a section that seemed different from the rest. "Look at this," she said, her voice tense with urgency.

We all gathered around the wall she indicated, and I saw what had caught her attention. There, hidden among the cracks and crevices, was another set of runes, different from the ones we had seen earlier. These were faint, barely visible, but they radiated a dark, pulsing energy that made my skin crawl.

Mellander's eyes widened as he examined the runes, his expression one of dawning realization. "These runes... they're a warning. A barrier of sorts meant to keep something contained."

Orsus frowned, his gaze locked on the runes at the same time the dwarf asked almost the same question. "What could be so dangerous that it needs a barrier like this?"

The druid shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something ancient... something powerful. We need to be very careful."

As we continued to study the runes, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the verge of uncovering something truly dangerous. The energy in the room was growing stronger and heavier. Whatever lay beyond these runes, it was something we needed to approach with extreme caution.

"We need to decide our next move carefully," I said, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at my gut. "This place is testing us, and we can't afford to make any mistakes."

Zephyr, sensing the tension in the air, added, "We need to stick together and stay focused. If we can find a way to disrupt the crystals without triggering a disaster, we might stand a chance."

I looked at my siblings, seeing the determination in their eyes. I had to make sure they'd be safe. I realised Orsus was unusually quiet and kept standing close to the warrior. Knowing him, he was waiting for a chance to thank for the rescue in his own way... maybe pay back. Who knows. I sighed and looked around the chamber again.