Explorers

Under the dark and gloomy atmosphere a group of people was moving through the rubbles. They were dressed neatly with explorer clothes, their leather boots showed signs of wear and tear from the lengthy expedition, it was no doubt they would have to buy a new pair once they get back.

The ancient and sky piercing buildings were now broken, no more than history. The group looks tiny compared to the aged kingdom around them, constantly on the lookout for any potential danger.

Today was a good day, Captain Gork thought. He has a good feeling about this expedition and the profit has been immense far. The ancient Kimon empire was a place of dangers, one of the most dangerous place in the low dimension, and with it came a large wealth still waiting to be found.

Gork and his team has found 4 artifacts so far and lots of rare resources and it has only taken them a month, such a large profits would make even the experienced explorers gasped in shock.

But he knows there should be a limit to greed. Who knows what lies beneath this desolated land? One might find a big heaps of treasures, others might stumble across terrifying and bizarre creatures and meet their end...

To survive when diving in the light, one has to be cautious first and foremost. Gork has already been in business for 36 years, he was ready to retire after this successful expedition. The rest of the team was equally excited, the profit from this trip was enough for them to live for 5 years!

Still Gork sighed deep in his mind. Not all things were good and he certainly met a big trouble on the way. He looks at the wooden bird statue with a glorious gem embedded on its body. He didn't only find artifacts but an anomaly as well.

What are anomalies? They are artifacts that is too dangerous and can't be use by conventional means. Most can cause terrifying damage when appear and is sealed by the government. It is one of the duty to of an explorer to always seal anomalies when found. He knew these sort of things aren't negotiable and since they have a way to check, he dares not to lie.

Of course he will be rewarded generously if he managed to bring a sealed anomaly back but he has no way to. He didn't bring any artifacts related to sealing and the artifacts others brought were too weak.

His heart was bitter but Gork was planning to leave it somewhere. They would know he tried his best to deal with it and that's all that matters. Higher ups problems should be dealt by the higher ups.

Gork hold out an empty map, half of it was burnt of. He needed to check if it was time to head back.

Putting the map down, he took a few pieces of blue grass laying it on the map creating an eye symbol and and the sun symbol.

He lit a part of the map on fire. The fire didn't spread but dance in the spot, the smoke condensing in the blue grass making a dark fog around the symbols. After the fire was put out, the fog disperse leaving burnt mark on the spot the grass was at. The symbol of the eye was now blinking while the sun was gone, it was a bad, very bad sign.

"Team gather up!"

Just as his words part his mouth, a giant shadow loomed over them, blocking the sunlight. The light from their torch didn't help much. Although they panicked, they quickly calmed down and group together. Gork look up to the dark shadow above the sky and saw a giant castle.

The castle giant wall were intimidating and despite it being far away, Gork could feel the dedication to the craft from the creator of the castle from the exquisite details on the wall. It was beautiful and bewitching, it's roof pierce the cloud as if defying the heavens above.

The group followed their captain and look up the cloud, looking at the same castle from above. They were all in awe at first before intense dread creeped up their heart. Gork back was cold and full of sweat, his mind was invaded by dark thoughts.

'Not good!'

The castle has a powerful aura, corrupting even those who look at it!

In his messy mind, Gork managed to break a small and slithery shell, teleporting him and his man away.

Their encounter would eventually be recorded as a legendary tale of the people who met the Palace of Dread but that was a story for another time.