Chapter 1-Malvagian Runes

The cool September whether was nothing to joke about, the chills of the afternoon drove so hard into Nathan that more than once he caught his teeth chattering.

" won't you do better at home, it hasn't even started and your already this pale" his friend Mark who sat by his side said with a glint of concern in his voice.

" No, I'll manage, I can't just abandon the dig site, Maddi needs the artifacts buried deep on there or our excavation permit will be revoked" he said in response

He was referring to their boss, Madison Grenger, CEO of star track, a leading operator in ancient artifacts.

" she flew off to some island in hawaii yet your still here freezing appendages" Mark said with a sigh as he stood up and left the observatory room they were currently in.

" Mark!! don't be like that at least let's take another turn going down" Nathan shouted as Mark had already began heading for the door.

" you can keep working but as for me I'm off to have fun, Friday nights don't come around everyday you know" he replied and without even turning, closed the door behind him.

After Mark left, Nathan say straight and tried getting up but he couldn't, to his surprise the cold had affected him more than he had known. After much effort he got to his feet and after a few minutes of stretching he regained full mobility.

" well I better get down there then" he said and made his way towards the door in from of him which led to the dig site.

Their excavation was done in the outskirts of the Malvagian slopes which were believed to hold 3rd century artifacts within them, but after ten days of rigorous searching they hadn't made a single discovering which prompted Maddi to fly out in search of funds to continue the dig. He was currently in the maintenance unit of their tent as he began stocking up on equipment.

After about ten minutes of preparation, he headed outside where the excavation was held.

Upon opening the outside door, a light gust of cool air brushed past his face sending small shivers down his spine, after regaining composure, he stepped out unto the compound, then he proceed with a forward stride towards the big hole in the ground.

The compound was what he call the dig site as it really did fit the description, aside from to 70 metre hole in the ground, the compound only constituted of wired fences which were of course electrified and also come empty crates meant to house the Malvagian treasures.

He reached the edge of the hole and grabbed the pulley system and attached it to a corresponding hook on his belt buckle.

His slow descent started and little by little that stars seemed more far away than usual.

He went about 50 feet into the ground and then he released his waist hoist for better maneuverability

On touching the ground, he felt a warmth like never before, resonating with his person. He took of his sweater seeing there was no need for it, armed with a flashlight and scavenging tools, he headed for the ruins entrance.

Although underground the prestige and superior crafting of the Malvagian tomb did not go unnoticed, being picked away this deep below sea level yet still standing tall.

He walked forward, hoping to study the hieroglyphics at the entrance. The tomb which lay ahead of the door was currently inaccessible due to a large wall, supposedly it was the gate.

The excavation team had pulled tooth and nail in an attempt to knock it back, or even push it in but all to no avail, it hadn't moved an inch.

He hurriedly put on his spectacles and went closer to observe the writings.

Unlike Egyptian hieroglyphics, Malvagians' didn't use pictures or drawings of life rather, strange circles of different variations, all in black spammed throughout the rough contour of the wall, the intercepted and even bisected each other at certain junctions, creating an obscure, abstract and incomprehensible image., together with alchemical symbols littered here and there.

On close observation, cracks could be seen scattered about, understanding heck even reading these straight lines we're problematic.

Seconds, minutes and finally an hours flew by, yet he was still stuck

"Ahhhh" he yelled as the confusion was driving him insane

"How the hell is anyone meant to open this" he continued on I a high register "some pieces have nature ruins related to rebirth, some elemental characters and others death scribbles, how is anyone supposed to understand this " he shouted once more and in turn hut his hand firmly on the wall, not minding the bruising that followed.

He sat on the ground, with his hands on his head and a loom of pure dread on his face.

How the hell am I supposed to open you... how the hell do I open you.... how can u open you....

In his dizziness, he whispered these words, each time reframing the question, with one part of the sentence unchanging

Open you...

It suddenly hit him.... How was he so sure they it was a door..... well because of the key holster.... But the symbols here show nothing relating to a key.... Then the key must be hidden..... Or it simply doesn't exist and this space meant to remain lost... Or the key is not a key but something else..... If so then what..... What could be so obscene to have symbols of nature, elements death and life written all over it..... Nature..... elements..... death... life.... Nature..... Elements.... Death..... Life..... No.... No its... Elements.... Nature.... Life.... Death

He stopped himself as he had found a clue

Then he went on..... Why is it in that order.... Well because each one precedes the other, with death being the final..... So what does it mean.... Is the key something with elements nature life and death.... But that is impossible, for an object to hold all those concepts in its being....

Once again he was stuck, he began pacing the room with a form grip on his chin, deep in thought.

What if.... No..... But..... No that's not it either.... Well..... Then what is.... Elements.... Nature..... Life..... Death....

"If its an order of progression, to hen doesn't that mean the key is an object which passes through all this or at least has the same characteristics in the right order ... Following that logic then the key could be a leaf.... ha ha ha!!" He laughed at the end, I've really gone insane how can the key be a leaf

But then he got serious in thought

Well why can't it..... Because it is... A leaf.... But it does possess.... These characteristics... But..... And also the Malvagian's were know for their cunning..... So..... Won't the most insane thing be it is a leaf rather than not.... Yes it is..... Then it is a leaf..... Why..... Because history recounts the Malvagian's as being... well... Insane.