The Hidden Ruin

The wind whistled through the trees, and the leaves rustled softly under the gray sky. A procession moved slowly along a narrow path, winding through the dense coniferous forest. Leading this group, two researchers, clad in heavy woolen coats, carefully followed the instructions of the knights' leader. Their footsteps echoed on the rocky ground, mingling with the clinking of metal armor.

Dr. Adrien Leclerc, a renowned archaeologist with graying hair, clutched a notebook filled with sketches and theories on ancient civilizations. Beside him, the young and brilliant historian Clara Dumont, with sharp, curious eyes, adjusted her backpack containing measurement instruments and ancient parchments. They had been urgently dispatched by the Royal Academy following the unexpected discovery made by peasants: a massive door, partly buried under debris, revealing the entrance to an ancient tomb.

The close guard consisted of six knights in glistening armor, their faces concealed under helmets adorned with feathers. Captain Roland, a robust and imposing man, led the march, his piercing eyes scanning every shadow and suspicious sound. They had been tasked with protecting the researchers from potential dangers in this remote region and from the ruin still full of mysteries.

The peasants' accounts spoke of a night of terror when the mountain, seeming to crack under their feet, collapsed with a deafening roar. In the days that followed, as they explored the debris to recover their lost belongings, they stumbled upon this door.

Fearing the repercussions of tampering with such a significant discovery without their lords' permission, the peasants dared not open the door. The fear of the kingdom's retaliation was deeply ingrained in them, as any treasure or artifact found on the kingdom's lands rightfully belonged to the crown. Stories of severe punishments for those who violated this law circulated among the people. Thus, the peasants hurried to inform local authorities, who quickly relayed the news to the castle. The discovery caused a stir at court, arousing both curiosity and concern. Orders were then given to send a team of researchers, accompanied by a escort of knights, to explore this mysterious door and uncover its secrets.

After minutes of walking, the group finally emerged from the forest and faced a desolate landscape. Scattered rocks and uprooted trees littered the ground, bearing witness to the violence of the landslide.

In the center of this chaos, a stone structure emerged, imposing and majestic despite the ravages of time. The tomb's door, half-buried, stood before them.

The door itself was massive, carved from gray granite, with dark veins running through its smooth surface. At first glance, it appeared almost ordinary, without any ostentatious decoration or visible inscriptions. Yet, something in its austere simplicity, its unyielding solidity despite the centuries that had passed, gave it an undeniably ancient aura.

The edges of the door were slightly worn, polished by time and the elements. In the center, a simple bas-relief in the shape of a circle, barely noticeable, caught the researchers' eyes. The contours were sharp, precise, as if the door had been closed recently, and yet it exuded a sense of mystery, as if it had been carved in an era when modern tools did not exist.

On either side of the door, two sturdy columns supported the structure, also devoid of any ornamentation. Their simplicity contrasted with the notion that this tomb could contain treasures or secrets buried for millennia. The raw solidity of the stone echoed the work of ancient builders, those who valued durability and function over superficial beauty.

Adrien and Clara approached, their eyes scrutinizing every detail. "It seems almost mundane," murmured Adrien, his fingers touching the cold surface of the stone. "But there's something... a resistance to time that makes it fascinating."

Clara nodded, her gaze fixed on the bas-relief. "It's as if it was designed to last forever. Simple, yet indestructible."

The captain of the knights, looking dubious, asked, "Are you sure this is an ancient ruin?"

Adrien, accustomed to the skepticism of non-initiates faced with unusual discoveries, took a moment to respond. "There are ruins where the greatness lies not in the luxury of their creation, but in their simplicity and robustness," he began. "What is most incredible here, Captain, is that this door was not shattered by the mountain landslide. It endured, solid and unyielding despite the chaos surrounding it."

He pointed to the faint cracks on the surface of the door. "Look at these marks. They show that the structure was tested, but it remained intact. It's as if it was designed to defy the elements, to keep its secrets safe from time and nature itself."

Captain Roland carefully observed the marks, nodding slightly. "So, what is your theory regarding its age?" he asked, his tone revealing a curiosity mixed with respect for the researchers' expertise.

Clara, adjusting her glasses and examining the door again, replied cautiously, "We cannot be certain yet. The clues we have found are suggestive, but we need to delve deeper before drawing definitive conclusions."

Adrien spoke, his thoughts already immersed in the archives and artifacts he had studied. "However, based on our previous findings, it is highly likely that this structure dates back to a time earlier than the Lionnes kingdom. The construction techniques and symbols we have identified differ even from those found in other pre-Lionnes sites we have studied."

Captain Roland listened attentively, a slightly arched eyebrow. "So you're suggesting this door could be millennia old?"

Adrien nodded. "It's a possibility. Ancient civilizations like Mu left few written records, but their architectural and artistic works speak for themselves. This door could be a relic of a forgotten past, patiently waiting to be rediscovered."

The knights murmured among themselves, absorbing the researchers' words and looking at the door with renewed fascination. They knew this mission transcended their usual role of protection; it touched on something deeper, an exploration of origins and mysteries surrounding their own region.

"We should go in," Clara suggested, momentarily breaking the contemplative silence. "The answers we seek may lie beyond this door."

Adrien agreed, his gaze still fixed on the symbols carved in stone. "Yes, let's go. It's time to unveil what this ancient ruin holds for us."

He continued, thoughtful: "We must first identify what this structure represented to the ancient people. It could be a tomb, a sacred place of worship, or perhaps..."

He paused, pondering the possibilities.

"Perhaps a ceremonial center where mystical rituals were practiced. Or, a storage place for artifacts and valuable knowledge from that distant era."

Clara, listening attentively, added, "Each possibility opens a window into the life and beliefs of the ancient inhabitants of this region. We must explore carefully to fully understand the role and significance of this structure in their society."

Roland nodded solemnly, then signaled for one of his soldiers to open the door. Slowly, cautiously, the heavy stone door began to move, emitting a dull creak that echoed in the tomb's silent atmosphere.

Once the door was open, two soldiers stepped forward with their oil lamps, cautiously lighting the darkness that lay beyond. The other soldiers remained behind, strategically positioned to ensure the team of archaeologists' safety.

Adrien and Clara, accompanied by the soldier carrying the oil lamp, advanced with extreme caution.

The lamp illuminated a long corridor lined with stone slabs, without any visible paint or engraved symbols. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, immersed in a darkness that absorbed the light of the oil lamps. There was a profound, oppressive silence, only interrupted by the faint crackling of the lamp flames.

After a few moments of silence, Adrien broke the atmosphere with a voice tinged with doubt: "There's something strange here."

To his right, Roland, alerted by the archaeologist's hesitation, asked urgently, "What?"

Clara, anticipating the question, spoke with doubt: "Normally, in an ancient ruin that has never been opened, we would expect to find murals or inscriptions engraved, ritual or funerary artifacts. These elements help us understand the function and cultural context of the structure. But here, the corridor seems curiously stripped of any form of art or symbolism."

She carefully observed the environment. "There's something else unusual. Have you noticed? There's no grass growing between the stone slabs, no signs of animal life. No insect sounds, no bird sounds. It's as if this corridor is isolated from the outside world, preserved in a strange silence and stillness."

Roland asked, intrigued, "How is it strange not to see grass or signs of animal life here?"

Adrien took a brief breath before responding, using his expertise to explain: "In a well-preserved ancient ruin, we expect to find traces of nature that have reclaimed their rights over the centuries. Grass growing between the stone slabs would indicate constant interaction with the external environment, a continuity of life despite human abandonment. Similarly, the presence of insects or small animals would indicate an ecosystem that developed in this new habitat."

Adrien continued, adjusting his glasses thoughtfully: "These elements not only are indicators of the structure's durability but also witness its post-abandonment history. Their absence here suggests that this corridor may have been isolated, preserved in a way that prevented colonization by local vegetation or fauna. This raises questions about the construction or sealing methods used at the time to maintain this area in an almost sterile state."

As they pondered, a knight ahead of them spoke, "Leader, there's a door in front of us to the right."

Adrien looked up to see that, though the corridor continued straight ahead, a door stood to their right. It resembled the one they had passed through at the entrance: simple yet imposing in its ancient solidity.

He exchanged a glance with Clara before stating firmly, "This further confirms that this place was intentionally sealed and preserved. This door could lead to additional chambers or passages, possibly hiding more treasures or knowledge buried for centuries."

Roland nodded, signaling his men to be ready as they approached the door. A palpable tension filled the air as he cautiously tried to open it, wary of potential traps. He instructed the two archaeologists to step back slightly, taking all necessary precautions.

The door finally creaked open without incident, its slight groan echoing into the dark chamber beyond. Roland breathed a sigh of relief and, with an approving nod from Adrien, proceeded cautiously. Adrien took the oil lamp from Clara's hands, slowly illuminating the room unfolding before them.

In the oppressive silence of the dimly lit chamber, the researchers' gaze fell upon the stone wall, devoid of decorations except for a single mural running along the inner body of the mountain, it had a low table and a chair.

The archaeologists were immediately struck by its simplicity. A rudimentary table of solid, weathered wood dominated the cramped space. Plain wooden chairs were arranged around it, indicating a workspace or study frozen in time for centuries.

Carefully arranged on the table were scrolls yellowed with age. Their edges were worn, some corners torn, revealing they had been handled many times over generations. The black ink used for inscriptions still looked fresh despite its age, attesting to the importance of the knowledge contained within these ancient documents.

Shifting their gaze from the table and scrolls, the archaeologists turned to the mural that dominated part of the chamber's wall. It was a striking image: a dark cross drawn with almost surgical precision, with a man suspended upside down. His body bore golden streaks resembling blood, and his partially erased face strangely reflected the bare mountain wall behind him, as if part of him had been torn away.

As soon as their eyes fell upon this eerie depiction, strange and oppressive sensations gripped them. A sharp, piercing pain throbbed in their temples, causing them to stagger and fall to their knees, overcome by dizziness and unexplainable terror.

The knights, alerted by the muffled cries of the archaeologists, hurried towards them with growing concern. "What's happening?" they exclaimed, worried to see the researchers in such sudden and intense distress.

Panicked, Adrien gathered himself to shout hoarsely, "Don't look at the painting! It's... it's dangerous!" His own words seemed to dissipate in the heavy, fearful atmosphere that enveloped the chamber.

Without hesitation, Roland ordered the knights not to look at the mural and to protect the archaeologists. He quickly moved to the distressed researchers, kneeling beside them as they continued to cry out from the sharp pain piercing their minds.

The knights formed a protective circle around the archaeologists, responding to Roland's command with determination. They faced the mural cautiously, avoiding the sinister images that seemed to act as portals to the unknown.

After what felt like an eternity, the archaeologists' cries began to fade. The acute pain that had overwhelmed them slowly subsided, finally allowing the researchers to catch their breath. Their eyes still held traces of terror, reflecting deep fear and confusion over what they had just experienced.

Reassuringly, Roland gently placed a hand on Clara's and Adrien's shoulders. "It's okay now. Take a moment to breathe," he murmured. The archaeologists rose slowly, supported by the vigilant knights surrounding them.