The blue arrow wound its way deeper into the cave and finally reached a large, dome-shaped room. The room was different from the other parts—strange, glowing inscriptions in an unfamiliar language were carved into the walls. In the center stood an altar made of black stones, covered with complex symbols.
"What is this?" Eiden murmured, examining the inscriptions. He ran his fingertips over the wall, and the symbols glowed faintly when touched.
Marvus also entered the room, his eyes seemingly enchanted. "Amazing... We had no idea this room existed."
Eiden approached the altar. The black stone emanated a deep energy from within. The symbols on the stone were covered with markings resembling Flesh Grub remains but appeared much older.
Just as he stepped up to the altar, the system voice echoed in his ears:
[Activate The Altar]
"It seems this altar needs to be activated."
Marvus anxiously looked around. "Be careful, young man. Such ancient mechanisms are usually protected by traps."
Eiden walked around the altar. In the center was a palm-sized hollow that emitted a cleaner energy, different from the Flesh Grub remains he had seen in the rest of the cave.
"I think I need to place something here," Eiden said thoughtfully. Then suddenly his eyes lit up. "Perhaps..."
He opened his inventory and took out the heart he had obtained from the Queen Flesh Grub. The heart was still beating slightly, emitting a greenish light.
"I wonder if this might work?"
"Where did you get that from?"
"From my inventory."
"The what now?"
Eiden hesitantly placed the Queen Flesh Grub's heart in the hollow at the center of the altar. The heart fit perfectly into the hollow, as if it belonged there.
"Too bright!" Marvus cried out, covering his eyes.
When he placed the heart, the symbols on the walls began to glow and the entire cave shook.
A rumbling rose. The walls groaned. Then suddenly, all the remains of the dark creatures in the cave, the slimy tissues and filth, began to rapidly disappear as if sucked away by an invisible force. Flesh and blood stains dried up and turned to dust, slimy layers cracked and dried, falling from the walls and mixing with the floor.
In the blink of an eye, everything changed.
Eiden stood in amazement looking around. The cave no longer resembled a disgusting creature's lair, but rather a hidden wonder of nature.
"This... is incredible," said Eiden, looking around with his mouth open. The symbols on the walls now shone with more vibrant colors, casting light into every corner of the room. The ceiling now appeared high, covered with glowing crystals.
"I've never seen anything like this," whispered Marvus, his eyes filled with tears. "It's as if the cave... came alive."
The heart on the altar had completely melted, replaced by a pool of bright, greenish light.
[Dungeon Cleared!]
Quest Completed: [First Dungeon]
Try not to die.
• Objective: Clear out the cave 1/1.
• Reward: Simple Shoes
• Bonus Objective Completed: Kill The Spider.
• Reward: 1 Monster Essence (lesser)
He quickly took out the shoes that appeared in his inventory and put them on.
"Where did you get those from?"
"From my inventory."
"..."
"Now that we're done here, let's go," said Eiden, taking one last look at the cleaned cave. "There doesn't seem to be anything else to do."
Marvus nodded in agreement. "You're right. I couldn't find my team's remains, but at least we cleaned the cave. Maybe... maybe they found another exit and escaped." The hopelessness in his voice revealed that he knew the truth.
Together they walked through the cleansed corridors of the cave. They were no longer dark and threatening.
As they approached the entrance of the cave, the daylight from outside dazzled their eyes. Eiden felt as if he had been in darkness for days, though only a few hours had passed. His perception of time was completely confused.
When they emerged from the mouth of the cave, the sun was about to set. The sky was painted with orange and purple hues, and the mountains rising on the horizon appeared as silhouettes. The sound of birds over the forest and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze sounded like music after the silence of the cave.
Eiden took a deep breath, smiling as the fresh air filled his lungs. "Freedom..."
Marvus smiled too, but his gaze was distant. "Thank you for helping me, young man. If it weren't for you, that spider would probably have killed me."
"What did you expect?" said Eiden, shrugging. "I cleaned the cave for you, cut you down from the webs, and killed the spider, saving your life. You should actually be grateful to me. What, don't you agree with what I'm saying?" Eiden asked, noticing the expression on Marvus's face.
Marvus hesitated for a moment, then responded with a bitter smile: "Yes, you're right. I should be grateful to you. I'm alive thanks to you."
Marvus pulled a small, wooden carved compass from his pocket. Its needle, unlike a normal compass that points north, swung in different directions. "Follow me," said the old man. "I'll take you to our village. There you can rest, have your wounds treated, and perhaps find help to regain your memory."
"How far is it?" Eiden asked as they moved away from the cave.
"Not too far, perhaps a three-hour walk. We can reach it before the sun sets." Marvus adjusted his direction by looking at the compass. "I know this area well, don't worry."
So the pair began to make their way through the forest toward the village. At first they walked in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Eiden was trying to piece together the fragments appearing in his mind, attempting to fill the gaps in his memory. He couldn't understand who he was, how he got here, and why he had such strange abilities.
In the second hour of their walk, the sun had completely set, giving way to a star-filled sky. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the path in the forest, but Eiden cautiously created a small Fire Bolt in his hand to help them see the way better.
As they continued their journey, Eiden tried to gather more information about the world around him. "What is this region called? Which kingdom are we in?"
Marvus smiled. "This is the eastern border of the Crownhill Kingdom. My village, Greenhollow, is a small settlement in the border region. A place for people who live their own lives, away from the big cities."
"Crownhill..." Eiden repeated. The name sounded familiar, but no memory came to life in his mind. "Oh yes! The currency is also Crown, right?"
"Exactly."
"So, what were you looking for in the cave? Why were you there with a research team?"
The old man sighed. "Strange events had been happening in the region lately. Animals had become aggressive, plants had begun to wither. Some farmers reported finding strange, slimy substances at the edges of their fields. Our village council decided to send a team to find the source. As the village sheriff, I was to guide them."
"They knew there was a queen inside, or to be honest, something that was causing those bugs to emerge. It had made the cave its nest, laying eggs everywhere. When we encountered dozens of bugs, our team was caught unprepared. With the arrival of the giant spider, we were completely scattered. I... was just lucky."
Their conversation was interrupted as they climbed a hill in the forest. When they reached the summit, Marvus stopped and pointed down. "There, Greenhollow."
In the valley, a small village was spread among the trees. Lights streaming from the windows of the houses shone like stars in the darkness. Around the village were farmlands and small gardens. Structures arranged around a large square in the center could be discerned.
"It looks... peaceful," said Eiden, suddenly feeling a longing inside. It was as if he hadn't been in such a calm place for a long time.
"It is," said Marvus with pride. "We have a simple but beautiful life. Come, I'll take you to the village square."
They descended the hill and walked along the path to the village. As they got closer, Eiden could see more details. The houses were mostly wooden, some of them two stories tall. The roofs were covered with tiles or thatch. Each house had a small garden in front; some growing vegetables, others flowers. The air was filled with the smell of wood fires and cooking food. Eiden's stomach growled.
Two guards were standing watch at the village entrance. They started with surprise when they saw Marvus.
"Marvus? You're... alive! After so many hours..." said one of the young guards, looking on with disbelieving eyes.
"Yes, Toren, I'm alive," said Marvus with a slight smile. "But the others... I'm afraid they didn't return."
The second guard, who appeared older and more experienced, gave Eiden a suspicious look. "And who is this? The stranger with you?"
"This young man is Eiden. He rescued me in the cave and helped us eliminate the threat. I owe him a debt and have brought him to our village as a guest."
The guards looked at each other, then nodded and let them in. "The council will want to see you, Marvus. And probably this stranger too."
"I'll speak with them in the morning," said Marvus. "Right now we need rest. It's been a long and difficult day."
When they entered the village, Eiden began to look around. Despite it being night, there were still people walking in the streets. Several people stopped in surprise and greeted Marvus when they saw him. News seemed to be spreading quickly.
When they reached the square, lanterns arranged around a large tree in the center caught their attention. Under the tree was a stone fountain; the babbling of the water was soothing. On one side of the square stood a large building. Its lights were still on, and sounds of music and conversation came from inside.
"That's the Green Branch Inn," said Marvus, pointing to the building. "It's considered the center of our village. People gather there, news is shared, stories are told. They also have clean beds and good food."
"Weren't you the village sheriff?"
"Can't I have invested in an inn?"
"Sounds good," said Eiden, feeling the weight of fatigue. The struggle in the cave and the long walk had exhausted him.
"Come, let me introduce you to Bertha. She's a good woman, runs the inn for me. We can arrange a room for you."
When they opened the door to the inn, warm air and noisy conversations greeted them. The place was crowded; tables were filled with farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. A large fireplace warmed the room, and lanterns hanging on the walls cast a soft light.
As Marvus entered, the room suddenly fell silent. All heads turned toward them, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Marvus?" shouted a plump, middle-aged woman from behind the counter. "By Melarkin's name, are you alive?"
"Yes, Bertha, I'm alive," said Marvus, bowing slightly. "And I owe it to this young man beside me. This is Eiden."
All eyes were now on Eiden. He felt oddly on display. In people's gazes was a mixture of curiosity, suspicion, and gratitude.
"Come, come!" said Bertha, beckoning them toward the counter with a hand gesture. "You both look exhausted. You need hot food and drink."
Under Bertha's guidance, Eiden and Marvus sat at an empty table by the fireplace. Soon plates of hot soup, bread, and meat were placed before them. Only then did Eiden realize his hunger and began to eat quickly.
"Slow down, young man," Bertha laughed. "No one's going to steal your food."
As they ate, other patrons in the inn began to approach their table one by one. Everyone was asking Marvus what had happened to the research team and what they had found in the cave. Marvus answered patiently, but without going into details. When he said the rest of the team had probably died, sad murmurs rose in the room.
"Is the danger over then?" asked an old farmer. "Are our fields and animals safe now?"
Marvus nodded. "Yes, we eliminated the threat at its source. With Eiden's help, we completely cleared the cave. And even... something incredible happened. The cave returned to its original state, its natural beauty."
Upon hearing this explanation, people looked at Eiden with surprise and admiration. A young woman boldly asked: "How did you help? Are you a wizard?"
Eiden hesitated. "I... don't exactly know who I am. I've lost my memory. But yes, I have some... abilities. You could call me a wizard."
Bertha put her mug down on the table. "You've lost your memory? Poor child. You should see Matron Selia. She might be able to help you."
"I said the same thing," said Marvus. "We'll visit her tomorrow morning."
"I feel like I know you from somewhere..." said an old woman, leaning in close to Eiden's face.
Eiden smiled kindly at the woman. "I doubt it, mam. As I said, I've lost my memory and this is my first time here."
As the conversations continued, fatigue increasingly enveloped Eiden. Bertha noticed this and stood up to show him to a room. "Come, young man. I've had one of the inn's best rooms prepared for you. You'll have more time to talk tomorrow."
Eiden gratefully stood up, wished Marvus good night, and followed Bertha. The innkeeper led him to a small but clean room upstairs. Inside was a soft-looking bed, a small table and chair, and a basin for washing.
"Rest, young man," said Bertha before leaving the room. "Welcome to our village. We're grateful for your help. Whatever happens, you're safe here."
After the door closed, Eiden sat on the bed and took a deep breath. The day's events seemed unreal to him. When he woke up this morning, he had found himself on a battlefield, with no memory, being chased by some unidentifiable creature, had killed ten squirrels, cleared a "Dungeon," and now here he was, in a strange village, being welcomed as a savior with strange abilities.
"I want to know who I am," he whispered to himself as he lay down on the bed. "And why I'm here?"
With these questions in his mind, under the weight of fatigue, his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep. In his dream, there were blue lights, ancient symbols, and flashing images. Somewhere, in the depths of his memory, answers were waiting.