The journey back through the ancient corridor was far quieter than the walk in.
No one spoke.
The excitement that had filled the group after discovering the hidden ruins had completely disappeared, replaced by an uneasy silence that weighed heavily on everyone's shoulders. Their footsteps echoed softly against the smooth stone floor as they climbed toward the entrance.
Kael kept glancing at his chest.
He still couldn't explain what had happened.
The black crystal had simply... disappeared into him.
He felt no different. His breathing was steady, his strength unchanged, and aside from a lingering warmth beneath his ribs, there was nothing to suggest anything extraordinary had occurred.
"What do you think that thing was?" Finn finally asked, breaking the silence.
"No idea," Darren replied.
"Some kind of ancient relic," Elena said quietly. "The Association will probably know."
Marcus nodded without turning around.
"They'll definitely want to study it."
Kael frowned.
"But it's gone."
Marcus slowed his pace slightly.
"That doesn't mean it can't be recovered."
Recovered?
The word lingered in Kael's mind.
Before he could ask what Marcus meant, they emerged from the ruins into the forest.
The afternoon sun had already begun its descent. Long shadows stretched across the clearing, and the once peaceful atmosphere had become strangely oppressive.
"We should head back," Kael said. "If we're late, we'll fail the trial."
Marcus looked toward the western sky before nodding.
"There's a shortcut."
"A shortcut?" Darren asked.
"My uncle showed it to me years ago. It'll save us almost an hour."
Kael had never heard Marcus mention it before, but he saw no reason to doubt him.
Marcus had always been the one who knew the forest best.
"Lead the way."
Instead of returning along the stream they had followed earlier, Marcus guided them through a narrow path hidden between towering rocks. Thick vines hung overhead, blocking much of the fading sunlight.
The deeper they walked, the more unfamiliar the surroundings became.
Kael glanced around.
"I don't remember coming this way."
"We didn't," Marcus answered. "That's why it's shorter."
Finn scratched his head.
"It feels more like we're getting lost."
Marcus laughed.
"You worry too much."
Despite the reassuring words, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
The forest had become unnaturally quiet again.
No birds.
No insects.
Not even the distant cries of monsters.
Only the sound of their own footsteps remained.
After another fifteen minutes, the narrow trail opened onto the edge of a massive cliff.
Kael stopped.
His eyes widened.
The ground simply... ended.
Beyond it stretched a bottomless chasm so vast that its opposite side could barely be seen through the thick mist below.
Cold air drifted upward from the darkness.
It carried a smell unlike anything Kael had ever experienced.
Ancient.
Empty.
Forgotten.
"This..." Finn whispered.
"I've never seen this place before."
Neither had Kael.
"This isn't on any map."
Marcus walked toward the cliff's edge.
"It doesn't need to be."
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Marcus slowly turned around.
His expression had changed.
The friendly smile Kael had known since childhood was gone.
In its place was a cold, unreadable gaze.
Something inside Kael tightened.
Marcus looked at the others.
Darren lowered his eyes.
Elena remained silent.
Finn looked between them in confusion.
"Marcus?"
Kael took a cautious step forward.
"What is this?"
Marcus sighed.
"I was hoping you'd figure it out yourself."
A heavy silence settled over the cliff.
Then Marcus spoke again.
"That relic."
"It chose you."
Kael blinked.
"I didn't choose anything."
"I know."
Marcus smiled bitterly.
"That's exactly the problem."
Kael's heartbeat quickened.
"What are you talking about?"
Marcus took a slow step closer.
"My family has searched for those ruins for generations."
Kael froze.
"What?"
"My grandfather found references to them decades ago."
"My father continued the search."
"And now..."
His eyes locked onto Kael.
"...after all those years..."
"...the treasure chose someone else."
Kael stared at him in disbelief.
"You knew about the ruins from the beginning."
Marcus nodded.
"That's why I insisted we come."
Finn looked horrified.
"You planned this?"
"I planned to claim the relic."
Marcus shrugged.
"I didn't plan for it to reject me."
Kael shook his head.
"It didn't reject you."
"It simply reacted."
"We don't even know what it was."
Marcus laughed quietly.
"Do you really believe that?"
"It vanished into your body."
"You expect me to pretend nothing happened?"
Kael looked toward Darren.
"You knew?"
Darren remained silent.
His silence was answer enough.
Kael turned to Elena.
She couldn't meet his eyes.
Even now, she said nothing.
His chest tightened.
Years.
Years of friendship.
Training together.
Sharing meals.
Helping one another.
Had it all been a lie?
Only Finn stepped backward.
"Wait..."
"You can't seriously be thinking—"
Marcus interrupted him.
"You don't have to get involved."
Finn stared at him.
"He's our friend."
Marcus's face hardened.
"No."
"He's standing between us and something priceless."
Kael slowly rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"I don't want to fight."
"Neither did I."
Marcus drew his blade.
"But opportunities like this only come once."
Steel scraped against steel as Darren unslung his shield.
Elena reluctantly raised her bow.
Finn remained frozen where he stood.
"You've all lost your minds," he whispered.
Marcus never looked away from Kael.
"Hand over whatever's inside you."
"I can't."
"I don't know how."
"I don't even know if it's still there."
Marcus sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
Kael felt his heart sink.
He had expected anger.
Disappointment.
Even jealousy.
But never this.
He searched Marcus's face one last time, hoping to find the friend he had known since childhood.
Instead...
He found only greed.
The wind howled through the endless abyss below.
Marcus slowly lifted his sword.
"Take him."