Chapter 471 Ruins (Part 3)
The incident with the artwork coming to life made Kaizen and Xisrith smarter than ever, and they began to be more careful as they explored the palace, which had been submerged by the desert. However, even caution was not enough to prevent them from encountering more traps, such as pressure plates that activated arrow shooters, or nearly invisible lines that opened holes in the ground with drops that led straight into extremely sharp thorns.
Nevertheless, Kaizen and Xisrith continued to move cautiously through the underwater palace, their senses alert for any sign of imminent danger.
Every step was calculated, every movement scrutinized with their eyes. They had learned from the previous traps and were now determined to avoid any mishaps.
As they followed a dark corridor, Kaizen noticed a pressure plate on the floor. He immediately stopped and motioned for Xisrith to do the same. They exchanged brief glances, communicating silently, and then Kaizen extended his arm slightly, squeezing the pressure plate with <Psychokinesis>. Carefully, he applied pressure, and to his satisfaction, nothing happened. Probably, this trap had been deactivated over time or blocked by the grains of sand.
Continuing their journey, they soon came upon another room filled with ancient vases, and at the end of it was a large vase that was as tall as two standing people. Xisrith was curious, so she entered the room to examine it. Meanwhile, Kaizen watched the floor carefully, looking for any sign of potential danger. Suddenly, a subtle glint caught Kaizen's attention. Looking closer, he saw that an almost invisible line had cut across the ground in front of them. A determined smile formed on his lips.
"Be careful, Xisrith. There's a line one meter in front of you." He warned her.
The Descragon nodded and took a small knife from her belt and cut the line, releasing a small burst of arrows that shot out of the ceiling. However, it was a wasted effort, for the vase at the end of this one contained nothing but salt.
The duo continued to make their way through the palace, facing challenges at every turn. They kept their concentration, avoiding ingenious and dangerous traps. Finally, they reached a majestic room with an imposing throne in the center. Kaizen and Xisrith knew they could not let their guard down. They examined every detail of the place, wary of every shadow.
Suddenly, a laugh echoed through the hall, followed by an ominous voice. "You have come far, intruders..."
The voice echoed from a dark corner, revealing the presence of a man with a mischievous grin on his face. He wore long robes, dark skin, a gray beard, and chains around his wrists and ankles that bound him to this corner of the hall.
Xisrith immediately brandished her red sword and pointed it at the stranger, asking:
"Who are you?"
The man, still bound in chains, looked at Kaizen and Xisrith with a mixture of pleading and mystery in his eyes. "You must release me. I have answers that can help you."
Kaizen and Xisrith exchanged cautious glances. They were aware of the dangers of trusting just any NPC, especially considering the treacherous labyrinth they found themselves in. But they also knew that they could find valuable information about the palace.
"Tell us who you are and why we should trust your words," Xisrith asked, his sword still pointing in the man's direction.
The captive smiled enigmatically. "My name is Valen, and I am an ancient sage of this palace. I was imprisoned here centuries ago for my forbidden knowledge. If you wish to know more about the secrets of this place and how to face the coming threat, you must release me."
Kaizen frowned, suspicious. "What if this is just a trick to lead us into more danger? How can we be sure that your words are true?"
Valen sighed, a disappointed look on his face. "I understand your doubts, young warrior. But it is you who face a dilemma. If you release me, I can reveal crucial information that could change the course of the world and your lives. However, I understand that you may also imagine that you are unleashing a greater danger. In that case, the choice is yours."
Kaizen and Xisrith exchanged glances again, internally debating the decision to be made. They knew that if they let Valen go, they risked unknown consequences, but they also realized that this man was certainly important if he really had been alive for centuries. Therefore, Kaizen approached him and knelt before the strange man.
"Actually, we are not in a dilemma. We are more than convinced to keep a man imprisoned who says he has been trapped in an inhospitable place for centuries. And, if I'm not mistaken, considering how far we've come to get here, we're the first people you've seen in a long, long time. So what do you say, what do you say you at least start talking about the reason for being stuck here?" Kaizen looked into his eyes, into his soul, and could see that this man was very powerful, but also weakened by time and the magical chains that bound him.
Valen watched Kaizen with a penetrating gaze, catching the determination in his voice and the courage in his eyes. Understanding their hesitation, he decided to reveal a little more about himself.
"You guys are insightful, I must admit. Well, if you want to know so much, I will tell you. I have been imprisoned here for centuries, not only by my forbidden wisdom, but also by a curse that imprisoned me. I was a wise advisor to the ancient king who ruled this palace, but my quest for knowledge beyond the permitted limits led me to discover dark secrets."
Valen sighed, remembering the events that had led him to this situation.
"By uncovering the hidden truths of a reality not studied by humans, I was eventually punished with a powerful curse, and after that I was bound to these chains, and after the kingdom fell into disgrace because the king no longer had my advice, I was condemned to remain in this dark hall."
He paused for a moment, his eyes conveying a deep sadness.
"But even in captivity, I made sure that I never forgot the information about the dangers that lurk in this palace, nor what I saw when I looked through the veil that connects our reality to others. Privately, I believe that we have been brought together by fate or a greater will, and that you are the key to unlocking the secrets that I alone could not."