The next day

The forest was eerily silent as I made my way through the dense familiar underbrush in the forest. The towering trees cast long shadows, as it was just the first break of dawn, meaning the sun hasn't even begun to peak yet.

I reached the clearing where the chamber lay hidden beneath layers of moss and vines. The stone entrance, carved with markings, stood out more as I got closer. I paused, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

As I approached the entrance, I saw Raven standing there. " Aurelia," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. I wondered if he was just as nervous, if that is why he was whispering as well? Was he scared to make sudden movements?

"Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded, " Yes, I am ready."

We pushed open the heavy stone door, revealing the dark passageway that seemed to get darker the more you looked. As we moved further in, where the air grew colder, I recognized the mess that was left the last time we tried to come in. Cracks lined the floor where the ground shook, and debris and dust were layered on the ground as well. Whoever didn't want us in here last time, didn't care if we were to come back, as it seemed easier to get in than last time. The blockage that had fallen in the entryway of the door was gone.

"Let's go back to the location where the shaking started ." Raven suggested. I nodded and followed him down the familiar path.

The passageway was narrow and small, the walls not that far from where we stood in the middle, me behind Raven as he led the way. We moved cautiously , our footsteps echoing with each step. As we reached the chamber , I felt a shiver run down my spine. The room was just as we had left it , the floor littered with debris, and the walls covered in cobwebs and ancient symbols, just like that book I remember picking up in the library. In the center of the room, a large grey stone pedestal stood, not looking a day ol. You could still see the art carved into the cernamic.

Raven was the first to step to step toward it, his eyes scanning the room. "There must be something we missed here last tim. Otherwise, why would everything crumble and act like it was about to collapse?" He asked.

I moved to the pedestal, running my fingers over the edge and across the carvings. The stone was cold to the touch but smooth. Continuing tracing with my fingers, I felt a rigged edge.

"Raven, come here." I called out. He joined me by the pedestal, " feel right here."

He nodded, examining the pedestal closer, searching everywhere he could. Raven knelt down, moving his fingers slowly around the rigged edge," Look here," he said, pointing to the pedestal. I knelt down, just as he gripped at what looked like to be a little compartment at the base, prying it open. Inside, we found a scroll embedded with the same symbols we have seen before.

We unscrolled the scroll, our eyes scanning the text. The script looked old, and the ink looked faded, but we could still make it out. The scroll detailed the history of the council. It spoke of dark rituals and forbidden knowledge of power and corruption. The more we read, the more we realize that the council isn't what they seem to be. They have manipulated the royal families so they can try and be the powerful rulers of the kingdom.

"This is incredible. We actually found something, more answers. " he said. i nodded, " We need to be careful now that we have found something. If the council found out that we found this, they would for sure come after us."

I pause, " Yes, which means there might be a chance they are trying to out-thrown me, I need to be careful, but not too careful."

He nodded and stood up, " Let's meet somewhere more private to look this scroll over and actually study it in more depth."

" Alright."

Authors note
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