The faint blue light from the altar continued to shimmer, lending a ghostly pallor to Roric's face. He was barely breathing, his body limp. Kael, adrenaline still coursing through him, knelt beside him. He had to act fast. He couldn't carry him out; he'd need help. And whatever was draining him hadn't been defeated yet.
The crystal in the altar, now the only source of light in the chamber, hummed ominously. He remembered the whispers – "...the Architect's slumber..." "Blight seeps..." Could it be? Was the crystal somehow a conduit for the Blight, feeding on Roric's life force?
He had to take a risk. Slowly, carefully, he reached for the tablet. The faint resonance intensified as his fingers touched it. His head swam. It was like a wave of static, pushing against his consciousness. Then, an image flashed in his mind – a vast, star-filled sky, a single bright star in the center, surrounded by swirling symbols.
The tablet was vibrating in his hand now. With a surge of strength, he hurled it at the crystal. The tablet shattered, sending a cascade of sparkling shards. The crystal pulsed even more intensely, then exploded in a burst of blue light. The light washed over Roric's body, which convulsed slightly.
Kael braced himself for the worst. The light faded, leaving the chamber in darkness once more. A few seconds ticked by in silence. Then, Roric stirred. He opened his eyes, blinking in the growing darkness.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "I… I was... gone."
He looked up, seeing Kael kneeling beside him, the broken remains of the tablet scattered on the floor. He remembered the portal, the feeling of being swallowed up by the light. "The thing... what was it?" he croaked.
"Some kind of energy construct," Kael explained, keeping it simple. "I think it was trying to drain you. I destroyed the... thing."
Roric sat up, groaning slightly. He touched his chest, then looked around the chamber. "You… you saved me?" His voice was filled with a mix of disbelief and gratitude.
"It wasn't planned," Kael admitted, "but yeah, I guess so." He was still processing what had happened himself. He'd only acted instinctively, driven by the knowledge that Roric wouldn't last much longer if left there.
"I don't know how to thank you," Roric said. "I was lost, alone, then you..." He paused, his gaze flickering to the shimmering shards on the floor. "And then..." He trailed off, the look in his eyes a mix of confusion and awe.
Kael shrugged. "It just kind of happened. Now, the most pressing question is how do we get out of here." He'd forgotten about the tunnel they'd come down.
Roric looked up at the archway blocking their return. "That way's collapsed," he said, "It must have been part of what the thing... the thing did."
It was a setback. Now they had to find another route out.
"I can't see anything beyond this point," Roric said, peering down a side corridor. "It might lead back to the central chamber, but it's worth a try."
Kael hesitated. The path led deeper into the ruins, not out. But it was something. He nodded. "Let's try it."
They cautiously descended the side corridor, Roric moving surprisingly quickly considering his earlier state. The corridor twisted and turned, the air growing more stale and oppressive. Finally, it dead-ended at a heavy metal door.
Roric tapped the door. It felt surprisingly solid, not warped or damaged. He tried the handle – locked. A small symbol was etched into the door, faintly glowing with the same bluish hue as the shards from the broken tablet.
Kael recognized the symbol – the same ones he'd seen on the walls, on the altar, even on the Golem. "That's the same symbol we saw on the altar," he said, pointing at the door. "Maybe this is some kind of control panel, or an exit."
He touched the symbol, and the door hummed faintly. Then, with a creak of ancient hinges, it swung open.
Beyond the door was a large, rectangular cavern lit by a series of glowing braziers. Massive stone pillars, carved with intricate, swirling patterns, supported the roof. In the center of the cavern stood a massive stone sarcophagus, its lid raised, revealing an empty interior.
Kael and Roric exchanged glances. This felt more like a tomb than a storage room. But what had been buried here?
They stepped closer. The sarcophagus was adorned with symbols, most of them obscured by weathering and dust, but one in particular caught their attention. It was the same symbol as on the altar and the door – the same symbol that had appeared on Kael's hand when he first touched the crystal tablet.
A shiver ran down Kael's spine. This was more than a forgotten resting place. This was the heart of whatever ancient power had once inhabited this place. And the mysterious tablet he now held seemed to be a key to it.
They continued to explore the cavern, but found no further passages. The door they'd just come through seemed the only way in or out. As they stood in the center of the chamber, the faint whispering from the altar corridor grew louder, more insistent.
Suddenly, the air around them shimmered. The floor beneath their feet began to glow, and the stone pillars around them crackled and fell. The world seemed to implode, rushing towards them in a whirlpool of light and sound.
You are absolutely right to correct me on the EXP calculation! My apologies for that oversight in the previous chapter's summary. Kael should indeed be much closer to Level 13.
Let's pick up exactly where the last scene left off, with the correct EXP status, and see what happens next.