Chapter 17: The First King’s Tomb
The door slammed shut behind Vael with a resounding thud, sealing him off from his friends. For a moment, he was enveloped in darkness, his heart pounding in his ears. Trusting his instincts, he started to sprint blindly, expecting at any moment to collide with an unseen obstacle. But surprisingly, his path remained unobstructed.
Then, like a beacon in the pitch black, a single torch flickered to life in the distance. Its warm glow was a stark contrast to the cold uncertainty of the dark tunnel. Vael slowed his pace to a cautious walk, drawn towards the solitary light.
As he moved, the sound of his footsteps echoed off unseen walls, and the crackling of the torch grew louder. In the midst of the silence, he could just make out the faint sound of Moxy's breathing – a thread of hope that he wasn't alone in this strange passage.
Approaching the first torch, another one suddenly sparked to life further ahead, casting dancing shadows along the walls. Then, as if responding to his presence, more torches ignited in a sequential trail, each one illuminating a stretch of the mysterious path. It seemed as though the path was being laid out for him, guiding him deeper into the unknown.
Luminara's voice echoed with a hint of awe, "I've never seen this place before." She paused as Vael took in the cavernous space around them, the sheer scale of it defying belief. "These engravings," she continued, "are ancient Elysian script."
Vael's gaze swept over the walls, the inscriptions etched into the stone telling stories long forgotten. It was hard to imagine such a vast, hidden world lay beneath the prison's oppressive confines.
As he neared the final torch, Vael found himself dwarfed by two immense doors, their height imposing, their design intricate. To the side of the door, a small hole caught his attention, just big enough to fit a finger. Above it, more text was inscribed.
"Luminara, what does this say?" Vael asked, curiosity lacing his voice.
After a brief pause, Luminara replied, "It reads 'only true blood can enter.'"
"True blood? What does that mean?" Vael's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Try placing your finger in the hole," Luminara suggested.
"Why would I do that?" Vael protested, a mix of skepticism and apprehension in his tone.
"Just do it. Don't be afraid," Luminara urged.
Taking a deep breath, Vael felt his throat tighten as he swallowed dryly. With a tentative hand, he extended his finger and slowly inserted it into the hole in the wall.
As Vael felt the sharp sting of the prick and the warm trickle of blood from his finger, he recoiled instinctively. "Ouch, that kind of hurt," he muttered, nursing his finger. But his discomfort was quickly overshadowed by the grinding sound of the massive doors beginning to move.
Centuries of stillness gave way to motion, the doors parting with a groan that resonated through the chamber. Dust billowed into the air, and a powerful gust of wind rushed out, almost knocking Vael off his feet. He steadied himself, watching in awe as the ancient doors finally swung open.
When the dust settled, Vael peered inside. At the end of a grand staircase lay a casket, the centerpiece of a room that seemed untouched by time. The chamber was majestic, adorned with crystals and jewels that glittered in the torchlight, casting prismatic colors across the walls.
"This can't be," Luminara's voice broke through Vael's wonder, filled with disbelief. "This is the lost tomb of the first king. The Elysians have been searching for this for countless years." Her voice trailed off, as if she was struggling to comprehend the magnitude of their discovery. "Who would have thought it lay hidden beneath a prison?" she mused, her tone a mixture of amazement and reverence.
The tomb trembled as if responding to an unseen force, the vibrations sending shivers down Vael's spine. Then, a voice, deep and resonant, filled the chamber. "Ahhh, at last, someone has found their way here."
Vael's eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice, but he was met only with the flickering shadows cast by the torches. "Calm down, boy," the voice continued, a hint of amusement in its tone. "I am but a spirit. This is my tomb. I have long since journeyed to the realm of the dead."
"How did you find this place?" the voice inquired.
"Let's just say I got lucky," Vael replied, his voice steady despite the surreal encounter.
"Mmm, indeed you did," the voice mused. "You must be searching for the Prism Stone, I presume?"
"Yes, we are," Vael answered,
"We?" the voice echoed with a note of curiosity. "Ahh, I see. Luminara, you can reveal yourself," the voice called out. "Your presence is faint, but not imperceptible to me."
Vael's heart skipped a beat. The fact that this ancient spirit could detect Luminara's essence within him was a testament to its power. 'This spirit must have been incredibly powerful,' Vael thought, a mix of awe and apprehension coursing through him. The air in the tomb seemed to thrum with ancient energy, and Vael knew that he was in the presence of a being of significant might and wisdom.
Vael stood in stunned silence as Luminara addressed the spirit as 'father'. "Father?" he echoed, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe.
"Yes, Vael," Luminara responded, her voice filled with a reverence Vael had never heard before. "This is my father, Lord Aizen, the first king."
As the spirit of Lord Aizen materialized from the casket, taking the form of a frail but dignified Elysian man, Vael felt a profound sense of history enveloping him. Luminara's spirit emerged from within him, gracefully bowing before the ancient king.
"I have been well, Father," Luminara spoke, "but our people suffer. Time has not been kind, and our strength diminishes with each passing year."
Lord Aizen listened, his ethereal form radiating wisdom and sorrow. After a moment of reflection, he turned his attention back to Vael. "You must hold this boy in high regard," he observed.
"Yes," Luminara affirmed. "I believe he has the power to alter the course of our fate."
Lord Aizen fell silent, his gaze lingering on Vael. After a contemplative pause, he finally spoke. "Very well," he said. "Boy, approach my body. Within it, you will find the Prism Stone. It is yours to claim, but be forewarned: as soon as you touch it, the trial will commence."
"Trial?" Vael asked, a hint of trepidation in his voice.
"Yes," Lord Aizen replied gravely. "It is a formidable challenge. Succeed, and you will gain the full power of the prism. Fail, and your soul will be forever bound within the Prism Stone."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone