Kapitel 27: Arc 1 - Mysterious place
The late afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy of the Edoleran Forest, casting long shadows that danced across the forest floor. The air was cool, and the usual sounds of the forest—birds chirping, leaves rustling—provided a comforting background noise as we made our way through familiar paths. It was supposed to be a routine patrol, just like any other, but something felt off today. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching us from the shadows.
"Orphe, you're awfully quiet today," Lorelin's voice broke through my thoughts. She was walking a few paces ahead, her white fur glowing green softly in the dappled sunlight. "Everything okay?"
I blinked, snapping out of my reverie. "Yeah, just… thinking. This place seems different somehow. Can't you feel it?"
Zephyr, flying overhead, swooped down and landed beside me, his wings folding neatly against his sides. "I feel it too," he said, his tone more serious than usual. "The wind is whispering strange things today."
"Oh great, now the wind's gossiping about us," Orish muttered, rolling his eyes. He was always the most sceptical among us, never one to buy into superstitions or gut feelings. "Maybe it's just the weather. Or maybe you're all just paranoid."
I couldn't help but smirk at that. "If being paranoid keeps us alive, then I'll happily wear that label, Orish. But seriously, something's up."
Orsus, who had been quiet until now, grunted in agreement. "The forest feels… tense. Like it's holding its breath."
As we continued walking, the trees began to thin out, and we found ourselves in an area of the forest we hadn't explored before... or at least it looked alien to us. The ground beneath our paws was littered with fallen leaves and the occasional broken branch. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the forest seemed to fade away, replaced by an eerie silence.
"Look," Lorelin whispered, her voice barely audible as she pointed ahead with her nose.
We all stopped in our tracks and followed her gaze. There, partially hidden by overgrown vines and moss, were the crumbling remains of what looked like ancient stone structures. Ruins. They were old, really old—like, 'who even remembers when this was built' old.
"Whoa, where did this come from?" Zephyr asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. "I've flown over this area a hundred times and never noticed these before."
Orish tilted his head, studying the ruins. "Maybe they were hidden by magic. Or maybe they've been here all along, just waiting for someone to find them."
"Or maybe they just decided to pop out of the ground because they were bored," I quipped, trying to lighten the mood. But in truth, the sight of the ruins sent a shiver down my spine. There was something about them that felt… wrong.
I thought about PIA, hoping for some insight. PIA, what do you make of this? I wasn't sure if she'd answer though... it's not like we can have a conversation.
[Analyzing…]
The familiar display of information appeared in my mind's eye.
Uff... so it worked.
[Congratulations. The User has discovered their first Dungeon.]
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Ruins of Unknown Origin
Age: Ancient
Status: Partially intact
Potential Threat: High
Potential Rewards: Unknown, possibly magical artifacts
Additional Notes: These ruins appear to be a dungeon hidden in the remnants of a long-lost civilization. The energy emanating from them suggests the presence of powerful, possibly dangerous magic. Extreme caution is advised.
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"Well, that's comforting," I muttered, mostly to myself only to say most of these things out loud. Everyone had already used to that I had some kind of 'skill' that allowed me to analyze some things. "So, it's old, possibly dangerous, and we have no idea what's inside. Sounds like a party."
Zephyr cocked his head at me. "Are you sure we should be here, Orphe? This place gives me the creeps."
"I don't know if 'should' is the right word," I admitted, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. "But I do know that I don't want to just walk away from this. There's something here, something... big... Ian adventure! I'd love to find out what it is." Yeah. I was totally over the moon... A DUNGEON. I mean REALLY?! Awesome! I love you new world!
Orsus puffed out his chest. "We're strong enough to handle whatever's inside. And besides, we're a good team, right? We've got this."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Let's not get too cocky, Orsus. Being strong doesn't mean we should rush in without a plan."
Lorelin nodded in agreement. "Orphe's right. We need to be careful. If this place is as dangerous as it feels, we can't afford to take any unnecessary risks... or Mum would punish us severely... with her nagging..."
Orish, ever the pragmatist, was already scanning the area for potential threats. "I'll take point. Lorelin, you stay close to Orsus. Zephyr, keep an eye out from above. Orphe… try not to make too many sassy comments. I know you're feeling good with this newfound freedom and all but we might actually need you to be serious this time."
"Oh, I'm serious, all right," I shot back, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Serious about making sure none of us end up as ancient ruins ourselves."
The groan of pain was the only thing I heard in return for my joke. What can I say? When I stopped with the act and stiffness... I realised how good it feels to say some of these things out loud.
With that, we cautiously approached the ruins, moving as quietly as we could. The closer we got, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. It was as if the very air around us was thick with unease, pressing down on us from all sides.
The ruins themselves were massive, much larger than they had appeared from a distance. Cracked stone pillars jutted out of the ground at odd angles, and what remained of the walls was covered in strange symbols and carvings. The place looked like it had been abandoned for centuries, maybe even longer.
"What do you think these symbols mean?" Zephyr asked, his voice hushed as he peered at one of the carvings. "They look… familiar somehow."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to decipher the symbols. "I don't know. They're not like anything I've seen before, but there's something about them that feels… off. Like they're not just decorations."
[Analysing]
PIA chimed in again, offering another analysis.
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Ancient Symbols
Translation: Incomplete. Impossible to translate
Function: Unknown, possibly related to magical or protective wards
Warning: Interference with these symbols could trigger dormant traps or release hidden dangers.
-----
"Great, so they might be traps," I said, sighing. "Of course they are. Why wouldn't they be?"
Orish snickered. "Wouldn't be much of an adventure without some death traps, right?"
"Remind me why we brought you along again?" I teased, though my mind was already racing with possibilities.
We continued our exploration, carefully navigating through the rubble and debris. The deeper we went, the more we felt the weight of the place's history pressing down on us. It was as if the ruins themselves were alive, watching us with unseen eyes, waiting to see what we would do next.
Eventually, we found ourselves standing before what looked like a massive stone door, half-buried in the ground. It was covered in more of those strange symbols, and a cold draft seemed to be seeping out from the cracks around it.
[Warning: You found the entrance to the Dungeon]
"This must be the entrance to whatever's down there," Orsus said, his voice low.
"In other words... it's the entrance to a whole lot of trouble," I replied, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. But I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward the door. Something was calling to me, urging me to open it. Was I an adrenaline junky in my previous life or what?
Lorelin nudged my shoulder with her nose. "Orphe, are you sure about this? We don't have to go any further if you don't want to."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I know it's risky, but… I want to know what's down there. I can't explain it, but I just feel like we're meant to find out."
Zephyr fluffed up his feathers, clearly uneasy. "Well, whatever's down there, we'll face it together."
I nodded, grateful for their support. "Yeah. Together."
With that, we began examining the stone door, looking for a way to open it. The ancient mechanism was complex, and it took all of us working together to finally shift it. As the door creaked open, a gust of cold, stale air rushed out, carrying with it the scent of something old and long-forgotten.
"Here we go," I whispered, my heart pounding as we prepared to step into the unknown.
As we peered into the darkness beyond the door, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and dread. Whatever lay ahead, it was going to change everything. And for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of real, raw adventure coursing through my veins.
This was it. The beginning of something big.
[Attention: You've entered the realm of the Dungeon]
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
DragoAMI
DragoAMI Time to start the first small Arc in this story before the next time skip ^^ I hope you'll enjoy it. I'll try to show you the world I'm creating in more fuller way ^^
Also, I wrote an article about magic in this world if you'd like to learn a bit ^^
https://www.worldanvil.com/w/polaris---reborn-as-a-defective-dragon-dracoami/a/magic-article
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein