章節 17: Majestic Cavern
As Ryan and Elora made their way through the ravaged forest, their conversation danced effortlessly between recent events and the mysteries that surrounded them. With Elora's barrier restored, albeit on a smaller scale, they walked with a renewed sense of security, each step echoing with the weight of their shared experiences.
Ryan's mind buzzed with questions, his curiosity a wildfire waiting to ignite. The sudden appearance of the Warlock and the events that followed had left him with a thirst for answers, a hunger to unravel the secrets that lay within the very first they roamed in.
But as he glanced at Elora, he sensed her reluctance to divulge certain details.
Respecting her boundaries, he held back his inquiries, choosing instead to walk alongside her in companionable silence.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's that I can't," Elora confessed, her words tinged with a hint of apology. Despite her weariness, her grace remained untouched, a testament to her strength.
Ryan offered her a reassuring smile, a silent gesture of understanding. "I understand," he replied softly, his gaze unwavering.
"But... Who knows, fate may very well reveal what is hidden," Elora added cryptically, her words hanging in the air like a delicate veil of mystery.
Though Ryan couldn't decipher the true meaning behind her words, he chose not to dwell on it, instead steering the conversation towards the intricacies of mana and its boundless potential. With Elora's patient guidance, they delved deeper into the mysteries of magic, their words weaving a tapestry of knowledge and wonder.
But eventually, she asked Ryan what exactly he sought to achieve.
He had the potential to become a mage powerful enough to shake the foundations of Aria as a whole, but so far was yet to display any ambitions other than to learn and develop.
Elora was certain that Ryan's heart and intentions were pure, but so were everybody's at one point.
And thus she reiterated, "What is it that you seek?"
It was a direct question that Ryan had to take a second to think about.
It also wasn't something he had pondered on too deeply since things were all happening so quickly.
But he was able to come to an answer.
"I just want to see where things take me and learn as much as I can. Getting more skilled and stronger has also been fun so far, and it seems like if I don't, one day someone like the Warlock might cut my life short. So if I want to be able to do as I please, I have no choice but to keep progressing."
His answer was simple and innocent, to the point it was almost childlike, but it was genuine.
Then, flipping it back on her, Ryan asked Elora the same question. Although she had lived much longer than he had and experienced who knows what over all those years in Aria, everyone had a goal of some sort, right?
But her response left him almost pitying her and unsure of what to say.
"I just want to leave this forest I am bound to and rediscover myself. I also have grudges and debts to pay, as well as people I used to care about that I haven't spoken to or seen in decades. If only I..."
Not expecting herself to reveal so much to Ryan, she seemed to feel as though she had nothing to lose by being open with the youth. However, she didn't wish to burden him with her past and regrets. Ryan also didn't want to pry anything she wasn't comfortable saying.
And so, both fell into a slightly awkward silence for a while, lost in their thoughts.
-
As Ryan and Elora continued on their peaceful walk, they couldn't help but begin to notice the subtle changes in the forest around them.
It was as if it were alive.
Despite the scars it bore, it still pulsed with vitality, a resilient testament to the power of nature. Meanwhile, the air hummed with energy, carrying whispers of ancient secrets waiting to be discovered.
Catching a glimpse of something in the distance, Ryan suddenly reached a halt.
It was a cavern, majestic and imposing, its presence commanding attention.
Turning to Elora, her sudden shift in demeanour caught his eye.
'To think it actually revealed itself to him.' She appeared conflicted and deep in thought.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, but the response he received left him both confused and curious.
"That's what I'm supposed to be protecting," Elora revealed, her voice filled with a mixture of reverence and responsibility.
"That's it? A cave?" he couldn't help but question, finding it slightly underwhelming.
He was expecting some sort of Elven Artifact, like the staff she wielded, which he had asked her about. Or some sort of secret grimoire with a forbidden magical spell within it.
Despite that, seeing as Elora wasn't joking, Ryan was intrigued and pressed for more information. His eyes gleamed with excitement and curiosity, just thinking about it.
However, before he could ask anything, Elora warned, "Even I have no idea what's within it, both in terms of the risk and the reward, but there is one thing I do know. No one that has entered that cavern has come out alive."
"I'll be fine. And after you teach me some elven magic and train me up, I'm sure it'll be..." Ryan trailed off, seeing Elora shake her head.
"It is said that it only reveals itself once to each chosen individual, outside the guardian who can't enter even if they wanted to. So it's now or never," she revealed.
Despite that, considering the benefits of exploring the cavern, Ryan turned to Elora with determination burning brightly in his eyes. "If I successfully obtain what is inside and complete the trial, can you finally leave this forest?" he asked, his voice steady despite the uncertainty that lingered in his heart.
Elora hesitated, her gaze searching his face for any hint of doubt. But finding none, she nodded, a glimmer of hope lighting up her eyes. "Once the forest regains its strength, yes, I would love to," she replied, her voice filled with quiet resolve.
That's all the motivation Ryan needed, planning on exploring its contents either way.
'You only live once, right?'
But Elora couldn't suppress her amusement which quickly burst his confidence.
'He has no idea what it even is, yet he's willing to rush into it head-first. I can't tell if he's brave or just stupid,' she thought to herself as a chuckle escaped her lips.
However, his resolve to complete the trial partly for her sake was heartwarming, not that it would help him actually do so...
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