Orin and Liora approached the crystalline spire, its radiant warmth reaching out like a faint pulse. The closer they got, the more the echo seemed to sync with the beating of their hearts. Symbols etched across the spire’s surface flickered, shifting into recognizable patterns as Orin held up his hand.
“Do you think it’s responding to us?” Liora asked, eyes scanning the symbols that now glowed steadily.
“I’m not sure,” Orin replied, cautiously reaching out to touch the surface. As his fingers brushed against the crystal, the symbols aligned into a circular pattern, and with a low hum, the spire projected a holographic map into the air before them. It displayed the surrounding landscape and something else—a hidden chamber beneath the spire, pulsing with the same light.
“There’s a pathway underground,” Liora noted, tracing the path on the map with her fingertip. “But why would it be hidden?”
Orin glanced at her, then back at the map. “We’re not going to find answers standing here. Let’s see what’s down there.”
They circled the spire, searching for an entrance until Liora spotted a narrow crevice, partially concealed by shimmering vines. Pulling the vines aside, they found a hidden staircase winding down into darkness. The echo grew louder as they descended, its rhythm now more like a distant chant.
The stairway ended in a cavernous room filled with glowing fragments—pieces of technology, crystals, and otherworldly artifacts, each emitting a faint hum. At the center of the room lay a large, crystalline shard, its light pulsing steadily.
Liora stepped closer, her breath catching. “It’s… it’s like a piece of this world’s code.”
Orin reached out and lifted the shard. As he did, the entire cavern trembled, and the echo abruptly stopped. The symbols on the walls dimmed, and a voice—clearer and stronger than before—spoke directly to them.
“You have found the first fragment. There are more.”
