The urgency in Corvus's caws was undeniable. Kael quickly checked his gear: his Crude Stone Hand Axe was secure at his belt, his Basic Hide Quiver held five Sylphwing-fletched arrows, and his Crude Shortbow was in hand. He had a small pouch with some smoked venison jerky and his flint and pyrite. The Ancient Cache Box and its contents – the Attunement Shard and the Sylphwing Quill (though he often carried the quill separately) – were safely tucked away in his hut. For this investigation, he decided to take the Quill with him, hoping its subtle sensory enhancement would be useful.
"Alright, Corvus, lead the way," Kael said, his voice low. "But slowly. Let me keep up."
The Alpha Crow seemed to understand. It launched itself from the hut's roof and flew a short distance into the forest, in the direction it had indicated earlier, then landed on a visible branch, waiting for Kael to follow. The other Shadow Crows fanned out slightly, some flying ahead, others flanking, their occasional caws now more like scouting reports than alarm calls.
Kael moved with caution, his 'Stealth (Rank E)' and 'Silent Step' ability active. His new AGI of 6 made his movements smoother, more controlled. The forest in this direction was older, the trees taller and more densely packed, their canopy creating a deeper gloom even though it was still mid-afternoon. The air felt cooler here, and a damp, earthy smell, like freshly turned soil and decaying leaves, permeated the atmosphere. This certainly fit the riddle's description: "where shadows deepen and ancient roots drink from forgotten streams."
He noticed that the undergrowth was different too – less thorny bushes and more thick ferns, moss-covered rocks, and ancient, gnarled roots that snaked across the forest floor like petrified serpents. The usual chirping of smaller birds was absent here; an unusual quietness pervaded the area, broken only by the occasional, distant caw of his crow escort.
His 'Keen Mind', amplified by his INT of 10 and the subtle resonance of the Sylphwing Quill, was on high alert. He scanned his surroundings constantly, his eyes trying to pierce the gloom, his ears straining for any unusual sound. His WIS of 8 gave him a faint, prickling sensation at the back of his neck, a primal intuition that he was entering a place that was… different. Significant. And potentially dangerous.
Corvus continued to lead, always keeping Kael in sight, its movements economical and purposeful. The other crows would occasionally fly back, caw a brief report to Corvus, then dart off again. It was like having a team of aerial scouts.
After about an hour of slow, careful progress, the terrain began to slope downwards. Kael could hear the faint sound of running water ahead – a stream, perhaps one of the "forgotten streams" from the riddle. The shadows here were indeed very deep, the sunlight struggling to penetrate the thick canopy. Massive, ancient trees, their bark thick and deeply furrowed, dominated the landscape. Their roots were enormous, some exposed and forming intricate, cave-like structures at the base of the trunks.
Corvus landed on a low-hanging branch of one such colossal tree and let out a soft, almost hesitant caw. It looked down towards a particularly dark, root-choked hollow at the base of the tree, then back at Kael. The other crows had gone silent, perching in the higher branches, their usual boldness replaced by an uncharacteristic stillness.
This was it, Kael sensed. This was the place Corvus had wanted to show him, or warn him about.
He approached the ancient tree cautiously, his bow nocked with a Sylphwing-fletched arrow. He peered into the hollow. It was darker than the surrounding forest, and the damp, earthy smell was stronger here, mixed with a faint, musky odor he couldn't identify. He could see very little inside.
"System," he whispered, "analyze area for life signs or unusual energy." He focused on the hollow.
[System Analysis: Scanning immediate vicinity (10-meter radius from focal point). Multiple faint life signs detected (Small subterranean fauna - normal). No overt hostile entities detected at this entrance. However, unusual energy fluctuations detected emanating from deeper within the root system. Nature of energy: Undetermined (Complex, ancient, contains both vital and necrotic traces). Warning: This area resonates with old, powerful energies. The 'Silent Watchers' mentioned in your quest may be metaphorical or literal guardians tied to such energies. Proceed with extreme caution. Recommended Level for deeper exploration: Significantly higher than current.]
Vital and necrotic traces? Silent Watchers? The System's warning was stark. His Level 4 felt very inadequate right now.
Corvus cawed again, softly, nudging its head towards the hollow, then it looked up at Kael, a clear question in its intelligent eyes. It had brought him here. What would he do now?
Kael knew that rushing into an unknown, potentially high-level area was foolish. But the riddle, the Attunement Shard, the Sylphwing Quill – they all pointed towards something important hidden in places like this. This was the "path to knowing."
He took a deep breath. He wouldn't charge in blindly. But he had to investigate, at least a little. Perhaps the entrance itself held a clue.