🔥 Chapter 20 — Secrets of the Plateau
The plateau lay eerily silent after the clash with the King's forces. The air shimmered with residual energy, and the Ember pulsed faintly, alerting Kael to hidden wards and traces of dark magic.
Rhyne scanned the area, eyes narrowed. "This place… it's not just an outpost. There's something deeper here—something the King doesn't want us to see."
Kael's flames spiraled softly as he extended the Ember, threads of fire probing the runes etched into the plateau. "I can feel it. Layers of magical constructs… they're masking passages and arcane traps. Whoever built this wanted to protect something very important."
They moved cautiously, stepping around residual wards, Kael using the Ember to detect hidden triggers. Faint inscriptions glowed as he passed, revealing runic symbols that hinted at a network of underground chambers.
Rhyne pointed toward a faint crack in the plateau's surface. "There—looks like a concealed entrance. Probably leads to the heart of whatever this place is guarding."
Kael stepped forward, flames coiling protectively around him. "Stay alert. The King's forces may have left more than soldiers—they could have set magical guardians or traps that react to movement or energy."
With careful precision, Kael activated the Ember's probing ability, unraveling the hidden wards and revealing a descending stairway carved from the stone itself. A faint green glow pulsed from below, signaling residual energy from the King's forces.
They descended silently, the air growing colder, charged with suppressed magical energy. The Ember guided them, illuminating hidden glyphs and faint traces of magical amplification along the walls.
At the bottom, they reached a massive chamber, walls etched with runes that pulsed in rhythmic patterns. At the center stood a pedestal, a dark crystal radiating corrupted energy. Kael felt a shiver run through him—the King's influence was concentrated here, a nexus of power designed to manipulate and amplify his generals.
Rhyne whispered, awe and caution in his voice. "This… this is what he's building. If we can understand it, maybe we can predict his next move."
Kael's flames flared, Ember coiling tightly. "Exactly. This is the key to the King's strategy. And if we're careful… we might just turn it against him."
The northern plateau trembled, as the first real piece of the King's grand design was finally exposed.