The duo moved through the cave without delay, Aurora having summoned a ball of light to float ahead of them. Aurora was drawing a map in a book as they walked, making notes of all the forks they came across. After passing the seventh fork, they saw the first signs of ruins, the tunnel forming more of a carved square.
"Well, I wasn't expecting something like this. Do we continue?" Aurora made a note about the ruins on her map.
"We can. Just be on the lookout for traps. There are bound to be some if there really are ruins here." Camilla swapped from her longsword to a scimitar, something more suited to fighting inside a narrow space.
They moved swiftly, the tunnel slowly widening as they went, until they reached an open cavern. A sprawling abandoned city stood before them, small buildings made from carved stone sat in a circle around a large raised platform. Three large vertical slabs were positioned in a semicircle.
"Wow. How ancient is this place?" Camilla asked as she looked at the perfectly symmetrical layout, even the buildings being exactly the same. Aurora jotted down some notes as the duo made their way down the narrow zig-zag path.
"I couldn't say. Though it has to be older than even the elves, no?" She paused as they reached the edge of the city, inspecting the ground for any signs of traps. "We're clear. Though that fact doesn't make me feel good about the inner section. Stay alert, Camilla."
"Alright, let's go." They progress through the streets, stopping every so often for Aurora to check for traps, reaching the boundary of the inner circle. As they were about to cross the threshold, a familiar feminine voice stopped them.
"Hold it! Why are you two intruders here?!"
They spun on their heels, both drawing their weapons, seeing it was Mel standing there gave them pause. She wore the same witch purple outfit as when they first met, yet this time she held a large wooden staff and pointed towards them, a pink glow of magic gathered at the tip. Two men in midnight black robes stood behind her, holding daggers, wearing the same dragon claw emblem as the group from town.
Mel glanced back at the men, then pointed at Camilla and Aurora. "Are these the ones who killed Ash's group?"
"Yes, ma'am. We followed the dark-haired one to ambush her, but she slipped into the guild before we were able to."
"I see. What of the other one?" Mel's focus never left the girl's movements lest they try something.
"She visited the city hall before rushing off to the guild. We decided it was best not to ambush her, she's dangerous." His voice quivered slightly.
"Noted. Now then, it was pleasant, but I need to make you forget about this encounter. Stay still for me wont you?"
"Wha- MEL WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Aurora screamed, the overwhelming rage growing in her heart at the betrayal she felt.
"Quiet, Aurora." Mel's tone was stern. "It was you who intruded on the dragon's sacred land. I am simply defending it." The magic grew stronger before Mel suddenly swung it around behind her, aiming at the two men with her. Caught off guard, all they could do was voice their complaints.
"Lady Saintess! DON-" Their words were cut short as the wave hit them, rendering them unconscious as they fell down. Aurora stood there in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"Ahh. That felt great!" Mel stretched out her limbs before storing her staff away. She made her way towards the apprehensive pair, holding her arms up. "No need for such hostility, I never meant you any harm after all."
Should we trust her? We could try to fight her, but it's not for sure we could win. Dammit. I don't know what to do. Camilla glanced towards Aurora, ready to follow her lead, but what shocked her was that she was shaking Mel's hand.
"A-Aurora!? What are you doing? Get back!" Camilla jumped in between them, pointing her sword at Mel's neck.
"Camilla, stop! It's over! Lower your weapon now." Camilla looked over her shoulder, seeing Aurora glaring at her, disappointment on her face. Camilla's mouth slowly frowned as she moved back, sheathing her blade and going to lean against the nearby wall of a building.
Aurora saw before turning back to Mel. "So why are you here? Getting rid of us can't be their only goal, right?"
"You'd be correct. They actually want the mural on those monuments in the middle." Mel gestured with her thumb over her shoulder.
"Who are 'they'? I haven't heard their name. What about their ultimate goal? How big is this group?"
"Calm down, Aurora. One question at a time. First, their ultimate goal has to do with something locked away in an icy prison on the northern continent."
"Wait, if it's all the way up there, then why are they down here causing chaos? That doesn't seem helpful."
"They still need the "Key" since without it they can't open the prison." Mel shook her head. "We were sent to investigate this place after catching wind of an unexplored cave in this area."
"Okay, but how many people are a part of this group?" Aurora couldn't shake the nagging feeling she was missing crucial pieces to complete the puzzle.
"Around two thousand where I was stationed. I would guess around ten thousand more between all the groups spread across the entire continent." Aurora's jaw dropped.
"How did such a massive group form without anyone knowing?"
"That brings me to your first question regarding their name. They call themselves "The Ignis Draconis Resurgence Sect," but it's just a cult." She spat on the ground. "Anyway, we don't have much time to spare. Let us get to the murals swiftly."
"Alright. Come on, Camilla!" The trio took off running and made it all the way to the bottom of the pedestal without hitting any traps.
"Alright, Aurora. You're up."
"On it." She made haste as she checked the path up for traps, but not finding any. "It's clear!" She ran towards the monuments, circling around the other side and stopping as the artwork shocked her. She had seen the dragons depicted on two of the murals before, they were exactly the same as the statues from her hometown. A black and silver dragon locked in battle and three pitch black dragons locked in a cage. In the mural, the cage was shown to be made from ice, a stark difference from the statue.
The third mural depicted three individuals who were protecting a fourth while casting a giant spell, three dark heads looming over them, covered in a thick smoke that obscured them. An inscription was carved into the base of the mural, written in the ancient language that one Aurora didn't completely understand.
The others finally caught up at this point, having the same reaction she did.
"What the hell?" Mel was shocked at how grand it was up close. "I don't understand how this could help th-" Her head turned, and she saw the mural with the four figures, her eyes drawn to a small silver sheet drawn right above the one casting magic.
"Hey! You two! Isn't that the Key?" Aurora didn't look up still focused on the inscription
When the c— g— broken the He– will uni– the Saint and Warr—. What does that mean? I can't understand it. She pulled out her book and began drawing the inscription to study back in town. Once finished she stood up, nodding at Camilla.
"Mel."
"Hmm? Yes?"
"We're going to leave now. I would stay here for a bit if i were you to avoid suspicion."
"Alright. I'm sure we'll meet again."
"Of course. Camilla let's go." Aurora stopped and looked around. "Camilla?"
She turned around back to the murals, seeing Camilla standing next to the one of the dragons fighting. "Aurora to Camilla?"
Camilla ignored her as if in a trance and reached out her arm, touching the silver dragon. When she did so the caver shook as if a creature's roar was causing it, making Aurora and Mel cover their ears.
The dragon in the mural began to move and shrink before moving at Camilla's arm, traveling outside and merging with Camilla. A tattoo of a silver dragon appeared on her left shoulder and disappeared down her back.
As soon as it settled into place, Camilla snapped out of her trance, being shaken by Aurora. "What the hell was that Camilla? Are you trying to frighten me to death?!"
"What? But I only touched the mur-" her words cut off when she noticed the missing dragon. "Huh? Where'd it go?" She looked towards Aurora who pointed at her shoulder.
"Oh my parents are so going to kill me."
"Oh come on. We need to go. We can deal with that later." She dragged Camilla to her feet, the pair heading on their way. Aurora waved a final goodbye before they left.