Relic of the Lost Realm

Prologue

The search for the relic had led Adrian on a perilous journey through winding, labyrinthine caves. He trudged through the depths of the earth, his wand clutched tightly in his hand, as the faint glow emanating from it provided the only source of light in the dark, foreboding caverns. Jagged rock sprouted from the ceiling and floor of the tunnels often forming a pattern reminiscent of sharp teeth. Every step he took echoed through the stone tunnels, rebounding in a way that made Adrian worry that he wasn't alone.

"Great, just what I needed," Adrian whispered to himself as he cautiously rounded a corner. "Another creepy, dank cave to explore." It seemed as though the deeper he delved into the subterranean network, the more bleak and dismal the surroundings became. Adrian's shadow seemed to dance along the walls, distorted by the numerous cracks and crevices that covered them.

As he moved forward, the glow from his wand grew brighter and brighter, beckoning him towards the prize he sought. The sound of his footsteps became louder as he kept moving, reverberating ominously through the corridors. Again, Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. His heart started to pound in his chest as he quickened his pace. The brighter the light from his wand, the more warped his shadow became. He was almost positive the shadow was no longer his.

Panic gnawed at Adrian, fearful of what manner of beast might be stalking him and against his better judgment he decided to look back. However, he could not catch a glimpse of anything, as whatever it was seemed to be lurking just beyond the reach of his wand's light. The sound of movement, a rustling that sounded eerily like the soft scrape of claws against stone, became clear behind him. The scraping grew louder, more menacing, as if something was closing in on him with deliberate intent.

Without thinking, Adrian broke into a sprint, determined to not find himself at the mercy of those claws. The beast following behind him matched his speed, as a low, guttural growl began growing steadily louder. It was unnerving, like the snarl of a predator closing in on its prey.

Suddenly, the narrow corridor opened up into a massive, dimly lit chamber. Adrian skidded to a halt, his heart still racing, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the presence behind him but when he turned, there was nothing but shadows.

"Well, go on then!" he bellowed shakily. "Show me that ugly mug of yours!" The growling had stopped, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Whatever had been chasing Adrian seemed to have vanished into the darkness.

After getting no response to his heckling, Adrian turned his attention to the chamber. The circular chamber was large with a high ceiling. Around the edges of the room stood ionic stone pillars, all in various stages of decay. Some were less worn than others, Adrian could even tell that at one point they must have been painted. Randomly sized flecks of red and white as well as some smaller faded black figures were visible in some places on the pillars.

Adrian was drawn to the center of the chamber, where an enigmatic chalice rested upon a stone pedestal. The pedestal, like the pillars, was worn and was undoubtedly more ornate in the past. All that was left was a fresco on the front of a scene that Adrian wasn't familiar with. Under different circumstances he would have wanted to examine the fresco in depth, but the chalice took all of his attention. The relic Adrian had risked so much to find seemed to be finally within his reach. He strode confidently towards the chalice, his wand held aloft. But as he approached, he heard a faint clicking sound, and his foot brushed against something on the ground. Suddenly, the floor gave way beneath him, and he tumbled downwards, landing hard on the stone floor below.

He groaned in pain and frustration as he sat up, brushing dust and debris off his clothes. "Well, that was just fantastic," he grumbled. "I guess I should have seen that coming." As he examined his surroundings, he realized that he was in a new chamber, different from any he had seen before. But something about it felt familiar, like he had been here before. Unlike the other chamber, this one was empty. The unpleasant earthy smell of mold hung in the slightly humid air. There were no decrepit pillars or old pedestals, just Adrian in a seemingly doorless room.