Passive Hatred

Into The Ruins left

Narrator Pov

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As Alex pushed the damaged door open, it creaked loudly, for a door this old(?) it was surprisingly sturdy. He stepped through, feeling a  sense of relief as the thick fog behind him dissipated. The air felt older here, quieter, and more still. He looked up, his gaze falling on the massive structure before him—a castle-like building that seemed to be part of the ruins, its walls towering and casting large shadows across the path.

The place felt ancient, the stones worn down by time, but there was a certain strange beauty to it. The purple hue of the ruins gave everything a dreamlike quality, making Alex feel as though he had stepped into another world entirely. He couldn't tell if this place was abandoned or simply waiting for something- or could be someone.

His steps echoed in the silence as he ventured further inside, the tendrils still faintly swirling at his sides, ready to respond at the first sign of trouble. Whatever this place was, it felt important, as if it held secrets long forgotten.

Alex swallowed hard. "What is this place?" he wondered aloud. His earlier frustration faded, replaced by  curiosity. Something about the ruins felt like it had a purpose, something beyond just being an old, crumbling structure. But what? And why did it feel like he was being drawn here, like something—someone—was waiting for him?

There were no answers yet, only more questions, and Alex knew the only way to find out was to keep moving. 

As Alex ventured deeper into the castle-like ruins, the silence grew louder, broken only by the  echo of his footsteps. The shadows cast by the towering walls seemed to shift with each step he took. The tendrils at his sides, still faintly swaying.

The corridor ahead narrowed, leading to a large, arching doorway partially obscured by the limited light available. The air grew colder as he approached, and Alex could sense a subtle shift in the atmosphere. His tendrils flickered with a faint glow, almost as if they were sensing something about this certain room.

Around the base of the throne, the stone floor was covered with a mosaic of faded symbols and patterns. They seemed to form a protective circle, as if the throne was a central figure in a larger, mystical design. The symbols matched those he had seen etched into the walls of the corridor, suggesting a deep connection between the throne and the rest of the ruins. 

The throne seemed to command the room. Alex approached it cautiously, noting the craftsmanship and the eerie sense of authority it seemed to leak. The tendrils at his sides pulsed in response, their glow reflecting off the throne's cold, ancient surface.

As he examined the throne, Alex felt a realization , the seat of power was somehow linked to the purpose of the ruins. His gaze fell to the floor around the throne, where he spotted faint symbols etched into the stone, matching those he had seen in the carvings. The symbols seemed to form a protective upside down triangle with wings protecting it, as if guarding something of great significance.

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Alex pov

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Leaving the throne room, I began to explore the rest of the castle. The corridors were quiet, with only the sound of my footsteps echoing in the silence. The torches on the walls were long gone, leaving me to rely on the faint glow of my tendrils.

I entered the first room I came across. It was large and empty, with dusty stone floors and old, broken furniture. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. The awe was gone, replaced by neglect.

Next, I found what used to be a dining hall. A long, dusty table was in the center, surrounded by empty chairs. The high windows showed a garden now overgrown with weeds. The faded tapestries on the walls gave a hint of how impressive it must have been before.

Moving on, I discovered a room that seemed to be a library. Shelves lined the walls, most of them empty, but there were a few old books and scrolls lying around. Some were too damaged to read, but a few seemed worth checking out.

Further into the castle, I came across an old armory. Rusty weapons and armor were scattered about, and the air smelled of metal and old leather. A large, cold fireplace was the room's centerpiece, and worn-out banners hung from the walls.

=======Narrator's pov

As Alex examined the armory, he considered taking something, but he was not expecting much. He was aware that anything he took might be heavy or cumbersome or completely unusable due to rust an neglect, and he needed to be practical about what could be useful for his journey.

He carefully inspected the old weapons and armor, looking for anything that might be of value. The rusty swords and shields, while amazing, seemed too degraded to be practical. The suits of armor, though impressive, were too large and unwieldy to carry easily.

However, his attention was drawn to the wooden chest in the corner. Despite its rusted lock, it looked promising. He decided to see if he could pry it open. After some effort, he managed to force the chest open with the help of a nearby tool he found among the old barrel.

Inside, Alex found a few items that might be useful. There were several old maps, their edges frayed but still readable. They appeared to show the layout of the castle and surrounding areas, which could be helpful for navigation. Alongside the maps, he discovered a small, leather-bound journal. The journal was weathered but intact, and it might contain valuable notes or information about the castle's history.

He took both the maps and the journal, carefully tucking them away. The journal could hold insights into the castle's past, while the maps would help him navigate the remaining parts of the castle and perhaps uncover more secrets.

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Alex pov

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 I made my way back to the library, the map clutched in my hand, I couldn't help but mutter to myself. "Alright, let's see if this map and journal can actually lead to something useful."

The corridors seemed less scary now that I had a clear path to follow. "This place is huge. I hope these maps actually cover all the areas I need. It would be just my luck to end up wandering around in circles."

Passing by the dusty old furniture. "I wonder what kind of person used to live here. From what I've seen, they must have had quite a bit of power. All this old armor and those faded banners—it's like a picture of a time not so long gone."

When I reached the library and unfolded the maps again, I glanced around, trying to connect the map's notes with the room. "Let's see. According to this, there should be a hidden compartment behind one of these bookcases. If I'm reading this right, it should be somewhere around here."

I began inspecting the shelves, speaking aloud as I worked. "This bookcase looks like it's seen better days. Maybe this is the one." I ran my fingers along the dusty shelves, feeling for any hidden mechanisms. "If there's a lever or something hidden here, It shouldn't be to difficult to find it."

As I finally discovered the hidden lever and revealed the alcove "Got it! I knew there had to be something hidden away." I pulled out the box and examined it carefully. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding."

Opening the box, I continued looking through it. "books and more books, huh? This isn't what I was looking for but it could be just what I need.