The Story of Tygoth

Chapter 20: Suspicious Activities

The air felt different the moment Rolf's foot pressed down on the hidden pressure plate. The faint sound of a "click" echoed through the corridor, almost too soft to notice, but loud enough for everyone to freeze. Rolf's face immediately reddened, the sensation of guilt washing over him as he looked at the team.

"Uh… sorry," Rolf muttered sheepishly, trying to force a small smile. 

Lena, arms crossed and with a sigh of frustration, tilted her head. “Rolf, how many times do we have to remind you to watch where you're going?”

Before anyone could say more, the walls themselves shifted. Heavy stone slabs, hidden in the ceiling, slammed down perpendicular to the corridor, cutting the group into sections with thunderous crashes. Dust billowed into the air, momentarily clouding everyone’s vision. The ground beneath them groaned in response, and before anyone could react, the floor opened up like the jaws of a great beast, sending everyone tumbling into chute-like tunnels.

The sensation of falling was fast, chaotic. It was as if the dungeon itself had come alive, rearranging its layout to scatter the group. Rolf’s yelp echoed as he slid helplessly down the narrow stone tube, barely able to catch his breath.

---

Rolf's Perspective

He hit the ground with a hard thud, grunting as his body skidded to a stop on a patch of moss. Taking a moment to assess his surroundings, Rolf groaned in pain but realized he wasn’t seriously injured. He called out, hoping someone would respond, but there was only silence.

Pushing himself up, he dusted off his cloak and scanned the area. He was alone. “Great,” he muttered under his breath, his heart pounding.

There was no point in panicking now. He had no choice but to move forward. The tunnel opened up before him, widening into a cavern with glowing gems embedded into the ceiling and walls. The illumination gave the space an ethereal glow, casting shimmering reflections on the floor and making the cave feel strangely welcoming despite its underground setting. Lush vegetation covered the ground, vines and small trees, their roots twisting through the rocky floor as if nature had claimed this hidden chamber for itself.

Rolf’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. The soft green light reflected off the gems in the ceiling, making them appear like stars in a false sky. He walked toward the nearest wall, awe-struck. Flipping through his College-issued book, he tried to identify the glowing flora and minerals. As his fingers brushed against one of the glowing gems, he muttered, “These would make such a nice gift…” His thoughts drifted to Zyana, wondering if she would like one of the gem shards as a memento. Carefully, he chipped a few loose stones, 2 inches in length, from the wall using his dagger, smiling to himself as they fell into his palm.

Unbeknownst to him, the shadow from earlier had followed.

Silently, the shadowy figure lurked at the edge of the cavern, blending into the natural darkness that surrounded the glowing gems. As Rolf moved, it followed—watching, observing. It was particularly focused on Rolf’s every gesture, every glance, as if studying him in a way no one else ever had. When Rolf was deep in thought, the shadow slipped ahead, slithering across the ground toward a large column that rose from the center of the cavern.

Hidden from view, the shadow began to take shape. Dark tendrils wrapped themselves around the column, solidifying into a figure that Rolf would immediately recognize. The transformation was almost flawless—the physique, the attire, the stance. When the shadow was complete, it had taken the form of Zyana, her elegant yet haunting beauty perfectly replicated.

The imposter-Zyana waited, watching Rolf as he moved closer, oblivious to what lurked behind the column. She bided her time, adjusting her expression to be as inviting as possible, a near-perfect mimic of the woman Rolf admired.