The tunnel seemed to swallow them whole, its narrow, high-ceilinged walls echoing their every sound. Overhead, roots from nearby trees poked through the ceiling, creating a mesh-like canopy. The ground underfoot was hard-packed earth, damp from the constant seepage of water down the tunnel walls. An eerie silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the occasional drip of water and their footsteps echoing in the vast underground passage.
"You think this tunnel is safe?" Jaxon whispered to Thalen, his eyes darting nervously to the roots hanging low from the ceiling. The natural canopy swayed ominously as they brushed against them, showering them with droplets of cold water.
"I hope so," Thalen replied, keeping his voice equally low. "But we need to trust the Peri for now. Remember what it said about the Fiends?"
"Yeah, but I didn't sign up for this. Creepy tunnels, weird flying creatures, and goddess knows what else is waiting for us," Jaxon grumbled, his voice carrying a note of despair. Despite his complaints, they moved steadily forward, guided by Lyra who held a vial of glowing liquid to light the way. After what felt like hours of trudging through the tunnel, they started to see a glimmer of light at the end.
“Is that the exit?” said Elara hopefully.
As they got closer the air changed, it was somehow fresher despite them still being underground.
“By the Goddess,” Jaxon exclaimed as they emerged from the tunnel and into a vast rocky chamber. It was so vast that they couldn’t see the ceiling and before them was a vast stone city. Dead ahead was a tall spire like structure with a dazzling bright sphere situated at the top. It was the source of the light.
“It’s as bright as day down here,” Thalen remarked in amazement. He could see other spires in the distance and like the first they hosted a similar glowing orb.
“What is this place?” Jaxon asked.
“I have no idea. I’ve never heard of anything like this. Especially so close to Arcadia.”
Lyra sighed and shook her head.
“How low has humanity fallen? How much have you forgotten and lost?” she said cryptically.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” bristled Jaxon.
Lyra looked at him with an almost piteous expression.
“Come, let us venture into this city,” she said ignoring his question. “Remember what the Peri said. Do not leave the path no matter what you see or hear.”
The eerie brilliance of the orb-lit city was both a marvel and a mystery. They moved along the stone-paved path, stepping over the ancient cobblestones worn smooth by what they assumed were countless generations. Buildings of stone and crystal stood on either side of the pathway, towering over them with a haunting aura of abandonment and decay. The architectural style was unlike anything they had ever seen, intricate carvings and symbols etched into every structure, a testament to a lost civilization that thrived in this underground marvel.
The orb-light bathed everything in an ethereal, almost spectral glow that cast long, haunting shadows that danced and flickered along the ancient streets. Strange and exotic flora sprung up in the nooks and crevices, their luminescent leaves and flowers adding to the otherworldly beauty of the city.
"It's like a dream," Elara whispered, her eyes wide with wonder and awe.
"Nightmares are dreams too," Jaxon muttered, eyes flitting nervously to the shadowy corners and alleyways. His grip tightened on the hilt of his axe, every sound and movement making him jumpy.
Thalen had to agree with both of them. The city was a beautiful enigma, a relic of a time long gone, but it also held an air of menace. He could feel the echoes of the city's past, whispers of history that made his skin prickle with anticipation and a touch of dread.
Lyra led the way, her Silvari instincts guiding them through the labyrinthine streets. She moved with an uncanny grace and confidence, as if she was a part of this forgotten world, her every step echoing off the stone structures. Aeolian walked beside her his eyes wide and his ears twitching.
The city seemed to stretch on forever, its vastness becoming more evident the deeper they ventured. However, Lyra's words remained fresh in their minds - stay on the path.
Something caught Thalen’s eye and he stopped.
“Something the matter?” Elara asked softly, her voice loud in the cavernous space despite her low volume.
“I don’t know. I thought I saw something move down that street there,” he replied.
“Stay on the path,” Lyra whispered to them. “No matter what you see or hear.”
Suddenly the city seemed menacing, and the oppressive stillness and silence was unnerving them all.
“There’s a bridge ahead,” Jaxon said pointing ahead. The path narrowed between the remains of what was once a mighty gatehouse. Defensive towers loomed over the surrounding structures and the remnants of a massive iron gate lay broken to one side.
“I really do not like this place,” Jaxon muttered, ‘I mean what could’ve ripped that gate off its hinges like that?”
Lyra joined him and studied the ruin. She closed her eyes and listened. A few minutes later she faced the others.
“Whatever you see and hear, stay close and do not leave the path.”
“What is it?” Thalen asked unable to shake the feeling that they were being watched.
“Just stick close,” Lyra replied ignoring his question and stepping onto the bridge. She took Aelion by the reigns and together they began to walk across. Next went Elara, then Jaxon with Thalen taking up the rearguard. He stepped onto the bridge and was immediately accosted by a strong icy cold wind that ruffled his hair and clothing. On either side of the bridge was a sea of inky blackness and he dreaded to think how long a drop it would be. Ahead Lyra and Aeolian were close to opposite side. When Thalen got half way across a distant rumbling noise sounded in the distance. He froze. It was getting closer and rapidly so. A dull greenish light began to form far below. At first, he thought it was one source of light but as he stared at it he could make that it was comprised of thousands of individual flames. Flames of torches held by thousands of shadowy figures. He watched in fascination as they marched close to the bridge, now closer he could make out details. They were men! Resplendid in armor and brandishing swords, spears and shields. Each took on an ethereal appearance, some were translucent. Ghosts! He almost cried out as he realised what he was seeing. An army of ghostly warriors. Suddenly, the deafening wail of a war horn blared from behind him. He turned and gasped. For another spectral army materialised into view. This one was comprised of all manner of monsters. He recognised Fiends amongst them, others were straight out of nightmares, tall towering beasts with jagged teeth and claws, smaller more agile creatures that looked ready to pounce at the smallest provocation, and massive, hulking monstrosities that looked like they could rip a man in half with their bare hands. The armour of the humans glinted under the light of the orbs, lending them a heroic aura that was hard to ignore. They moved with a kind of determination and steadfastness that only an army moving towards a decisive battle could muster. He watched in awe as with a roar the two armies surged forward, charging into each other with a cacophony of clashing steel, roars and screams. He couldn’t tear his eyes away as both sides massacred each other mercilessly. Fear gripped Thalen, but he held his ground, remembering Lyra's words: "Stay on the path, no matter what you see or hear." He swallowed hard and continued his slow trek across the bridge, trying his best to ignore the bone-chilling spectacle unfolding around him. The sound of battle was deafening forcing him to put his hands over his ears. He could see Aeolian whinnying and skittering uneasily under Lyra's calming hands. Elara clung to Jaxon, fear palpable in her eyes. Thalen finally reached the safety of the opposite side of the chasm. Suddenly, to their collective disbelief, the eerie cacophony that filled the night ceased as abruptly as it had begun. Chancing a look back, he saw that the valley was desolate once again - the spectral armies that had haunted the landscape moments ago had disappeared.
Jaxon, his face pale and his voice trembling, asked, "What on earth was that?" His skin was the color of a freshly laundered sheet, drained of all vitality.
Lyra, though equally perturbed, managed to muster her resolve and responded sternly, "We must continue moving." Thalen gave a tight nod of agreement, and they resumed their journey along the moonlit path. As they walked, the silence hung heavy, a testament to the reality they were trying to comprehend. He had heard tales of apparitions and spectral armies, but the reality of it left him questioning whether anyone back home would even believe their story.
Finally, their bodies gave out from the sheer exhaustion of the day's events, forcing them to stop. They found a small, secluded clearing on the side of the path, shielded by two squat stone structures that seemed to be remnants of ancient shops. The weathered metal sign on one of the buildings hinted at its former purpose, but the inscriptions were too faded to decipher.
Recognising the need for rest, Lyra called for a halt, and they began to set up their makeshift camp. Despite the unsettling ambiance of the deserted city, they were too worn out to continue their journey.
Jaxon, with his customary resourcefulness, quickly constructed a small fire using the timber he had gathered the previous evening, its warmth beckoning them all. They huddled around the fire as Aeolian, their mount, was tethered to a worn stone column by the campsite where Elara lovingly fed him some carrots. Thalen, meanwhile, busied himself with cooking sausages over the dancing flames.
With a sigh, Jaxon confessed to Thalen, "This journey is proving more treacherous than I anticipated. Monsters, spirits, fairies..."
"Peri," corrected Thalen absently.
Disregarding the correction, Jaxon continued, "Whatever they are, I don't understand what's happening or the significance of this place."
Lyra, who had been quietly observing their conversation, moved closer to the fire and seated herself. She studied her human companions for a moment before speaking up. "Are you truly unaware?" she asked, her voice resonating with a mix of curiosity and slight disbelief.
"Unaware of what, Lyra?" Thalen retorted. He sensed that the Silvari woman was privy to information that they weren't. He determined to coax it out of her. Lyra, instead of responding, cast a glance towards the shadow-laden city beyond their campsite.
"The knowledge I bear may challenge your beliefs. Are you prepared to hear it?" she questioned; her tone sober.
Thalen nodded solemnly, while Jaxon shifted uncomfortably beside him. Elara joined them around the campfire and added her plea, "Please Lyra, share what you know."
Taking a deep breath, Lyra began, her voice echoing eerily in the desolate city.
"What I know comes from the legends of my people. Long ago the Silvari dealt with humans often and our relations were cordial. We both served the Aldarins. What you saw back there, the armies of phantoms and monstrous apparitions, were echoes of a time long past. This city...it's called Miramar, once a bustling metropolis of the ancient world. Its denizens were a prosperous and advanced civilization, they were human."
She looked at the remnants of the metal sign, her fingers tracing the faded inscriptions. "This city was a hub of culture and science, a beacon of enlightenment that stood tall amidst the chaos of the world. The inhabitants of Miramar were known as the Mirai, a race of men that with the assistance of the Aldarins had unlocked the secrets of magic and technology, blending them into a harmonious existence.
"The Mirai were more than just a human civilization. They were a people of enlightenment and prosperity, a race whose brilliance transcended the norms of their era. They were strong allies of the Aldarins who gifted them with an understanding of magic and technology that far exceeded anything we've seen in our time, they rose to unparalleled heights."
She motioned to the city ruins around them. "Look at Miramar, the grand city they crafted. These are not mere stone and metal constructions. They are monuments of ingenuity and innovation. Buildings that once gleamed under the sun and stars, roads that led to flourishing markets, institutions of knowledge where the secrets of the universe were unravelled."
"But the Mirai were not just scholars and builders, they were also protectors," Lyra's gaze grew distant, as though she were seeing far into the past. "They were chosen by the Aldarins to guard one of the two sacred keys to the Infinity Orb, the gift from the Goddess Aldara herself. This was what attracted the envy and desire of darker entities."
Her gaze turned towards the direction where they had seen the phantom armies. "Fiends, monsters, dark sorcerers, all drawn to the bright light of Miramar like moths to a flame as they sought the key and as a result a great war was fought, right here in these streets. The Mirai defended their city with all their might, but alas, they were overwhelmed."
Lyra's gaze fell on the ground, her voice lowering to a sombre whisper. "The Mirai were wiped out, their knowledge lost, their city turned to ruin. But their spirits...they linger. The battle we saw on the bridge, it's the echo of their last stand, forever doomed to replay itself in the annals of the spectral world."
Thalen, Jaxon, and Elara sat silent, the gravity of Lyra's story sinking in. The faintly glowing orbs in the distance no longer appeared magical, but rather, reminders of a tragic past. The stone buildings that surrounded them seemed to take on a more mournful aura, each one a silent testament to the city's tragic fate.
"And the tunnel, the Peri, and even the warnings about the path...?" Thalen finally managed to ask, his mind buzzing with questions.
"All part of the magic that once protected this city," Lyra explained. "The tunnel was a secret passage, built by the Mirai to escape during sieges. The Peri were their allies, elemental creatures bound by an ancient pact to protect the city's boundaries. As for the path..." She paused, her gaze moving towards the path they had just traversed. "That is a path of remembrance, a sacred route followed by the Mirai during their annual ceremonies to honor their ancestors. To stray from it is seen as a sign of disrespect to their spirits."
Jaxon swallowed hard, his gaze darting nervously between the path and the silent stone buildings. Elara's eyes welled up with tears at the tragic tale. Thalen, however, looked resolute, a determined spark in his eyes.
"Thank you for telling us, Lyra," Thalen said, his voice loud amidst the ghostly silence of the ruined city. "We may not be Mirai, but we will respect their memory. We'll stick to the path and honour their legacy in our own way."
Lyra smiled, a faint glimmer of pride in her eyes. "I knew I could trust you to understand, Thalen.”
“I can’t believe it,’ said Jaxon, ‘you’re saying that this city was once on the surface and that humans lived here? Only gods could build such a place.”
Lyra smiled sadly.
“The fall of a civilisation is a terrible thing. The fate of the Mirai more so as their destruction paved the way for worse to follow. Just know, that there is far more strength and power in humanity than you know woodcutter and perhaps one day the world will see it once more.”
“What a sight that would be,” Thalen said.
“So, who founded Arcadia?” Jaxon asked as he took a bite of his meal.
“Not all Mirai perished. Those that could, fled, scattering to the four corners of the land. Some of them founded Arcadia, others Viridia and the other city states located on the Azure coast. They may even have been the ones to settle in the frozen north and scorching deserts of the south. So much is lost to the fogs of time.”
“We’re like a species with amnesia,” Elara commented.
“There is more truth to that than any of us know I think,’ Lyra replied. ‘Come, let's get some rest. We still have a long journey ahead of us."
Myths of Aldara: The Awakening Light is available to buy on all major retailers.
