The group gathered in the center of their village very early in the morning, just as the first rays of sunlight were breaking through the gloom to illuminate the world.
There were ten villagers, and each one was carrying the hope of their community on their shoulders. Samuel, a skilled and experienced fighter, took his place at the head of the group, serving as a symbol of the group's strength and determination.
Ethan and Erik, who wanted to help in this mission, were there with him. The newest member of their group, Erik, brought with him a level of familiarity with the underground city that none of the others possessed, while Ethan had extensive familiarity with the natural environment that surrounded the ancient city since he used to go around those parts to play with his friends when he was little, despite his parents' protests.
They set out on their journey to reach the entrance to the underground city as their final destination.
The terrain they traversed represented the life they had been accustomed to, which consisted of living in a verdant wilderness that was equally as beautiful as it was harsh.
An ethereal glow illuminated their path as they walked because the light from the rising sun had penetrated the wintery trees. Despite the overwhelming calm, there was an underlying sense of unease in the air. They were all aware of the seriousness of the task and the hushed sense of urgency that hung in the air like a dense mist.
Samuel approached Erik; the usually gentle features on his face were replaced by ones displaying sadness, and his eyes were filled with remorse. "Erik," he began, his voice solemn, "I... we... owe you an apology."
Erik glanced upward, surprised by Samuel's out-of-character display of vulnerability. "What for?" he asked, an air of confusion.
Samuel sighed, his gaze briefly flitting away before returning to meet Erik's. "Today's your birthday," he said, the words hanging heavily between them. "Amos and I... we shouldn't have asked you to do such a task today. We are well aware of that. It's not fair to you."
Erik's brow furrowed slightly, the revelation of his birthday catching him off guard. A moment of silence ensued as he processed Samuel's words. Then, with a chuckle, he offered a small, dismissive hand wave.
"It's okay, Samuel," he said, the corners of his mouth tugging into a gentle smile. His gaze was steady, reflecting a maturity far beyond his years. "We're doing this for everyone in the village, right? That's more important than a stupid birthday. Besides, I've never been one for celebrations anyway."
The tension in the room was dispelled as soon as Erik's words were heard because they were delivered with complete sincerity. Samuel showed his gratitude by nodding his head and smiling broadly as he did so.
"Still," he said, clapping a firm hand on Erik's shoulder, "We'll make it up to you, kid. You have my word."
As the sun continued to rise in the morning, casting a warm glow on the two people, there was a palpable sense of harmony and comprehension between them.
Looking thoughtful, Erik turned his gaze to the path ahead, his eyes tracing the familiar route to the underground city. "Samuel," he started, a note of curiosity in his voice, "What do you guys actually know about the underground city?"
Samuel followed Erik's gaze with his own, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered the question. "Not much, I'm afraid," he admitted, his face displaying a certain amount of pessimism.
"Most of what we know are just fragments of stories passed down from our ancestors."
Samuel halted for a second, his gaze becoming increasingly distant as if he were looking back in time.
There was a moment of silence as Samuel paused, his gaze distant as if looking back in time. "But we do know that our ancestors came from there," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of reverence. "That's why the underground city holds such significance for us. It's not just a potential shelter or a hiding place. It's a link to our past, a piece of our history."
Erik nodded, his expression thoughtful. He could accept the importance of such a connection but wasn't able to understand it since his place of birth was such a shithole, and he wanted nothing to do with it. After all, everyone wanted to know where they came from to understand their roots.
This mission wasn't just about survival but also about reclaiming a part of their heritage, their ancestral home. Understanding that, Erik felt an even deeper resolve to help the villagers succeed.
"By any chance, do you have any idea why the city was abandoned?" Erik inquired as he cast a curious look in Samuel's direction, his curiosity piqued. The question lingered in the atmosphere between them, creating an atmosphere of mystique and conjecture.
Samuel showed regret in the way he shook his head and expressed himself. "No, we don't," he admitted. "Our ancestors didn't leave any records of what caused them to leave. All we have are theories."
Erik nodded, indicating that he understood the aggravation caused by dealing with the unknown. After a brief silence, he broke the hush and shared his theory with the group.
"I believe it could have been due to the humanoid Thaid that inhabits the cave," he stated, looking at Samuel steadily.
Samuel turned to look at him, his interest piqued. "That Thaid?" he asked, seeking clarification.
"Yes," Erik continued, his tone confident. "Considering the destructive power of that creature, it's likely that the people back then just didn't have the means to face it. It must have seemed an impossible challenge, too strong to overcome. The risk of staying must have outweighed the benefits, leading them to abandon the city."
After finishing, Erik turned and fixed his gaze firmly on the road before them. Even though they were dealing with something unknown, he believed that knowledge of the past could be the key to overcoming the challenges they were facing now.
"Why didn't you and Amos deal with the creature earlier?" " After turning to face Samuel, Erik questioned him. Clearly, he was asking out of genuine curiosity and not in an accusatory tone. His face was pockmarked with alternating areas of light and shadow caused by the sunlight penetrating the forest's wintery canopy, and his eyes were fixed on Samuel.
Samuel looked back at him, a hint of a wry smile on his lips. "There was no need before," he explained, his gaze steady. "We didn't plan on returning to the underground city. We were content with our life here in the village."
His gaze traveled all around them, taking in the landscape and the way the trees were growing taller and taller, their thick trunks providing a sense of stability.
"We've always lived off the land, hunting and farming. The city was a remnant of the past, a place our ancestors left behind. We didn't have a reason to disturb the creatures that took residence there."
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