Page 50 of Mystery of Magic

I assumed Daryn would feel relief he had defeated his attacker so quickly, but he frowned.

“This is too easy.”

I glanced toward a flicker in the distance. “You think the hybrid is a distraction? That there is another trap.”

“There has to be. They hid this prison for hundreds of years, yet we practically walked right in.”

I had to admit I had been thinking the same thing. “I see something in the distance. Let’s check it out.”

Daryn took point once again, and we made our way to the faint flicker in the darkness. It didn’t take long for us to realize that the orb’s light was being reflected off some kind of shiny material.

“What is that?” I whispered as we neared the circular structure.

The glowing orb continued to guide our way, revealing the hidden wonder in the shadows. My heart quickened as I stared at a sacred place nestled within the heart of the cave. It looked like a silver temple, its enigmatic presence both mesmerizing and mysterious in the remote location.

The structure’s slats were delicately crafted, allowing just enough light to filter through, casting ethereal patterns on the floor. It had symbols etched across the slats. They told a story, a language of ages that held secrets of a forgotten time. Hieroglyphics created by the gods themselves. But why were they here?

The symbols, etched into the very foundation of the structure, held an air of ancient wisdom and warning, but we approached slowly, looking for a door into the silver temple.

Daryn pointed to a lever, similar to the ones we encountered in the cave. “That’s likely the way inside.”

“Are you sure we want to go in there? It looks like she is in a coffin.”

Daryn shook his head. “Not really, but we need to know if the warlock disturbed her.”

He ran his finger over a silver symbol etched above the lever before pulling it down. The entire wall of the silver structurecreaked before it began to move, creating a large opening. Daryn and I paused before we entered.

Inside the circular structure, I discovered a casket ornately adorned with symbols and patterns that mirrored those etched into the temple walls. The sarcophagus exuded an aura of both caution and mystery, its purpose shrouded in secrecy.

I touched the lid of the coffin, and it began to slide easily to the side. The inside was lined with white silk and looked as if it had been put here only days ago. Where the witch’s body should have been, there was only a black piece of paper.

“She is gone. The Dark Witch escaped,” I whispered.

Daryn shook his head. “She had help.”

I picked up the piece of paper and read the words out loud. “You are too late. The dark princess has returned.”

The crack that echoed above my head echoed through the cavern before Daryn grabbed my hand.

“Run! The tunnel is collapsing.”

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SIN OF MAGIC CHAPTER 1

The air was thick with tension as Daryn and I raced toward the tunnel that led from the cavern housing the ancient sarcophagus. The dim light from his orb light flickered, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone walls that surrounded us. My heart pounded in my chest, and every step we took echoed like thunder in the underground world surrounding us.

Daryn ran beside me, his face a mask of determination as the sound of grating rock echoed like thunder in the contained space. His strong, calloused hand was clasped in mine, providing both reassurance and strength as we raced to make our escape.

The sound of cracking rock and falling debris seemed to close in around us, a relentless reminder of the danger that surrounded us. The earth itself trembled, as if the very cavern we ran through was rebelling against our presence. Loose stones tumbled from the ceiling, crashing to the ground with a cacophony that made my heart race even faster. The ground beneath our feet shifted, making each step treacherous, as if the very earth wanted to swallow us whole.

With every stride, we could feel the passage closing in on us, threatening to seal us inside this prison of stone and secretsforever. Our breaths came in ragged gasps, and I couldn’t help but steal a glance at Daryn’s determined face. His eyes met mine, and in that shared moment, I saw the same determination mirrored in his gaze. Felt it pulse through our bond.

We exited the cavern just as the world around us seemed to explode. The ceiling crumbled, massive stones tumbling to the ground in a deafening roar. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring our vision. The very ground trembled beneath our feet as we made our desperate escape, every step a race against time and nature.

We had emerged from the collapsing cavern, the shockwave of the collapse echoing in our ears. Gasping for breath, I turned to see the entrance sealed shut by a wall of rubble and stone. The sarcophagus remained hidden, and its secrets preserved for another day.

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