READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 14: 14
In the absolute darkness, Nina's hand instinctively goes to the wooden box. Her fingers fumble with the latch, the wood strangely smooth and cool against her skin. She pulls out the energy-emitting crystal. It feels strangely warm in her palm, pulsing with a faint, internal light that cuts through the oppressive blackness like a tine start. Holding it aloft, she feels a surge of energy, a strange connection to the humming that vibrates through the cavern. The darkness around her seems to recoil slightly, the oppressive weight easing infinitesimally. The sounds of the approaching monstrosity continue, but there's a subtle shift in their intensity, a hint of hesitation in the heavy scraping and dragging sounds.
A deep, resonating voice, ancient and echoing, cuts through the silence. "Intruder," it booms, the sound vibrating through Nina's very being. "You dare disturb the slumber of Xalxar?" The voice seems to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once, a chilling blend of power and age. The cavern itself seems to shudder at the sound.
Nina, despite her terror, manages to find a small measure of defiance. The crystal in her hand pulses more strongly, mirroring the rhythm of the voice. She doesn't speak, unsure of what she could possibly say to this ancient being, but the crystal seems to act as a conduit, transmitting her unease, her fear, and somehow, a flicker of her determination.
The voice pauses, the silence stretching out, think with anticipation. Then, a different tone enters the voice, a note of curiosity that contrasts starkly with the previous menace. "An interesting artifact... and a curious... mortal. You carry the essence of the Whisper Wood, child. Tell me, what brings you to this place?" The cavern remains still for a moment, a tense silence punctuated by the faint thrumming of the crystal in her hand and the rhythmic breathing of Rex at her side. The air crackles with anticipation; a battle of wills is unfolding, not of swords, but of presence. The question hangs heavy in the air - the choice of how to answer, a terrifying decision resting solely on Nina's trembling shoulders.