Chapter 110 Caught



As Rose immersed herself in the mysteries of the ruins, I seized the moment to execute my plan. I cast a cautious glance around, ensuring no prying eyes lingered nearby. Satisfied with the solitude, I turned my attention to the broken tower, where the hidden Artifact lay waiting.

"It's now or never!"

Moving swiftly but silently, I navigated through the remnants of the ruins. The path ahead was treacherous, littered with fallen debris and tangled vegetation. However, my training had honed my agility, allowing me to traverse the obstacles with ease.

I knew that time was of the essence; I couldn't afford to waste a single moment.

Approaching the entrance of the broken tower, I took a deep breath, steeling my resolve. The air within the structure felt heavy with the weight of history as if the ghosts of the past lingered within its walls. Ignoring the eerie sensation, I pressed on, driven by my purpose.

Swish...

As I ventured deeper into the tower, the darkness engulfed me. My hands brushed against cold, damp stone, guiding me along the hidden path. The air grew stale, laced with the scent of ancient dust. Step by step, I relied on my instincts, trusting the faint whispers of knowledge that guided me toward my goal.

Finally, a dim light filtered through a crack in the wall, signaling my arrival at the chamber where the Artifact was said to reside. My pulse quickened, a mix of anticipation and anxiety coursing through my veins. I steadied my trembling hands, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.

Pushing aside a heavy stone slab, I entered the chamber, revealing a sight that took my breath away.

As the stone slab slid away, it revealed a vast expanse that stretched beyond the limits of my imagination. The chamber opened up into an underground city, its forgotten splendor hidden beneath layers of time and secrecy. My eyes widened in awe as the soft glow of my lantern illuminated the grandeur that lay before me.

The city's architecture was a testament to a civilization long lost to history. Majestic columns soared toward the unseen ceiling, their intricate carvings telling stories of forgotten heroes and mythical creatures. Streets, once bustling with life, now lay silent and deserted, bearing witness to the passage of ages.

Tap...

I took a step forward and suddenly something changed.

Whoosh...

A surge of energy rippled through the air, causing the very essence of Mana to churn around me. It was as if the city itself awakened in response to my presence, recognizing the power that emanated from within.

My Timekeeper's watch hummed with an otherworldly resonance. Its gears whirred to life, aligning with the pulsating currents of magic that coursed through the ancient city. I knew then that I had stumbled upon something extraordinary, something I was seeking for.

The time within the chamber was irrelevant, almost still compared to the outside world.

'Now I have around an hour...'

With each measured stride I took, the city revealed itself in all its breathtaking splendor. Elaborate spires reached for the heavens, their ethereal glow casting an otherworldly luminescence upon the cobblestone streets. Lush gardens, now overgrown with untamed foliage, whispered secrets of forgotten botany and medicinal prowess.

The architecture, a symphony of beauty and engineering, stood as a testament to the brilliance of the civilization that once thrived within these hallowed walls. Towering archways, adorned with intricate symbols, beckoned me further into the heart of the city, promising answers to questions I had not yet formed.

As I explored the streets, the whispers of the past became more distinct. Echoes of long-gone conversations reverberated through the air, carried on the gentle breeze. The essence of the city's former inhabitants lingered, imprinted within the very fabric of its being. I couldn't help but feel a profound connection to their legacy, a shared tapestry of existence woven across time.

Enchanting marketplaces lined the avenues, their stalls filled with relics of bygone eras. Trinkets of power and knowledge lay scattered, waiting to be discovered by those who dared to seek. The air crackled with ancient enchantments, a testament to the mastery of arcane arts that once thrived within these streets.

As I moved deeper into the heart of the city, I marveled at the craftsmanship that adorned every edifice. Mosaic patterns adorned the walls, depicting scenes of heroism, love, and triumph. Paintings, faded but still vibrant, depicted the lives of the city's denizens, frozen in time for eternity.

The Mana that surged through the city seemed to respond to my presence, guiding me through its winding pathways. It whispered secrets of forgotten spells and hidden knowledge, urging me to explore further, to unravel the mysteries that lay dormant.

"It's beautiful..."

***

Rose observed Aiden's departure from the picnic spot, her keen senses attuned to the subtle changes in the surroundings. Though she appeared engrossed in the ruins, her mind was sharp, her focus on him never wavered.

Having spent countless hours exploring these ancient ruins, Rose was intimately familiar with their secrets. She had traversed every corridor, examined every relic, and deciphered every inscription. The ruins held no surprises for her, but she maintained her façade, her interest genuine yet carefully controlled.

"...He lied."

As Aiden ventured deeper into the broken tower, Rose allowed her Mana Sense to guide her. She extended her consciousness, like tendrils of ethereal energy, delicately weaving through the air, seeking out the trace of Mana left in his wake.

Rose's connection to Mana granted her a unique advantage. She could sense the fluctuations and signatures of magical energy, allowing her to perceive its flow and track its source. With her heightened awareness, she followed Aiden's invisible trail, effortlessly navigating the labyrinthine passages.

The ruins whispered their secrets to her as she moved through their darkened corridors. She traced her fingers along the worn stone walls, her touch bringing forth echoes of the past. The vibrations of ancient spells still lingered, guiding her steps with an uncanny familiarity.

As Rose moved closer to the chamber, the pulsating energy grew stronger, confirming that Aiden was nearing his destination. She quickened her pace, her steps light and agile, blending seamlessly with the shadows that danced around her.

Finally, she reached the chamber, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The underground city unveiled itself in all its majestic splendor, bathed in the soft glow of her lantern.

Swish...

Rose watched from the shadows as Aiden stepped into the ancient city. She observed his casual expression, a mixture of calmness and focus, as he ignored the breathtaking sights that surrounded him. The ethereal glow cast by her lantern painted his features in sharp illumination.

"..."

For a moment, Rose considered revealing herself, but she held back, allowing herself to absorb the magnitude of the city's grandeur.

With patience as her ally, she silently trailed him, her presence masked by the veil of shadows.

Tip... Tip...

Step by step, Rose followed Aiden through the winding streets, careful to maintain a safe distance. The echoes of their footsteps mingled with the whispers of the past, carrying a symphony of forgotten tales. Her Mana Sense guided her, attuned to the magical currents that pulsed through the city, acting as her unseen compass.

As they moved deeper into the heart of the city, Rose observed Aiden's slick and agile movements. His golden eyes sparkled with resolve, and she could sense the weight of his purpose resting upon his shoulders. His every step spoke of a silent vow to get whatever was concealed within these ancient walls.

The cobblestone streets stretched out before them, lined with majestic architecture and overgrown gardens that whispered of forgotten knowledge. Rose marveled at the intricate designs and craftsmanship that adorned each structure, each one a testament to the ingenuity of the civilization that had once thrived here.

Rose's presence remained hidden, her footsteps barely audible as she treaded carefully in Aiden's wake. She observed his every movement, his footsteps confident, as if he already knew the path.

With each passing moment, she grew more convinced that their paths had intertwined for a reason, that they really were 'compatible' people.

"..."

Finally, they arrived at a towering archway, its intricate symbols etched into weathered stone. Aiden paused, his eyes tracing the carvings with a mix of fascination and reverence. It was here, in the heart of the city, that Rose chose to reveal herself.

Stepping out of the shadows, Rose's figure materialized before Aiden, her presence a gentle interruption to his thoughts. She offered him a warm smile, her emerald eyes shimmering with slight anger and reservation.

"Only a picnic, huh?"

Rose's voice was gentle, but laced with a hint of sarcasm.

!!!

Aiden's eyes widened in surprise and he stared at Rose for a moment, taken aback by her sudden appearance.

Aiden's surprise quickly transformed into a sheepish smile as he realized he had been caught in his own web of lies. He scratched the back of his head, attempting to find words to explain himself.

"Fuck..."