Published at 17th of September 2024 7:39 pm

Chapter 104 The Queen’s Path: 12 Echoes of the Past

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The night of the celebration faded into dawn, and with it came a renewed sense of purpose throughout Rōran. People returned to their work with a lightness that hadn’t been there before, a fresh determination driving their efforts to rebuild the city. The dangers of the Ryuumyaku fragments still lingered, but for now, they were a shadow in the back of people’s minds, overshadowed by the hope of a brighter future.

Sāra stood atop one of the newly rebuilt towers, overlooking the city as the morning sun painted the landscape in shades of gold and orange. The view was breathtaking, but it also reminded her of what had been lost. The grand spires of old Rōran were gone, replaced by rough-hewn buildings and half-finished structures. Yet, there was beauty in the rebuilding—a testament to the resilience of the people.

Ryū approached from behind, his footsteps light on the stone. “You’ve been up here for a while.”

Sāra turned to face him, her expression thoughtful. “I needed some time to think.”

He joined her at the edge of the tower, his eyes scanning the horizon. “About the future?”

Sāra nodded. “And the past. The celebration was a success, but there’s still so much work to do. And with the Ryuumyaku fragments out there… I can’t shake the feeling that we’re not done with Mukade’s legacy.”

Ryū sighed, leaning against the railing. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Those fragments are dangerous, and we don’t know how many are still out there. But we’ve already found three, and there could be more hidden deep beneath the city.”

Sāra closed her eyes, frustration welling up inside her. “I thought destroying the Ryuumyaku would free us from its grip. But it seems like we’re still living in its shadow.”

“It’s not your fault, Sāra,” Ryū said gently. “You did everything you could to protect the city. None of us could have known there would be remnants of the Ryuumyaku left behind.”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “But it’s my responsibility now. I’m the one who has to make sure Rōran is safe.”

Ryū didn’t argue. He knew better than anyone how deeply Sāra felt the weight of her role as queen. “So, what’s the next step? We’ve been searching the ruins for weeks now, but if there are more fragments, they could be buried deeper than we’ve been able to reach.”

Sāra was quiet for a moment, then spoke with a hint of determination in her voice. “I think it’s time we look beyond the surface. There are old tunnels beneath the city—ones that haven’t been explored in years. If the fragments are hidden anywhere, it could be down there.”

Ryū’s expression darkened. “Those tunnels are dangerous. They’ve been abandoned for a reason—collapsed passages, unstable walls… We’d be risking a lot by going down there.”

“I know,” Sāra replied, her gaze unwavering. “But we don’t have a choice. If there are more fragments, we can’t afford to leave them unchecked.”

Ryū frowned, but he nodded in agreement. “Alright. If we’re going to do this, we need to be prepared. I’ll gather a team of our best fighters and scouts. We’ll need to be ready for anything.”

Sāra smiled faintly, grateful for his support. “Thank you, Ryū. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He shrugged, a small smirk playing at his lips. “You’d manage. But it’s easier with me around, right?”

She chuckled softly, the tension between them easing for a moment. “Yes, much easier.”

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By mid-afternoon, Ryū had gathered a small team of trusted fighters and scouts, all of whom had experience navigating difficult terrain. Sāra insisted on joining them, despite Ryū’s reservations. As queen, she felt it was her duty to see this mission through, no matter the risk.

The entrance to the tunnels lay at the southern edge of the city, hidden beneath a pile of rubble that had once been part of Rōran’s old defensive walls. As the team cleared the debris, a narrow, dark passageway was revealed, leading deep into the earth.

Ryū handed Sāra a torch, his expression serious. “Stay close. These tunnels haven’t been touched in years, and we don’t know what kind of shape they’re in.”

Sāra nodded, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. “I will.”

With Ryū leading the way, the team descended into the darkness, the flickering light of their torches casting long shadows on the tunnel walls. The air was damp and musty, filled with the scent of earth and decay. Every step echoed in the silence, amplifying the feeling of isolation as they ventured deeper into the underground maze.

For the first hour, the tunnels seemed stable, though the narrow passages and low ceilings made for slow progress. Sāra could feel the weight of the earth pressing down on them from all sides, and she fought to keep her breathing steady.

After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened up into a large cavern, its walls lined with strange, crystalline formations. The faint glow of the crystals illuminated the space, casting an eerie, otherworldly light.

Ryū stepped forward cautiously, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “This is it. There’s Ryuumyaku energy here.”

Sāra’s heart raced as she followed him into the cavern, her eyes drawn to the largest crystal in the center of the room. It pulsed faintly with a familiar energy—a remnant of the Ryuumyaku, just like the fragment they had found earlier.

“We need to destroy it,” Sāra said, her voice firm. “Before it can cause any more harm.”

Ryū nodded, drawing his sword. “Everyone, stay back. This could be dangerous.”

As he approached the crystal, Sāra felt a strange sensation wash over her—a tingling at the edge of her consciousness, like a distant whisper. She shook her head, trying to clear the feeling, but it persisted, growing stronger as Ryū raised his sword to strike.

“Wait,” she called out, her voice trembling.

Ryū froze, turning to look at her. “What is it?”

“I… I don’t know,” Sāra stammered, her hand pressed to her forehead. “Something’s not right.”

Before she could say anything more, the crystal emitted a sharp, high-pitched sound, and a wave of energy burst forth, knocking everyone to the ground. The air crackled with electricity as the cavern shook violently, debris falling from the ceiling.

“Sāra!” Ryū shouted, struggling to his feet.

Sāra tried to stand, but the energy coursing through the air made her feel disoriented and weak. She could hear voices—whispers that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

“Ryuumyaku…” the voices murmured, their tone both seductive and sinister. “It cannot be destroyed… only controlled…”

Sāra’s vision blurred, and for a moment, she saw something—someone—standing before the crystal. A shadowy figure, cloaked in darkness, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

“No!” she cried, her voice breaking through the haze. “You’re gone! Mukade is gone!”

The figure didn’t respond, but its presence lingered, feeding off the Ryuumyaku’s energy.

Ryū staggered toward her, pulling her to her feet. “Sāra! We need to get out of here—now!”

Sāra nodded, her mind still reeling from the vision. Together, they led the team back toward the tunnel entrance, the cavern collapsing behind them as the Ryuumyaku’s power surged out of control.

By the time they reached the surface, the tunnel had caved in completely, sealing the remnants of the Ryuumyaku beneath the earth. But Sāra knew the danger wasn’t over.

The Ryuumyaku’s power still lingered. And somewhere in the darkness, something—or someone—was still trying to control it.

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