Atheline glanced toward the sky.
"The fairies expect us back before dinner."
Lilith understood immediately.
"We agreed only to look."
He smiled.
"And unlike certain explorers, I’d prefer not to break our promise on the first full day."
She laughed softly.
"How responsible of you."
He shrugged.
"I’m trying to set a good example."
Still... Neither moved. Something about the cave held their attention. A sort of morbid curiosity. Then it happened: a whisper, so faint that it might have been mistaken for the wind.
Atheline looked toward Lilith.
"...Did you hear that?"
She slowly nodded.
"I did."
"What did it say?"
He hesitated.
"It..." His expression became thoughtful. "...called my name."
Lilith’s eyes narrowed.
"It called mine as well."
Silence followed. Neither asked what voice the other had heard. The fairies had warned them that everyone heard something different. The cave did not speak with one voice; it spoke personally.
Atheline took a slow step backward, and the whisper immediately faded. He took another, still the same. Lilith did the same. Whatever influence lingered near the entrance weakened almost instantly.
"It begins this far out." She quietly observed. "Very weakly, but enough to notice."
Atheline nodded.
"No wonder the fairies forbade it."
The sun had already begun descending toward the western horizon. Golden light reached the mountain peaks, though none of it touched the cave below.
Lilith took one final look toward the darkness.
"We’ve found it."
Atheline secured his bow across his back once more.
"I believe so, but this isn’t somewhere we investigate carelessly."
She smiled.
"No, when we return... We’ll come prepared."
They turned together and began walking back toward the sanctuary.
.
.
.
The next two days passed far more quietly than either Lilith or Atheline had expected. After returning from the Doom Cave, they deliberately resisted the temptation to immediately investigate it further.
Whatever lay beneath that mountain had remained undisturbed for thousands of years. It could wait another two days.
Instead, they spent their time learning everything the fairy people knew about it. Unfortunately... That proved to be very little.
The Hall of Memories once again became their destination each morning.
Ancient scrolls, weathered journals, carved stone tablets, and songs preserved through countless generations were carefully brought before them.
One by one, they examined every record relating to the forbidden cave. By the end of the first day... A pattern had emerged.
Almost every account agreed on three things. The first, the cave whispered; it whispered differently to every individual. No two survivors ever described hearing the same thing.
The second, the whispers became louder the deeper one ventured. Most fairies turned back before they reached that point. Those who continued... Rarely returned. The few who did were never the same again.
Many spent their remaining lives speaking to invisible companions. Others wandered into the forest believing someone was calling them. Several eventually disappeared forever.
The third... No one had ever discovered what actually existed beyond the deeper tunnels. Every expedition ended before reaching that answer. Either fear overcame them, or madness did.
Atheline closed another weathered journal before sighing quietly.
"So much history and almost no information."
Lyria smiled apologetically.
"Our ancestors eventually decided that learning more simply wasn’t worth the cost. They sealed the entrance paths and declared the mountain forbidden. After enough generations, curiosity slowly disappeared."
Lilith nodded thoughtfully.
"It was the correct decision."
The fairy leader looked slightly surprised.
"You agree?"
"If they lacked the strength to safely investigate..." Lilith answered calmly. "...then avoiding unnecessary sacrifices was the responsibility of a good leader."
Lyria smiled.
"I thought you might say that."
The second day was spent preparing rather than researching. Atheline carefully inspected every piece of equipment they carried.
His bowstring was reworked despite showing no signs of wear. Every arrow was checked individually. Nothing escaped his inspection.
Lilith sharpened both of her daggers until their edges reflected light like polished mirrors. She also prepared several enchanted crystals capable of producing steady light.
They also packed enough food and water for several days. Not because they intended to remain that long, but because experience had taught them never to underestimate ancient ruins.
That evening they informed Lyria of their intentions. The fairy leader listened quietly.
"So... you’ve decided."
Atheline nodded.
"We have. We’re going inside."
Several nearby elders exchanged worried glances. Lyria remained silent for several moments before speaking.
"I expected this."
Lilith looked toward her.
"You aren’t going to stop us."
Lyria smiled faintly.
"I’ve watched both of you these past few days. You aren’t reckless. You investigate, prepare, and think before acting."
She folded her hands.
"I still worry but... I also know that if anyone can uncover the truth of that place..."
Her eyes met theirs.
"...it would be the two of you."
Early the following morning, before sunrise, the sanctuary remained wrapped in gentle silence. Only the earliest birds had begun singing.
Lilith quietly secured her daggers around her waist while Atheline adjusted the quiver resting across his back. The little fox waited beside the doorway, wagging its tail enthusiastically.
Atheline crouched before her.
"You stay here this time."
The fox tilted her head.
"This isn’t somewhere we can safely bring you."
Lilith gently scratched beneath its chin.
"You’ll be much safer with the fairies."
Almost as though understanding their words, the fox looked toward the forest leading to the Doom Cave before quietly lowering its ears.
Instead of following them, she turned around and walked toward one of the fairy children waiting nearby. The child happily scooped her into her arms.
"We’ll take good care of her."
Lilith smiled warmly.
"We know."
Lyria personally saw them off. She handed Atheline a small pouch woven from silver vines.
"Inside are several herbs. They help maintain mental clarity; they aren’t powerful enough to stop whatever waits inside..." She smiled sadly. "...but perhaps they’ll help."
Atheline accepted the gift respectfully.
"Thank you."
Lyria then looked toward Lilith.
"If..." She hesitated. "...if either of you begin hearing voices that become impossible to ignore... Leave, don’t hesitate. There is no shame in retreat."
Lilith inclined her head.
"We’ll remember."
With those final words, the royal couple began walking north once again; they didn’t teleport for fear that they might get affected by the cave. Somehow