The crypt loomed ahead, its ancient stone entrance swallowed by the surrounding wilderness. The carved runes on the doorway flickered faintly, pulsating as if alive, while the air around them felt unnaturally still. Loki and Selena exchanged a glance, their breaths visible in the chill that clung to the air. For Loki, this place was more than a crypt—it was a reminder of the Dumornay legacy he had tried to escape. Though he bore the family name, he had always been the outlier, the one dismissed as too frivolous, too cunning to be trusted with their darker secrets.
"It's a little late to back out now," Loki quipped, his grin betraying only a hint of unease.
Selena ignored his remark, her gaze fixed on the entrance. "The Dumornays and their allies have likely scoured this place before. They use proxies—mercenaries, occultists, even rival families they've manipulated into doing their dirty work. Whatever's left is either too well-hidden or too dangerous for even them to handle. But their enemies... they'd want this relic just as much, if not more."
"And yet here we are," Loki said, stepping forward. "I feel special."
Selena placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Don't underestimate this place. These crypts were sealed for a reason. The artifacts inside weren't just hidden—they were imprisoned. Your family's mystics ensured that, Loki, and I doubt they made it easy for anyone to break their safeguards."
Loki arched an eyebrow but said nothing. He reached into his coat, pulling out a small glass vial containing a pale blue liquid. With a flick of his wrist, he uncorked it and let a single drop fall onto the runes. The symbols flared to life, glowing brighter until the heavy stone doors groaned open, revealing a dark, yawning corridor.
"Impressive," Selena muttered.
Loki shrugged. "Trickster's intuition."
They stepped inside, their footsteps echoing through the narrow passage. The air grew colder with each step, and a faint hum resonated in the walls. Loki glanced at Selena, who moved with purpose but kept her hand on the hilt of her dagger.
"You've been quiet about this relic," Loki said, breaking the silence. "Why does it matter so much to you?"
Selena hesitated, her expression guarded. "It's not just about the relic. It's about what it represents. The Dumornays have held their power through fear and control, hoarding artifacts like this to tighten their grip over Carcera and beyond. Your family," she added pointedly, "has used these tools to maintain illusions that keep their allies loyal and their enemies terrified. This one... it's different. If we find it, we can strip away those illusions. Expose their lies. Weakening them could fracture their alliances and embolden those waiting to strike."
"And expose yourself to their wrath," Loki added. "Bold strategy."
Selena didn't respond, her eyes scanning the darkness ahead. "Just keep moving."
The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling disappearing into shadows. Broken statues lined the walls, their faces worn smooth by time. At the center stood a pedestal, its surface empty but surrounded by runes that pulsed faintly.
"This feels too easy," Loki muttered, approaching the pedestal. His sharp eyes scanned the room, searching for hidden traps or illusions. "No dust, no cobwebs... someone's been here recently."
Selena knelt by the pedestal, studying the runes. "These markings are recent," she said, her fingers tracing the symbols. "Someone tried to extract the relic but failed."
"And by 'failed,' you mean...?" Loki prompted.
Selena's response was cut off by a low, guttural growl that echoed through the chamber. The air grew heavy, and the temperature plummeted. From the shadows, a creature emerged—its form twisted and unnatural, with glowing red eyes that burned with malice.
"Of course," Loki muttered, drawing a small blade from his coat. "A guardian."
The creature lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Loki dodged to the side, his movements quick and fluid. Selena unsheathed her dagger, circling the creature as it turned to face her.
"Distractions are your specialty, right?" Selena called, her voice steady despite the danger.
"Funny," Loki replied, his grin returning. He flicked his wrist, casting a minor illusion that created a duplicate of himself. The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes darting between the two Lokis.
Selena seized the moment, striking with precision. Her blade found its mark, sinking into the creature's flank. It howled, a sound that reverberated through the chamber, but instead of retreating, it turned on her with renewed fury.
"Not so easily fooled," Loki muttered, his mind racing. He focused, summoning another illusion—this one a shimmering wall that separated Selena from the creature. It snarled, confused, as it clawed at the phantom barrier.
Selena nodded in acknowledgment, her movements quick as she circled back toward the pedestal. "Keep it busy," she said.
"Wasn't planning on letting it eat us," Loki replied, casting another illusion to divert the creature's attention. This time, the illusion took the form of a snarling wolf that charged at the guardian. The creature roared, engaging the illusion while Selena examined the pedestal.
Her fingers moved deftly over the runes, tracing patterns as she muttered incantations under her breath. The markings began to glow brighter, their light spreading across the chamber floor. "These runes," Selena murmured, "were adapted by the Dumornay mystics. They're designed to suppress whatever's inside, a safeguard in case their enemies ever breached the crypt."
"Whatever you're doing," Loki called, dodging a swipe from the distracted creature, "do it faster."
The runes flared, and a hidden compartment in the pedestal slid open. Inside was a mask, its surface smooth and reflective, as if it were made of liquid silver. Selena reached for it, but the guardian let out an ear-piercing screech, its form dissolving into shadow and reforming closer to the pedestal.
Loki acted on instinct. He hurled a vial from his coat, which exploded in a burst of light and smoke, disorienting the creature. "Grab it!" he shouted.
Selena snatched the mask, cradling it carefully as the chamber began to tremble. The runes on the walls flickered erratically, and cracks spread across the floor.
"Time to go!" Loki said, grabbing Selena's arm and pulling her toward the exit. The guardian roared behind them, its form collapsing into a swirling vortex of darkness that consumed everything in its path.
They sprinted through the corridor, the crypt collapsing around them. Loki's illusions lit the way, casting brief flashes of light that guided their path. The stone doors came into view, and with a final burst of speed, they lunged through just as the crypt sealed itself shut behind them.
Both of them collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The mask lay between them, its surface untouched despite the chaos. Selena stared at it, her fingers brushing its smooth surface. "If the Dumornays find out we have this," she said quietly, "your siblings won't just send a few assassins. They'll unleash every ally they've manipulated, every faction that owes them fealty. This mask is more than a relic—it's a threat to everything they've built."
"That... was closer than I'd like," Loki said, his voice strained.
Selena picked up the mask, a slight smirk find its way to her lips. "But we got it."
Loki sat up, his grin returning. "What now?"
Selena met his gaze, her eyes hard. "Now, we figure out how to use it. And we prepare for what comes next—because when your family learns about this, Loki, it won't just be us against them. It'll be us against everyone they've ever controlled. And they will never let you forget that you're one of them."