Cassian and Cassandra stood in a long line of people waiting to pass through an enormous gate. The structure, weathered and ancient, bore clear signs of deterioration, with cracks and crumbling edges that gave the impression it could collapse at any moment. Yet, it stood firm, even supporting guards stationed on its upper sections. Cassian could sense concentrated mana emanating from the gate, likely the work of spells designed to keep it intact. This gate was a renowned tourist attraction in the city, a ruin in the Andharta Kingdom's old-world island, earldom.
Standing behind an annoyed-looking Cassandra, who seemed utterly exhausted, Cassian stretched and said with a faint smile, "My body feels really sore for some reason."
Cassandra turned to him, her disbelief evident. "You're sore?" she repeated, her tone dripping with incredulity. "And for some reason?"
Her reaction made him chuckle, recalling how things had unfolded. Despite her earlier claim that she would stop him at midnight no matter what, she hadn't. Cassian hadn't asked her to stop either, continuing until he felt slightly dizzy—long after Cassandra had passed out for the second time.
Now stretching his arms, Cassian wore a self-satisfied expression, entirely unapologetic. "I'm not complaining," he added, clearly proud of himself. After all, he had enjoyed it, and judging by Cassandra's loud moans she let out during it, so had she.
"Yeah, yeah..." Cassandra rolled her eyes at his smug expression before turning her attention to the ruins ahead. "I've heard these ruins stretch for hundreds of miles, even underground. Apparently, not even ten percent of them have been explored. The traps and some weird places here are so unpredictable that even a warrior's senses can't detect them, which most time led to death or crippling injuries." She explained, her tone laced with curiosity.
Cassian nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the ruined buildings and the shops visible beyond the security gates leading into the ruins. The place looked more like an ancient city than a crumbled ruin. As he took in the vast expanse, it was easy to believe that much of it remained untouched. Turning to Cassandra, he asked, "Have they found any treasures here?"
"Only some gold and, on rare occasions, strange equipment," Cassandra said with an excited smile. "These items don't just rely on mana—they work with other mystical energies no one really understands. Not many are eager to study them, though, since it's not exactly necessary. But it's strange, isn't it? When this place first appeared, no one could use mana, yet there were already objects designed to work with it."
She paused briefly before continuing, her enthusiasm growing. "That aside, this place is better suited for warriors than mages. Some of the finest weapons—legendary spears and blades—have been discovered here. They're known for their unmatched power and craftsmanship. I hope we can find some of those treasures in these ruins."
That piqued Cassian's interest. He had a decent sword—the one gifted to him by Lady Katherine—but he'd never felt it was a perfect fit for him. The compatibility just wasn't there. Still, he believed that a sword was only as good as the swordsman wielding it, so he didn't dwell on it too much. That said, he wouldn't mind upgrading to a more powerful and finely crafted weapon if the opportunity presented itself.
As they passed through the security gates, the atmosphere shifted. The ruins stretched out before them, a sprawling expanse of ancient structures, some half-buried in the earth and others towering defiantly against the sky. The air felt charged, not just with mana but with something older, a primal energy that seemed to hum in the background.
Cassian glanced at Cassandra, who was scanning their surroundings with a mixture of awe and curiosity. "So, where do we start?" he asked, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword.
Cassandra gestured toward a crumbled archway that led into what looked like a maze of stone corridors. "That looks promising," she remarked. "Since the outer sections have mostly been explored, the deeper areas might still hold something valuable. Oh, and if you come across any books or similar items, let me know first. Being here for who knows how long, they need to be handled carefully—one wrong move, and they'll crumble to dust at the slightest touch."
Cassian nodded, his gaze shifting between the crumbled archway and Cassandra's animated expression. Her excitement about the ruins struck him as a bit unusual, given the somber and eerie atmosphere of the place. Intrigued, he finally asked, "You seem excited?"
Cassandra turned to him, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Of course, I am! Places are rare—filled with history, mystery, and untapped potential. Who wouldn't be excited about the chance to uncover something incredible?" She gestured toward the crumbled corridors, where others with similar ambitions were already venturing inside. "I've always wanted to explore a place ."
Cassian nodded, feeling a flicker of excitement himself. "It does sound exciting," he admitted, his tone tinged with caution. "But I'd rather not die here, so maybe you could tell me what kind of traps I should be watching out for."
His gaze wandered to the surroundings—walls marked with embedded spears, arrows, and darts, remnants of long-sprung traps. Skeletal remains hung ominously on some of them, while others lay crumpled on the floor. Judging by their armor and weapons, most had been warriors, with the occasional mage among them. The sheer number of skeletons was unsettling, though none appeared recent, which gave him some reassurance.
Cassandra nodded, gesturing toward the arrows and spears embedded in the ground, along with spike hammers and small holes likely hiding spring-loaded traps. "As you can see, these are the usual ones. They're easy to dodge or survive if you're at least a Circle Warrior—or if you're not dumb enough to walk right into them," she said with a smirk.
Her tone grew more serious as she continued, "The tricky ones, though, are different. For some reason, they can bypass our Domains and harm our bodies directly. Most of those are deeper inside, and while our armor can provide some protection, it's not foolproof."
Cassian listened intently, noting the shift in her demeanor. Her excited smile, which had been present since they arrived, grew even more animated as she added, "Speaking of armor, have you heard about war armors?"