Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 70: Apostle Zaina [4]

He kept on staring at the mangled corpse at the side of the place.

The body lay slumped beside the cave entrance, partially hidden by roots and thick moss.

Zaina’s gaze quickly fell on the dead body that sprawled on the side.

Her eyes widened in horror as she saw its skin peeled in places as though it had been melted rather than torn.

Akamir slowly walked towards the corpse and Zaina a few steps behind. "H-how did this happen?"

Akamir didn’t respond as he crouched beside the body.

’It’s old. Maybe half a year or more.’

He thought, observing the body closely as his hand gently moved its head.

There were a few markings here and there but it wasn’t deadly.

’Did he have a fight with someone before he died?’

Akamir wondered, rubbing his chin.

Zaina quickly pointed at his hand. "There is something there."

Akamir looked down at the piece of paper the body was holding tightly.

He took the paper and unfolded it and the words that were written made his expression harden.

Zaina grew curious as she leaned forward. "What is it?"

Akamir passed the paper to her. "Read it for yourself."

Though confused she took the paper and saw the words.

With a trembling voice she began to read it.

"W-welcome home, Zaina."

"What...?" Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "What does this mean?"

Akamir’s gaze remained fixed on the corpse. "You know this place?"

"No," she said shaking her head before she whispered. "I—I don’t think so..."

Akamir just nodded as he stood up and looked at the cave once again.

Zaina clutched the note tighter. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"It’s not," Akamir said. "This wasn’t written recently. The ink is faded. Whoever this was... wrote it long before."

Zaina stepped back, her breaths turning shallower.

"That doesn’t make any sense—why would anyone...?"

"Calm down." Akamir said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Panicking won’t do anything good."

"But why me?! I’ve never been here! I don’t—" She stopped mid-sentence as she looked back at the cave.

"....Wait."

She began to walk closer towards the darkness.

"Zaina?"

Akamir called but she didn’t listen.

She moved inside the cave and the light immediately dimmed down.

Akamir formed a rune of fire in the air and it illuminated the place.

Zaina kept on walking further inside until she stopped at a left corner.

Akamir could feel cold chilly winds coming from the inside of the cave.

’Is there another exit out of it?’

He wondered before his gaze turned to Zaina who was tracing something on the cave wall.

Akamir frowned. "What are you doing?"

Zaina didn’t reply immediately as her fingers slowed down.

"When I was a child, I used to have dreams of a woman in a white robe holding a blue lantern."

She explained as her hand stopped and she stepped back.

"She used to show me things and always told me that ’I’ll return one day. When the roots remember my name.’"

"Roots....?" Akamir mumbled rubbing his chin.

She didn’t reply, instead she closed her eyes.

"Huh?"

Much to Akamir’s surprise, the place began to glow in a bluish light.

The whole cave began to give out the light forming a glowing path further inside the cave.

"...What is this?" Akamir mumbled, examining the closest glowing spot.

’It’s like a pattern.’

Akamir rubbed his chin as he tried to understand them but wasn’t successful in doing so.

"...I feel weird, Asher." Zaina said, looking at him. "...What should I do?"

Akamir looked at her then glanced at Nayomi who floated silently.

"It’s her decision." She said. "Make her the choice."

Akamir sighed. "Do you want to go out?"

Zaina lowered her head as she didn’t reply.

Akamir continued. "If you want we can go out."

She bit her lip before she shook her head.

"I...I know the cave." She mumbled. "I don’t think there is anything dangerous here."

"So, we are going in?" He asked, tilting his head. "Right?"

Zaina just gave him a short nod before she turned and began to walk and Akamir followed behind her.

The light around them flickered as she moved.

’It’s responding to her steps, huh?’

When Zaina stepped forward again, the light brightened once more.

"They’re not just patterns," she said quietly. "They’re...like roots."

"What do you mean by that?"

"..I don’t know." She mumbled quietly. "I don’t understand as well."

Akamir nodded and walked closer. "Do you know who that lady was in your dreams?"

"..She always had a mask on her face." Zaina replied, shaking her head. "But when she took it off, she looked like my late mother."

"....I see." Akamir mumbled, looking forward.

They walked slowly, the glowing path guiding their feet deeper into the cave.

Winds collided with the walls making strange noises.

Each time Zaina drew near, more light bled through the carvings.

Their steps slowed down as they reached an exit.

...That led them to a wide chamber.

Akamir frowned as he looked at it. "...What is that?"

At its center stood a circular stone dais surrounded by withered vines, blackened as if by fire.

An altar of roots had grown into the wall, holding an object...a mask made of wood and bone.

Its eye sockets empty and mouth curled into a knowing grin.

Zaina stepped forward instinctively.

Akamir held out a hand. "Wait. This could be a trap."

"I know this mask," she said, voice distant. "She wore it sometimes. The woman in the dreams."

"Really?" Akamir wondered rubbing his temples. "Does that mean that woman is real?"

Zaina had no answer for that as she stood above the altar and grabbed the mask.

Akamir quickly moved closer standing up on the altar as well.

"Brace yourself."

Nayomi suddenly said, looking at him.

Akamir tilted his head—.

Only to notice the ground shook and broke in an instant.

"Huh?"

They both began plummeting down into the pit of darkness.

’You could have warned me earlier, Stupid idiot!’

Akamir moved and quickly grabbed Zaina by the waist and leapt towards the wall.

He took out his sword and implanted his hand on the stone wall.

Their speed slowed down enough for them to break the fall.

"Urgh!"

Akamir was the first to fall down and Zaina over him.

’My back hurts.’

Akamir groaned inwardly as Zaina curled over him.

She refused to move holding him tightly.

Akamir shook her. "Zaina?"

"Uh, yeah."

Zaina quickly replied as she began to stand up.

Akamir stood up as well as he began to look around the place.

Yet...

There was nothing but darkness all over the place.

The air was damp, thick with the scent of earth.

Zaina held her hands tight against her chest, her breaths shallow. "Where... are we now?"

Akamir stood still, his eyes adjusting to the void around them.

His sword remained drawn.

"We fell deeper than I thought," he muttered, scanning the walls. "There’s no natural light source here."

But just as Zaina took a step forward, the place glowed with the same bluish color as above.

Akamir looked at Zaina as she glanced back at him.

"Shall we move?" She asked, looking back at the straight path.

"After you." He said, glancing around in the debris. "Where is the mask?"

"It should be here." Zaina mumbled softly. "There it is." novelbuddy.cσ๓

Akamir followed her gaze as it landed on the mask.

He reached towards it.

But...

[You are in the presence of a sealed Artifact.]

Just as he held onto it, a small message flickered in front of him.

[Would you like to use "memories"?]

[Yes/no]