Chapter 157: Beneath the Ruins
Nero descended into the depths of the ancient ruin, each step stirring dust that glittered faintly in the dim, sourceless light.
The walls closed in around him, rough stone brushing against his shoulders, etched with carvings so old they were almost worn smooth.
Yet, faintly visible beneath the erosion, were words in a language he did not recognize, swirling like vines around symbols of light and shadow intertwined.
His fingers trailed along the carvings, his touch sending a cold shiver up his spine.
The symbols pulsed faintly, rhythmic like a heartbeat, resonating with an ancient sorrow that seeped from the walls.
It was despair, pure and unyielding, but beneath it, he felt a flicker, faint and fleeting.
With his enhanced sight, he traced the magic tangled in the carvings, threads of light intertwined with darkness, straining against each other, locked in an ancient struggle.
Time had worn away the details, but the essence remained, vibrating with sorrow and a whisper of hope.
He moved cautiously, his fingers brushing the stone, cold and unyielding.
The air grew heavy, each breath tasting of dust and despair.
Yet, beneath it, he sensed something else.
A warmth, faint and fragile, like a dying ember.