Both continued their march on into the darkness with the flickering light. The natural stone suddenly yielded to sculptured stone. The steps increased and became swift. Until they reached a massive wall, gleaming polished black in the light.

"Is that...?" came forth breathlessly.

"Yes, ... Black Rock." is being replied, while pale hand grabbed the knife.

"But how? There is no swamp in the proximity or even in the distance.", came forth, slowly recovering breath.

"Nevertheless, it means we are finally at the right place. Now we only have to give something for the access we take, to retain balance." The pale hand with the knife cut into the other. The one spoke drew his bleeding hand over the wall.

The wall gave in and opened, almost like a gate. Blinded by light, an in Jet-armor cladded Dras with a bleeding Hand and a knife in the other Hand, stood next to a wealthy dressed Neran with a torch in Hand and sword on his hip. In front of them extended a huge, circular vault. Closed Gates out of different materials ranked themselves along the walls with piles of shining Ancient Coins, golden rings,necklaces and chalices in between. Here and there were sparkling Rubins or Rubin rings like stars. Interrupted only by mysterious vials and caskets, which did not divulge their contents to the eye of the beholder. However, all of these did not draw the eyes of the newcomers at themselves, but rather the center of the vault.

"By the Two-Fold Queen!" "In the name of Harbos, I only prayed for the one and no more I will take.", escaped their mouths, before they could catch themselves.

In the middle of the vault laid something similar to an artless coffin. On top of it, the source of light shed light on the vault. A lavish ornamented chalice. It seemed to be overflowing with liquid, which almost sun like, emitted the light. The searching were unable to speak up, faced with the objective their search.

The dazzled Neran passed the torch into the Hand of the Dras and slowly moved toward the coffin. Trembling he stood in front of the chalice and carefully reached into it. The liquid spilled over and ran into the coffin and all over the floor. As soon, as the hand took hold of the something firm and even, the wondrous light vanished. A cold shudder ran down the spine of both of them. Without the light, the vault was distinctly more unsettling. Hectically, the hand was withdrawn with a stone. The chalice fell clanking to the ground and more and more water poured out of it. The Neran turned his back to it and hurried back to his companion at the entrance.

The Dras opened his eyes wide in the fading light and shortly grew stiff. His eyes gazed into the now prevalent darkness of the vault. He rushed past his returning companion.

"Flee!"

The Neran wanted to stop, but was pushed out of the vault. He heared another call just in time , before the gate made out of Black Rock, closed in front of him. He looked into the sudden darkness, which without a torch, replaced now the last shreds of light.

...

"Shadows are coming, bring them the light!"

~ end

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