Volume 1 Chapter 30 - The Whisper of the Ancient Ruin
The road to Aelbourne curved eastward, winding through a narrow forest valley.
The air here was thick — not dark, but heavy, as if the world itself held its breath.
Cindy fluttered a little ahead of Puff, her wings shimmering softly in the dim light filtering through the trees.
"We're almost out of the forest," she said cheerfully. "You can even see the mountain's shadow from here."
Puff looked around nervously. "Yeah, but it's too quiet. Not even birds."
Cindy slowed, her small face tightening. He was right.
The forest was unnaturally silent — not peaceful, but empty.
Then, the wind shifted.
It carried something faint — the sound of stone grinding against stone.
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The Discovery
They followed the sound deeper into the woods until the trees began to thin.
There, half-buried in moss and roots, stood the remains of what once must have been a magnificent structure — an archway made of pale crystal and carved stone.
The air shimmered faintly around it, and strange runes pulsed with soft blue light.
Puff's jaw dropped. "That's not normal ruins, is it?"
Cindy shook her head slowly. "No... I can feel mana radiating from it. Strong mana."
She approached the archway, the soft glow reflecting off her wings.
As she got closer, her Appraisal Skill automatically activated — a faint light forming a small window before her eyes.
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System Display
[Appraisal Result]
Object: Sealed Dungeon Gate
Designation: Ancient Ruin of Soleris
Classification: Forbidden Dungeon
Estimated Dungeon Level: 100
Status: Dormant (Sealed)
Warning: Unauthorized entry may result in instant death.
Recommended Level: 90+
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Cindy froze. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Level... one hundred?" she whispered.
Puff's eyes went wide. "That's— that's insane! We barely hit thirty!"
The air around the ruin pulsed again, almost like a heartbeat.
Faint whispers brushed against Cindy's mind — ancient, sorrowful, and distant.
"Return... the light..."
"The wings... must awaken..."
Cindy stepped back instinctively, gripping her chest. "Something's alive in there."
Puff looked between her and the archway. "We should not go near that."
She nodded quickly. "Agreed."
But even as they turned away, the ruins reacted — faint motes of light floated out, surrounding her gently. They didn't harm her, only circled as if recognizing her.
[System Notice: Unknown Resonance Detected.]
The Ruin of Soleris recognizes the Blessing of the Wind.
Access granted to surface data.
The window shifted.
[Lore Fragment Unlocked]
"In the age before kings, when the sky fell and spirits wept, the guardians of wind sealed the Gate of Soleris.
Only one who bears the breath of renewal may open it again."
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Cindy's wings trembled faintly.
"'Bearer of the breath of renewal'...?"
Puff blinked. "That sounds like you."
"I hope not," she murmured, though her heart said otherwise.
The ruin's glow slowly dimmed again, as if returning to sleep. The whispers faded, leaving only the rustle of the trees.
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The Mark
As they began to leave, Cindy felt a soft warmth on her right hand.
A faint symbol — a spiral of wind surrounded by petals — appeared for a moment, glowing faintly before fading beneath her skin.
[New Trait Acquired: Whisper of Soleris]
You have been marked by the ancient wind seal. Your mana efficiency increases by 15%. This mark will respond to great disturbances or sealed magic.
Puff frowned. "Cindy... what if this place wasn't just any dungeon? What if it's connected to your blessing?"
Cindy looked back at the ruin — the silent gate half-swallowed by earth and time.
"I don't know," she said softly. "But... something tells me that wasn't the last time we'll see it."
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Continuing Onward
They resumed their journey, moving quickly to leave the forest behind.
The wind grew calmer the further they walked, as if relieved that they had turned away.
By sunset, the trees gave way to open plains again — and in the far distance, they could see it: the glittering walls of Aelbourne, shining gold beneath the fading light.
Puff pointed. "Finally! Civilization!"
Cindy smiled faintly but didn't take her eyes off the horizon.
Her thoughts lingered on the whispers, on the mark, and on the strange sense of destiny pressing against her chest.
"Let's reach the capital first," she whispered. "Then... we'll find out what Soleris really is."
The wind stirred softly in reply — gentle, but full of secrets.