Mage Legend

Lynch cast his gaze to the other end of the bridge and said to his companions, "Come on, let's see what's ahead!"

The stone bridge grew narrower and narrower, until only one person could pass. They tiptoed cautiously across that stretch and then found the path began to widen again—it seemed they had crossed half of the bridge.

As Lynch walked, his magic wand gently tapped the ground, producing a rhythmic sound. The group seemed to walk to the beat of a drum in this silent world. The long-sealed history slowly unfolded before them, and as the mist gradually dissipated, a mighty waterfall appeared in their view like a meteor suddenly blazing across the night sky.

The curtain of water had no visible top or end, starting from a towering black peak and vanishing into an even deeper, darker abyss. Countless streams of water slid through the air unobstructed, cascading down with an unstoppable force. Lynch listened intently but heard no splash in this place where echoes should have resounded.

"It's truly magnificent. I never knew there was such a place inside the Ridge Mountains," Morgan exclaimed. "If we could show this to the Dwarf craftsmen, we'd have even more architectural inspiration!"

Zilvra craned her neck to look down from the bridge and even threw three throwing daggers to test the depth. But after holding their breath for a long time, none of them heard an echo.

"Could this be a bottomless abyss, never reaching the end?" Zilvra quickly stepped back from the edge of the bridge and said to the mage, "Is this perhaps a cave leading to the abyss?"

Lynch pondered for a moment, then walked back into the mist, re-emerging after a while with a smile. "I don't think so. It should have a bottom. But below, there's likely a pool of hot magma. The waterfall's water evaporates into vapor before reaching the bottom, and the swirling hot air sends it high into the sky. I think the cold rocky walls of Ice Furnace Peak will eventually condense these vapors back into streams, which will flow back into the cavity at the top. There may be a lake that feeds the waterfall."

"That explanation sounds reasonable," Zilvra waved. "Since the mist isn't as thick as before, why not continue forward?"

Passing by the silent waterfall, the three became even more excited. Their initial worries and suspicions about the Snake-men were temporarily forgotten in the thrill of the adventure.

"I once walked through a giant dragon's lair with my teacher, seeking knowledge about magic," Lynch recalled. "Even the oldest dragons, with their magnificent dwellings, can't compare to this place."

"Does that mean you can already smell the treasure?" Morgan's face flushed with excitement. "Oh, if this is indeed the place the Dwarves have been searching for day and night, I would absolutely believe it. The river of gemstones and this grand location are such a perfect match!" He glanced at Zilvra, then said, "Beautiful lady, I will hand-carve the finest gemstone into a brilliant star and present it as a gift to you."

"Oh? Dwarf, and why is that?" Zilvra replied. "Even so, it wouldn't earn you special thanks or favor from me. Not to mention, the most precious things here would rightfully be mine."

"Haha, I wouldn't mind that!" Morgan said. "But you must understand, only through a Dwarven craftsman's handiwork can a gemstone reveal its true beauty and possess boundless value! Isn't that right, Lynch?"

"Don't forget the Dwarves; they can craft gemstone products too," Lynch answered, raising his magic wand higher to let the light flood their surroundings. "What concerns me more now is who could construct and own such a place? Not to mention anything else, they'd need formidable power to accomplish a feat like this. If so, wouldn't they have equally powerful guardians?"

No one answered this question, but from the way the Dwarf and Drow gripped their weapons, it was evident they had sobered from their overexcitement. This place no longer radiated with the brilliance of gemstones but seemed fraught with hidden dangers.

A towering portal appeared before them, and the three of them stood on the platform at its entrance. It was spotless, with no moss or fungi in sight. It was puzzling, as the damp environment and apparent temperature seemed perfect for such life, yet no common cave creatures could be seen. Could something be continually keeping this area clean?