GAYA'S GARDEN
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The forbidden cave didn't look like much from the outside but Alaris and Belladonna have learnt to not trust or take things at their face value.
They were careful with every step they took, mindful of how much time they had doesn't and how much less they had. This was their only hope. They had agreed that if it seemed like this journey into the forbidden cave would lead to nothing, then they would turn back and head to the exit, so that they would still be able to escape this dreadful Garden.
The map had said that the cave was filled with monsters, they expected that and so much worse.
But the deeper they went into the cave, the more they were surrounded by nothing but the echoes of their quiet steps. Alaris had tried to summon his flames a couple of times, they had lasted for only about so long, flickering too before going off.
Each failure made him think of his dying dragon and it took everything within him not to break down and weep for this loss. His rage knew no bounds, and he wanted to rip something apart so he could unleash this anger; he wanted to kill something.
The blood in his veins ran hot for vengeance. The image of the severed head of the White King in his mind gave him the strength to push on.
The Life Gem was all he needed. It would help his dragon, and with it, he would have an army, fight for his people, and bring them the justice they deserve while he takes the throne.
He would do anything for the Life Gem.
Belladonna tried her best not to think of Eli or the encounter she had with him at the Resurrection Ground. Her heart was breaking apart with the choice she had made, despite knowing that there was no other way, she couldn't help but feel completely shattered by the experience. She tried to tell herself that the person she had met wasn't Eli. With the dubious tricks that the Garden had been playing on them so far, that could have just her deepest desire playing out.
Maybe he wasn't actually there.
That didn't make her any better. In fact, things had only gotten worse after she had realized that she had lost Eli’s necklace.
She had lost everything of him that she had. All this Garden had done to her was take and take.
Even at this moment, it was taking something from them.
Their time.
Each movement in the Sandglass was something she could feel. Sometimes she would feel Alaris’ hard gaze on her arm as he focused on the Sandglass.
They were running out of time too quickly.
Guided by the light that penetrated into the cave from the little holes above and relying heavily on Alaris' guardiance, Belladonna moved through the cave, until Alaris stopped suddenly and she almost bumped into him.
“What is going on—”
“We need to head to the exit.”
“W—why?” She knew why but she just didn't want it to be true.
The Life Gem was everything she was relying upon. She couldn't leave this Garden after losing so much without attaining it.
“We have little time left.” His grip around her wrist tightened and without giving her time to think, he started leading them outside the cave.
Defeated, Belladonna followed him, tears filling her eyes once again.
It couldn't end like this.
They had done so much, fought so much for it to end this way.
By Ignas, they had lost so much!
They needed to get that gem!
Anger boiled in her. With Alaris’ back turned to her, he wasn't able to see when the colour of her eyes changed, nor was he able to witness the Tree of Life flashing in her orbs.
By Ignas, it couldn't end like this!
And it didn't, because suddenly the cave floor erupted with flames and massive black snakes as mighty and as tall as castles, protruding from the sea of lava beneath.
Their loud hisses echoed across the caves and it didn't take long for them to attack.
Alaris quickly turned them in the other direction, making them run deeper into the cave, while the snakes came after them.