Chapter 8: The Lost City
The morning after their encounter with the Guardian of the Mist began peacefully. The fog that had filled the jungle during the night slowly drifted away between the giant trees, revealing paths covered with shining leaves and enormous roots that seemed to stretch all the way to the horizon.
Willity and Sixsevenin continued their journey shortly after breakfasting on some glowing fruits that grew beside a small stream. The blue light was still there, shining between the distant mountains. Every day it seemed a little closer, and although it was still impossible to know what it really was, both of them felt certain that something important awaited them on this journey.
—One day we'll reach it —said Willity as he looked toward the horizon.
—I hope so —replied Sixsevenin with a smile beneath his hood.
They continued walking for hours. The jungle became denser and quieter, but little by little they began to notice strange things. First, they found a column completely covered in moss. Later, they came across a ruined wall hidden among the roots of several trees, and soon after that, they discovered an ancient stone staircase that seemed to lead nowhere.
—Who would build something like this in the middle of the jungle? —asked Willity.
Sixsevenin studied the stones for a few seconds before answering.
—I don't know. But I think this has been here for a very long time.
It was strange. Very strange.
They continued through the vegetation as more structures appeared on both sides of the path. Some were so covered with climbing plants that they were almost impossible to recognize. Others seemed to have been swallowed by the trees themselves. The more they looked, the clearer it became that they were not crossing an ordinary forest.
There had once been a city there.
And although neither of them could imagine who had built it, both felt that they were walking through the remains of something extraordinary.
It was then that a small creature jumped between two branches above their heads. It was fast—so fast that they barely caught a glimpse of it. It was about the size of a small cat, with a long tail and large shining eyes. When it leaped between the trees, strange membranes seemed to unfold from its sides, allowing it to glide for a few moments before landing on another branch.
—Did you see that? —asked Willity.
—I think so —replied Sixsevenin as he tried to spot it among the leaves.
The creature appeared again a few meters ahead. It remained still, watching them for a few seconds, and then vanished once more. The same thing happened again and again throughout the morning. It appeared, watched them with curiosity, and disappeared back into the branches. It seemed just as interested in them as they were in it.
By midday, Willity began to suspect something.
—I think it's trying to show us something.
Sixsevenin followed his gaze. The small creature was sitting on a branch, staring directly at them. When it saw that they had stopped, it jumped to another branch and waited there.
As if it wanted them to follow.
The strange creature seemed to be guiding them somewhere.
At last, they decided to do just that.
Their unusual guide moved slowly enough for them to follow without difficulty. Thanks to it, they discovered ancient elevated gardens covered with glowing flowers, small ponds hidden among giant roots, and stone terraces built into the mountainsides. Everything looked old and worn, yet strangely beautiful.
Nature had reclaimed that place long ago.
As they moved forward, the structures became more and more numerous. They no longer looked like isolated ruins. Everything seemed to be part of something much larger. There were walls, collapsed bridges, elevated pathways, and columns emerging from the vegetation as if the jungle itself were trying to hide them.
Then they found an opening between the roots of several giant trees. The entrance seemed to lead into an ancient building, and before they could decide what to do, the creature disappeared inside.
Willity and Sixsevenin exchanged a glance.
—Should we go in?
—I think you already know the answer.
Both smiled and stepped through the entrance.
The interior was dark and silent. The walls were covered with strange symbols that neither of them had ever seen before. Some rooms seemed to have once contained ancient machines, while others were completely empty. They moved carefully, studying every corner, trying to understand who had lived there and what purpose the place had served.
However, the farther they went, the harder it became to remember the way back.
When they finally decided to leave, they discovered that they were completely lost. They tried retracing their steps, crossed several corridors, climbed stairways, and followed passages covered with roots, but everything looked the same.
They were genuinely confused and worried because they had no idea where they were.
—I think we're completely lost —admitted Sixsevenin.
—I think so too —replied Willity, trying not to sound too worried.
They remained silent for a few seconds until they heard a small sound coming from one of the galleries.
There was the creature again.
Sitting on a stone, it slowly swayed its tail while watching them. Then it made a small leap and moved a few meters ahead before stopping to see if they were following.
—I think it's laughing at us.
Sixsevenin could not help laughing.
Once again, they followed their little guide, and to their relief, it led them directly back outside. Sunlight filtered through the trees once more, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief as they felt the fresh jungle air again.
But the biggest surprise was still waiting for them.
The creature continued onward for a little while longer until it led them to a huge and unusual viewpoint overlooking the jungle. When they reached the edge, both of them froze.
Before them stretched the ruins.
These were not just a few ruins. It was an entire city lost beneath the jungle.
Not a handful of scattered buildings.
Not a few isolated structures.
It was obvious that they were looking at the remains of an entire city.
Or perhaps something even larger.
Countless collapsed walls and towers, surrounded by the remains of stone roads, stretched across the jungle in every direction. Vegetation covered almost everything, but it was still clear that this place had once been extraordinary.
The ruins extended far beyond what they could see.
And in the distance, shining between the mountains, the blue light was still waiting for them.
Now it seemed closer than ever.
Willity gazed at the horizon for a long time. He had the feeling that the city held very ancient secrets—secrets they would one day uncover.
But that time had not yet come.
There was still a long road ahead.
And more adventures were waiting for them before they reached the mysterious blue light.
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