Alaric's boots echoed through the caverns of Dawncliff Mine, drawing him back like an old friend. It wasn't just the Jewel rewards that pulled him in but the mysteries still waiting to be unraveled. Each step echoed the memories of his last journey, a conquest that left the mine's guardian in the shadows. Following the familiar route, Alaric reached the spot where his previous explosion had blocked a passage. His Bomb Magic did its work again, revealing a corridor frozen in time. The light from his lantern revealed more than just a cleared path—it uncovered a solemn scene. The fallen adventurers, once rivals, lay lifeless. Well, at least three of the five. It looked like two of them had limbs stuck during the cave-in. Did the other two leave these three behind? Alaric’s nose crinkled as he sniffed the stale air. They were rotting, just further away from here. The flickering light cast eerie shadows, and Alaric's emotions were a mix of indifference and curiosity. But among the tragedy, he saw an opportunity. Their abandoned gear promised more than just memories—it whispered of hidden treasures.
Kneeling beside the fallen, Alaric sifted through the remnants of lives cut short. The focus was on tangible rewards, the spoils of a second chance. The echoes of his movements mixed with the haunting silence. Gathering the spoils, Alaric felt the mine held more secrets. The fallen adventurers, unintentional guides, had paved the way for his return. Retreating from the chamber, Alaric felt the shadows closing in. Voices could be heard, not too near but not far away enough that he could relax. If another group found these bodies stripped of their gear and saw him leaving this direction with a sack of armor and weapons, well it wouldn’t take long for them to connect the dots. “Okay, I’ve got to get out of here before others come this way.” His cave-in before had kept the group blocked off from the rest of the mines, now he opened the path it was only a matter of time before the bodies were discovered. He stood up and gave a big huff as he pulled the sack over his shoulders.
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