As the group advanced, the oppressive darkness surrounding them gradually receded, until the tunnel widened once more.

A few moments later, the silver-haired Knight stepped out first, and the others followed closely behind him.

Immediately, they found themselves standing within the familiar underground intersection; well, it was familiar for only four of them. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The immense cavern stretched outward beneath the waterfall like the heart of some ancient labyrinth. Shadows lingered in every corner while Kaeloris’ Soul Essence illuminated the chamber with a steady golden radiance.

The tunnels stood before them; one branched into the left, one led straight to the middle, and the last one curved to the right...

The faint traces left behind by the Drake’s carcass had almost completely vanished. Only several dark stains remained upon the stone floor, serving as the final evidence of the path the quartet had treaded the previous day.

For several heartbeats, none of them spoke as they observed the intersection that seemed frozen in time. Kaeloris’ light spilled across the cavern floor before reaching the mouths of the three tunnels.

In the darkness, they resembled the jaws of enormous beasts patiently waiting to swallow anyone foolish enough to enter.

Aureleah was the first to break the silence. Her silver eyes drifted toward the right passage before she asked.

"That leads to the ruin you guys discovered, doesn’t it?"

Regaleon nodded slightly. "Yes..."

Then he pointed towards the faded marks on the ground. "And if you look closely, you can still see traces of the Drake’s trail."

The failed Assassin studied them briefly before returning her attention to the remaining tunnels.

"So, which one do we explore first?" She asked calmly, but her eyes was lingering particularly on the middle tunnel.

"I’d say we go for the one in the center." Caelestra crossed her arms before answering.

"Nah. Let’s take the one to the left..." Valmyr suggested.

"How about neither?!" Veyrath agitatedly interjected.

The failed Alchemist glanced nervously between the two passages and continued. "I mean, seriously, this place literally looks like it is waiting for us to make a wrong decision."

"Also, in case you’ve forgotten, we still don’t know where that morbid Drake came from? What if it came from one of these tunnels, and there are more of it in there? Or what if there is even something more unwholesome than the Drake in there?"

Vaelorin’s fiery red eyes was clouded with unease as he added. "I don’t know guys, I really support him..."

The red-haired Pyromancer scratched the back of his neck before speaking further.

"I mean, look what happened when we explored the first tunnel. At this stage, I think we should just turn around and go back to our Cave."

Regaleon remained silent through the exchange. And it was only after a few minutes passed did he choose to speak.

"Either way, we’ve already come this far. So there’s no turning back." Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward before speaking. "I say we go into the middle passage first..."

Before anyone could protest or complain, the Forgotten Knight strode forward with purposeful steps. Aureleah remained quiet as she stepped right behind him and followed along.

Behind her, Sylveris didn’t think twice before hurrying to walk next to her sister...

The remaining five exchanged glances, then Caelestra simply shrugged before walking after the trio. And then, Kaeloris followed.

Both Vaelorin and Veyrath were still hesitating when, with a wide grin plastered on his face, Valmyr pushed them forward while saying.

"Come on. I have a feeling that this would definitely be fun."

"Why do I feel quite unsettled by your words?" Vaelorin muttered as he walked into the middle darkness...

The moment they crossed into the passage, nobody needed to point it out as they all detected the obvious difference immediately...

The tunnel leading toward the temple had been rough and uneven, signifying the passage of time. But this... This one was somehow different.

The walls here were shaped deliberately, and though they weren’t perfectly smooth, they still bear the unmistakable signs of craftsmanship, as though time itself has no hold over them.

Kaeloris raised his Lantern higher, sweeping the passage with warm golden light...

Suddenly, Sylveris gasped softly. Her hands flew to her mouth as her widened silver eyes observed the walls with awe in them.

Everyone stopped in their tracks when they heard that sound, then they all followed her gaze and saw the reason behind her reaction.

It was a statue, standing silently beside the wall. For a moment, it appeared almost alive as it stood there rigidly.

The figure depicted a heavily armed knight standing upright with both hands resting atop the pommel of a longsword planted before him.

His head was inclined slightly downward; not in submission or prayer, but in vigilance. As though even in death, he remains eternally alert...

The craftsmanship was astonishing as every detail was vivid; the overlapping plates of his armour, the folds of the stone cloak draped across his shoulders, the intricate engravings decorating the blade, and even the stern expression hidden beneath the visor of his helmet had been captured perfectly.

"Whoa!" Kaeloris suddenly exclaimed as the glow from his Soul Essence traveled further down the tunnel...

The light revealed another statue, then another... And another. Rows of stone knights lined both sides of the passage as though an entire army stood frozen in eternal watch.

The sight practically stole the breath from their lungs as it was awe-inspiring...

No two statues were the same as they appeared differently...

One carried a tower shield nearly as tall as himself; the massive defensive structure rested against the ground while a broad sword remained clenched in his opposite hand.

Another Knight stood with an enormous greatsword balanced before him. The blade alone seemed large enough to cleave through a chariot.

Further ahead stood a warrior wielding a heavy war mace. The weapon’s head had been sculpted into a cluster of angular spikes resembling crystalline stars.

Beside that warrior stood another carrying a brutal stone club reinforced with iron-like bands. The weapon looked primitive compared to the others, yet somehow it appears even more terrifying.

As the group continued forward, the statues became increasingly deliberate...

One knight knelt upon a single knee while holding a spear upright.

Another carried twin blades crossed before his chest. One figure held an axe whose edge curved like a crescent moon.

Another possessed a weapon so unusual that nobody could identify it. Its design resembled a hybrid between a sword and a polearm...

Regaleon found him staring at each and every one of these statues with an unwavering intensity.

Why does something about them suddenly feel strangely familiar?

The deeper they ventured into the tunnels the more numerous the guardians became. Some stood alone while others stood in pairs...

In fact, if they hadn’t seen all of these with their own eyes, none of them would have believed that such breathtaking sight existed underneath the waterfall.

Somehow, the passage no longer felt like a tunnel. Instead, it seems as if they’re walking through a ceremonial road leading toward something sacred.

Suddenly, Sylveris finally broke the silence. Her silver eyes moved across the endless rows of stone statues before she turned towards the silver-haired Knight and asked.

"Regaleon, do you recognize any one of these statues?"

Her question wasn’t actually without a solid basis. After all, of the eight exiles, Regaleon was the only Knight...

For several moments, the Forgotten Knight simply observed the figurines, then he shook his head. "No, I don’t."

"How?" Veyrath suddenly asked curiously. The failed Alchemist gestured toward the warriors surrounding them before continuing.

"You House is literally known as the House of Knights. In fact, House Valehart is practically famous across Aetherium for producing knightly Essence. So how do you not recognize them?"

Regaleon’s voice was calm as he replied. "Because them being knights doesn’t automatically mean they are members of House Valehart. Besides, these statues look incredibly ancient, probably a couple of centuries years old. How exactly would you expect me to identify them?"

Kaeloris adjusted his glasses before adding.

"He’s correct. Also, descendants of House Valehart are known for their remarkable consistency across generations. Armours, War Hammers, Broadswords, Shields, and Maces; these are the relics most commonly associated with their bloodline..."

The failed Gnost then pointed toward the rows of sentinels.

"But if you look closely at them, these knights are carrying weapons that House Valehart aren’t known for. And if I were to make an educated guess, I would say that these knights belong to a different order entirely..."

"In other words, they are different from knights of House Valehart, is that what you are trying to say?" Vaelorin asked.

Kaeloris nodded his head.

"Right. While some similarities exists, that doesn’t mean we should automatically connect them to House Valehart as there are still subtle differences between the two." He concluded.

Valmyr scratched his chin thoughtfully, then he asked. "But if they aren’t knights of House Valehart. Then what order or house do they belong to?"

Regaleon’s golden eyes narrowed as he answered seriously. "We will find out soon enough..."