The Cave at Dawn**
When morning came, the cave shook with a deafening roar. The stone walls groaned, and small rocks began to crumble from the ceiling. It was as if a beast at the heart of nature had awakened and taken a deep breath. The mages, startled awake by the noise, leaped to their feet, panic and confusion written across their faces.
But one among them—Kaelen—remained calm, as if he had been waiting for this moment. His black hair fell messily over his shoulders as his crimson eyes scanned the cave with cold focus. His gaze soon settled on the other two mages.
Liam, struggling to keep his balance, braced himself against the wall, palms pressed against the trembling ground. His pale face and furrowed brow betrayed his tension. Olivia, meanwhile, tilted her head upward, staring anxiously at the ceiling. The dust seeping through the cracks in the rocks seemed like an omen of impending disaster. It wasn't just the cave—the entire island was shaking.
Kaelen took a deep breath. The scene felt strangely familiar, almost comforting. Silently, he stood and walked toward the cave's entrance. With each step, gravel crunched beneath his boots. As he neared the mouth of the cave, a cool breeze struck his face. Squinting, he stepped out into the open world.
Olivia was the first to follow, hesitant but resolute. Liam, though reluctant, chose not to stay behind the safety of the stone walls, unwilling to abandon his companions. The price of staying safe had been paid by too many the previous morning.
The cave was situated on a relatively high point of the island, offering a near 180-degree view of the forest's green canopy, the golden shoreline where sand met sea, and the rhythmic dance of the waves. In the distance, the blue of the ocean blended with the sky. But within this serene landscape, the approaching catastrophe was already making itself known.
Liam's voice trembled with worry.
"What is that…? Should we stay here?"
Kaelen didn't answer at first. His eyes fixed on the farthest point of the beach, and then he slowly raised a finger toward it.
At that moment, the sea began to boil. Steam rose from the frothing waters, filling the air with the pungent scent of sulfur. This ominous heat, rising from the depths of nature, mingled with the sky like the breath of an unseen creature. It was as if something—or someone—was trying to claw its way up from beneath the sea.
And then it came—the beach was slowly, relentlessly swallowed by crimson lava. First, the grass withered and curled from the heat, then the trees burst into flames one by one. The lava spread like a red plague coursing through nature's veins, unstoppable until it reached the forest's edge. The trees, unable to withstand the heat, erupted in flames; the crackling of burning wood echoed alongside the rising smoke.
This was a message—Pheniyet's clear, unambiguous warning. The outer layers of the island would vanish one by one. The only way to survive was to move forward, toward the island's center. For those who hesitated, retreated, or chose to wait, the end was inevitable.
By the dawn of the second day, every mage who had stayed on the beach was gone. The lava consumed not just their bodies but also their hesitation, fear, and weakness. In the world of mana, there was no place for cowards. Pheniyet's rule was simple: **Move forward, or die.**
The message was clear.
Kaelen glanced at the two mages beside him. Liam's expression was as if he had swallowed his tongue—his eyes wide, lips parted. Olivia was quieter, but the horror in her gaze ran deeper. Her brows were furrowed, her face pale. The reflection of the flames danced in her eyes, and though her lips parted, no words came out.
Kaelen thought to himself:
*"So even a seer has limits. Perhaps she had no vision of mana-related effects."*
He had many thoughts about the young seer.
Seers… They were known among the people as beings who could glimpse the future, who knew every possibility. But this was a great misunderstanding. The truth was, their visions were limited. They could not see events that did not directly affect them, that did not touch the threads of their fate.
Once the shock had faded slightly, Kaelen spoke.
"It's time to leave this place," he said, stretching his shoulders. The popping of his joints broke the silence. His muscles, stiff from prolonged stillness, finally awakened. A faint smile spread across his face.
*"So this is how it's going to be,"* he murmured to himself.
Liam, having regained some composure, turned his curious gaze toward Kaelen. It was as if he was slowly piecing things together.
The outermost layer of the island—the endless golden beaches—had been destroyed. What was once a peaceful boundary where sea met land had now collapsed, replaced by a scorched, smoldering void. Even the birds in the sky dared not approach, and the stench of burnt seaweed drifted inland with the wind.
"This will force us toward the center," Liam said, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "Just as expected in a battle royale—they're trying to trap us in an ever-shrinking circle. The area is closing in."
"But…" Olivia narrowed her eyes, turning to Liam with worry. "Where do we go?"