6. Zyrith

6

ZYRITH

T he sounds I’m suddenly hearing disorient me for a moment. I pause, ancient instincts flaring to life. I tread cautiously over fallen rocks, brushing against the rough surfaces. As I round a corner, the ceiling gives way above me. A cascade of rock rains down. I shield myself with my solid arms.

“Something… Someone did this,” I wonder aloud, watching as the dust and rock continued to fall.

Suddenly, a creature—no, a female—plummets into my domain from above. Her descent is swift and ungraceful, accompanied by a piercing scream that reverberates through the chamber. She lands with a sickening thud on the uneven cavern floor, motionless. Dust swirls around her fallen figure, and for a moment, all is silent but for the settling rubble.

Intrigue stirs within me—a spark in my endless darkness. How has she come to be here? Why now? My thoughts whirl like leaves in a storm, trying to grasp the significance of her arrival. Confusion weaves through them, threading together more questions without answers.

I stand amidst the ruins, torn between rage at the intrusion and curiosity about this fragile being who has dared to enter my world. The weight of centuries presses down on me as I contemplate my next move.

With cautious steps, I approach the motionless form. Each movement sends echoes through the cavern. The air fills with tension, but I force myself to breathe steadily. She lies still, her body outstretched against the cold stone floor. Her chest rises and falls in a slow, gentle rhythm, assuring me she lives. The delicate curves of her features draw my gaze. Her skin appears soft, a stark contrast to my rough and weathered exterior.

Her hair cascades around her face like the golden rays of the sun, a sight both foreign and mesmerizing to me. I have not seen such radiance in centuries. It frames her face with an ethereal glow, highlighting her serene expression that seems almost otherworldly.

I lean in closer to her, my knees scraping against the uneven ground. She radiates a sense of peace even in her unconscious state. How can one so fragile possess such tranquility?

“Who are you?” I ask, but she doesn’t reply. “ What are you?”

My eyes trace the lines of her face, memorizing every detail—the curve of her lips, the arch of her eyebrows, the gentle slope of her nose. Each feature captivates me more than the last. She possesses a beauty I can scarcely comprehend. I reach out but hesitate, fingers hovering just above her skin.

What brings you here? My thoughts continue to swirl with questions. Each one more pressing than the last. Yet, I find myself reluctant to wake her, to shatter this moment of quiet observation.

Her lips part slightly as she breathes, and a faint warmth emanates from her body. I am captivated by the contrast between us, her softness against my unyielding form.

The ground beneath us continues to tremble intermittently, a reminder of the chaos that brought her here moments ago. But for now, in this brief pause, I allow myself to study her carefully without interruption.

Her presence stirs something deep within me—a long-forgotten feeling, a yearning for connection that I thought had died with my kin. This female, this intruder, has brought light into my shadowy world without even knowing it.

As I study her further, I notice small details—a faint scar above her brow, calluses on her hands that speak of hard work and resilience. She is not as delicate as she seems; there is strength beneath that serene exterior. I marvel at that strength, her determination to survive and thrive. She is no ordinary intruder; she is a warrior in her own right.

The air around us feels charged with something new, something alive. It is as if she has brought life itself into these ancient ruins.

I take a step back, overwhelmed by the intensity of my emotions. This fragile being has changed everything with her mere presence. My sanctuary no longer feels like a prison but a place where possibilities bloom.

She stirs slightly in her sleep, and I find myself holding my breath, afraid to disturb this moment of discovery.

What will happen when she awakens? What will she think of me? These questions swirl in my mind as I continue to watch over her, drawn to her in ways I cannot yet understand.

It's been so long since I felt anything other than cold stone. Tentatively, I let my fingers brush against her cheek. Warmth floods through me, an unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation. Her skin is impossibly soft, like the petals of the ancient moonblossoms that once grew in our underground gardens.

I stand guard over her, my thoughts a whirlpool of emotions. The warmth of her skin lingers on my fingertips, a stark reminder of what I have missed for so long.

She is a divine gift, I realize. An unexpected presence in my desolate existence, and a beacon of companionship I have yearned for. I can't help but feel a deep sense of awe. She has brought life into this ancient place with nothing but her presence. The air around us feels lighter now, vibrant in a way it hasn't been for centuries.

As I watch over her slumbering form, a realization dawns on me—this fragile creature might hold answers to questions I hadn’t dared to ask myself until now. Questions about companionship and the possibility of connection beyond the confines of my ancient prison.

I draw back slightly, not wanting to overwhelm this fragile being with my looming form. Yet I cannot tear my gaze away from her. She is everything I have longed for without knowing it—a connection to the world above, a spark in the darkness. In this moment, as I watch over her, I am reminded that even in solitude, hope can bloom anew.

How long have I yearned for this? The endless eons stretch behind me like a shadow, a time marked only by silence and the slow decay of stone. Yet here she lies, a fragile thread connecting me to the outside world.

“The gods must have sent you,” I mumble, staring down at her sleeping form.

Could it be that fate has not abandoned me? That after centuries of solitude, there is still hope for connection? These questions swirl in my mind as I sit beside her, content to simply be near this beacon of light. The rough edges of my existence soften as I watch over her.

I watch her chest rise and fall, each breath a testament to her resilience and strength. She is warmth and light in my world of cold and darkness. I find myself drawn to her stillness. Her skin glows softly in the dim light, each curve and line telling a story I long to unravel. She is a mystery, one that calls to me with an irresistible pull.

I let my stone fingers hover above her once more, resisting the urge to touch her again. It is enough for now to simply be near her.

For the first time in centuries, I feel truly alive. This delicate being has brought light into my dark world and given me something worth cherishing—something worth protecting.

For now, though, I remain vigilant by her side. Watching. Waiting. Wondering why fate has intertwined our paths so unexpectedly and what future lies ahead in this unforeseen encounter.