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The moment Miwa pulled back her hand, she noticed Verdant visibly withering, making Miwa let out an amused giggle. She only hesitated because she didn't know if Verdant would be offended or something. It was good to know she enjoyed pats. Next time Miwa would definitely make up for the headpats she didn't give now.

As soon as the matter of the treasure was dealt with, the group continued on their way, diving even deeper within the tortuous caves. Surprisingly not after too long since they resumed walking, the cave wall slowly began being replaced by ruins clearly made by an ancient civilization. To say they were sinister was quite the understatement. One didn't need to be spiritually sensitive or attuned to magical energies to realize there was something bad further inside the ruins, almost like a palpable feeling of apprehension. A feeling that there was [i]something[/i] wrong.

What Miwa felt wasn't only the eerie, unnatural darkness. Beyond it she could definitely feel something undeniably evil and twisted.

[color=6ecff6]"No... It's definitely not just foolish superstition... It's just as Verdant said. There is something wrong with these ruins... Something evil."[/color] Miwa said with very serious tone, agreeing with Verdant.

Fortunately, Jazdia seemed to also think it was a good idea to look for another entrance, unlike Vesemir, who seemed to be so excited about the possible discoveries they might make on those ruins that he failed to notice the danger in front of him.

Just as Jazdia said, they did indeed find another entrance to the vault, although it wasn't exactly more inviting than the previous one. Two skeletons guarded the entrance. Another armored knight and the other skeleton, hugging a strange scepter.

[color=6ecff6]"There is definitely something evil in these ruins... These people did not have a peaceful death... far from it... If possible... and if we have the time, I would like to make a proper purification ritual and offer proper rites to those who died here."[/color] Miwa said, clearly affected by the state of the skeletons as she knelt down, examining them. The fact that there were signs that they died of both madness and desperation was especially disturbing.

[color=6ecff6]"Such a horrible way to die..."[/color] Miwa said as she heard Verdant's words as she also investigated the long dead bodies.

[color=6ecff6]"It's not that they couldn't leave... It's too much to be simple greed as well... This... madness might be caused by something in these ruins... Something that scepter is definitely linked to..."[/color] Miwa said as she heard Verdant.

While Miwa was definitely more drawn to the skeletons themselves, she did notice how she somehow ended up looking at the scepter at least twice without realizing, almost as if there was something attracting her eyes to it. Stepan though was the one that ended up alerting her that the feeling of being drawn to the scepter was more dangerous than she thought as his voice sounded from over her shoulder, asking if the scepter was made of gold, the tone of his voice almost making it look as if he was hypnotized by it.

Immediately upon perceiving that, Miwa stood up and gave a step away, raising her arm to stop Stepan from walking towards the scepter, should he try anything.

Fortunately, Jazdia quickly seemed to notice Stepan's state as well and proceeded to ask Fia to investigate it, who seemed to be strangely excited and unafraid of touching and examining a possibly cursed artifact.

[color=6ecff6]"This scepter... It might be one of the reasons why these people died in such a way."[/color] Miwa said, nodding towards Fia in a reassuring way, knowing she was probably the most well qualified person in the group to deal with a dangerous magical artifact like that scepter.

[color=6ecff6]"I have a feeling the devourers are the least of our worries..."[/color] Miwa muttered.

From the way those bodies died near the door and the scepter, Miwa was worried that whatever was inside that ruin was able to impair the judgment of those who failed to resist and slowly make them mad.

[color=6ecff6]"Any kind of magical protection would be welcome. If my theory is correct... Whatever it is that is this sinister power, it is capable of messing with one's mind. Amplifying their greed, desires and fears until there is nothing but madness left. Think twice about every decision you are about to make and carefully consider if you are being affected by whatever is this power or not."[/color] Miwa said.

[color=6ecff6]"It might just be me being a bit paranoid... But If I'm right... It's better to be safe than sorry."[/color] she completed, looking to Fia and especially to Mr. Elc. Although she did not say anything out loud, her stare made it more than clear that she was worried that if her hypothesis was true, Vesemir might prove to be particularly vulnerable seeing how excited he was about the ruins and the vault.

The moment Vesemir finally opened the strange door, Miwa felt a shiver run down her spine as she turned towards the corridor behind it. The feeling was the same from the dark room they met a while ago. A repulsive feeling of something dark, evil and twisted. The sensation only got stronger as they moved down the corridor, being at it's strongest when they reached the end, being met by two set of doors. A big, iron door in front of them and set of smaller doors in the western side. The iron door seemed to be properly locked and protected, bearing a socket similar to Vesemir's keycard. In the other hand, the smaller doors were simply kept closed by iron bars. Strangely enough, Miwa had a stronger reaction to the smaller doors than the big, iron one.

[color=6ecff6]"The same feeling from the broken room is coming from the small doors... It's strong."[/color] Miwa said, before she began chanting in a low tone, grasping her spear, the Ama Matoi, with her left hand and gently tapping it into the ground, making the rings near the end chime as she kept her right hand raised at chest level, with her palm facing the left.

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