As Rai continued down, the stairway that spiraled down into darkness, he started thinking about this questline. While he hadn't heard of this specific questline, he had heard of the Emerald Hollow. It was the land owned by a noble family, in the Valoria kingdom, who had direct blood ties with the royal family.
"The Emerald Hollow, huh? It was supposed to be linked with some cult associated with the Undying Reach. Haah, those bastards are really everywhere. Luckily I was not summoned into one of their territories."
After he had climbed the stairway down, in front of him was what seemed like a strange system of many caves. As he continued moving forward while looking around, he noticed that the amount of mana here was much more than normal.
"It seems that some sort of ritualistic or cursed magic was done here. The mana amount is truly much more than normal, it can become a heaven for those with high magic sensitivity classes."
He turned a corner, and the hallway opened into a small chamber. Dust-covered banners still clung to the walls—bearing the emblem of a crescent moon within a sapphire wreath.
At the center stood an unmarked pedestal.
But it wasn't the pedestal that drew his gaze.
It was the tomb beyond it.
Built into the far wall, shrouded in crumbled pillars and glowing faintly, was a stone sarcophagus. Unlike the rest of the palace, this one wasn't overtaken by moss. It pulsed with a faint light, like it had been waiting.
Looking at the tomb, he could sense that it was the target of all the magic he had seen till now. As he moved in this chamber of the cave, he was not at all surprised to see the many books and potions along with vials full of blood. As he picked up one of the many books there, he read its name:
"Whispers from the Hollow."
As Rai read that name he couldn't help but form a grim expression on his face.
"Ok, now that doesn't sound very auspicious." Saying this he started flipping through the pages of the book.
Reading the first few pages of the book, it was clear that the book was related to ritualistic magic regarding souls. Such magic was one of the most frowned upon kinds. The reason behind this was that many of the NPC's of Eiodolon Realms believed that unlike the body, the soul was avery pure and precious part of humanity's existance. Thus, most people didn't like tampering with the soul. This was also one of the reasons why many NPC's called players heaven-cursed since the players soul were significantly different from those of NPC'S and they thought that this difference is cause the heavens have cursed players.
He shook his head in resignation. "I don't really wanna deal with someone who was desperate enough to play with his own soul. But it's not like I have any choice."
He had toured the whole cave and the area around it too. There was no other way to get out of here except for that teleportation sequence through which he had came in.
Faced with no other choice, Rai approached and placed a hand on the tomb's surface without a single world.
The air stilled.
And then—
A strange reddish-black coloured glow involved the tomb and his hand.
Suddenly, a ghostly voice broke the silence.
"Finally. Finally, my wait is over."
Rai took a step back, hand on his weapon.
A translucent figure rose slowly from the coffin, clad in broken armor. A cape tattered by time fluttered behind him, though there was no wind. His helm was under one arm, and his eyes—though spectral—shone with a weary sadness.
"I am Sir Malvik. Once Commander of the Hollow Sigil. Guardian of the Emerald Hallow Palace. I am someone who got betrayed by my someone who I considered as my own."
Before Rai could reply or say something, the now recognized knight began speaking yet again.
"I was labeled a traitor," Malvik continued, his voice echoing with a weight that felt too old for time. "My name was blackened. My brothers turned against me. Not because they believed it... but because it was easier."
Rai was about to say something, "you-"
Malvik cut him once again. "Vortan. He was one of mine. A soldier in my command. He sold secrets to Valoria's enemies... and when I discovered him, he struck first. Falsified documents. Coerced testimonies. Even my liege believed him. I became the villain of my own story."
A deep silence hung in the air. This time Rai didn't even try to interrupt.
"I ran," Malvik said. "Not from guilt... but from the blade of unjust judgment. They hunted me. Even those I trusted."
'Damn...' Rai clenched his fist. 'It mirrors what I felt, back then... betrayed by the world.'
"I created this place with the last of my magic," Malvik said, lifting his arm. "An echo. A memory. A plea to the world—so that one day, someone might learn the truth."
"Can i, uh, talk now?" Rai started in a civil tone.
Hearing this, Malvik got a bit embarrassed and spoke, "Forgive me, It is cause I am too excited, now that there is a chance for justice now, maybe i can rest in peace."
Rai did feel quite bad for Malvik as he could relate to him, but he had no real info about what to do, who are the possible enemies and what was at stake here. "Tell me in more detail how all this began and if there is someone other than, uh, what was thew name you spoke of?"
Malvik now who had became less excited, seeing that Rai couldn't even remember the name and also when he sensed the pitful amount of powers arising from him, couldn't help but doubt if Rai could even help him.
He spoke, "How come someone like you was chosen?"
Rai hearing this got confused and asked, "Huh! What do you mean?"
"The magical teleportation sequence should have only begin if someone strong enough stepped on it. How come a weakling like you triggered it and got activated."
Malvik now seemed livid.
Seeing this attitude from him, even Rai couldn't help but wanna slap him.
"Old man, here I am thinking how to help you. And you, you are making fun of me."
Malvik shook his head in resign and said. "I am indeed thankful that you are willing to help me, but I am afraid that you wont be able to do something."
As Malvik glanced at him again he mumbled, "I see so that's why you got chosen."
"But why me?" Rai asked, voice low.
Malvik replied. "Because you... you carry a curse. One that distorts fate and brings forth both chaos and clarity. You are not someone who should be chosen."
That made Rai stiffen.
"You can sense that?"
Malvik didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked skyward.
"My soul grows thin. I cannot stay for long. But if you truly wish to help... find the truth. Find Vortan. And find the other traitors that conspired against me."
Rai stepped forward. "And if I do...?"
"Come here again. Come here when you are powerful enough. I will tell you everything then."
And then—he vanished.