The ruins felt different when you got up close to them.
From away it looked like nothing was there just a few stones that the forest had taken over.
When the students walked deeper into the broken walls they started to see the shape of the place.
This used to be a building.
Takemi walked slowly between the walls that had fallen down stepping over stones that were half buried in roots and moss. The forest had been taking over this place for centuries. You could still see hints of what it used to look like if you looked carefully.
You could see where the foundations used to be.
There were pieces of pillars that had carvings on them.
You could even see an outline of what might have been a courtyard.
Lira was looking at one of the stones.
"These carvings are the same " she said quietly.
Takemi looked over at her.
"What do you mean?"
"They were made by the people " she said. "You can see the marks from the tools they used and the style is the same."
Rauk was standing near a pillar that was leaning to one side.
"Was this a temple?" he asked.
"Maybe " Lira said. ". Maybe it was a monument."
Takemi was scratching his cheek.
"A monument for what?" he asked.
Nobody answered him.
The question just hung in the air.
The teacher eventually called the students together.
"Stay where you can see each other " he said. "Do not go deeper into the forest while we are looking at the site."
A few students nodded they were clearly excited.
Finding ruins always meant finding new things.
Takemi walked towards the center of the building, where the ground went down a little.
There was something
At first he thought it was another stone that had fallen down.
When he got closer he saw that the stone was arranged on purpose.
Several pieces of stone made a circle on the ground.
It was like a platform.
Most of it had broken apart a time ago but you could still see the shape.
Takemi crouched down beside it.
The same symbols from earlier were there on the edges of the stones.
There were wings, spirals and a long shape that looked like a flying creature.
"Dragons again " he said to himself.
Lira came over to join him.
"Yes " she said.
She brushed some moss away from one of the carvings.
"They are everywhere here " she said.
Takemi leaned forward a little.
"You think this place was built for them?" he asked.
Lira tilted her head to one side.
"Maybe " she said.
Then she added, quietly
"Or maybe it was built to keep them away."
Takemi opened his eyes wide.
"That's not a nice thought " he said.
Takemi put his hand on the stone surface.
The rock felt a little colder than the ground around it.
Not much colder, a little.
He traced one of the carved wings with his fingers.
The line was smooth even though the stone was very old.
"This is strange " he said.
"What is?" Lira asked.
"This stone does not feel like it has been outside for a time " he said.
Lira leaned in closer.
"You are right " she said.
After being outside for centuries the carving looked like it was still in good condition.
Takemi tapped on the stone lightly.
There was a hollow sound underneath.
He froze.
"Did you hear that?" he asked.
Rauk walked over to them.
"Hear what?" he asked.
Takemi knocked on the stone again.
There was definitely a sound.
Rauk frowned.
"Stone should not sound like that " he said.
Lira's eyes lit up a little.
"There might be a room underneath " she said.
Takemi stood up.
"You mean like a basement?" he asked.
"More like a room " she said.
The teacher came over to them after hearing what they were saying.
"Did you three find something?" he asked.
Takemi stepped aside.
"This stone sounds hollow " he said.
The teacher crouched down. Knocked on the stone.
His eyebrows went up a little.
"This is interesting " he said.
He stood up. Looked at the rest of the group.
"We will write down what we find here " he said.
One student groaned.
"No digging?" he asked.
"Not today " the teacher said firmly.
"This is a school trip, not a dig."
Takemi sighed loudly.
"Missed opportunity " he said.
While the others started drawing the ruins and writing down notes Takemi walked a steps towards the edge of the clearing.
He could not shake the feeling he had the night
It felt like someone was watching him.
He looked towards the forest.
The trees were tall and still.
Sunlight came through the branches in beams.
Nothing was moving.
The feeling did not go away.
Rauk noticed him staring.
"You see something?" he asked.
Takemi shook his head slowly.
"No " he said.
Then he paused.
"But I think something is watching us " he said.
Rauk followed his gaze into the forest.
His hand was resting on the handle of his sword.
"Then let it watch " he said.
Takemi smiled a little.
"You are confident today " he said.
Rauk shrugged.
"If it wanted to attack it would have already " he said.
Takemi looked back at the ruins.
"That's true " he said.
He still could not shake the feeling.
Something there was paying very close attention.
By afternoon the teacher called everyone together.
"We will set up camp near here and go back to school tomorrow morning " he said.
A few students looked disappointed.
They had clearly wanted to explore more.
Nobody argued.
The ruins were already more than enough for one trip.
Takemi looked one time at the dragon carvings as they left the center of the structure.
The stone platform, the hollow space underneath, the symbols.
Something about it all felt unfinished.
Like a story with the page missing.
As he turned away a gust of wind went through the forest.
Leaves rustled softly.
For a moment Takemi thought he heard something beneath the stone platform.
A faint sound.
It sounded like a breath.
He stopped.
"Did you guys—"
But when he looked back the ruins were silent again.
Old stone and moss.
Nothing more.
Takemi stared for a moment longer before turning away.
" Nothing " he said.
Behind them hidden beneath the cracked platform something deep in the darkness moved slightly.
And, above the ruins something ancient kept watching from the forest canopy.
It was patient, curious and waiting.