Returning to the surface, the expedition led by Lord Esgal Mercury no longer resembled the same group. Those who were once full of enthusiasm now walked with weary steps, their eyes filled with doubt and fear. The outside world seemed to have turned its back on them. No longer did the warmth of the sun illuminate the streets of Stones, nor did the sounds of life fill the villages they once knew. Everything appeared quieter, more isolated, as if the world had begun to retract into itself. Each night, expedition members were awoken from haunting nightmares, their faces pale as memories of the darkness they endured returned to them. Hallucinations frequently plagued them, unexplained whispers echoing in their minds, leaving an ever-deepening sense of paranoia. They often exchanged suspicious glances, assessing one another as if hidden allies and traitors lurked among them.
Lord Esgal Mercury, once a symbol of progress and civilization, had become an alien figure. He carried an unavoidable burden of guilt. He understood that the world they encountered underground was not the one they were meant to find. Yet, the internal drive within him—the desire to control destiny and to unlock a more powerful dimension—had transformed him into something beyond mere humanity.
He is the gatekeeper that cannot be closed again. He is the cause of the awakening of something older, darker, and more dangerous. As the pressure mounted, he developed new ritualistic habits, trying to dispel his fear by reciting protective mantras every night. The relationships among group members began to change; those who once collaborated now fractured into small factions, isolated by distrust and the trauma that bound them. In this tense environment, Lord Esgal struggled to maintain his authority, but the more he attempted to lead, the clearer it became that the power he once held was beginning to fade. Their social dynamics also shifted, as those who were once close began to drift apart, trapped in sorrow and fear they could not share. This group's trauma had forged a new reality that was far from their previous hopes.
Throughout their journey home, each step felt increasingly burdensome. It wasn't just their bodies that were weary; their spirits were heavy as well. Saria Wenthall, who had once guided them in interpreting Proto texts, felt as though she had lost her way. The language she once mastered, which she had considered the key to understanding the universe, now felt hollow. Every word that left her mouth seemed to carry emptiness rather than meaning. Her dreams were filled with vague shadows and whispers, compelling her to acknowledge something that remained unexpressed. Hallucinations began to plague her, causing her to question the reality around her and erode her trust in her companions. New rituals to dispel fear, such as drawing protective symbols in the dirt, became part of her daily routine as she struggled to manage the anxiety that enveloped her. This transformation also created tension among the members of the expedition, with some starting to feel that Saria was no longer capable of leading them.
Magus Ferrun, who usually commands the winds with ease, now senses a force much greater than himself. The winds he conjures now feel like a prison rather than a liberation. Each gust carries a sense of despair, as if the wind itself embodies the mistakes they have made. Nightmares plague his sleep, visions of tortured friends fill his mind, coupled with the haunting cries of regret. Paranoia creeps in, prompting him to question the intentions of the entire group. Social isolation seeps into his existence, leaving him feeling that no one can truly comprehend his experiences. His nightly rituals of solitude, spent gazing at the stars, become his new escape, yet they deepen the chasm between him and the rest of the group.
Knight-Commander Hektor, trained to confront the most dangerous enemies, now feels like something is lurking behind every shadow. He no longer feels secure. The world around him seems fragile, as if it could collapse at any moment. He realizes that he has become part of something greater than mere warfare, and that their decision to open the Second Gate may have altered the very fabric of reality. Over time, he begins to experience hallucinations that make it seem as though he is conversing with the shadows of his foes. Nightmares that wake him in a cold sweat become increasingly frequent, and the pain in his chest transcends physical discomfort, morphing into a mental anguish. His experience with this trauma breeds uncertainty within the group hierarchy; he, once an unshakeable leader, now feels alienated compared to other members who are also affected, such as Saria and Magus. Upon returning to Stones, they all sense a profound shift in power dynamics and the escalating tension among them, rendering every interaction awkward and complicated.
As they returned to Stones, a darker presence began to seep into the city. The townspeople who once welcomed them with joy now looked at them with fear. Some sensed that this expedition had brought a curse, and although they could not explain why, they knew their lives had changed forever. They no longer felt safe; it was as if something was watching them—something beyond their comprehension. In the days following their return, each member of the expedition began to experience terrifying nightmares, visions that haunted them even while awake. Hallucinations started to emerge, causing them to doubt the reality before them. Paranoia engulfed the group; they became suspicious of one another and were constantly on edge at every faint sound, as if an unseen presence was lurking around them.
Lord Esgal Mercury, who initially led this expedition with great confidence, now sensed that a greater force was controlling his every move. He felt the influence of the Second Gate gnawing at his mind. The whispers that were once faint had grown unnervingly clear. These were not the voices of humans; they were echoes from another dimension, voices of entities that had been freed by the opening of that pathway. As time passed, Esgal began to engage in the occult rituals described in ancient texts, hoping to calm the already shaken cosmos. He realized that each member of the team had splintered into small groups, creating a new hierarchy based on beliefs in the supernatural and their individual traumatic experiences.
Yet, Esgal refused to retreat. He had come to understand that this was his destined path. He had sacrificed his name and identity, thereby relinquishing the boundaries of his humanity. Now, he was something more than just a ruler of this world; he was a sovereign of the unseen, a master of the void that swirled between spaces inaccessible to mankind. Social isolation began to threaten the expedition as they confronted the reality that their shared experiences had become a barrier rather than a bridge. The bravery that once united them transformed into uncertainty, creating a chasm between them.
Saria Wenthall, who had long persevered with the strong Proto language, now felt herself slipping into confusion. She realized that language was not merely a tool for expressing secrets; it was the key that could unlock pathways to deeper darkness. What she learned was not just about translating texts but about wielding control over the very universe itself. Now, she wondered whether they were merely revealing the truth or if they had become victims of that truth. After returning from the expedition, nightmares haunted her every night; she often woke up in a cold sweat, shadows smeared with darkness flickering in her mind. Hallucinations began to disturb her during the day, making her uncomfortable with the shadows and sounds around her. Paranoia about betrayal from other group members seeped into her thoughts, and to manage this fear, she began to perform ritualistic writing of mantras every night, hoping to dispel the negative energy that troubled her.
Sementara itu, Magus Ferrun merasa terperangkap dalam kekuatan angin yang selama ini ia kuasai. Setiap hembusan angin yang ia ciptakan kini terasa menjerat dirinya, seperti tali yang semakin erat melilit tubuhnya. Angin tersebut bukan lagi alat untuk kebebasan, melainkan pengingat bahwa kekuatan yang mereka coba kendalikan bukanlah milik mereka. Setelah kembali dari eksplorasi, ia merasakan perubahan dalam stabilitas emosionalnya; rasa kepercayaan diri yang sebelumnya membara kini tergantikan oleh keraguan diri. Ia merasa semakin terasing dari rekan-rekannya, yang juga menunjukkan perubahan perilaku yang drastis. Setiap kali angin bertiup, ia merasa seolah-olah ada yang menyaksikannya, memperkuat rasa paranoia yang semakin meningkat. Ia mulai membentuk kebiasaan baru dengan bersembunyi di sudut-sudut ruangan untuk menghindari interaksi langsung, merasa bahwa ikatan di antara mereka semakin rentan karena trauma yang mereka bagi.
Knight-Commander Hektor, accustomed to facing external enemies, now found that the real adversary resided within themselves. They were not battling soldiers or extraordinary creatures; instead, they were confronting something far more sinister that had infiltrated their very beings. Upon returning, he realized that fear and anxiety clouded his judgment. He often drifted into daydreams, haunted by hallucinations of foes who did not exist. Gradually, a sense of isolation crept into the group; although physically together, their emotions became fragmented under the weight of trauma each bore alone. Amid all this, Hektor initiated a nightly ritual that involved gathering as a group to share their nightmares, hoping to channel the power of their fears and strengthen the weakened power dynamics within the group due to the pervasive tension. They endeavored to reclaim the strength they had lost and rebuild their trust in one another, despite the daunting challenge. Now, they must confront the consequences of their actions and crawl out from the darkness they had created themselves.
On that dark night, as the moon hung in the sky, they gathered in the main hall of Stones. The only sound was the sighing wind that swept through the room. They felt that this was a decisive moment—a time to acknowledge that the world they once knew had changed forever. Everything they had done now felt futile, for they could not erase what they had begun. The nightmares that haunted them had intensified since their return from the expedition, leaving them awake at night, gasping in cold sweat. Hallucinations often conjured terrifying images of the creatures they encountered, while paranoia gnawed at their minds, creating distrust even among team members.
Lord Esgal Mercury stood before them, his face etched with concern hidden behind the depth of his sharp eyes. He could no longer turn a blind eye to the reality that the power they had awakened far surpassed anything they could control. During this time, he observed how each member of the expedition appeared to change mentally, trapped in a cycle of fear that constantly surrounded them. Some had developed new habits—praying and performing purification rituals in an attempt to dispel the spirits they believed had followed them home. He knew that despite having concealed his name and identity, he could not escape the fate they had chosen.
"All of this," he said in a heavy voice, "is part of something greater than all of us. We have opened a path, and there is no turning back. We are part of something ancient—something that is now awakened." He could feel the shift in the group's hierarchy; fear had displaced the leader, and those who could endure the horrors became the center of attention.
With those words, he understood that there was no turning back. They were not merely revealing the past or seeking new knowledge; they had opened a door that could not be closed. Now, they must face the consequences of their actions. The world they knew was about to change, and they were the ones who had forged that path. Social isolation began to infect the team; friends who once supported each other now seemed foreign and estranged, trapped in the mental burdens that gnawed at their souls. They drifted apart, each ensnared in their own realm of fear and trauma, in search of an elusive peace.