//------------------------------//
// 12 - Departure 
// Story: Zielstrebig 
// by Lyssieth 
//------------------------------//

After spending a while learning magic with Sylv, the desire to return to the cave has grown strong enough to overwhelm my desire to learn in safety. I get up, and smile a bit at her, stepping down from the couch. “I'm… gonna go now. I'll try to be back before evening.” I tell her.

*Be safe, Red. If you get into trouble just try and… wildly release magic. I'll notice.* Sylv speaks in a softer tone. *I… we'll come search for you.*

I nod at her, and head for the door, heading out into the snow. It's cold, but not unpleasant. With my wings wrapped gently around my body, I start walking towards the cave. Unlike when the storm was here, I can traverse the area without worry now. It's quite beautiful, flanked on either side by a forest of varied evergreens, there's a large snowy plain ahead of me, with a mountain in the distance.

The sun's to my right, and leaves the snowy ground glistening in its shine. I walk pretty quickly, mostly out of a desire to get there faster. But it still takes a while. Nearing it, the scale of the mountain is quite clear; it's huge. I search for the entrance to the cave, and spot it easily. There's a soft glow surrounding it, but I don't pay it mind.

I stop outside, there being no traces of yesterday's… events. Twenty-four hours have gone by, and yet the snow looks untouched by hooves. I sigh, and step further, carefully going down the icy stairs, deeper into the cave. My sight is strangely unimpeded, even though I've yet to start using magic to light my way. I blink a bit, in confusion, but continue. Just in case, I do light my way with magic as well, though it doesn't affect my vision any.

The cave seems to be completely ruined, with traces of a long and gruesome fight visible on the walls. There is no blood, no… trace of corpses, but the walls are stained by soot and residue, some areas partially caved in or otherwise in a heavy state of disrepair. I first try to find the room I woke up in, but looking around I can't help but feel familiar with the surroundings.

A soft shiver goes through my spine as I finally find the room. There's no trace of a corpse or anything, but the split crown is there, beside some rubble. I step closer to it, and it looks exactly like the one the… changeling in my dreams wore. Exactly like the one that was on the ground in my dreams, split in half.

I hesitate a little, but reach out to touch it. As my hoof nears it, a green glow wraps around it, and I jolt backwards. The glow's gone, but I feel drawn to the crown, but I remain hesitant, unwilling to touch it. With a sigh, I step away for now, though I know in my mind I'm likely to return. I decide to explore further, to try to find out what this place truly was.