Exploring ahead.

Macius found a secluded, well lit area near the lake. A little pond with a dark sandy bottom bordered a strange little meadow of fat, fair green leaves. Purple flowers cascaded from the rock, like the promise of pleasant dreams under them. An apple tree grew on the drier side of the meadow, while an ancient weeping willow extended over the lake itself. There were large, flat stepping stones connecting the pond and the lake, but Macius couldn't figure out why, or whom they had been installed for.

From here, the red granite of the cliffs was even more magnificent, but Macius didn't want to waste time. The dark depths of the lake reminded him that anything could be laying in wait under its mirror-like surface, from salmon and trout to black water dragons. Sunlight was short enough already in the high valleys of the mountains, and deep down it would quickly be very dark.

He let Endelion roam free after removing his saddle and pack. The well-trained mount wouldn't walk far from the apple tree anyway. Taking a small backpack with food and the torches he always carried, the knight set out to climb a stony path towards a small height of rock. The slabs of rock were uneven, yet clearly unnatural. Someone, or something, had carved them for a purpose.