After a lively discussion about which area to explore first, they decided to focus on a district where the houses appeared uniform in size and design.

“This section likely housed the common folk,” Professor James explained, his voice echoing in the spacious cavern. “Much like human societies, elves also had social hierarchies. Those with higher status typically resided in more desirable locations within the city.”

The concept of social stratification, though disheartening, wasn’t surprising to William. Even the advanced elven civilization wasn’t immune to such divisions.

The students dispersed, eager to explore the individual dwellings. Working in pairs allowed them to cover more ground, and William naturally gravitated towards Altair.

“This house is amazing!” Altair exclaimed, stepping through a doorway into a surprisingly well-preserved home. “Look how it’s still standing after all these years!”

The house, constructed from the same white marble as the other structures, was remarkably intact. Only the wooden furnishings had succumbed to the ravages of time, while the stone elements remained pristine. The interior was simple, with a few sparsely furnished rooms and a single bedroom.

At first glance, the house seemed disappointingly bare. Aside from the well-preserved furniture, there were no bookshelves or scrolls, nothing of obvious value to the mages and researchers of Snowpeak Academy.

“Too bad we didn’t find anything,” William sighed, turning to leave.

But just as he stepped through the doorway, Altair’s excited voice called him back. “Wait!” Altair exclaimed, holding up a small, folded piece of parchment. “I found this letter tucked away in a drawer. I can’t understand the writing, but it might be worth investigating.”

William hurried back inside, his curiosity piqued. The parchment, miraculously intact despite the passage of time, was covered in elegant elven script. They carefully placed it in Altair’s pack, their excitement growing. Perhaps this seemingly insignificant letter held valuable clues about the elven civilization and its mysterious disappearance.

They continued their exploration, moving from house to house, their findings intriguing but not groundbreaking. Professor James, his gaze drawn to the island at the center of the lake, announced their next objective.

“I believe that’s where the elven royalty resided,” he explained, his voice filled with anticipation. “We’ll head there next.”

But their plans were abruptly shattered. A figure emerged from the tunnel leading back to the temple, stumbling towards them with a look of sheer terror etched on their face. It was one of the students tasked with collecting artifacts from the temple. Blood stained his clothes, and his left arm hung limp, the sleeve soaked crimson.

“H-Help!” he gasped, his voice raw with fear.

Professor James and Professor Martha rushed to his aid, their faces etched with concern. They worked quickly to staunch the bleeding, while simultaneously demanding an explanation.

“A group…four of them…” the student stammered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “They attacked the temple…killed everyone… I barely escaped…”

The atmosphere in the elven city instantly shifted. The excitement and wonder that had filled the air evaporated, replaced by a chilling fear.

Panic rippled through the group. The students, their faces pale with fear, huddled together, their whispers echoing in the cavernous space. Professor James and Professor Martha exchanged a horrified look, the weight of responsibility settling upon their shoulders. The expedition, intended as a learning experience, had turned into a nightmare.

“We need to act quickly,” James said, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands. “Martha, tend to the injured student. I’ll gather the others and assess the situation.”

Martha, her medical expertise taking over, guided the wounded student towards a sheltered alcove. James addressed the remaining students, his voice laced with urgency.

“Everyone, remain calm,” he instructed, his gaze sweeping across their anxious faces. “We need to return to the temple and assess the situation. Stay close and be prepared for anything.”

William, his instincts honed from his encounters with danger, felt a surge of adrenaline. He gripped his sword, his senses alert, ready to face whatever threat lurked within the ruins.

The professors exchanged a worried glance. The death of their students was a devastating blow, one they weren’t prepared to face. Explaining this tragedy to Tholfnir and the grieving families would be a heavy burden.

“We could try to hide within the city,” Martha suggested, her voice laced with uncertainty, “but what if that proves even more dangerous?”

The idea of confronting the mysterious attackers, or at the very least evading them, seemed like their only viable option.

“What do we do, James?” William asked, his voice steady despite the tremor of fear that ran through him.

“I don’t know their strength,” James admitted, his brow furrowed in thought. “They killed our first-years, but that doesn’t tell us much. Those students had barely begun their training.”

Martha, tending to the injured student, interjected, “Could we contact Tholfnir from here?”

They carried communication artifacts, as all professors did, capable of reaching the headmaster even at a distance. But there was a catch.

“The signal can’t penetrate the barrier surrounding the ruins,” James explained, frustration evident in his voice. “We’d need to return to the surface. But how can we get past those attackers without being detected?”

William’s mind raced. “They’ll likely use the main tunnel,” he said, an idea forming. “We can use the secret passage I found, bypass them completely, and then contact Tholfnir from outside.”

“That’s…not a bad plan,” James conceded. “In fact, it’s our best option given the circumstances. Alright, let’s move.” He turned towards Martha. “How is he doing? Will he survive?” Continue your journey with empire

But as he looked at the injured student, a wave of dread washed over him. The young man was trembling, his eyes wide with terror, his gaze fixed on the tunnel entrance. James followed his line of sight and saw them – the four cloaked figures emerging from the passage.

“Damn it,” James cursed under his breath. “They’re already here. We have to act fast. William, lead the students and get out of here. Find a place to hide. Martha and I will hold them off.”

William knew he couldn’t face those attackers. Despite his own growing power, he was still a novice compared to the professors. His involvement would likely hinder more than help.

“I understand,” William said, his voice firm. “We’ll find a place to hide. Please, be careful.”

James and Martha nodded, their expressions grim as they drew their weapons.

“Follow me,” William commanded, leading the students away from the confrontation. But where could they go? He was unfamiliar with the city layout, and the only known exit was blocked by their attackers.

As they hurried through the deserted streets, the sounds of battle echoed through the cavern, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

“This is a nightmare,” one of the students whimpered.

“We’re all going to die here,” another wailed.

Fear threatened to consume them. William, his leadership instincts taking over, sought to rally their spirits.

“Remember what Professor James said about the elven social structure?” he asked, his voice cutting through their panic.

They looked at him, their faces etched with confusion.

“He said the nobility likely resided on that island,” William explained, pointing towards the center of the lake. “And if the nobles lived there, there must be a secret escape route. It’s how we do things in human society, and the elves likely followed a similar pattern.”

A spark of hope flickered in their eyes. William, fueled by a desperate need to survive, led them towards the lake, praying that his hunch was correct.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep