The cave's depths were lightless—stark, absolute darkness, as if the world's light had never touched this realm since the dawn of creation.
In such darkness, footsteps echoed. Each step held patient rhythm, its echo revealing how gently it kissed the ground before lifting away.
The footsteps continued as the figure, shrouded in darkness, pressed forward. The shadows seemed to follow him, though that was merely illusion.
After a while, the mysterious figure climbed spiraling stairs that appeared grown from the cavern wall itself. He followed this path for several minutes until he reached the cave's upper level.
Upon reaching the upper level, he felt subtle tremors. That such vibrations could penetrate this deep—no matter how faint—told him that whatever raged on the surface operated at a scale that could devour mountains.
Yet the tremors neither stopped him nor affected his pace or bearing. They were insignificant to him.
