Jack and Reina kept moving westward on their hoverbike.

  They had done their research. The map had indicated a specific point on the west coast. A jagged inlet. Nameless in the fake map. But in other map, it was known as the Widow's Bite. A place of treacherous currents and sharp reefs.

  This place was actually quite well known. Rumors said that there were several dens of smugglers there. Mostly, it was ignored by the authorities. Because it was close to inaccessible through land due to its jagged cliffside terrain. And it was too dangerous for large ships to enter from the sea. It was the perfect place for something hidden.

  After three hours of high-speed travel, they reached the Western Coast. Just right next to the Widow's Bite. The roar of the ocean became deafening there.

  Jack killed the engine and let the bike drift to a stop on a cliff overlooking the sea. The wind whipped at their clothes. Below them, the white foam of the waves crashed against the black rocks.

  Rune glowed green and grey consecutively. Indicating they had reached the location. Yet, there didn't seem to be any fortune to gain.

  "There!" Jack pointed. "Down by the water line. See that dark opening?"

  Reina squinted and took out a pair of steamrune binoculars. She used it. The steamrune enhanced vision pierced the darkness.

  "A cave. It's partially submerged. The tide is going out, which is why it can be seen now." She responded.

  Jack stored his [Lightning Hoverbike] back to his system inventory. Then, they made their way down the cliffside. Not exactly a hard thing to do with their current transcendent capabilities.

  They reached the entrance. It was a jagged hole in the cliff. Smelling of rot, seaweed, and stale air.

  Jack pulled out a [Self-illuminating Orb] from his [Spatial Backpack] and tossed it inside. The light orb bounced off damp walls and puddles of seawater before floating on air. Illuminating the natural cavern.

  "Stay sharp." Jack whispered.

  They entered. The cave was deeper than it looked. As they walked, the sound of the ocean faded. Replaced by the rhythmic dripping of water from the ceiling.

  Jack kept one of his hand his steamrune shotgun and the other was holding the illuminating orb. He didn't actually need the latter because he could see clearly in the dark. But Reina didn't have such sight.

  Reina followed him. Her hands were on the holsters of her twin handguns. Her fingers were twitching. Ready to draw and shoot. Or weave a fog of illusion at a moment's notice.

  They reached the end of the main tunnel and found it... a smuggler's camp.

  It was abandoned. There were several rotted wooden crates. A few rusted lanterns, and the remains of a campfire that had gone cold years ago. Jack broke one of the crates. It splintered. Revealing nothing but soggy straw and a few broken glass vials.

  He did a full sweep of the room. He checked for hidden latches, loose stones, and magical residues. Nothing. It was a mundane, empty cavern.

  "It's empty, Dear." Reina said. Her voice echoed in the small chamber. "Just an old smuggler's den. Do you think the twins were mistaken?"

  Jack stood in the center of the cave. His eyes narrowed. He activated his [Eyes of Judgement] and looked at the walls again. He looked at the floor. He looked at the ceiling.

  "Well, this is anticlimactic. But, the twins are never wrong about resonance." Jack said calmly. "Still, we've got three more marks to check."

  ...

  They went out of the cave and remounted the hoverbike.

  Jack consulted the map again. The next marker was further north. On a small, isolated island just off the coast. The hoverbike skimmed over the waves. A dark silhouette against the moonlight.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The journey was shorter this time. They reached the island just before the dawn. It was a craggy outcrop dominated by a crumbling stone structure.

  An ancient lighthouse. Its beacon had long been extinguished. Its upper levels had almost completely collapsed. Moss and vines clung to its weathered stones. It looked like a forgotten sentinel of the sea.

  "An old lighthouse." Reina observed as they approached. "Usually just a hazard. Or a haunt if we're unlucky."

  "We'll see which." Jack replied easily. Dropping the hoverbike into a shallow cove.

  He stored the [Lightning Hoverbike] back to the system inventory and stepped onto the pebbled beach.

  The air was still. Save for the gentle lapping of waves. No signs of recent human presence.

  They ascended a short, yet winding and overgrown path to the lighthouse entrance. The heavy wooden door was long rotted and fallen apart.

  Inside, dust motes danced in the still visible moonlight. Filtering through large gaps in the broken roof. The remains of spiral staircase were half buried in the rubble.

  Jack examined every nook and cranny. He activated his [Eyes of Judgement]. Observing everything. And finding nothing precious or unusual.

  Reina navigated the crumbling ruins with ease. So did Rune, who flitted all over. The light of her glow probed all the dim corners of the place.

  They found nothing. No hidden compartments. No secret messages. No strange artifacts. Not even the remnants of the lighthouse keeper's existence.

  "Another dud." Jack sighed.

  Reina paused her movements. Standing on the top of the highest rubble. Her gaze swept the horizon. "Still two more marks to check, Dear."

  Jack nodded. He pulled out the map again. The third location was marked on what looked like a small island. To the southwest of their current lighthouse ruins.

  Jack took out the hoverbike from his system inventory again. They hopped on it and moved to their next destination.

  They reached the location just as the sun rose on the eastern horizon. The sunrise was a beautiful sight. But their destination was... a truly desolate place. A jagged, uninviting islet. Pounded by relentless waves.

  Seabirds cried overhead. The air was sharp with spray and iodine. There was no beach, just sheer rock faces rising from the tumultuous sea.

  "Looks like a place for banished pirates, not hidden riches." Jack observed. Circling the islet on his hoverbike.

  Reina leaned forward, pointing. "A small cave, Dear. Near sea level. Appears to be completely submerged at high tide."

  Jack spotted it. A narrow maw in the rock. Almost swallowed by the churning water. He brought the hoverbike down carefully. Next to a sturdy rock formation on a slightly higher ledge.

  As they jumped to the rock formation, Jack stored the [Lightning Hoverbike] back to his inventory. Then, they approached the cave entrance. The waves surged in and out. Making entry treacherous.

  Jack timed the waves and simply plunged down and sprinted in when the waves surged out. His enhanced transcendent strength and agility made such thing quite an easy stunt.

  Reina teleported behind him and quickly followed. Rune zipped close. Glowing golden. Signifying that this time, it might not be a dud.

  Inside, the cave opened into a surprisingly large chamber. It was dry, save for the spray that occasionally misted through the entrance. The air was cool. Smelling of damp rock and something else… A faint, musky scent.

  Jack took out the [Self-illuminating Orb] from his [Spatial Backpack] again. And as its light touched the walls, they could see it. Drawings.

  The walls were covered in crude carvings. Figures of primordial tree-like beasts. Long-limbed humanoids with fire eyes. Celestial bodies. And markings that looked like simplified hieroglyphs. It seemed to be an ancient shrine or a place of forgotten worship.

  "Primitive, but strong mystic markings." Reina noted. Her eyes were tracing the carvings. "Very old. Pre-dating Elrush Kingdom records."

  Jack activated his [Eyes of Judgement]. His eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. He surveyed the chamber. It immediately picked up an anomaly in one part of the rock wall.

  "Something's deeper. Behind this wall." He pointed his finger at a section of the wall. A faint seam was almost perfectly hidden there.

  He applied pressure. The ancient stone groaned. Then with a deep rumble, a section slid inwards. Revealing a narrow passage. Beyond it, a low, earthy chamber.

  They entered. The air within was stagnant and heavy. In the center of the chamber, a simple stone pedestal stood. Upon it, there was a single, roughly carved stone tablet. Faintly glowing. No gold. No jewels. Just rock.

  Jack approached it. The tablet glowed with a faint, steady energy. Not powerful. But ancient. He touched it with his fingers. Its light seemed to be absorbed automatically into Jacks fingers. Immediately, his information panel flickered. Recognizing something.

  [Discovered... Essence Glyphs: Elder Trentree]

  [New Language Pack Unlocked: Elder Trentree Language]

  Jack focused on the tablet. It was still glowing. But the glow was dimmer now. The strange glyphs carved into its surface suddenly made sense to him. It was the symbols that could be read as language comprehension.

  Jack looked at Reina. "Try to touch it, Love."

  Reina, trusting Jack completely, touched the tablet without hesitation. What happened next was similar to what happened before. The tablet's glow seemed to be absorbed into the fingers of the one who touched it. This time, it was Reina.

  After several seconds...

  "I... I learned a new language?" Reina said in amazement. "Just by touching this? This stone thing is that convenient?"

  "Not exactly the stone." Jack answered. Not in Common Tongue, but in a completely different language. One that Reina strangely understood perfectly. "The glyph and the glow did that. It seemed to only be useful a couple more times."

  The glow of the stone tablet was now even dimmer than before. Only half as strong as it was when they entered this place.

  "And, it's not just language." Reina suddenly said. In the same language. "Don't you realize it, Dear?"