The Lost City of Veyla

he jungle was alive with sound—chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the distant roar of a waterfall. The scent of damp earth and blooming flowers filled the air as Alex pushed aside thick vines. He glanced back at his companion, Nora, who was inspecting the tattered map.

“This has to be it,” Nora murmured, tracing her finger over faded lines. “The map says the entrance to Veyla is just beyond the obsidian cliff.”

Alex adjusted his backpack. “Let’s hope the map isn’t another fake. You know how many explorers claimed they found the lost city, only to come back empty-handed.”

Nora shot him a grin. “Well, Alex, that’s the difference between them and us. We won’t stop until we do.”

The pair trudged forward, climbing over fallen logs and weaving through the dense undergrowth. The jungle canopy blocked most of the sunlight, casting eerie shadows that danced with each movement. After an hour of trekking, they stood before a towering cliff of jet-black stone.

Alex exhaled sharply. “Obsidian. Just like the map said.”

Nora scanned the cliff. Her sharp eyes locked onto something unusual. “There—look!” She pointed to a set of ancient carvings on the rock face.

Alex wiped away moss covering the inscriptions. “These symbols match the ones in the diary of Professor Vale. He claimed Veyla was built by a civilization that mysteriously vanished.”

Nora was already running her fingers along the rock, searching for hidden mechanisms. She pressed down on a peculiar indentation, and the ground trembled. A section of the cliff shifted, revealing a dark passageway.

Alex’s pulse quickened. “You just opened a centuries-old secret door.”

Nora smirked. “Told you we’d find it.”

With torches lit, they stepped inside, the temperature dropping as the stone walls enclosed them. The passage led to a grand chamber, lined with pillars of gold and carvings depicting warriors, merchants, and royalty.

“This is incredible,” Alex whispered. “Everything’s perfectly preserved.”

A sudden noise made them freeze. The sound of shifting stone.

“Trap?” Nora murmured.

Alex slowly turned. A giant stone slab was descending over the entrance.

“Run!” he shouted.

They sprinted, diving forward just as the door slammed shut behind them. Panting, they exchanged glances.

“Looks like we’re not leaving the way we came,” Nora said, catching her breath.

Alex took a deep breath. “Good thing we’re explorers, not tourists.”

They continued deeper into the ruins, their footsteps echoing against the polished floors. The walls were lined with murals depicting the rise and fall of the Veylan civilization. One particular engraving caught Alex’s attention—it showed a massive golden idol in the heart of the city.

“The Eye of Veyla,” Alex read. “Said to grant wisdom beyond imagination.”

Nora raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe just worth a fortune.”

They pressed on, navigating corridors and bypassing traps that had been untouched for centuries. Finally, they emerged into an open-air plaza. The city stretched before them—abandoned yet majestic, with towering temples and intricate stone pathways.

At the center stood the idol—a massive golden sculpture of a deity, its eyes embedded with shimmering gems.

“We found it,” Alex murmured.

Nora stepped closer, admiration in her gaze. “No one else has seen this for centuries.”

As she reached toward one of the gems, the ground rumbled. Cracks spidered along the stone floor, and deep shadows moved beneath them.

“Something’s waking up,” Alex warned.

Figures began emerging from the darkness—ancient guardians clad in armor, their eyes glowing with an eerie blue light.

Nora grabbed Alex’s arm. “This is bad.”

One of the guardians raised a staff, its voice echoing through the ruins. “You have entered sacred ground. Leave, or be judged.”

Alex exchanged a glance with Nora. “I don’t think we should argue.”

They turned, sprinting toward an arched gateway. The guardians gave chase, their movements swift despite their age.

Alex spotted a narrow bridge leading to another structure. “That way!”

They leapt onto the bridge, dodging arrows and spears hurled their way. The ancient stone trembled underfoot, but they made it across, collapsing against the wall of a smaller temple.

“Tell me again why we do this?” Nora gasped.

Alex grinned. “Because it’s fun.”

Through a hidden passage, they navigated their way back to a collapsed section of the ruins, where sunlight filtered in from above.

“Almost there,” Alex breathed.

The guardians’ voices rang out behind them. “You do not belong here!”

With one final push, Alex and Nora scrambled up a crumbling staircase, reaching the top. Before them lay an opening to the jungle.

Without hesitation, they leapt through, crashing into the dense greenery. The sounds of the city faded as they lay catching their breath.

Nora turned to Alex, laughter bubbling up. “Well… that was an adventure.”

Alex wiped sweat from his forehead. “We lived. That’s what counts.”

She pulled the map from her pocket, inspecting the ancient city below. “You know, we may have had to flee, but we were the first ones to truly find Veyla.”

Alex nodded. “And that’s a discovery worth more than gold.”

They stared at the ruins for a moment longer, letting the weight of their discovery settle. Then, with reluctant steps, they began their journey back through the jungle—ready for whatever adventure awaited them next.