You put the artifacts into the sarcophagus and pull the lid back onto it.
After a moment of thinking, you walk up the stairs. As you emerge into the sunlight, you turn around one last time to peek down the staircase, but the tunnel downwards is gone. The cave is shallow and there's no indication of any hidden tunnel! Even after you dig in the spot you swear should lead you to stairs, you get naught but even more dirt under your fingertips. Very mysterious.
You decide to head home.
1158 AD, Winter
You return just in time before the first snowfall, and just as reports from mines arrive; silver ended in the Treasury, while gemstones were sent north.
1
Glassware failed to bring anything to the Treasury this time.
After you finish your bath, the healers wrap fresh bandage onto your wound, and you finish your evening meal, the guards says that the Wizard has returned for late audience. You quickly arrange a meeting.
He nods at your direction.
"You have done a great honorable deed, human. For that, I shall go and fulfill my end of the bargain. Crystalwater Ironbeak will soon be gone." The Wizard leaves, and the guards say he disappeared into thin air after crossing the moat bridge. Peculiarities keep pilling!
One week later, you receive a report from the southlands; apparently, only moonlit night, the ghostly octopus met and apparently stopped before a lone, hooded traveler. They regarded each other in a fashion, and then Crystalwater turned around.
Your scouts have tracked the beast into Ironbone Mountains before a sudden blizzard made it worse. They lost sight of the octopus somehow, and after the weather cleared, it was nowhere to be seen.
Nonetheless, citizens around the Empire are already celebrating the fact that the monstrosity is gone!
1158 AD, Midwinter
Tails
An unfortunate thing befell your family; it seems that during his 'voyages' into political world, Saenn has indulged in way too many parties and social gatherings, and he has developed quite a taste for wine; in fact, he gained a reputation of a drunkard! It does not befit an Emperor's son to be a raging
alcoholic, now does it??
A) I've gotta disown this failure of a son!
B) If that's how he has to cope with loss of his family, then so be it.
C) It seems that a heartfelt conversation is long overdue.