The glimmer of the amulet caught Diomedes’ eye, reflecting the faint light of the dungeon’s bioluminescent fungi. He held it high, letting the intricate engraving catch the full gleam. “Ha! Would you look at that, Tyffyn? Another relic of my inevitable greatness!” He puffed his chest out as he admired the artifact.

Tyffyn raised an eyebrow, tilting her head as she stepped closer. The amulet was finely crafted, with an emblem etched into its golden surface—an intricate pattern of curves and points that radiated an air of ancient power. But something about it made her pause.

“Let me see that, Diomedes,” she said, her tone calm but curious.

Diomedes hesitated for only a moment before reluctantly passing it to her. “Sure thing. Not that I need anyone to tell me it’s valuable. I’ve got a sixth sense for treasure, you know.”

Tyffyn ignored his boast, studying the engraving carefully. Her brows furrowed as the faint lines of recognition tugged at her mind. “Diomedes,” she began slowly, “does this symbol seem... familiar to you?”

“Familiar?” he echoed, his voice filled with mock incredulity. “I mean, yeah, it should be familiar. Looks like it’s meant for a hero—like me.”

Tyffyn shook her head, her gaze steady as she turned the amulet so he could see it again. “Look closer, Diomedes. It’s not just heroic. It looks like... your family crest.”

Diomedes blinked, his confidence faltering for a rare moment. He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes at the engraving. At first, it just looked like an ornate pattern, but as his gaze lingered, the shapes began to align with something buried in his memory. The twin arcs that framed a central starburst. The smaller symbols etched along the edges—similar to the old designs painted on the walls of his family’s home.

“No way,” he muttered, his usual booming tone reduced to a whisper. “That... that is my family’s crest.”

Tyffyn watched him carefully, her voice soft but insistent. “How is that possible? This amulet is ancient. It’s been buried here for centuries—maybe even millennia.”

Diomedes shook his head, trying to process the implications. “I don’t know. I mean, my family’s been dungeon divers for generations, right? Maybe... maybe we just copied it from something we found before?” He chuckled nervously, though it sounded hollow. “Yeah, that’s gotta be it.”

Tyffyn didn’t respond right away, her gaze thoughtful as she turned the amulet over in her hooves. “Perhaps. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.”

Diomedes stared at her. “The other way around? What’s that supposed to mean?”

She met his eyes, her expression as steady as the earth beneath them. “What if this isn’t something your family found? What if it’s something your family came from?”

The idea struck Diomedes like a thunderbolt. “Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying my family’s connected to... to this place? The Kingdom? The Dungeons?”

“It’s a possibility,” Tyffyn said gently. “The Coursers who survived whatever ended the Kingdom—your ancestors—they were closer to that time than we are now. Maybe they carried more of its legacy than we’ve realized.”

Diomedes took the amulet back, holding it tightly as his mind raced. He could feel the weight of it now, not just as a piece of treasure, but as a fragment of something bigger—something he didn’t yet understand.

For once, his voice was quiet. “Do you think this means something? About me?”

Tyffyn placed a hoof on his shoulder, her touch grounding him. “It could mean many things, Diomedes. But what matters most is what you choose to do with it. Whether it’s part of your past or your future, it’s in your hooves now.”

Diomedes looked back at the amulet, his usual bravado tempered by an unfamiliar sense of purpose. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Guess I’ll have to figure it out, huh?”

Tyffyn smiled softly. “You will. And I’ll be here to help you.”

He couldn't wait to show Archimedes and Selaine. They would both have so much to say about the amulet. Archimedes might have his own answers about the amulet-- he was well studied in the histories, and he actually listened to their tutors when they came around. 

As they continued deeper into the dungeon, the amulet hung from Diomedes’ neck, its faint glow a quiet reminder of mysteries yet to be unraveled. For the first time, the treasure wasn’t just about glory—it was about discovering the truth...and bringing home something shiny and important.