Years later

Ah…My head hurts.

I should really think about finding time to rest sometime later. I gently massage my temple with my right hand to soothe the pain.

Glancing once more at the ancient texts laying haphazardly on the table and I swear I can feel my headache worsening. Translating, or more accurately, my attempt to translate, the books of the Nchāre empire have been slow but steady.

There are very few of us historians, barely two hundred of us, who can do it. Given that many of the Nchāren records were jealously kept in ruins so difficult to access due to the ridiculously complex warding Arrays, which are still a dilemma for our present sorcerers to decipher.

The scares scripts obtained were found by cheer luck.

It is clear that the Nchāre Empire was the only power of the time; hence their language was the sole one spoken and written in that era. The lack of any other language led to conclude that the people of the time spoke one universal language which is the complete opposite of the present times.

Archaeologists also discovered that the Morian constructed underground tunnels disseminated throughout the whole continent, maybe even in the neighbouring ones too. Many of them held technological and magical wonders, with books and artifacts of unimaginable value, both cultural and monetary.

Since then, it has been a wild chase for the Holy Grail.

I am distracted from my contemplations by the abrupt entrance of an intruder in my tent.

“I would’ve never believed years back that it was possible for someone to die because of some old dusty books…Until I met you, Kayin.”

I turn toward my uninvited guest. He looks me down from his position, his arms crossed. Ike is what I like to name, the stereotypical man. About 1.80 meters of pure lean muscle, an angular jaw adorned with a well-trimmed beard, and a shiny bronze skin. His gait might appear intimidating, with severe hazel eyes to many, but it sure as hell does not deter women form fawning all over him.

All the opposite from my… lanky physique.

Lucky bastard.

“Are you worried about me? Never thought you could be so caring” I say with a smirk.

He rolls his eyes at me then reveals a gourd, certainly filled with palm wine. “What about a drink?”

I put down the book that I was holding back on the table and we both step out of the tent. I am met with a cold frigid early morning air, it is still dawn, so the camp is quiet. I take a deep breath, inhaling the delicious scent of moist earth after rain.

We sit down on a patch of grass not too far away from the camp, it displays a splendid view of the sun rising above the dense rainforest, the chirp of birds and rustle of tree branches soothes my tired overworked mind, if not for all the mosquitoes and predators lurking in the darkness I would have enjoyed sleeping in the open here.

Ike lay his spear near him; with such tenderness and care you will think he’s handling a sleeping child. He then hands me a wooden cup and pours down some wine in it, then he pours one for himself.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“So…” I start after having a sip, enjoying the sweet burning sensation flowing down my throat, “How was the scouting? Any dangers ahead?”

He empties his cup and fills it once again. “All’s clear… as far as the scouting party went, but there were some areas of the underground chambers that were completely flooded though, and we can’t be certain that will be no danger lurking in.”

“Can we ever be?” I ask rhetorically. “Then it’s decided, we depart today.”

He nods. “It’s for the best, with the non-warriors we might be able to reach it two days from now… Maybe less.”

Of course, warriors and their superior physical might be able to cross ridiculously long distances in mere minutes, that’s how the reconnaissance team was capable of scouting the path ahead in a single night. That’s how unfair life is; some get the power to level mountains with their bare hands, while others don’t.

Ike sits back up in one fluid motion, stretching his body.

“Bah! What’s the worst possible outcome? We could die…or find nothing. On the other hand, we might find some new old, dusty books to add to your collection.”

He lifts his hand in surrender as he glances at me and sees my exasperated look. “Come now, we both know to whom any of those ancient texts will be useful, Mr. Sorcerer, so you will understand that I’m not particularly thrilled to risk my life on this stuff.”

“But here you are, risking your life anyway….” I droll.

He shrugs, “Your money was very persuasive on the subject…and dying is also part of the adventure, I guess.”

It takes every self-restraint in my body to not snort. I sit up too, dust the back of my trouser and walk toward the camp. “Let’s get going, then.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I tiredly wipe the sweat of my brows as I navigate through the dense jungle. Reaching at my side, I grab my gourd and greedily drink the sweet, fresh water it stores.

I’m exhausted. It has been 14 hours since my expedition team and I have been traversing the jungle. So far, we have been able to steer clear from any predator’s territory and have not encountered a single Juju, things have been going smoothly.

Still, “Are we ever going to reach the entrance of these tunnels? And before nightfall at that?” I grunt to no one in particular.

“Just a kilometre or two and we’ll be there.” Answers Ewa as she turns, her brown eyes in my direction. I grunt again and she laughs.

“Feeling tired Bossman? Do you perhaps want me to carry you on my back?”

I ignore her jab.

Ewa is the head scout of the expedition, her natural furtiveness and speed allows her to walk undetected in environment, for the few years that I’ve come to know her, she cannot be found if she doesn’t wish to. That makes her an even deadlier warrior, she could sneak up on me without my awareness and slit m throat before I could perform any sort of sorcery.

Having left the front of the group to my side, she playfully elbows me at the side, several times. I glare at her, but she ignores it.

She seems completely in her element. The sweat glittering on her ebony skin makes her shine, I catch a bead of sweat roll down her forehead, trailing from her delicate face to her slender neck and disappearing in the folds of her tunic.

My eyes immediately go back to hers. She is staring at me, grinning and conspiratorially waving her eyebrows. She clearly caught me gawking at her, but does not seem disturbed, no, she is enjoying it.

She passes a hand across her short coyly hair, feigning to smooth them out. “Don’t be shy Bossman, you can enjoy the view… which I mean, me… as much as you want.”

I attempt to give her the most annoyed look I can muster which is an utter failure apparently because she just giggles, elbowing me once more.

Long, arduous hours later. We finally arrive at the entrance of the site.

Rejoiced, I insist that we proceed inside at once. Many object, obviously, but a compromise is made in the end.

A small group will venture into the dungeons; it’ll consist of Ike, Ewa, myself, and two other warriors and three scholars, while the rest will remain camped at the entrance.

So, after resting for a few more hours and stocking up with food, water, and other supplies.

The exploration begun.