The party continued through the Aurora Caverns, the narrow main passage illuminated by the faint glow of ether crystals embedded in the walls.
“By the Six,” Lila said, pausing to admire the crystals. “This place is a gold mine. Do you know how much I could sell these for?”
Ryak shot her a sharp look. “Naturally, this place is sacred to my people. But,” he added after a moment, “if a crystal formation has broken off naturally, you may take it. Otherwise, leave it be.”
Lila’s excitement dimmed as she let out a sigh. “Of course it's sacred."
Justin leaned over, whispering, "You would think the Ancestors owe you one after saving their tree."
Lila snickered, earning a severe look from both Eldrin and Ryak. Kargan's expression, in contrast, was grim, lost in his own dark thoughts.
The main passage opened into a massive vertical shaft that stole Justin’s breath. Looking down, the bottom disappeared into impenetrable darkness, while a spiraling stone ramp, carved into the rock, clung to the walls, leading deeper into the abyss. Tunnels and doorways branched off from the ramp at irregular intervals.
Justin let out a low whistle, but the sound was louder than he'd intended, echoing endlessly through the hole. The party froze, eyes darting toward him.
Justin felt the blood drain from his face. Had he just pulled a Pippin?
“Sorry,” Justin muttered, shoulders slumping. “This place is just...a lot bigger than I thought it’d be.”
Ryak shook his head, taking the lead and descending the ramp with confidence. He bypassed several corridors before stopping at one, gesturing for the others to follow.
As they reached the entrance, Eldrin pulled out the Wayfinder’s Compass. He studied the golden needle, which pointed downward, past the tunnel and further into the darkness beneath.
“Change your mind?” Justin asked, raising an eyebrow. “Seems like you’re interested in that gate after all.”
Eldrin's brow furrowed as he considered this. "It's tempting. But we thought the same thing with Drakendir. It lost the Baron for a few weeks, but in the end, it might not have been worth the risk."
"Or maybe it's the only way we could have possibly escaped," Justin pointed out.
Eldrin gave a noncommittal grunt.
As the others continued on, Justin hung back, trying to get a better look. His monocle, unfortunately, didn't have night vision, which was a shame.
Lila turned around. "Justin?"
The others stopped, waiting for him to catch up.
This wasn't going to be an easy conversation, so he just had to get it over with.
"We should consider trying to find the gate," Justin said. "It would take us somewhere far, and unlike Drakendir, Valdrik would have no way of following us. Unless he happens to have the right enchantment on one of his gear pieces, which I doubt."
Ryak watched him from several paces away. It was hard to tell, but his expression seemed impatient. “I agreed to take you south of the Seraphim Mountains, a sure path that the Baron will be hard-pressed to follow us on. Not chase after legends."
Justin held out the Star. "This is telling me that something is down there, and it's not a legend." He paused, collecting his thoughts for a moment. "Let me put it this way. We have underestimated the Baron time and again. We tried to lose him by going north of Silverton. That didn't work. We tried the Highcliff catacombs. That didn't work, either, and we lost Alistair because of it. We tried to head to Windfall to throw him off the scent. We tried bloody Drakendir, too. He followed us there. He followed us all the way to Nithral Island, the literal end of the continent. There is nowhere he won't follow me." Justin looked at Ryak with a sternness he didn't know he possessed. "If we go through these caves, trust me, Valdrik is going to find a way. He knows exactly where we're going and can intercept us. Easily. I don't care how 'hidden' you think this path is. This asshole is smart, and he wants me dead."
The others watched him quietly. Justin could tell that even if they didn't agree with him, they could at least tell where he was coming from.
At last, Ryak broke the silence. "If you want to pursue this gate, I won't stop you. But I would also remind you that it wasn’t part of our original agreement. Anyone who explores the Aurora Depths never returns. There are monstrosities down there that make the Fyrspawn look like seal pups.”
“This might sound crazy,” Lila said, "but maybe Justin is right. The odds that he has the correct enchantment are slim to none. And assuming Eldrin's compass works the way we think it does, we have an advantage. It says it leads to hidden passages and treasures. Why wouldn't that include a gate?"
Kargan grunted, his expression dark. “Did you not hear the part about monsters? No one has even returned from this gnomish kingdom in centuries. And you want to wander into it? Sorry, I’ll take my chances on the surface.”
Justin considered the situation. It was a tough decision, made harder by the fact that, for once, they weren’t under immediate attack. The choice was theirs and they weren't being forced into anything.
He stared down into the shaft. The light from his cane didn't even come close to revealing its depths.
“Well,” Justin said at last, “what would be the harm in exploring a little? If things get dangerous, we can always backtrack, right?”
Ryak shook his head. “We still have a week and a half left on the Gentleman’s Agreement with the Baron. That keeps us safe from him—for now.”
Lila frowned. “Sure, it keeps us safe from direct harm, but it doesn’t stop him from messing with us. I still think he had something to do with that tree. It didn’t harm us outright, but it slowed us down, didn't it? Who’s to say he won’t try something else? Maybe a rockslide to block our path? I don't know. He can get pretty creative. The agreement isn't airtight; it's the best Justin could do, given the pressure. And if he catches up, there's nothing stopping him from following a few paces behind waiting for the timer to run out..."
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Eldrin nodded, rubbing his chin. “A fair point. He’s nothing if not cunning.”
Kargan's tusks protruded in annoyance, his voice cutting through the conversation like a blade. “I can’t believe we’re even talking about this. After barely surviving Drakendir, we’re talking about repeating that fiasco? We need to get through this damn place and back to the surface.”
“And what then?” Justin countered. “What happens when we’re out in the open? There’s nothing stopping the Baron from catching us. You know as well as I do that he always has a way. It’s the same story over and over again—we run, he follows, and always rears his ugly head. We have to flip the script.”
Kargan’s scowl deepened, but he said nothing.
Justin pressed his advantage. “There’s no way we can make it to Draegor’s Keep fast enough. But maybe...just maybe, this gate is the key. If we can find it, we could put some real distance between us and the Baron. Distance he can’t cross.”
The party fell into silence, each member lost in thought. The idea of exploring the unknown was terrifying, of course. But so was the prospect of continuing this endless game of cat-and-mouse.
For once, they had a chance to change the rules. And Justin knew they should take it, or at least try to take it.
At last, Kargan sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I’m sorry, Justin. I have to stand with Ryak on this one. This wasn’t part of the original plan. But if you want to go down there…” He trailed off, glancing down the darkened shaft. “Like you, I’m tired of running. But maybe this is a sign.”
Justin frowned. “A sign of what?”
Kargan's amber eyes rose to meet his. “Maybe…maybe it’s best if I go my own way, if you feel so strongly. I don't want to go through a strange gate just to appear halfway across the world. That could be just as dangerous.”
Justin stared at him, struggling to process what he had heard. The idea that Kargan might want to leave had never crossed his mind.
Ryak broke the quiet. “I am willing and able to commit to my original goal. And if you want to come with me, Kargan, I’d be more than happy to lead you south of the Seraphim Range.”
Kargan nodded, though he avoided Justin’s gaze. His silence spoke volumes.
“You can’t mean this, Kargan,” Lila said, her voice trembling. “After everything we’ve been through?”
Kargan shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just…been a lot. Fighting for our lives every single day. We haven’t had a chance to think about any of this, have we? We’re all thrown together, but are we still on the same page? And now, for the first time, we’re not forced to stick together. Maybe it’s time we all figure out what’s in our best interests.”
Justin wanted to protest until he realized that Kargan had something of a point. Were they all on the same page? Ever since coming to Eyrth, Justin had a certain way of drawing help to him. There had been Lila in Mistwatch, then Eldrin on the road to Silverton.
Kargan had come along later, but even though he was up to speed, it was always a matter of survival for him. And this had gone on far longer than he would have wanted.
It was hard for Justin to remember sometimes that Kargan was still a kid. But after the events of the last few weeks, he had grown up and become someone else.
And Ryak, of course, was right. Even if Justin had helped him and his people beyond measure, asking to go after a waygate in the depths of an ancient gnomish kingdom ridden with monsters, with no guarantee of it even leading anywhere they wanted to go, was a bridge too far.
"We should talk about this carefully," Eldrin said, his voice low. "We have a chance to reassess since no danger is pressing. It would be smart to take advantage of that so we come to the best decision for everyone." He looked at Justin. "Now, Justin, I haven't spoken about this, given the events of the last few weeks. But since the Everwood, I've had a feeling that something might have changed. Would I be correct in that assessment?"
Everyone watched him for a reaction. Justin didn't see the point of lying, but it also wasn't wise to speak the whole truth. He and Lila had a conversation about peeling off before Mont Elea, in light of the Baron's revelations in Windfall. If the Templars truly hunted down Earthers, well, Mont Elea was the last place he needed to go.
But he couldn't say that with Ryak right there. He didn't think Ryak would betray his origins, but it was best to be careful.
"Maybe we can discuss this later, Eldrin," Justin finally answered.
Eldrin watched him closely. "All right, lad. I trust you. I just want some answers soon."
Justin nodded. "Of course."
"I can step away if there's something you must discuss," Ryak said.
Justin shook his head. "There's no point. Let's get back on track. Splitting up isn't an option. Even if we find the gate, well, what happens if Valdrik captures the two of you on the surface? That's bound to happen."
"I'll take that risk," Kargan said.
Lila looked at him seriously. "Kargan, if that happens, he will torture you until you give him the information that he wants."
On this point, Kargan was stubbornly silent.
Justin shook his head. He didn't know what to say other than reinforce his main point. "All I know is, I'm tired of running. I'm ready to take a big gamble." Justin reached for the Sapphire Star on his chest. He was surprised to see it was glowing even brighter now. It seemed like a confirmation. "We're getting closer to this gate. I don't care what anyone else says. I'm going for it. It's time to throw him off the scent for good. Who's with me?"
"It's not ideal," Eldrin said. "But when has it ever been? I made a promise to Alistair. The Templars need to know about Valdrik. I don't know where this gate might lead, and it might be a dead end. But if you think it's best, Justin, I'll go with you." He gave a rueful smile. "And I'll be honest, I'm curious to see it. I've been thinking...why else would that Vault give me this compass? We are perfectly equipped to figure it out."
It was a good point. Could it be that the System was trying to push them in this direction? And was that a good thing, or a bad thing? He wondered, but he wasn't about to back down now.
"I'll go with Justin, too," Lila said. She looked at the other two. "No pressure or anything, but we could use your help. I understand if you don't want to." She then set her attention on Ryak. "And Ryak—I know the gate wasn't part of the plan. But neither was a Level 36 Vault. Or saving Kythralis."
Something in Ryak's face softened. "I understand what you mean." He let out a long breath. "All the same, it's not only me I have to think about. It's my tribe. It's the Iceborne as a whole. If we try to go after that gate, there's a chance I won't return. It's not for my sake that I'm worried. I have duties to the Yarith. They will need guidance now that the Vault is gone."
"What about these Fyrspawn?" Justin asked. "Don't you want to figure out where they're coming from? How they were able to mount an attack on Kythralis? You'll only find answers if you come with us."
From the shift in Ryak's expression, Justin knew he had him. Sometimes, the best way to convince someone wasn't through force; it was through finding the right lever, however small.
"That's true enough," Ryak said. "The Fyrspawn have been a thorn for centuries, and yet no one knows from whence they came. And that they have dared to attack Kythralis, the Heart of Winter itself..."
"It might have something to do with this gate," Lila said. "Could it be some sort of invasion force from another world?"
"It's possible," Ryak said. His long, bone-white fingers clasped his icy staff. Then, he gave a slow nod, as if coming to a final decision. "All right. I can proceed as far as the gate. If we discover anything, I can bring something definitive back to the elders. As for beyond the gate..." He gave a solemn nod. "That is where my journey ends."
"Fair enough," Justin said. He looked at Kargan. "What are your thoughts?"
The orc sighed. "I hate caves. But without Ryak's guidance, there's nothing I can do. Guess I'm riding this out a little while longer."
Eldrin clapped him on the shoulder. "You've made the right call."
Kargan shifted on his feet, peering into the darkness beneath. "Let's just be careful about this, okay? If it looks too rough, we need to turn back. I don't like what Lila said about an invasion force. That's way above my pay grade."
"It's probably not," Lila said. "I just have an active imagination."
Eldrin took the lead, lifting the compass tied around his neck. "Still pointing down. Let's move."
They continued down the spiraling ramp and into the lower darkness of the Aurora Caverns.