Long and Winding Road
Janus had spent his entire life under the ground, so it would be wrong to call him claustrophobic. The delver tunnels, however, felt as if they were closing in around him. He could touch both sides with the tips of his fingers at the same time. The atmosphere was almost suffocating.
It had already been more than a day. Or, at least, he assumed it had been more than a day. Without the stations light runes, there was no way to tell. He had tried to sleep earlier, but found that it was an exercise in futility. The thought of a monster wandering down the tunnel and attacking him in his sleep wasn’t comforting.
The lack of security was the problem. He never knew if he was truly safe. The tunnels were inscrutable as always, extending off to what could be infinity, the ends too far for Janus’ eyes to make out.
Aches and pains still tore at his body, but his HP was relatively high. It was a minor comfort in a world of discomfort, though. Thankfully, despite everything else, the tunnel had not collapsed. That was perhaps his greatest fear—the tunnel collapsing behind him, cutting off his escape.
He had read stories about delvers who got stranded in dungeons or tunnels, separated from any earth manipulators that could save them. The thought bounced around in his mind, refusing to leave.
I wonder if anyone else tried to escape through the tunnels.
If he were lucky, maybe he would run into an earth manipulator from Crow Station. That would basically ensure that he made it to Bear Station in one piece. He scoffed. Luck hadn’t been on his side thus far, so why should he expect to be fortunate.
The tunnel was so uniform; it was difficult for Janus to estimate how far he had gone, and his map listed very few landmarks. Most of the labels indicated open caverns and intersections.
The [Torchstones] drenched everything in a clinical white light. He had tried to pry some from the metal supports above, but only bloodied his fingers in the process. Whatever method the tunnel workers had used to attach the little white pearls of light left them securely attached to the metal. He still had his own [Torchstone] in his robe, but more would always be helpful.
It was a sobering thought, to think of the men and women who dug these tunnels. The process would have been much slower than simply walking through them. Lengths of tunnel that Janus had already traveled must have taken weeks to dig out, even with an earth manipulator. The vibrations from disturbing the earth attracted monsters, and the digging teams often had to fight them off to continue onward.
Pulling the pack off of his shoulders, Janus sat down. He took a sip from a bottle of water and nibbled on bits of bread. He looked up and stared at the [Torchstone]s above until the light left spots in his eyes.
I should have brought more water.
He was worried that he didn’t have enough supplies to reach Bear Station. It would be a horrible twist of fate if he almost made it, only to die of thirst near the finish line.
Better to not think about such things.
Shouldering his pack, Janus stood and trudged down the tunnel once more. His legs were weary, but the sooner he moved, the sooner he returned to civilization.
To pass the time, Janus used [Spell Weaving] and played with mana. The exercise calmed him, reminding him of the hours spent in his room doing the same thing. It was familiar and comforting, unlike the tunnels surrounding him. He refrained from doing anything too complex. The drain on his mana could spell his doom.
He idly browsed through his status, taking note of what had improved.
Status Name Janus Alamy Class Enhancer Level 23 Guild None Life 486 Max Life 486 Mana 690 Max Mana 690 Stamina 537 Max Stam 537 Stat Total Base Class Skill Item Strength 46 23 0 23 0 Endurance 39 23 0 16 0 Dexterity 24 23 0 1 0 Intelligence 115 23 46 46 0 Wisdom 90 23 23 39 5 Skill Level Bonus Bravery 3 5 Wis / Lvl Writing 8 1 Wis / 5 Lvl Sprinting 7 1 End / 5 Lvl Spell Weaving 3 20 Int/Wis, 1 Int + 1 Wis / Lvl Pow. Enhancement 3 20 Int/Str, 1 Int + 1 Str / Lvl Mana Reinforcement 15 1 End / Lvl Mana Burn 10 1 Wis / 5 Lvl Staff Fighter 1 1 Dex / Lvl Empty --- --- Empty --- ---
It was a bittersweet feeling to know how much he had grown. He was a delver in every way that mattered, the only thing missing being the slip of paper that would identify him as one. His imagination ran wild, and he pictured the Delver’s Guild. He imagined himself stepping up to the clerks, being handed his identification, and triumphantly displaying it for everyone to see.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
In reality, he probably would have tried to attract as little attention as possible, but the thought echoed his intense desire. That desire had been dulled, though. Knowing that he would likely never see the familiar faces of his neighbors or his friends shook him.
Before the disaster, the only death Janus had ever confronted was his own mother’s. But that had happened when he was still too young to process what it had even meant. Now, though, he was older. And the tunnels offered little to distract him.
His eyes were unfocused as he walked rhythmically forward. He almost didn’t spot the strange, squat figure in the distance. It was a few moments before he noticed the creature darting towards him.
[Armored Molehound - Level 30]
In no time at all, he began constructing a replica arrow point and directed the spell to face down the tunnel. The monster drew closer, allowing Janus to examine it more closely. Wicked claws protruded from its brown feet, their clacking on the ground echoing ominously with each step. Its visage resembled that of a mole, while a shell extended from the top of its head, running along its back in a menacing display.
As the replica arrow point unleashed its barrage of mana arrows, the creature reacted swiftly. With a sudden leap into the air, it twisted and rolled, using the shell on its back as a shield to deflect the incoming projectiles.
The creature barreled through his replica arrow point, causing it to dissipate. Janus wasted no time. Gripping his quarterstaff tightly, he swung it at the creature, hoping to land a blow. However, his efforts proved futile as the staff simply bounced off the creature's formidable shell.
He was keeping it at a distance with the long length of wood, but only barely. While he knew a well-placed mana marble could potentially finish off the monster, he hesitated. Using it from this distance posed significant risks, not just to himself but also to the stability of the cavern.
Janus decided to employ the technique he had used against a gangster from the Talons before. However, much like the beasts that had besieged Crow Station, his efforts appeared futile against the resilient creature. To his surprise, the mana pulsed out of the monster as it struck at him. The wave pushed him back.
Of course, it would enhance its attacks. That’s what I’ve been doing for the others all this time.
He used the momentum from the wave of mana to make even more distance between himself and the monster. As he moved, he prepared another technique he had been practicing. Two sheets of reinforced mana formed on either side of the [Armored Molehound]s head. As soon as the mana materialized, he swung down. The creature attempted to dodge out of the way, but found that the mana panes trapped it, holding it in position.
His quarterstaff swung down with a crack! The monster seemed to be dazed, but quickly shook it off. Janus took the opportunity to condense mana below the creature. He released it, and waves of energy surged outward, throwing the [Armored Molehound] off of its feet.
Janus wasted no time in conjuring a replica arrow point array below it as it was lifted by the surge. He aimed it upwards, unleashing a barrage of mana arrows that pierced through the monsters soft underbelly while it remained suspended in the air. The entire battle had lasted only a few seconds.
[You have defeated an enemy: Armored Molehound]
[Your Spell Weaving skill has gained 1 level]
[Your Mana Reinforcement skill has gained 1 level]
[Your Staff Fighter skill has gained 1 level]
He was feeling more confident against monsters near his level. If it was one on one, Janus was certain he could come out on top every time. His confidence summoned remnants of his conversation with Tsula. The metamage had warned that the System often caused psychological effects. She cautioned him to keep track of his emotions and to ensure they were mostly natural.
It was a chilling thought. If he continued to progress and gain levels, would he still be himself? Was he taking more risks because of his [Bravery] skill? There wasn’t much time to contemplate; he needed to keep moving.
Shoving the [Armored Molehound]s corpse to the side, he considered cutting into the monster for some extra food. Most monsters dissipated when they died, but the molehound was sticking around. Usually that meant there was something to harvest from the corpse.
He had seen the lady who lived down the street from his home, Emily, slaughter animals before. Eyeing the corpse for a moment more, he decided that he should have enough food in his pack. Besides, the thought of cutting into the monster wasn’t very appealing.
He pressed forward until he reached a point where a cave branched off from the tunnel. Consulting his map, he noted the cave's location. He was meant to follow it until it intersected with another tunnel. Preparing to venture into the darkness ahead, he looked forlornly at the [Torchstones] in the tunnel behind him. The extra light had been nice while it lasted. Finally, he retrieved his own [Torchstone] and marched into the cave.
Entering the cave, he lifted the light above his head. The ground beneath was treacherous—jagged and uneven, a stark contrast to the smooth surface of the tunnel he had just departed.
The darkness weighed heavier on him than he had anticipated. In the tunnel, he could see far into the distance, but here, beyond the reach of his [Torchstone]s light, everything was obscured. The cave walls loomed ominously, and the chaotic formations occasionally resembled menacing figures in the gloom.
Navigating cautiously through the cave, Janus remained on edge, ready to confront any threat at a moment's notice. When he finally caught sight of the tunnel ahead, devoid of the supports and lighting of the previous one, he couldn't help but release a quick sigh of relief. He was glad to be on even ground again. The last thing he needed was a broken ankle.
Continuing his journey through the tunnel, Janus felt the weight of exhaustion settling in. Despite knowing that he needed rest, the oppressive darkness of the tunnel offered little comfort or solace.
He brought his light closer to examine the map, but found no indication of whether the upcoming tunnel would be lit. However, he noted a small cavern approaching. Perhaps he could find shelter behind some stone formations there.
But he wasn’t certain how far away the cavern was. The map lacked any indication of distances between landmarks, with the parchment already crowded with lines and shapes. Perhaps there simply wasn't enough room to include measurements.
He practiced his [Spell Weaving] again, pushing the mana around him outward. Each time the mana collided with the tunnel walls, he felt a strange sensation. When he kept the mana diffuse in the surrounding air, it was almost as if he could perceive his immediate surroundings more clearly.
Curious, Janus closed his eyes and focused on the flow of mana around him. He sensed its movements, how it pooled and dispersed, and how it conformed to the shape of the tunnel. Though the perception was fuzzy, he extended his hand where he expected the tunnel wall to be. To his amazement, his hand brushed against the stone, confirming his perception.
The discovery provided some reassurance, especially in the darkness. While he couldn't sense very far using mana, at least it would make it harder for something to sneak up on him.
After some time, he squinted ahead, noticing a faint light emanating from down the tunnel. With caution, he stowed his [Torchstone] in his pocket. If there was something or someone ahead, they might not have noticed his light yet.
Walking slowly and deliberately, Janus crept forward towards the source of the light. It was emanating from an opening in the tunnel, towards the left, likely the cavern he had seen marked on the map earlier. He continued onward until he reached the edge of the tunnel. With caution, he slowly pushed his head into the cavern.
To his left, Janus spotted a grizzled-looking man with long, wild hair. The man was seated, deeply engrossed in eating something. A [Torchstone] sat in front of him on the ground, casting its glow upon the cavern.
Janus quickly withdrew his head, uncertain of his next move. He contemplated sneaking onward through the cavern, ignoring the man entirely. As he prepared to step forward, his foot struck a loose stone. With a sudden clatter, it tumbled down the slope, bumping and cracking along the way.
“Who’s there!” Janus heard the man shout.
Light swung around, revealing Janus in his attempt to skulk through the cavern.
“Who are you? Stay back!” the wild-haired man shouted.
His clothes were a patchwork beneath his matted head of brown hair. Surprisingly, the pack at his side looked brand new, contrasting sharply with his weathered appearance.
“I’m just passing through,” Janus said, raising his arms, “Are you from Crow Station?”
The man eyed him warily. “No. I’m from no station at all.”
A vagabond?
“I, uh, I mean you no harm” Janus said, identifying the man.
[Hermit - Level 32]
Hermit is a class? I’ve never heard of it.
The man simply stood there, his gaze fixed on Janus. Suddenly, the tension seemed to drain from his body, and he slumped back to the ground.
“My name’s Lenny,” he said with a grunt.
“I’m Janus.”