As I surveyed the massive underground chamber, I couldn't help but marvel at the strange, glowing flora that covered the walls and ceiling. The air was thick with a musty, earthy scent, and the only sound was the distant drip of water echoing through the cavern.

The tremors had been growing more frequent and more violent, and I worried that the tavern above us might not withstand much more. Milo and Jessara were still upstairs, probably wondering what in the world I was doing. I hoped they had been smart enough to leave when the building started shaking around them.

Suddenly, a crack appeared ahead of us on the chamber floor, snaking its way across the stone like a jagged lightning bolt.

"Back away!" Elixander shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

We scrambled backwards, but another crack appeared near our feet, shearing away a chunk of the floor that dropped into the abyss below. The cavern shook violently, and we struggled to stay on our feet as rocks and debris rained around us.

"Ale and ashes!" I exclaimed as I fell back further.

Elixander stopped and peered at the new hole that had opened up in the floor.

"Get away from the edge!" Seraphina yelled, her voice tinged with panic.

Elixander's brow furrowed in concentration. "I hear voices below," he said, edging closer to the hole.

"Be careful. The ground is unstable," I said, pointing at the fresh cracks.

Elixander waved his hand around in an arc. A fresh, light blue shimmering bubble appeared around him. "I will be safe."

Seraphina advanced on her father and stepped into the bubble. He muttered something, and the blue shield expanded. Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped inside after her. There was no change. I joined Elixander at the edge, peering down into the darkness. To my surprise, I saw a set of wide stairs leading down into the depths.

"What kind of voices did you hear?" I asked Elixander.

"I'm not sure," he replied, shaking his head. "There are multiple voices, but I can't make out what they're saying."

Doan came to my side and leaned over the edge. "Who is down there?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Elixander muttered a few words under his breath, and suddenly, a burst of light erupted from his hand, rushing down the stairs like a swarm of fireflies. The lights illuminated the passageway as they went, revealing a huge chunk of the rocky cavern that had sheared away, leaving a giant hole that opened up to a massive chasm.

I lay down on my stomach and scooted forward, brushing over the strange glowing flora that covered the ground. As I did, one of my arms began to glow green and red where I had touched some peculiar moss. It burned for a moment, but the pain quickly subsided.

"I hope that's not poisonous," I said, examining my arm with a frown.

Elixander looked at the glowing patch on my skin and shook his head. "It's probably safe. I can sense no damage."

"Safe for goblins, at least," Lady Churl interjected. "Reckon it's okay for humans, too."

A voice echoed up the stairway but was too indistinct to make out.

"Is someone down there?" Doan exclaimed, yelling again into the chasm.

What sounded like muffled voices echoed back up the staircase again.

Meanwhile, Elixander stood near the edge, staring down into the depths with intense concentration.

As I lay at the edge of the chasm, peering down into the depths, I noticed the walls around the stairway were covered in ancient runes, similar to the ones we had seen in the chamber above. Elixander pointed them out to Seraphina, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Can you read them?" Seraphina asked.

Elixander shook his head. "Not without further study," he replied. "These runes look to be related to a language I haven't seen in over a thousand years. They're incredibly old."

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed up from the depths below. "Help! We need help!"

My eyes widened in recognition. "Mira!" I exclaimed, leaning over the edge of the chasm. "Mira! Is that you?"

Lady Churl cautiously stepped toward the stairs, tilting her head to the side as she listened intently. After a moment, she turned to us, her expression grave. "Reckon she ain't alone," she said. "Got a pack of gnolls and some other humans on the way up."

"Varix?" Mira called back, her voice echoing around them.

"I'm here. We're here. We're going to get you out! We have to help them," I urged, looking around at the others.

Elixander nodded, his face set with determination. "Agreed," he said. "But we must be cautious. We don't know what else might be down there."

"The only thing down there that matters are our friends."

"I agree," Doan said, rushing toward us. "She went with Alic and a couple of guards from town. They accompanied the gnolls."

Lady Churl nodded. "S'what I said. Them dogs is down there."

Seraphina said, "I agree. But as my father said, we have to be cautious."

"We need water!" Mira added loudly.

I turned to Lady Churl. "Can you run up and have Milo and Jessara gather every bag they can find and fill them with water? Buckets are fine, but we need something easier to carry."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Aye. Be right back, boss." Lady Churl turned and scurried up the stairs that led to the upper passageway.

Elixander cupped his hand to the side of his mouth and yelled, "I am sending light your way. Can you see it?"

"Yes. A floating light. I see it!" Mira called back excitedly a few seconds later, her voice echoing along the staircase.

"The sound carries. They are still quite a ways down." Elixander looked up. "My suggestion is to go and meet them. Help them the rest of the way up, in case they are injured. Doan." He turned his eyes on the blacksmith. Can you bring water when it arrives? You are larger than the rest of us and will have an easier time bringing it down. I apologize in advance, though we may need your size to help bring up any injured."

Doan nodded sharply, even though his eyes kept darting to the stairs. "Aye. I'll be patient, but that's my friend down there."

"I'll go, too," I said at Doan's words. "I have to help our friends."

Elixander nodded. "Very well. I will go first, Varix in the center, and Seraphina last, as her staff may come in handy."

"A fine plan, father."

"Take this," Elixander said to me, reached into his pouch, and withdrew a gem the size of a fist. He held it to his mouth and said something, then blew across the surface. He looked at me and handed over the stone. "Keep this on your person. It will be useful if anything goes awry."

"I'm all for that," I said, putting the bulky stone in my front trouser pockets, where it was an uncomfortable but a necessary evil. "What does it do?"

"It will help keep you safe in case of a fall."

"I don't want to fall," I said.

"It is just a precaution," Seraphina added.

That was a relief. One of my biggest fears was falling or being unable to arrest a tumbling descent. There were no handrails, and the stairs were smooth. They were also wide, but my feet brushed against the dry surface, and my shoes were more for working in a kitchen, not out here spelunking. In fact, I'd never been deeper than a few dozen feet into a cave before this.

Lights rose above us as we took the first few steps. Elixander's steps were confident. Mine, mostly so. I held onto the lip of the entryway, and then my hand touched the closest wall to ensure I could keep my balance.

As we descended the ancient stairs, Elixander created magical lights that floated upward, taking positions along the walls. Each light cast a soft blue glow, illuminating our path and the intricate runes carved into the stone.

"Who built all of this?" I asked, running my hand along the smooth wall. "These stairs seem too perfect to be natural."

Elixander paused, his fingers trailing over a series of symbols. "I have only faint recollections from ancient texts. To properly understand, I'll need time to study these markings and learn what other secrets lie beneath."

The stairway curved deeper into the earth, each step worn smooth by countless feet over the ages. We came to a section where the outer wall had crumbled away to reveal a vast chasm that disappeared into darkness.

"Mind your step here," Elixander warned. "The edge is unstable."

He raised his hand and sent a bright, magical light out into the void. The light raced downward, illuminating the massive cavern walls. Down and down it went, until it seemed certain to fade away. But in its final moments, the light revealed something extraordinary - a sprawling city of impossible architecture. Alien spires reached toward the cavern ceiling, their surfaces smooth and otherworldly. The buildings defied conventional design, twisting and spiraling in ways that challenged comprehension. Even Elixander seemed taken aback by the sight before the light finally winked out.

"Did you see that?" Seraphina gasped, gripping my hand tightly.

"I did," I transfixed, barely breathing, still staring into the darkness. "I want to see it again."

"We must keep moving," Elixander said firmly.

Party pooper.

We continued our descent for another fifteen or twenty minutes, the magical lights that floated above marking our path back to the surface.

As we rounded a bend in the stairway, we came face to face with a band of gnolls led by Grix’gnash. I was so surprised I yelled, “Ale and ashes!” before I could stop myself.

The shaman came to a stop and his snout like mouth split open in what had to be a smile.

“You have found us. We are relieved.”

“Grix’gnash!” I exclaimed. “I’m glad to see you. Are Mira and the others with you?”

Elixander observed the gnolls, but said nothing. As far as I knew, he hadn’t met them before this moment.

“Varix?” Mira asked. “Varix!”

She pushed past the others and pulled me into a quick hug. “I don’t know what you’re doing down here, tavern keeper, but am I ever glad to see you.” Mira’s eyes were weary, but they widened slightly when she spotted Seraphina.

“Hello, Mira,” Seraphina greeted Mira.

Mira broke away from me and, in an unusual display of emotion, hugged her, as well.

Alic offered his hand, and we shook once. We made introductions in the cramped space. “Lady Churl is on the way with water.”

“We need a moment, friend,” Alic said. “The trudge up all those stairs has hardened my legs. I cannot feel my feet.”

Elixander clasped his hands behind his back as he looked over the motley group of spelunkers. He took a breath before introducing himself. Mira gasped when he told them his name. Alic ducked his head at the elf.

“We have tales to tell. Each of us finds ourselves in a most peculiar spot of trouble. May I suggest we save them for after we are out of here? Conserve your strength. We have a long way to go,” Elixander advised.

“Wise words, friend elf,” Grix’gnash said.

“I can help restore a little strength. It won’t last long, and you will feel the effects tomorrow morning. They won’t be pleasant," Elixander said.

“I’ll take some of that. If I get out of here tonight I plan to douse my stomach in ale, or something stronger,” a seated older man said from the back. “Truth is, I don’t even know if I can stand again. Might need to leave me here tonight. I’ll walk out in the morning.”

Elixander lifted one hand above his head and intoned words that floated around us almost lyrically. I suddenly felt as if I'd just awoken from a twelve hour slumber, eaten a healthy breakfast, and was preparing to run a few miles. My legs ached to get moving, like they had pent up energy to burn.

"That feels good," I said.

"Aye. I'm a new man," the older guy said, and started to get to his feet, but his leg gave out and he sat down heavily. "Afraid I might be injured."

"What happened, Tobias?" Mira asked the man.

"Happened a minute before we stopped. I think I twisted my ankle. Just need a few minutes. I'll be right as rain."

I shrugged past the gnolls and a younger man I didn’t recognize. He nodded at me once, as I pushed my way to Tobias.

“Come on, friend.” I held my hand out. “I’ll walk with you. We can take it slow.”

“You’re that tavern owner Mira talks about.”

"That's right," I said. "I'll help you up the stairs."

"You're a kind man, Varix."

He was at least twenty years older than me with salt and pepper hair and a short gray beard. His eyes were gray and close set. Lines etched their way across his forehead.

I stepped past him a few steps down and looked into the darkness. The stairs that I could see continued to stretch into darkness.

“I’ll be here when you’re ready to stand. Feel free to lean on me if you have to.”

Tobias smiled. “I was being a bit dramatic. I can stand, but I appreciate your offer.“

Tobias put his hand on the wall and pushed himself up on shaky legs. I stuck out my hand, and he took it with his free one. “I got you," I told him.

"Thanks. I-"

The stairs shook. Seraphina and Elixander stumbled toward me. I clutched Tobias’ shoulder for support while my other hand slapped against the wall.

The wall that was sliding away!

The passageway grumbled and cracked. A crack like thunder sounded around us and we were suddenly falling!