The forest was just as Titus remembered. The canopy overhead blocked out almost all light, lending the ground below an oppressive darkness. There were supposedly animals somewhere inside the forest itself, but they were nowhere to be seen. The whole place was unnaturally quiet, only the muffled sounds of their group’s passing accompanying alongside them. They didn’t talk either, though Mags would occasionally start humming for no apparent reason. Maria simply walked forward mechanically, a glassy look in her eyes. Her skirt was already scuffed up as she had fallen several times, tripping over roots or raised patches of dirt.
There were no bones littering the forest floor, no sense of decay or evil, and no shadowy monsters appeared. They passed through the forest uncontested. Titus had a strong feeling that this was due simply to Mags’ presence, and that entering the forest without her would be suicide.
Much like what had happened last time he had been in the forest.
He shuddered at the memory, not quite able to push it away this time. He couldn’t help but flinch at the shadows in the forest, and shudder at the undergrowth blanketing the forest floor—Undergrowth that, with the help of some imagination, would resemble fallen bodies or bare skeletons.
The place freaked him out, no doubt about that. However, every time he thought about running away or trying to prevent going to the cave, Titus would glance over at Maria. Mags had promised to kill the young girl should he renege on their promise, and he was very sure that she could deliver. And even though he really didn’t like Maria all that much, he still wasn’t willing to see her dead, especially by his own actions. Besides, Titus had a feeling Maria wouldn’t be the only casualty caused by his desertion—far from it.
While he was continually going over events internally, Mags finally spoke up. She had seemed content to keep the silence beforehand.
“I know you have questions, Titus. Feel free to ask them, so that a firmer grasp on the truth can be had. I think you at least deserve this mercy.”
“Such a mercy.” Said Titus scathingly. “I didn’t think you would be so generous.”
“If you’re going to be pissy, at least be pissy towards the right people, kid.” Sighed the healer. “I’m not the one you should be mad at here.”
“And why not? You’ve suggested something along those lines before. So, explain it to me. Why shouldn’t I be mad at you?” Asked Titus.
“Because I’m just a grunt here. I’m only a guard, looking over this place, being forced to squirrel away in this forest for so, so long just to make sure nobody gets out.”
“Says the one who lives outside the forest, guarding nothing.”
“Did you know your village used to be bigger?” Asked Mags abruptly. “I mean, even before that foolhardy ‘exodus’. It was many times the size it is now, and took up all the land not occupied by the forest.”
“Huh? What does this matter?”
“Can you not imagine it? Instead of the little dirty village taking up but a tiny swath of land in the middle of our forest, a grand town—almost a city? Built upon the foundations of the Dawn War’s end, designed to hold tens of thousands of people?”
“Wait, that makes no sense. Where did this place go?”
“Where else? Time took it away. Despite it’s construction, the wear of eons are simply too heavy. Us guards may be long lived, but even the eldest among us was born long after this place’s construction.”
“Then…what are we here for? Why can’t we leave? Is the world outside not fit for us?” Asked Titus, immediately seeing the oddity in what Mags was telling him. He wondered what the purpose of their population would be, and why they were confined within the ever-looming threat of the forest.
“I don’t know. Maybe a few of the older guards do, but they will not tell us. All we know is to protect the forest, and prevent people from leaving. To help with this, there used to be a large magical shield encircling both the forest and your community, but it failed some years past. To tell the truth, I’m doing some very forbidden things here, by living among the people for so long, and allowing you into our domain without death.”
“Then why risk it?”
“Because I think this worth risking. Too long have I floundered about with questions none would answer. You asked about the purpose of containing a population here—I have also wondered about this thing, and the purpose of us guards. What is this all for? To answer this, I am willing to break a few of my kind’s laws.”
“Then, you think that the caves have something to do with all this.” Stated Titus.
“Yes. It would be easier if you simply told me what was down there, at the end of that labyrinth. However, even then, I think I should like to see it with my own eyes.”
“Labyrinth?”
“Ah, I supposed you would not know, but those caves are supposedly impassable. Every time I personally entered, the twisting and turning caves would disorientate my senses and I’d end up back at the entrance again. You, however, made it to the end of those caves, right?”
“How do you know?”
“You talk in your sleep. Something about voices, and a set of doors that haunt you. The only reason there would be doors in those caves would be if you found something.”
Titus shrugged outwards, but was quite concerned with the implication that the healer he’d known for so long had watched him sleeping at some point, and maybe more than once. Hell, Titus’s mind was still spinning from the information she so-casually dropped at his feet—the least of which involved who she really was. He felt like his entire life was lived in a cage, or stuck down a well. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
They traveled deeper into the forest. Titus tried to not jump at every little sound, but it was difficult. Being in that place really set him on edge, and set his heart thundering. He expected something to jump out at them from behind every tree, to drop down from the canopy at any moment. But the forest was instead silent. Everything was still. It didn’t stop his overactive imagination, though.
He was able to relax a little, though, when a rock outcropping came into view—one that he would recognize anywhere. But, even slightly relaxed, Titus felt a different sort of anxiety bubble up inside him.
“Here it is.” Said Mags. “You walk in front from here. We’d just end up lost if I go first.”
“And what makes you think the same won’t happen with me?”
“Because you already made it to the end, somehow. Maybe it was because of your mind state during that night, or some other factor. It doesn’t matter. The fact is that you made it to the end of that labyrinth, even though illusion barriers and misdirection magic should have prevented that. And, having found the way once should let you make it through again. That’s normally the way these things work, anyway.”
Titus sighed, and stepped out in front of Mags and Maria. He felt less safe like this, more exposed. The feeling somewhat faded after entering the caves themselves, but it was still there for the most part. And, he couldn’t help but start having memories of that night bubble up, flashes of that frantic flight away from death returning to silently haunt him. Titus couldn’t quite shove them away this time.
At least the caves were distinctly familiar. Walking through them was an odd experience, since Titus would come up to intersections of multiple cave tunnels and somehow instinctively know which one led the right way. It was like he perfectly remembered where to go, even though the memories of that night itself were spotty and badly repressed.
The caves twisted and turned unnaturally, often separating into various paths to take or acting counterintuitively. Several times, the path angled back upward, almost confusing even Titus, who should know where to go. The caves would start descending again after a while, though, improving his confidence their direction. Titus could see why others would have issues getting to the end of the twisting labyrinth of a cave system—even without taking into account the illusions and misdirection charms which apparently existed in the caves, it would be all too easy to get lost without a guide.
They went deeper, and deeper, and deeper. Eventually, the caves evened out, and they started traveling in a straight downward path. The number of paths breaking off to the sides also decreased, until there was only one way forward—and this was the way to those doors.
The natural looking stone cave also started giving way to a distinctly man made corridor, the rounded walls and ceilings becoming clear cut, their corners sharply angled. It wasn’t long before carvings could be made out on these walls, well preserved despite the untold passage of time around them. Titus slowed down to look at these carvings, as did Mags. He hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to stop and appreciated them last time he was down here, and now that he knew they existed, Titus was intrigued. Maybe they could explain something about this place, and the community somewhere above him.
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From what he could tell, the carvings told a story. There was an army, surrounded in light. Strong looking figures with horns stood with that army, protecting them somehow. One of these figures was cut in far more detail than the others, his tall and slim figure seeming to command everyone else. Titus was shocked at the level of detail placed into this carving—he could almost count individual strands of hair from this figure, and the face was astoundingly lifelike.
The army faced a stronger enemy, bathed in darkness and filled with grim, deadly warriors. Many had shackles and collars on, long chains leading to one, central figure in this vast military force. Titus couldn’t tell who or even what this figure was, since the stone here had been badly scratched out, like someone couldn’t even bear to see this person’s likeness set into stone. But he could tell that whoever this was, they weren’t good.
The carvings continued, detailing the struggle of the lesser light filled army, and their exploits. Battles won through sheer stubbornness, through intelligence, and battles won through the righteousness of their cause were shown. The enemy was beat back, their armies routed. Several powerful enemies were killed, their likenesses depicted with long, angular ears and an angry sort of beauty. Eventually, their leader was confronted by a group of heroes from the allied armies and brought down. It was difficult to tell what was happening in these segments of the carvings, since portions were scratched out each time that leader showed up. Someone really didn’t like this person.
Peace was brought to the world after that leader fell, and what remained of the enemy’s armies scattered, to be slowly hunted down. A city was built, with great magic placed within. People were invited to live at this city and they came in droves, even though there was clearly a cost in doing so. They seemed happy to pay whatever cost this was.
The leader’s body was entombed below this city, and kept behind many safeguards so that it would never be found.
At this point, Titus connected some dots. Mags had said the village used to be larger—much larger. It had slowly declined over time, ending up in its current state. Then, there were all these caves, the doors sitting at the end—in fact, Titus could see those doors right now, since they had gotten close enough. There was obviously something behind those doors, entombed here for countless eons. The carvings wouldn’t be here without reason, so they must be related to whatever is behind the doors.
Titus was suddenly a whole lot less inclined towards opening those doors.
But, it seemed that he had no choice in the matter.
“Well, time to see what’s going on here.” Said Mags, walking towards the end of the corridor. She paused, seeing that Titus was still lingering. “Come on now, kid. What? Are you scared now?”
“A little.” Admitted Titus. “I mean, apparently something really bad is down here.”
“You’re coming regardless, or the girl dies.” Said Mags, reminding Titus about the very reason he’s been forced to come. “Besides, if something living were locked down here, it’s dead by now. More likely, there’s just bones and dust.”
Titus sighed, knowing he had no choice in the matter, unless he was willing to let Maria be killed. He felt like Mags was wrong about the latter ascertain, though.
They walked over to the large set of iron doors. Curiously, there was no rust anywhere on them, even though the doors’ surface was pitted and aged. Titus went right up to them, and rested a hand on them. He felt a warmth running through the door, like there was an aspect of them living. They cracked open soundlessly, leaving just enough of a gap between the two of them for a person to slip through. Titus stepped aside, and motioned for Mags to go first. If she were so eager to see what was down here, he could certainly oblige her. She seemingly had no problem with this, briskly walking into the pitch-black chamber beyond, without any care. Maria followed aimlessly behind her, and Titus looked back down the corridor before reluctantly entering last.
He knew the door closed behind him when the little light let in winked out, leaving the space in total darkness until a mumbled incantation could be heard. Titus stared in amazement as a small fireball shimmered into existence above Mags’ outstretched hand. He hadn’t known she could do magic. Very few in the village could, and it was limited to small things like being able to float a drop of water, or create a spark.
The fireball illuminated very little of the room, however. The darkness here was like a physical sensation, pressing down at them and limiting the light’s influence. It did reveal several thick chains extending across the space, their cold metal surfaces lined with symbols. The chains went towards the middle of the room.
A clinking sound echoed through the darkness from where the chains led. Something was moving.
“Who’s there!?” Called out Mags, extending her hand towards the sound’s origin. The fireball followed suit, but the light didn’t reach.
“Dost thou….finally return for me?” Asked a hoarse voice, accompanied by the clanking of chains shifting. A figure entered the circle of light created by Mag’s fire. Chains extended from iron bindings, welded shut around this person. Their arms were locked behind them, and further chains ran from these manacles towards the walls. A thick collar sat upon its neck, six chains centered here to prevent too much movement. A mask obscured any sight, it’s blank metal face tilted in their general direction. Two pitch-black horns extended from behind the figure’s temples, though only one pointed forward. The other was clearly damaged, the tip snapped off halfway down it's length.
Titus almost wanted to gloat about being right, but caught sight of Mag’s face.
She was terrified.
“This is impossible…” She whispered, voice tight with fear.
“Who…art thou?” Asked the figure. “Thy manner of speech is…unfamiliar…”
Mags backed away hastily, and the figure was stopped from moving any more forward by the chains. Her voice—and it was a her, judging by the voice’s pitch and the slightness of her figure—rose again.
“Art thou Jasper, or sent through him? Please…say something…”
Titus stepped forward, not feeling the fear coursing through Mags. Instead, he felt…pity? Sympathy? It was evident that this person had been down here for a long, long time, without anyone else, alone in the dark. Mags looked towards him, frightened by how he unhesitantly walked right up to the chained woman. Getting closer, he discovered that she didn’t even reach up to his shoulders, adding to the illusion of her being helpless.
“Titus…? Don’t get any closer!” Yelled Mags. “That one shouldn’t exist! The Greater Demons died out eons ago!”
He ignored her, and examined the figure more closely. Under the mass of chains, she worse what could best be described as a rag. It was dirty and tattered, though a hint of gold lining here or there, and the fineness of the weaving attested to past majesty, lost through time and misfortune.
“My name is Titus. What is yours?” He asked. The woman (or girl, given her stature) gasped softly.
“Cans’t thou understand me? Thine word is heard—Who art thou, to speak mine own language? Where is Jasper?”
“I am sorry, I know no Jasper.” Replied Titus, the words somehow coming out thickly when he spoke them. They felt unfamiliar, which confused him. “What do you mean, language?”
“Thou speak’th mine tongue, shared amongst mine kin alike. I ask again, who art thou, to not know Jasper but to come here still?”
“I do not know what you mean, I am only a farmer.”
“Mine kind would rarely deign to toil the land, young Titus. Thine lies sound discordant to mine ears.”
“I do not lie. I am a farmer, from a line of farmers. My fathers tilled the lands above us. I was born human, but somehow gained something called bloodline-retrogression.”
“Ahh, so thou art a prisoner of thine own making. Mine brother bragged so about his work, and knowing it continues still, pains me. Atavism is also in mine memory keenly—thou art the one whom entered this room in time past, yes? Thine change started here, and thus fate saw fit for a return. Then, truly, Jasper sent you not?”
“No. I have no idea who this Jasper man is.”
“Titus! Stop talking in whatever language that is! We have to leave!” yelled Mags, grasping Maria in her hands to hard, blood welled up under her nails. “If you do not follow, Maria is dead, you hear me?!”
The chained girl jerked, and Titus heard her inhale sharply.
“Whom dares spill blood in mine presence?” She asked, almost amused. “None I know would be so foolhardy, to give the prisoner a key.”
“Mags! Don’t you dare harm Maria, you hear me?!” Yelled Titus back, half hearing what the girl said as well.
“Mmm, and none I know would be so willing to come so close. Thou art a fool. A likable fool, but one nonetheless.” Added the girl, making a sharp movement.
Her good horn pierced into Titus’s shoulder. Blood immediately welled from the wound, and ran down his body.
“Huh?” He went, more shocked than pained at the moment. He felt a wave of weakness wash through his body.
“I must be thankful of thee.” Said the girl, drawing back. Her horn came out of Titus, it’s tip dripping dark blood. “For, the use of thine mana allows me mine freedom at last.”
Violent clanking sound came from behind her back as the chains and iron binding her hands fell apart. Titus watched, half in awe and half frightened, as the chains dropped away from her one-by-one. It didn’t take long for all the chains to have been broken but one—a little, unnoticeable and fragile looking silver chain wrapped around her ankle. A simple movement of her leg snapped it right off.
Without all the chains binding her, and obscuring most of her body, Titus could see that his earlier assumption was correct. This person was more girl than woman—though she was unlike any girl he’d seen thus far. Striking hair the color of moonlight went down her back, contrasting with those black horns. The rags she wore did nothing to hide the flawless skin of her arms and legs.
She reached up, and took that faceless mask off, exposing bleary and blinking eyes with irises like liquid gold and bottomless pupils. Her elegant nose flared a little, as she looked around the room.
“Ah, so this be mine prison. And thou art Titus.” She said, gaze alighting on the person in question. “And over there, a skinwalker and a human. Mine assumption is that the bag of flesh art not a friend, yes?”
Titus, holding the wound in his shoulder, briefly nodded.
Mags was still looking at the girl, horrified.
“What have we done? What have we done?” She asked.
“Thou reek of mine brother’s work. I had not thought he would stoop to creating skinwalkers for mine guard. However, it matters not. Thou contain’st mana I might use.” Said the girl, walking towards Mags slowly, as if getting used to the sensation.
“G-get away from me!” Yelled Mags, throwing Maria to the side and pouncing at the one terrifying her so, her nails elongating and turning sharp. Her whole body underwent a change, becoming taller and leaner. Her skin seemed sewed on, a patchwork melody of stolen lives.
The girl caught her.
Literally, Mags was grabbed in midair, and slammed to the ground in a blur of action. The monster that was Mags stayed on the ground, moaning softly, while the girl stood unsteadily on her feet, looking down at the thing she called a skinwalker.
Sighing, she drove a hand down, piercing Mags in the chest and ripping out a dimly shining stone. The monster who had raised Titus moved no more as it’s heart was crushed under the girl’s grip, and glowing motes of light transferred over to her.
She breathed in deeply, seeming somewhat refreshed.
“Mine name is Kai. Would thou do the kindness of guiding mine self out of this place?”