Chapter 9: "Oh, Lucas"
For 10 to 15 minutes, Lucas and Enoch traversed the labyrinthine stone corridors of an extensive subterranean tunnel system, all the while Enoch kept up his incessant chatter. He seemed unable to stop, as if a moment of silence would result in his sudden death. Lucas had always been the quiet type around people he didn't know well, which made it all the more peculiar that he found himself enjoying Enoch's pointless prattle. It dawned on him: it was the first time everything felt truly normal. Yes, they were navigating the dark corridors of a mysterious magical organization, but two young adults in their twenties engaging in casual conversation about meaningless topics felt comfortingly familiar.
Snapping back into the conversation, Lucas heard Enoch continue, "On the subject of cuisine, I'd like to know what you think about the food so far and how it compares to food from your world?"
"It's surprisingly both very similar and very different at the same time," Lucas replied. "What I find to be strangely familiar are some of the methods of cooking and food production. Pickling, churning butter, caseiculture, fermenting, frying, stewing, and baking are all things that exist where I'm from as well. The difference lies in the ingredients. We have distinctly different plants and animals. While some are similar and produce similar ingredients – you need some sort of milk to produce cheese – the animals and plants we derive them from are different leading them to have noticeably different taste and texture. Not even to mention seasonings and spices."
"A good example would be a confectionery I had while I was pretending to be Solomon at that fancy hotel I was staying at called a Crèmpetto. When I first saw it, I found it surprisingly similar to something I've had before, a Cannoncini, which looks almost the same. But when I took a bite out of it, I was quite surprised. Instead of the pastry being flaky on the outside and slightly soft on the inside, it was surprisingly crunchy. And the taste was incredibly ‘unique’. That spice Havanna has no real comparison back where I'm from, to the point I find it hard to describe with words."
"Haha, not surprising. Even here, when people try Havanna for the first time, they often have dramatic reactions. Oh, it looks like we're about to reach the gate."
As they turned the corner, Lucas beheld a great wall of lusterless black adamantine steel. The room that held it was equally as grand over 20 meters tall, 50 meters wide, and 50 meters long made of polished marble, with the entire back wall covered by the solid, indomitable structure. Its form resembled a full set of giant indomitable teeth, closed so closely together that nothing, not even air could slip through the cracks. After admiring the majesty of the gate for a moment, Lucas's eyes were drawn to a desk at the bottom left of the gate, where a spectacled man sat deeply engrossed in reading a small dark grey book. Though it was hard to tell due to his seated posture, Lucas was certain that this man was the tallest person he had met so far in this new world. He looked to be in his late twenties, with immaculately groomed brown hair, and so entranced by his book that he was oblivious to their entry.
"Hey Gab-"
Not looking up for a second, the spectacled man interrupted, "I already know. Finish it quickly and don't touch anything else."
"I was also planning on grabbing a few sparring talismans," Enoch added.
Making an inaudible mumble in response, his eyes still glued on the book, he reached his hand into the drawer of the desk, grabbing a few items, which he put into a small leather pouch and tossed in Enoch's direction.
Examining what was in his hand, Enoch turned back and wordlessly handed over a crimson-red ring that was made out of a waxy material. Putting on an identical ring, he gestured for Lucas to do the same with his, to which he complied. As Lucas slipped the ring onto his finger, he felt a subtle tingling sensation, like a gentle breeze brushing against his skin.
Walking over to the obsidian barrier, Lucas glanced at Enoch and inquired, "What exactly are these?"
"Let's just say you don't want to be on the other side of that gate without one."
The earth began to shake and tremble as they grew closer to the gate, until in a blink, it parted horizontally. The partial vacuum caused a slight breeze, pulling them towards the gate. After it fully opened the "teeth" became flush with the floor, and upon slight examination, Lucas made a startling conclusion: it was enormous beyond belief, the gate was easily over 100 meters thick.
Passing through the threshold, Lucas expected to feel something off, something supernatural, but absolutely nothing happened; everything was far too normal. There were no strange sensations or pressures, just the stale and dusty air. The hall was long , well lit and lined with countless doors on each side, all of which appeared like the younger siblings of the gate they had just passed through. Enoch made a gesture with his ringed finger at one of the doors, which opened into a spiral staircase. The staircase descended far far too deep, with a doorway periodically appearing every 100 meters or so. They continued down the staircase until they were over five kilometers deeper. Using one of the other objects he received from the spectacled man, a wooden token, that caught fire and quickly burnt to ash after being presented to the doorway. They traveled down that hallway, it appeared identical to the one they entered when they first stepped through the gate. Eventually, Enoch stopped at a door. The doors were unlabeled, so it was unclear to Lucas how exactly Enoch had determined that this was their destination.
"Okay, a few things to know before we enter," Enoch began, his tone serious. "First and foremost, she will try to eat you. Luckily, for you she can't move, but don't let your guard down; you wouldn't be the first gullible fool to be eaten in a situation like this. Secondly, do not listen to a word she says, as unless it's a part of her contract; all of her words will be lies, deceptions, or some sort of scheme. And lastly, remember, she is a powerful inhuman entity whose only desire is to consume your flesh and blood. Understood?"
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Lucas grimly nodded, to which Enoch smiled. "Here it goes then," he said, presenting a second wooden token.
The door opened, passing through they entered a small hallway and after a second passed the door loudly slammed shut behind them. The hallway was short, acting as an airlock, ensuring that whatever was inside never had direct access to the outside world. Presenting the token again, the second door slowly opened into a small, dark room. It was engraved with intricate symbols, covered with talismans, charms, and lit sticks of incense. In the dead center of the room like a drop of ink on a pristine canvas laid a large conspicuous hole.
As the door slammed behind them, an alluring female voice echoed in the darkness. Like an angel's feathers it tickled Lucas's ears, causing his head to grow warm and fuzzy. "~Who is this cute little friend you brought to me, sorcerer boy?"
Breaking out in a cold sweat Lucas instinctively took a step back, knowing whatever was in that hole was bad news. Noticing that Enoch was urging him forward he took control of his nerves and walked a few steps closer, allowing him to see what lay beyond the hole. The opening was entirely covered by the lower half of a woman's face, from the middle part of the nose to the chin. The features of the face were as exquisite as they were bewitching—resting upon divine jade-like skin laid a pair of plump, cherry-red lips that framed a seductive, confident smirk, all of it enhanced like a cherry on a sundae by a perfectly shaped small button nose. The enchanting perfection of her visage was not diminished in the slightest by the fact that the hole was over a meter in diameter, indicating that the entity to which this face belonged must be inhumanly large.
"Sorry to inform, he's not for eating, just a new recruit we're here to do the test for."
The mouth began to pout, an expression that pulled on the strings of Lucas's heart as it spoke, "Why do you torture me so? You have starved me far beyond what anyone could endure," its tone pleading in a way that would cause the heart of any man to tremble. As it spoke, an indescribably pleasant scent filled the room.
"Lucas, cover your nose. I can't believe you're pulling this shit again, you're embarrassing yourself. You think I'd let you tempt a recruit to willingly jump to his death,"
"Oh really? Who exactly is causing people to jump to their deaths? Where's that pretty young lady you brought here last time, or maybe that strong, rugged man you brought the time before that, or how about that skittish youth before that? No? You know I have a connection to anyone I've ever tasted. You, cute one over there, do not listen to that silver-tongued sorcerer. He will lead you, like many others in the past, to a horrific and painful death. Come here and join with me. I promise it will be the most exquisite pleasure of your life. You have nothing to fear as you'll live on forever as a part of me."
Lucas had a chill run down his spine, [ Fuck, fuck, something is very wrong. Get ahold of yourself you horny mother fucker. She is not making a reasonable point she is TRYING TO EAT YOU] After a tense moment of hesitation, Lucas remained rooted to the spot.
The ‘mouth’ slowly opened, "A pity."
"Let's get to it and leave. Lucas, please extend your hand," Enoch commanded, producing a small blade seemingly out of nowhere. With it, he pricked Lucas's finger, gathering a droplet of blood before flicking it into an eagerly awaiting mouth.
With a seductive lick of its lips and a soft, airy moan, the mouth spoke again. "What an exotic flavor, a delightful mixture of the rich familiar taste of Galden nobility and the delectable flavor of a new type of human. Ah, how decadent! Oh, and is that Malachi’s work I taste? That crafty old monster always knows how to liven up a dish. Ahh, More, I want more," it cooed. "~Oh, Lucas, look how much I crave you. If you offer me even but a finger, I'll give you a power far beyond your imagining."
"Don't listen, I promise you don't want it," Enoch interjected firmly, facing back toward the mouth. "Is that all? No latent danger or hidden abilities?"
"~Oh, Lucas, oh Lucas, think of it. Just a pinky and you'll have the ability to make kings bow and empires of people worship at your feet. Not even to mention-"
"Answer my question," Enoch demanded.
"~Such a cock block," the mouth wined. "No, he is just a human and poses no latent danger. ~Oh Lucas, just come a bit closer and-"
[Nope fuck this.] Lucas, although magically enticed, was no fool. As he felt the hooks of temptation sink deeper into his mind he quickly closed his eyes, plugged his ears, did a quick heel turn, and made his way to the exit, followed promptly by a curiously grinning Enoch.