Lokias stood outside a large cave entrance, gazing at the star-dotted sky that reached far above him. With crystalline blue eyes that pierced through all shadow and darkness, he stared out over the distant reaches of the endless horizon. The vault of heaven lay out before him in more detail than human eyes could ever imagine.
He examined the four moons that slowly made their way through the inky canvas of the night sky. Tracing their contours and craters and tracking their ponderous movements, he watched as the golden rings of Luinra slowly revolved around their silvery mother, as the weighty red giant Quakius ascended to the zenith of its path across the sky, and as the small blue moon Lim tore a speedy trail across the horizon, chasing after his hidden twin sister, Lai.
A gentle wind swept through the boughs of the stately ash trees that grew about the surrounding foothills. The tall grass swayed in the breeze, singing a soft tune that spoke of the wild skies and boundless lands covering all the surfaces of the world.
And Lokias, a being incapable of tears, chose instead to smile.
- - -
A quarter mile away, the Sunset Griffin had just finished coming to an agreement regarding their newest companion. The five companions sat on logs around a campfire, conversing in low tones.
“What do you think caused it?” Jordan asked.
Elazar shrugged. “There are several known monsters that can bring about amnesia in their victims, though it’s usually from one of the side effects of a toxin that specific monster utilizes. And when we’re talking about the Abyss, there are plenty of monsters in there that we don’t know about. Or at least, there were plenty of monsters…”
Tavick scratched his head. “Speaking of which, where the hell do you reckon all the beasties ran off to? There wasn’t a single whiff of monster hide in the last three days we spent in that hole!”
Naomi looked down, murmuring, “Ever since we met Lokias…”
Jordan tilted his head. “Hm? What was that, Naomi?”
“Oh! N-nothing. Just thinking to myself,” she said, laughing it off.
The party entered a short period of contemplative silence. Jordan glanced over at their mage. “Elazar. It couldn’t be that the disappearance of the mana caused the monsters to vanish as well, right?”
He shook his head. “That’s impossible. More powerful monsters need more mana to survive, but they wouldn’t starve to death just because the ambient levels dropped. There are plenty of ways to secure mana without gathering it in from the atmosphere. Eating other monsters, for example. Plus, we should have at least run across some remains were that the case. We saw signs of recent activity, but no corpses. It’s as though they just… ran off.”
Jordan grunted, going back to scratching his chin in thought.
“Well, the way I see it,” Tavick said, squinting his eyes, “Is that it isn’t our job to find out why they’re gone. Leave the thinking to the mages, that’s what I say!”
“Says the man who brought this subject up in the first place,” Elazar mumbled.
Jordan nodded. “Tavick’s right. We need to focus on our own problems; the first among which being Lokias. What should we do with him? Elazar?”
The young mage thought for a moment before replying. “Well, he doesn’t even seem to realize he’s lost his memories, as far as I can tell. There’s no real benefit in breaking the news to him, either. He seems happy enough as things stand. However, just letting him go loose into the world will cause him more harm than good. His lack of common sense… well, you know. Since we’re already on Academy grounds, why don’t we stop by the Sanitarium on our way out tomorrow and see if the healers there can take a look at him?”
Tavick blinked and turned towards Elazar. “Hold up a moment, I know I said leave the thinking to the mages, but that doesn’t mean we should throw our friend into that den of experiment-crazed bastards!”
"Tavick, I graduated from the Academy you know!” Elazar said, a bit touchily. “They wouldn’t harm Lokias. I understand your distrust of magic-users, but Academy healers are all followers of the Argent Will. By their own code, they could never endanger a life placed in their hands. And the medical ward here is the best treatment facility in the entire dukedom!”
Tavick held up his hands, relenting. “All right, all right, we’ll let ‘em take a short look. But then it’s straight to the guildhouse, along with Lokias!”
Elazar consented. “Sure thing. A short look is all they’ll need. They should be able to identify the problem very quickly. I’m just worried about him… I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose my memories.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Guys?” Naomi broke the short silence. “Where did Miriam go?”
“Huh?” Jordan, Elazar, and Tavick all started, looking up at the empty log where the most reticent member of their party had been sitting until now.
Outside that cave, Lokias was still peacefully observing the sky, and the bright light from the moons reflecting off his eyes. And several feet away stood a silent Miriam. The only cloaked member of the Sunset Griffin; her abilities had yet to be shown. Her violet eyes and dark hair did not reflect the shining moonlight but absorbed it, giving her a quiet grace under the night sky. She made no movements, only watching Lokias as he gazed starwards in a trance. Eventually, she also turned to look at the sky.
The two remained in that condition until the rest of their companions found them. While shaking their heads, they led the duo back to the camp.
- - -
Morning dawned brightly the next day. The Sunset Griffin awoke and ate breakfast while reviewing their plans for the day. Lokias took his separate from the rest on the branch of a tall oak tree, savoring the fresh air while he chewed on his strips of dried jerky.
“The tales spoke true; the morning sunrise is unquestionably beautiful. In my view however, it pales in comparison to the charm of the moonlit night. This blinding light covers up that of the stars.” He paused, murmuring in a softer voice, “It’s rather sad…”
As he ate, he listened to the sounds of the woodland animals waking from their slumber. The singing of the birds, the sound of small creatures foraging through the leaves, and the splash of fish leaping out of the water of a nearby pond to catch insects… he heard all of these noises from miles around, many of which he couldn’t even make sense of. It was a strange and new world to him, one filled with energy and life.
As he was just beginning to lose himself in this animated environment, Naomi’s annoyed voice arose from the base of the tree.
“Lokias! Get down here already, we’re leaving!”
He peered over the branch to see the silver-haired girl with her arms crossed and foot tapping the ground impatiently. She had her bag on her back, ready to leave. From behind her, he heard the rest of the party approaching along the path.
“I understand!” He called. Deftly placing one hand on the branch beneath him, he swung himself underneath it and leapt to the ground fifty feet below in a single nimble movement. Naomi flinched as he landed right in front of her while smiling brightly.
“I have finished eating and am prepared for departure.” He inclined his head. “Thank you for sharing with me your rations, once again.”
“Yeah, that’s not a problem…” She waved her hand dismissively, then glanced at him with an eyebrow raised. “Hey Lokias, how did you survive down in the Abyss without supplies, anyway? You were practically without any supplies when we found you.”
Lokias thought a moment, tapping his chin. “Hmm... I suppose it was through luck!”
Naomi nearly choked.
“Right, if luck could get you through the Abyss, it wouldn’t be the most frightening dungeon in all of Astrana,” she thought to herself.
A voice called out from behind them. “Naomi! Oh good, you found Lokias. Ready to go?”
Lokias turned to greet the speaker, nodding in acknowledgement. “Yes, Elazar. Are we departing for the city of Acoria now?”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Yeah, that’s right. But first we’re going to stop by the Academy, since we have some business there and it’s on the way.”
With the sun at their backs, the reunited group set off towards the Academy of Magic. They all enjoyed about four seconds of silence, until…
“…Elazar, what is the Academy like?”
Groans could be heard coming from the rest of the party as the young mage turned to answer the first of Lokias’ many questions.
- - -
It was midmorning and the sun was beaming down on the shining minarets of the Islemerith Academy of Higher Magics; dubbed by most of Acoria’s residents simply as ‘the Academy.’ Located at the eastern border of Acoria, the Academy grounds took up a full third of the city’s territory, though the majority of that territory was comprised of fields. Islemerith itself sat atop the tallest point of the city, guarded on all sides by gleaming white walls. It could be seen from miles around: a bastion of magic whose soaring spires reached towards the heavens above, filling each of the citizens who looked upon it each day with a sense of pride in their home.
“Such a lofty structure,” Lokias breathed, taking in the sight before him. The group had just left the forest and were standing before the eastern gate of the Academy. Two miles away and placed atop a large hill was Islemerith Academy, cutting an impressive sight against the backdrop of a clear blue sky.
“The belfry is seven hundred feet from the base of the structure,” Elazar explained in a somewhat proud voice. “Including the height of Gwynn Bluff, the Academy towers over two thousand feet above Acoria. Impressive, isn’t it?”
Tavick chuckled, nudging Lokias in the ribs. “Listening to him go on, you’d think he built the damn thing himself!”
Ignoring the dwarf, Elazar went on. “This gate is one of the two entrances to the Academy grounds. Neither of the gates have a door, but instead are guarded by powerful wards. The only ward normally in operation is the repelgar invocation, which forbids monsters from passing through.”
Jordan spoke up. “We shouldn’t delay here much longer; we have a report to make at the guildhouse. Let’s be on our way.” He began striding towards the circular hole in the wall that formed the eastern gate. Elazar followed next.
The rest of the party followed close behind and passed through the twenty-foot thick wall, reaching the other side without incident. From there, it was a two-mile long walk to the Academy. On the way there, they happened upon a class being taught outdoors. An old man in a silver robe stood on a raised platform before a group of twenty youngsters dressed in white. He was displaying a bizarre, chicken-like creature in one hand. It was three times the size of a normal chicken, and had red feathers with a white belly and a purple beak. It was struggling quite energetically against its captor, but to little avail.
Lokias slowed down, wanting to listen in, but was quickly intercepted and dragged off by Naomi. As they passed the next bend, from behind came a distressed-sounding squawk and a minor explosion, followed by the noise of giggling students.
Other than that, they passed several groups of people, not students, gathered together on the way there, all talking in hushed tones. Elazar looked a little confused at first, but began frowning after seeing the fifth-such group.
Jordan leaned towards him. “What’s wrong?” he asked under his breath.
“All the people,” Elazar replied, gesturing. “All these civilians inside the walls. They aren’t students; they look more like citizens of Acoria. The only reason the school has ever let civilians in its gates was to give them refuge from monster attacks, but it couldn’t have gotten that bad outside, could it?”
“I don’t see why it would have,” he said. “Before we left, monster levels were low. I hadn’t even noticed anything strange, but you’re more familiar with the normal state of things inside this school. Let’s ask what’s going on when we reach the Sanitarium.”
Elazar inclined his head, looking down in thought.
As they approached the Academy, the building only grew more impressive. It was difficult to appreciate the size and intricate detail of the structure from far away, but as they climbed the path leading up Gwynn Bluff and it came into sight more clearly, it began to truly loom over them. It was built with beautifully high arched windows and towering spires, like a gothic castle.
Though it appeared quite sturdy, the design of the structure made it resemble more closely a cathedral than an academy. Quite peculiarly however, the feeling it gave off belonged to neither of these structures. The aura it emitted was both mightier and more intimidating… it was a feeling that only the mightiest citadels could match. In a word, it was unassailable.
The impression given to the Sunset Griffin as they neared the front gates of the colossal grey structure was that if any monsters managed to break through the outer walls, they would be stopped dead before ever breaching Islemerith. Even they were somewhat intimidated, with the exceptions of Elazar, who had been a student here, and Lokias, who never seemed cowed by much of anything. Only impressed.
They passed through the arched entrance of the front gate and the intimidating feeling disappeared, replaced by the hustle and bustle of academia. Students holding bags and books rushed by on their way to the next class. Many sat around the spacious courtyard, reading and chatting. A group of boys were playing a game involving a hoop and three balls in the near section, while in the far corner several girls were gathered around a multicolored, feathery snake-like creature, oohing and ahhing.
But in this environment, there still remained an air of tension. It could be seen in the lowered heads of those rushing from class to class. In the distracted gazes of the reading students. In the forced cheer of those boys playing ball.
Around a table at the isolated southern end of the courtyard, a group of teachers with serious faces were discussing something. Elazar’s eyebrows raised in recognition when he noticed them, and he turned his feet to head in that direction. As he and the rest of the party approached, a middle-aged woman with blonde hair looked up from the table. Her eyes widened as she stood up.
“Elazar! Oh, it is you!” She exclaimed warmly.
He raised his hand. “Hi Lady Xanthe, it’s been a while.”
Rushing around the table, she walked up to Elazar and threw him into a tight hug.
“I had no idea you were inside the Academy! Why didn’t you tell me… oh, you’re so thin! Have you been eating well? Staying safe? I know that you’ve been off adventuring with that Sunset Griffin, but you need to look after yourself first and foremost!”
Only now did she look up to see the rest of the group, who were all standing around and feeling a little out of place.
“Oh, these are…”
“These are the members of the Sunset Griffin, my companions. Lady Xanthe, I was taking them to the Sanitarium, but when I saw you, I wanted to stop by. I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Of course I’m alright, but Elazar, haven’t I told you to call me Aunt Alyssa? More importantly, you said you were heading towards the Sanitarium? I’ll take you. You can tell me all about your adventures while we walk there.”
Elazar grimaced and adopted a childish pout, abandoning the mature façade that seemed ill-fitted to him. “We can find it on our own… I mean, I don’t want to keep you from your meeting, Lady-”
“Oh, nonsense! They can manage very well without me here. Come now, let’s be on our way!” Looping her arm under his, she led a slowly reddening Elazar away. The rest followed behind, barely managing to keep their laughter contained.
And so the group spent another several minutes strolling through the Academy, while Elazar spoke of the adventures he’d shared as part of the Sunset Griffin. He spoke highly of his companions, but he seemed unopposed towards adding some minor embellishments when it came to discussing his performance. While he talked, Lady Xanthe played the role of an attentive listener, alternately gasping as he described the monsters they had fought and the dangers they faced, and nodding understandingly when he complained about the various exhausting facets of his work.
Eventually he reached the topic of their most recent job, before he was interrupted by a shout from Lady Xanthe.
“That old fool Stofaris! What’s he doing asking you to search for a Catilik Beetle?
“He was paying quite well, and we all agreed that-”
“It doesn’t matter how much he was paying if it’s a job you could never complete! Such a thing is impossible for even many accomplished magicians, never mind a youngster like yourself. I’ve a mind to march over there and give that potion-brewer a piece of my-”
Elazar slipped free of Xanthe’s grasp. “No, don’t do that! Don’t go take it out on him, it was my decision to accept the quest! I don’t need you to protect me!”
The woman paused, perplexed. “Elazar, I’m trying to say… he shouldn’t be asking a child to do something like-”
The boy shook his head. “That’s not it… listen, you’re acting like you need to look after me, when you don’t! I’m not a child, I can look out for myself. You’re always checking in with the guild and trying to get me to take easy jobs, and threatening them when they give me a difficult request, but I graduated a year ago already, okay? I don’t need you treating me like a kid… because I’m not that useless kid anymore! I can handle things on my own!”
Lady Xanthe looked down, a tremor of something passing through her eyes. She tightened her now-empty hand and held it to her chest, before speaking softly. “Of course. I’m sorry, Elazar… you’re a capable person now. You don’t need an old lady like me hovering over you.”
Elazar opened his mouth, acting as if he wanted to say something more before simply giving her a frustrated look and stalking away, leaving Xanthe behind along with the rest of the group. Everyone stood there, stunned. They hadn’t expected the boy who always acted the adult to suddenly lose his temper in such a way.
Tavick sighed, speaking, “I’d best go and talk to the boy. Don’t let ‘im get to you, miss. He’s just a bit worn out after the long journey, I expect.”
The stocky man hurried after Elazar, turning the former group of seven into five. Lokias watched them go, a small crease forming in his brow. Lady Xanthe looked up as he left, a hint of a question forming in her unhappy face.
“Journey? What journey was he talking about?” She turned to Jordan.
“We just left the Abyss. We haven’t had a night of decent rest for the last week, so that’s probably what’s got Elazar all worked up. He’ll get over it soon, don’t worry. Tavick will bring him around,” Jordan answered in a consoling tone.
Lady Xanthe froze in place, giving him a funny look.
“Don’t try pulling my leg now, how long ago did you say you left the Abyss?”
Jordan scratched at his cheek. “We left just this morning, why… what’s wrong?”
Lady Xanthe shook her head, a suspicious tone entering her voice. “No, that’s impossible. You couldn’t have left just this morning. Answer me, what is it you’ve been doing inside the Academy all this time?”
Baffled, Jordan responded. “What do you mean? We-”
He was interrupted by the sound of running footsteps coming from every direction. A gruff voice cried out to them.
“Halt! Intruders, throw down your weapons!”
From all around, soldiers in white plate armor suddenly appeared, swords drawn. Mages stood behind them, staves and wands pointed at the stupefied Sunset Griffin.
The soldier at the front who had been the first to speak continued. “Lady Xanthe, are you collaborating with these people? This is no small matter. I will say it again, throw down your weapons, intruders! You are being placed under arrest!”
- - -
Serell Raingale’s log.
The twenty-first day of Farspring, year 3617.
It is unusual for me to record my travels in this journal, which I have kept for five years going now. When I do chronicle my journeys, it is usually after the event of a successful expedition, so that I can look back and reminisce fondly upon times past. Such is not the case with this entry.
I have fallen into hell.
It began after our meeting with the party of the Sunset Griffin on the third day of our descent into the Abyss. There was a strange absence of monsters for the day after our encounter. I thought that perhaps they had slain all the monsters, as impossible as it would seem for a C-rank adventuring party, but when they have a man possessing that badge, I am no longer capable of judging the impossible.
Captain Juniver was upset with me over the situation with the Sunset Griffin. He felt that his image would be threatened once they reached the surface and started spouting off tales of how he tried to have them killed. He didn’t accept my explanation about the true nature of those carrying that badge, but I know what I saw that day. That emblem represents a power incomprehensible to man.
Forgive me, this is beside the point.
We reached floor 80 earlier this day, but were in the midst of arguing and were not paying ample attention to our surroundings. Consequently, we walked unawares into a den filled with monsters.
To say it’s unusual for there to be such a high concentration of monsters in a single area on any floor below 100 would be an understatement… in fact, it was unbelievable! Looking back now, I realize they may have been collectively fleeing some other, more powerful monster. Such things are not unheard of in deeper levels, and monsters preying upon each other will only become more common with the lack of nourishing mana in their environment.
With the disappearance of the mana wellspring, I should have been prepared for unexpected monster activity… but I was not, and we were forced to flee for our lives.
We fled recklessly. The entrance had been cut off by flying beasts, so we took an unmapped side route. I left behind a trail of simple arcane markings so that we could find our way back, but it was all for naught as we were chased to the brink of a chasm.
I’d encountered many such shafts, which connect various levels of the Abyss to each other, and on occasion have even utilized one or two; but those were known tunnels. This was an unknown void.
With no choice left to us but to scale it in an attempt to escape our pursuers, we descended into its mouth. But before we could find our footing on the treacherous walls, we were hit by a wide-range spell unleashed by one of the monsters… and we fell.
In an attempt to save the group I quickly triggered one of my items, a rune enchanted with the featherfall spell. It must have worked as I still live, though I still blacked out from the aftereffects of the monsters’ spell. I awoke in a pit of sludge sporting various aches and pains with no memory of landing there. The mud served to help soften my landing, though many of my belongings had been lost or ruined. This journal and a few other commodities are all that I have left now.
Other than myself, Juniver and Salin both survived. Givol was found dead on a rocky outcropping only ten feet from where I landed. None of us were particularly upset by his loss; this was always more a party formed of convenience rather than one of camaraderie… besides, I imagine it will be our turn sooner or later.
We do not know how far we fell, though it is most certainly below level 100. How far below, I cannot say as the ambient mana used to calculate depth is still gone even this deep into the Abyss.
We have strayed from all known passages. We are lost. And when one becomes lost in this foreboding place… in the Abyss… well.
I hear the strange calls of unknown beasts from all around. Some seem nearby, many seem distant, but these tunnels do strange things to sound.
I do not know how long this journal, enchanted with a preserving magic, will last… but I hope that if one day my remains are discovered and this entry read, that you would take this journal and silver ring that I have left enclosed and bring it to the House of Raingale. If it still exists, they should reward you handsomely for the service.
On a personal note, I sincerely hope that this is found. What frightens me most now is not my approaching death, but the fear that this labyrinth will swallow even the world’s last memory of me. That the man, Serell Raingale, will never have existed... for me to be forgotten.
I hear the scraping of chains.