The black bead of an eye lay empty, staring helplessly into the void. Without getting too close, Daven inspected the closest of the northron raven. A whole murder of winged beasts felled, left untouched by the other beasts of the realm, for good reason. The sight left a disgusting taste in his mouth, through gritted teeth Daven returned his attention to the Andescion Legions, “We will make camp elsewhere. Do not step near them.”
Daven rose while the Legions moved past him, led by both Alaeic, Jaren. He tugged at his jaw, grazing sharply cut hairs with a battle-worn hand. He scanned across the flat clearing they had found, littered with tainted corpses. On the southern horizon the grasslands began to weave paths of hills, the Rolltan Ridge will soon be upon us. With that, Diorrus.
The two moons lingered low in the sky, but it wouldn’t be incredibly longer before night would fall upon them. They will train today regardless. Daven turned to join the Legions’ formation, seeking his way to the front again, to be met with the stern gaze of Genna walking alongside him. “They say if you keep your face in an expression long enough, it sticks.”
Without missing a beat, she replied, “Wise words. Perhaps you should heed them.” Keeping her attention forward, she revealed only a slight curve at her lips.
Daven smirked at the notion, “Someone needs to keep these soldiers in line.” The conversation fell to silence, the sounds of distant conversations in front, behind softly lingering in the air. The soundscape was driven by a background of boots on dirt. The steady pace driving the rhythm.
Neither Genna nor Daven pushed the pace to the front where Jaren and Alaeic were conversing at the lead. Jaren nonchalantly pointed something out in distance, sending one of the scouts out at an accelerated pace to beat the formation to it.
Watching the scout take off, Genna made to end the silence. The words were written on her face. “The recruits, Daven…”
“Are in the capable hands of three of our finest preceptors.”
Genna kept her gaze straight forward. “They won’t have the training we did.”
Daven allowed a few moments of silence to pass. “You’re right. But they’ll still have the best we have to offer.” With a smirk, “Unless you find yourself incapable.”
Genna’s face kept stern. “They need more.”
Daven continued the pace, “They will have it.” Genna’s attention turned to Daven. “The day will come where Gavin’s teachings will be taught through new hands. For now, we still have plenty for them to learn, from three of the best soldiers to the realm.”
Daven pushed ahead, to join the other preceptors. Promptly putting an end to the conversation. They will be ready for what lies ahead.
~###~
Jaren rose his voice loud. “Today, we will work a new muscle. While your focus works to maintain your sruth, you will synchronize your attention both inwards and outwards. While you continue to hone your focus inwards for your sruth, you will learn to ‘project’ the eneryia that flows within you. Your physical weapon may be your main-hand, but you will learn to weave eneryia to be the shield of your off-hand.
Much like the trees of the forest, through time, your shield will grow thicker. But it is not time alone that will allow your projection to grow. Like the trees, you must endure the winds that are thrown at you.” Nodding towards her crossbow, “Allia, if you would be so kind.”
Her face puzzled, gradually removing the crossbow from her back. Holding it point down, with an outstretched hand by the stock.
Before she could take one step towards Jaren, he stopped her. "The weapon is not mine to fire."
Dropping to a knee, Allia flipped the crossbow back into her own control, aiming it far off in the distance. She remained silent, sending a dutiful glance back towards Jaren once she was positioned.
Keeping his gaze locked on Allia, he slowly moved directly down her line of sight. The other recruits moved uneasily; Ovaria voiced it. “Preceptor.”
Through cryptic silence, Allia kept her position. Jaren was positioned less than a dozen meters down the path Allia had aligned to. “Take your shot.”
With steady, yet gradual reluctance, Allia tightened her trigger finger. The bolt snapped free of the bow with an explosive burst that echoed through the stagnation lingering in the air.
The bolt whipped through the air, before a finger’s snap, Jaren clenched his left fist, raising the shield a Legion will never have to physically bear. Jaren dug in, leaning in forward, projecting a sphere glowing in a near transparent metallic yellow that grew instantly, encompassing the area around him.
The sphere caught the bolt with a low thrum that sent a ripple around the outer layer of the sphere. Jaren stood upright, completely unphased by the bolt’s point that attempted to fall at his chest plate.
Eying the bolt suspended before him, he tightened his fist again, sending a rippled wave across the sphere in the opposite direction. Passing the bolt, it was knocked free, spinning away in a slight arc, away from Jaren.
Another step forward, the sphere faded entirely. Jaren towered over the recruits in his upright position. “For in battle there is a balance. Offense, Defense. Sword, shield.” Pointing to Allia’s crossbow. “The sword you each wield comes in many forms.”
Jaren took the staff mace from his back, loosely forming patterns in front of the recruits. “Your sword can be tracked, your methods can be learned by your opponent. Your shield however -” With a spin of the mace in a defensive arc, he swung it hard, butte first, into ground. The sphere erupted from him instantly, the yellow glow reflecting in each of the recruit’s eyes.
Less than a second later, Jaren lifted his staff from the ground, the sphere diminishing in the same instant. He repositioned the staff mace at his back once more, “Your shield will not so easily be tracked. You are of the Legion, you carry your shield within you; your orbics barrier.”
“Who will be first?” Before Jaren could finish his sentence, Allia had stepped forward. He chuckled, “That’s the spirit, Allia. Let’s see what you can do.”
He took a moment to position Allia near himself, instructing her to refasten the crossbow at her back. Once satisfied with her positioning, he took a few steps back, placing himself amongst the others.
Silence passed while Allia waited for Jaren’s instruction. Allia shifted her weight from leg to leg, flexing fists every other step. Without taking his gaze from Allia, he finally gave the next step, “Ovaria. Take a position six meters from Allia.”
Ovaria’s attention snapped towards Jaren, revealing a brief moment of confusion. Without another moment’s hesitation, she took her steps across from Allia. Both Allia, Ovaria faced Jaren in defensive stances.
Jaren spoke in a calming tone, “Like your sruth, projecting an orbics barrier involves weaving the eneryia that flows within you. It starts with finding your breath, finding the flow within you.” His eyes closed. “Once you have locked on that flow, you can take it, expand it, project it.”
His eyes opened with a smile, “Easier said than done. Like all things, mastery comes with practice.” Nodding to Ellec beside him, “And practice we shall!”
Turning to face Ovaria, Jaren called out, “Ovaria, face Allia. Allia, you to Ovaria.” The two sisters obeyed. Jaren’s tone did not change, but there was resolution behind it. “Now Ovaria, draw your blades.”
Ovaria gradually drew her short swords from her back, letting her arms fully extend on either side of her, each blade becoming an extended limb. Both Ovaria, Allia kept their gazes locked on each other, questioning glances exchanged between the sisters.
In the same tone, Jaren continued. “Now, strike your sister.”
Ovaria’s hesitation was palpable, despite her best efforts to conceal it. She lingered with her mouth slightly open, twirling one blade in rotation, then the other. Allia visibly gulped, but kept her gaze locked upon her sister. Her defensive stance tightened where she stood.
Ovaria took two warning steps forward before running at her sister, not nearly at full sprint. At a formidable pace, Ovaria ran, each sword moving at ease with each step. Allia held her ground steadfast, even from a distance, one could see her chest heaving in attempt to find the flow.
Allia kept her off-hand arm up defensively, flexing her hand open to fist repeatedly. Allia’s gaze equally locked to her sister, Ovaria to hers.
Within two meters of Allia, Ovaria raised one blade in a sweeping arc, the other following on the opposite front. She leapt from her position in a final arc to her target. Allia exhaled audibly, raising her forearm to the trajectory of Ovaria’s blade.
Ovaria pulled her blade at the last moment, the tip of the blade catching the dirt below, just to the side of Allia. She lost her footing in the split-second change of course, her momentum continuing to carry her forward, down into the dirt, sliding on her back.
When she came to a complete stop, her head finally left Allia’s focus, falling back against the dirt with the rest of her body. She was breathing heavier than Allia, who was now bent over both knees, sweating profusely.
Jaren wasted no time to instill the lesson to be learned. Without moving from where he stood, he kept the same calm tone he had prior, “Do you know why you failed?” Both Ovaria, Allia brought their attention to Jaren, Ovaria picking herself up in the process. Neither gave reply.
After a few moments of the two sisters’ heavy breathing being the only reply, Jaren turned to Clydas and Ellec. Clydas spoke up first, “Well, Ovaria fell. She pulled away. She had not struck true.”
Ellec quickly built on Clydas’ methodology, “She never intended to.”
Jaren nodded solemnly, “Allia knew Ovaria would never strike her, therefore she never felt the imminent threat of danger. The pursuit of death was never there.” More ardently, “The body cannot learn its true potential if there are no threats to push it further. Do you understand?”
The two sisters nodded, determination swept their gazes, complimented with slowed breaths. “Before we offer redemption, perhaps this is an opportunity for Clydas and Ellec to learn from.”
Clydas and Ellec switched places with the Moxe sisters. Clydas stretched his shoulders, cracked his neck, falling into the defensive stance Allia had moments prior. His left fist forward facing Ellec, Clydas stared down Ellec on the opposite end of the path.
There was a dark sinister grin on Ellec’s face when he unsheathed his greatsword. The metal hissed louder the further from the scabbard it became. Ellec flexed the blade in one hand before taking it in two. Resting the tip of the blade in alignment with Clydas’ neck. That’s more like it.
Clydas’ cloak swept behind him in the breeze, the rest of him statuesque. Waiting. On the opposite end, Ellec stood equally still, light catching the gilded plates of his armor. Nothing moved save for the breeze through his hair.
In an explosive burst, Ellec sprinted down the line. Immediately rotating the hilt in his hand to allow the tip of the blade to fall behind him, pommel forward. He moved at an aggressive, accelerating pace.
Upon Ellec’s movement, Clydas did not stir. Instead, Clydas steadied himself in his stance, clenched his fist, closed his eyes.
Even from a distance, Daven could focus in on the impact of Ellec’s boots striking the dirt, growing closer to their target with lustful haste.
Ellec reached the two-meter mark from his target. Without hesitation, he swung the greatsword upright with one hand, screaming from the effort, catching the hilt of the blade with his other hand at the climax of the rise. With a final dash, Ellec made to strike Clydas in a downward angle starting from the neck.
Clydas opened his eyes just past the two-meter mark, through gritted teeth he held his ground. Ellec’s blade came swinging down in a violent arc, less than a meter from Clydas’ flesh.
Less than a third of the distance from Clydas’ neck, the blade caught. A pale-yellow sphere, nearly completely transparent, enclosed Clydas in his stance. A loud thrum echoed through the field, the blade vibrated violently, sending waves of ripples through the sphere. The impact kicked up a small dust cloud of dirt at the feet of both the recruits.
Clydas panted, wide-eyed, the tip of Ellec’s blade caught from the path towards his own throat. The following moment, Clydas’ orbics barrier fell, along with Ellec’s blade from his hand. The greatsword fell to the dirt, the barrier faded entirely.
“You nearly took my head off.”
Ellec nodded, agreeably. “Nearly so, yes.” He patted him sarcastically on the shoulder, between heavy breaths, “Good job, Clydas.” He reached for his sword, turning to face Jaren when he spoke.
A growing excitement fell off his every word, “Capture that moment, Clydas.” He took a few steps forward. “That moment of necessity, where you needed to push your body to do more than you thought capable.” With a smile. “Use it to push your limits further.”
He turned, Ellec walked past to join the Moxe twins. Ellec’s face glistened with sweat, quite the focus on the sruth. Daven nodded to himself. Jaren gave him a nod of approval, “That was quite the display of sruth Ellec, well done.”
Ovaria pulled her swords free again, “Let’s go, Allia.”
Jaren gave a hearty laugh, “Use that competitive drive. Let’s see who can bring forth a barrier next.”
Sweat-soaked Clydas, Ellec stood back at the line, switching places with the Moxe twins once more. Clydas leaned in, watching the Moxe sisters set up, “I hope you know, I’ll be coming for your throat with twice the speed.”
Ellec chuckled, while keeping his gaze upon the sisters, “I’d expect nothing less.”
Daven smiled from where he stood. The synergy grows.
###
The following morning was met with warm air, despite the day’s star far from making an appearance yet. Rummaging through the darkness, Clydas found the crimson band, taking it between both hands before sweeping it behind his ears. Everything within the tent appeared darkened shadows, but one by one he grabbed his armor pieces, donned his cloak, grabbed his dirks.
With a final breath, he pushed out of the tent, revealing more shadows; the Andescion Legion encampment. Clydas stood at the center of the smallest of circles, set up by the recruits. Further along the lines were the tents of the other Legions. Off in the distance, Clydas was able to make out black shadows moving along the outskirts of the campgrounds, scouts patrolling the early morning shift.
Clydas glimpsed down at the flaps of the three other tents near his, they’ve already gone! Eyes widened, Clydas searched for anything moving in the clearing, nothing. Clydas continued scanning when a hand firmly grasped his shoulder, making him jump. “You’re awake.”
Snapping his attention around, Clydas sighed in relief, “Thought you guys were gone already.” Ellec stood before Clydas, gilded armor catching the miniscule specs of light the darkness allowed. From boot to pauldrons, Ellec was covered in steel, the sruth he builds for that alone… Though not clear in the darkness, Clydas had seen the armor enough to pick out the golden accents that lay upon the armor, hindered or strengthened by the scars of battle across them. Where they came from is none of my business.
“No, no. Wanted to wait for you.” Clydas glanced down to Ellec refastening the Fauld of his armor.
Clydas punched his pauldron. “You were taking a piss.”
Ellec nodded agreeably, “A man can do two things.”
Searching the area, Clydas rotated about the recruit’s camp, “Where are the twins?”
Ellec waved a finger, proceeding to head down to the main line of tents, “They’ve gone already.”
The two made their way down the path that lined the Legion’s tents. Over the western hillside before the break of day. Jaren was clear whatever task was in store for them, would not slow down the Legions moving out on schedule. With or without them.
The melody of a thousand crickets painted the symphony across the camp. The only other addition to orchestra were their own boots. One day sruth will mask that too.
Clydas and Ellec climbed the hillside, to find Jaren standing before the twins just on the other side. Behind them rose the entrance to an even deeper darkness than the night had to offer. From a distance, fleeting shadows outlined two oaken log pillars, thick in diameter. Each pillar guarded the entrance to the darkness, hole, house, cave, something of that nature.
The pillars rose high enough for a man to pass through, just barely. Where it led, I’m sure Jaren will have us find out shortly. The further on the descent Clydas and Ellec walked, the more he realized just how high the hillsides were. Dead ahead, the next hillside rose even higher, with the mysterious entrance cutting through at not even half the height.
Dirt circled the entrance where the others waited, grass slowly making its way to reclaim the beaten soil. Stones were piled up ornately around the pillars. Beside the entrance were two minecarts plagued with red rust of iron.
“There we are. I was getting ready to send Ovaria and Allia in without you.”
Ellec was quick to reply, “A head start for them would make it fair.”
Jaren cut the recruits off before either twin could shoot back at him, “Ironically, the task this morning requires all four of you.” The recruits eased off each other, bringing full attention to Jaren. “This will be a task that you all complete together or not at all. The key to the strength of the Legions’ lies in synergy. We have no time, nor space for weak links.”
Focus fell upon the faces of each recruit. Jaren went on, once he was sure his point was made clear, “Your task is navigating the halite mine you see here before you. Diorrus used it to harvest salt for many cycles before our time, all till the mine ran dry.
“Now abandoned by the people of Diorrus, the mine runs deep tunnels beneath the surface. Miners would sometimes spend weeks below, long enough for them to build conveniences within the mine itself. Within that mine, you will find a shrine to Moltaeus, the wisp that watches over these lands. Take from that room a chalice.
“With that chalice, you will then venture deeper into the mine. Near the deepest tunnel you will find an aquifer. A hollowed-out room with waters that hold the only salvageable halite crystals left in the mine. You will fill the chalice to the brim with water, and one full halite crystal taken from the aquifer.”
Clydas couldn’t help himself, “Seems simple enough.”
Continuing on ignoring Clydas, “In order for your task to be marked successful, the water from the aquifer must be carried out with at least three-quarters of the cup filled by the time of your emergence. There must be a halite crystal within.” Looking each recruit over one by one, “You must emerge together, or not at all.”
Turning to Clydas, Jaren smiled sarcastically, “If that weren’t simple enough, “You have until day breaks.”
Clydas gazed upwards, the night was pitch black, not even twilight yet, plenty of time.
Jaren stood silently, hands loosely behind his back, nodding to the cave’s entrance. The recruits began to move towards the darkest part of the night. “Remember, together.”
The recruits moved single file to the front of the cave. With Ellec at the lead, he crouched his head, stepping inside. Ovaria came in right behind, holding an oiled torch in hand. Allia followed suit, torch in hand, peering into one of the carts before disappearing within. Walking to the face of the entrance Clydas glanced into one of the minecarts to find remnants of a near clear crystalline mineral, with tints of blue specs within.
Once within, both cold, dampness swept over his being. Clydas exhaled excessively, forcing the adjustment. He could not see it, but I know my breath materializes in the air before me. The darkness was unyielding. Not even shadows revealed themselves here. Where are the twins with –
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The beat of clashing stones echoed throughout the chamber. After a few seconds, a spark flew catching one of the torches alight. Ovaria held her torch to Allia’s, and the cave revealed shadows in the bronze orange glow that swelled from the torches. The chamber came to life.
Stone walls were carved out near flat from mining, lined with metal sconces every few meters. Near the ceiling, wooden support pillars bridged the gap between spaces in the stone. Towards the end of the chamber, three distinct doorways were carved out, leading in three different directions through the cave. Clydas peered through each tunneled path, perhaps slightly more difficult than anticipated.
Ellec toyed with the sconces on the wall, while Ovaria and Allia searched the chamber for any inkling of what led where. Scanning the room overall, Clydas’ attention was drawn to the stone floor itself. Not quite polished, but the stone was fashioned after small tiles, how long were these people down here.
“Allia, bring that torch over here.” The recruits turned towards Ellec, who was toying with the sconce near one of the passageways.
When the twins got closer, the doorway lit up in more detail. Above the door itself was a carved symbol; two angled lines conjoining with a horizontal line at the center. Ellec reached for Allia’s torch, revealing the slight remnants of wax left in the sconce. She impassively handed it over, more drawn to the symbol above the doorway.
Ellec angled the torch in multiple directions before successfully getting what was left of the candled sconce to light. “It won’t be much, but the more light we can make, the better.” He took a step back to observe the symbol the others were contemplating.
Allia stepped away from the others, towards the center passageway. Holding her torch above the doorway, she illuminated another symbol; a hammer crossed with a pickaxe. “This one more than likely leads to the aquifer.”
Ellec nodded in agreement, “So one of these other two should lead to the shrine. Ideally.”
Ovaria strode quickly to the other side of the chamber opposite Ellec, revealing the symbol above the door; a circle with a semi-circle resting above. Above that, sitting within the semi-circle was a carved ‘T.’
The recruits eyed each other from opposite ends of the chamber, Clydas in the middle of the three. “We don’t have time to search them all.”
Allia quickly added, “Nor do we have time to sit here choosing.” A nod to Ellec, “Ellec, choose one.”
Ellec’s gaze fell upon the symbol above Allia, “Well, assuming you are correct on the aquifer’s account…” He glanced between Ovaria’s position versus his own. “I’ll place bets on my side.”
Ovaria smirked, “Hope you’re not wrong, Ellec.”
Ellec nodded, laughing in agreement, “Me too, for all our sakes.”
Ovaria, Allia led the way through the passageway, with Ellec and Clydas in tow. Once through the doorway, the torchlight revealed the structure of the shadows within. Full-sized logs gave support every few meters, accenting the hollowed out stone tunnel. Flat planks lined the sides, in addition to providing a smoother surface floor, delicately placed between a carved-out section in the stone floor. Running the span of the ceiling, a thick rope system ran from the beginning of the passage, out of sight.
The mysterious awe of the mine began to die off quickly for each recruit. It was about the same time, that all four recruits increased the pace of their step. The timetable slowing ticking in the back of the mind. The passageway kept a relatively flat surface, but the increasing cold air, dampness on the logs themselves, gives sign enough of a deepening path.
Minutes passed, seemingly endless, each bend in the corridor leading to more log arches hiding stone. Growing restless, Clydas was first to speak up, “At what point should we consider turning back? Or at the least, sending two back to explore the other possibility?”
Ovaria gave reply in the echoed corridor, “We’re not splitting up. It’s what Jaren is anticipating.”
Another bend in the corridor, led to more barren wood logs guarding stone. Ellec added on, “Best to see the path through to the end.”
Ovaria glanced back over her shoulder smiling, chidingly, “’Especially,’ if you’re wrong.”
The corridor took another turn, this time with a slight rise. Ellec chuckled audibly, “Oh, let’s see how this turns out.” Before the recruits made it half way down the next hallway, a faint white light crept pass the side of the next bend. “It’s not too late to thank me, Ovaria.”
Without turning around, Ovaria flipped her finger up at Ellec. Both Clydas, Ellec roared with laughter. The right path after all.
Upon passing the bend, faint streams of moonlight beamed in from drilled holes in the ceiling stone. Both Allia and Ovaria rested their torches in empty sconces on the wall, standing before the entrance of Moltaeus’ shrine.
For a moment, all haste fell to a standstill. Clydas’ mouth fell agape, taking in the intricacies of the stone room. Not quite a church, temple. Far larger than a traditional shrine. “How long did Jaren say those miners were down here?”
Allia answered, struck with the same awe, “Long enough to build this.”
More than simply mined hollow. The room was carved hollow. Bricks were carved from the sides to make walls. Instead of paintings, the miners carved tiny statues; people offering various forms of tribute, sacrifices – all paying homage.
A bare altar lay at the center of the room, eerily sacrificial in nature. Upon the bare smooth stone, were scattered rose petals hued in crimson. Facing the altar were six stone benches, simple, lacking anything ornate in design.
At the back of the room, pillars were carved, rising from floor to ceiling. Here lies the shrine itself. Standing the full height of the cave, a stone statue loomed from behind the altar. Even in stone, the figure bore no skin, intricate carvings were cut to portray muscle, not flesh. Resting upon the shoulders of the mighty figure was the stone skull of a ram, with thick curved horns rising from either side. The horns glistened black, despite the small amounts of light in the room, in comparison with the pale bluish grey hue of the stone used to carve the rest of the figure.
Below the statue, lay a plate with an inscription, “The Hunter.” Moltaeus.
Allia’s voice caught the attention of the other recruits, “Abandoned he said, right?” Allia stood at the front of the altar, staring down at the richly red petals resting upon the surface.
Ellec walked over, taking a rose petal between two fingers, “Doesn’t look abandoned to me.”
Clydas’ focus returned, “Let’s keep moving. We need -”
In a raised hand, Ovaria held a stone-carved chalice. Clydas spared not even a moment, grabbing her torch from the wall. “Like I said, let’s keep moving.”
The recruits easily doubled their pace, half way done. Easy. Ellec, Clydas took the lead by torchlight, back towards the main chamber, with Allia and Ovaria close behind.
Once the recruits made it back, Ellec voiced the next question, half-rhetorically, “So, hammer and pickaxe, right?” Barely getting nods in agreement, the four recruits entered the next corridor.
The recruits moved quickly, with a cautious amount of haste. The walls were slick, each log they passed glimmered in the fire’s light. The corridor descended far more rapidly than the other, every so often someone lost their footing, forcing the recruits to reluctantly slow their pace.
Another pass of a curved corner led to a straight passageway, stripped of the wood planks within the stone. The walls were bare, save for the log support beams arched every few meters. So much colder. Not even halfway down the next passage did the torchlight illuminate a fork in the corridor.
There were no signs, no labels, just two identical hollow stone tunnels that snaked off in different directions. Ellec lifted his torch on one end, in a futile attempt to find any hints of their target. How could they not have signs?
Clydas took a few passive steps down the other corridor, hoping something would give, some sort of tell. Behind he could hear Ellec discussing which of the two paths seemed more likely, with the twins. On the leftmost wall, a thin white glaze crystallized on the slick surface of stone. Barely visible, in wavelike flow. Oh?
Lifting his torch to the white film, he followed it deeper, nearly towards the next bend. The chill in the air grows frigid. Right before the next turn in the corridor lay a carved-out staircase, layered thick in wood, though the construction will serve little protection from the elements. The white glaze that had crystallized on the stone wall, was far thicker in the stairwell. Clydas peered over, the light could not reach the bottom, but instead lit up glittering shards of crystal taking form on the wood itself. Grinning to himself, he turned back to grab the others.
Their boots crunched under the crystals with each step, while they carefully descended the staircase. Every so often Clydas would lift his torch over the banister to see if the bottom had been found, only to be met with more wood banisters wrapping in rectangular formation beneath them. “You know, just when you think it can’t get any colder. The depths here are starting to rival Imbolc.”
Ovaria reminded him, “You do have the torch, Clydas.”
Glancing back over his shoulder, he grinned, “I hope the chalice is providing the same amount of warmth, Ovaria.”
Turning back to the stairwell, the bottom finally gave way to more stone tunnels. Before passing the stairwell entirely, Ellec tried gathering some of the tiny crystals that had taken hold of the wood. When his gauntlet failed to gather anything more than dust, he tried kicking up the accumulation from the ground. To the same result. Powder.
“That’s a shame.” Ellec rose, torch in hand.
Ovaria rubbed the tiny dust shards between her fingertips, “The preceptor did say the only useable crystals that remain are within the aquifer.”
Ellec led the path down the next corridor. “We must be close then.”
The underground passageway opened wider, allowing for a more comfortable movement. The ceiling height doubled. Completely hidden at the highest points. The path was paved with water-worn stone. Each step echoed loudly in the otherwise silent chamber. Close we are, indeed.
After a considerable distance in the open-spaced section, the stone abruptly fell narrow, descending to a small normal sized doorway of stone. The recruits moved through the narrow doorless path, forcing the recruits into single-file, down a dark corridor.
Clydas moved behind Ellec, giving him just enough distance to not burn him – Clydas jumped, slamming his head against the stone ceiling of the tunnel. “Ah, dammit.”
Ovaria nearly had a sword in her hands, sheathing the partly exposed blade upon Clydas waving her off. “What in oblivion was that, Clydas?”
With a hand at his neck, he pulled it back, holding a water droplet on a fingertip. “It’s ice cold.”
Giving him a solid shove, Ovaria pushed him forward, “Are you kidding? Keep moving.”
Tiny droplets became more common. The ceiling had a thin layer of moisture that precipitated after enough accumulation, catching the recruits off guard at random.
The emergence came fast. Abruptly the recruits were free of the enclosed tunnel, standing in a massive chamber, far larger than the main entrance, or the shrine. The cavern appeared naturally forming, with the same blue-grey stone lining the walls to ceiling. Walls that led a steep path to the aquifer below.
Unlike the rest of the cave walls they had seen, the cavern walls held the true remnants of the halite mine down below. Just above the water level, lay a thick layer of halite crystals, grasping at the stone walls. Large formations pointing outward, glistening in varying shades from pearlescent white to nearly transparent. Within the transparent crystals, an oceanic blue hue glowed within. It was a miracle to see anything at all.
Clydas searched the cavern, but no source of light revealed itself, at least visibly. The aquifer itself was a still body of water, a pane of glass painted in moss green, fading into shades of sapphire, to the darkest depths of blue a palette could offer. Deep beneath the surface, a source of light beamed upwards, illuminating the aquifer, rising up the walls themselves.
“How are we getting one of those crystals?” Clydas pulled his attention from the cryptic depths of the aquifer, to a curious Allia, peering over the edge precariously.
Clydas outstretched an arm, bringing her back from the edge, “Whoa, whoa, not like that.” Clydas scanned the texture of the walls. There were numerous jagged edges, near flat spots, even holes in the wall itself. Not the safest traverse, for sure. “Give me the chalice.”
Trading his torch for the chalice, Clydas held the cup between his teeth, using both his hands to slide himself onto the first flat area of the descent. He shook his head, once he stabilized himself. That’s incredibly salty.
Sliding one limb at a time, Clydas made the slow descent towards the aquifer’s surface. Up above, Ellec called out, “Careful Clydas, don’t want a water-soaked march to Diorrus.”
Ovaria chimed in, “Don’t worry, Ellec will be coming in to get you if you fall.”
Rolling his eyes, Clydas slowly slid his right hand over to the next formation he could grasp tightly, locking his arm off before moving his other limbs over. Through tightened teeth around the chalice, “Thanks for the encouragement, guys.” With a quick glance down, Clydas returned his attention to the wall. Not too much further now.
Less than a meter above the surface, Clydas’ boot grazed just above the layer of halite crystals. One body’s length away there was enough of a ledge that he could stand on. His hand reached for the final stone hold that would bring him over the ledge, grasping it tightly.
At that same moment, his boot swung out from under him, kicking free some of the crystals. His foot swung well over the water before he caught himself, clinging to the wall with all his strength. Arias, thank you.
One more quick reposition, Clydas was able to get himself completely over the flat ledge, just above the water. He glanced down below, the water did not stir, not even from the crystals? His attention was drawn in to the curious display -
“Don’t you drop that chalice, Clydas!” Allia shouted from above, to be met with the bewildered gaze of Clydas, staring upwards with the chalice still in his mouth.
Finally taking the chalice from his mouth, Clydas carefully positioned himself at the edge. With his free hand he reached for the closest of the halite crystals, nearly a full finger’s length should suffice. With his fingertips he cracked the crystal free, quickly dropping it within the chalice. Almost…
Staring deeply into the void that dwelled beneath the sheet of water, Clydas gradually brought the chalice to the water’s level. Dipping the cup slowly beneath the surface, a heavy sigh of relief fell over Clydas, a warming sensation that swelled within him. Just water after all.
Filling the cup to the brim, Clydas carefully lifted the chalice from the water, sending excess droplets back down below. The water still did not stir, nor ripple. Clydas hesitantly pulled away from the ledge, returning the chalice to his mouth, plotting his ascent to the others.
“Alright let’s get out of here, before day breaks!” Clydas wasn’t sure which of the twins had said it. It was drowned out by a low rumble coming from the aquifer’s depths. With both hands already on the wall, he shot a glance over his shoulder to see a pitch-black cloud swirl below the sheet of water at the surface.
Clydas moved, ignoring whatever the recruits above were shouting at him. His next position barely caught, he pressed down upon his fingers with all his strength, the wall itself vibrated, shaking with a growing ferocity. The water from the chalice began to seep into his mouth, the specs of salt lining his tongue in attempt to distract him from his climb upwards. His face scrunched despite his attempt to concentrate. So bitter.
Adrenaline had fully taken hold, the scene around him unfolded in a state of pure surreal madness. Ellec had descended, just above Clydas’ position, shouting with an outstretched hand, “Give me the chalice!”
Without thinking, Clydas gripped tight on his left hand, freeing his other to take the chalice from his mouth, releasing himself from the bitter flow. He reached out, fully extended. Ellec took the chalice quickly, spilling a bit over the edge, but he ascended with the chalice regardless, handing it off to Allia.
One by one, both Ellec, Clydas ascended, the tremors below only growing louder. Ellec reached his hand out, pulling Clydas up the final ledge. In-between exhausted breaths, Clydas grinned, “See, not so bad.” At that exact moment, the tremors stopped, all grew still, silent.
No one replied, all eyes were locked upon the narrow way they had come. Clydas turned to see what caught their gaze. Blocking the path out of the cavern was an arachnid that spanned half their height, double their width. Pale to rival the crystals below. What the –
An ear-piercing screech echoed brutally against the walls of the cavern, bringing hands to ears instinctively. The howl beckoned from the depths below the aquifer. In that paralyzed moment, the spider lunged at the recruits in a lustful jump.
The hiss of metal whipped through the air, Ellec unsheathed his greatsword, swinging it down upon the creature with all his might. He split the arachnid clean in two. Green ooze poured out from the corpse, legs twitching in their lifeless state.
Clydas rose, grabbing a torch in one hand, dagger in the other. Stepping forward, he kicked the empty chalice, rolling it further in front of him. Oh, no. Allia stumbled after it, still regaining her balance. In a panicked state, “I dropped it when that screech nearly blew my ears out.”
“Guys.”
Clydas took the chalice from her hand, “We cannot return without it filled, we try again.”
Ovaria peered over the edge, torch in one hand, sword in the other. “Whatever is down there, continues to stir.”
“Guys.”
Allia grabbed the chalice from Clydas, giving him no time to react. She bit down on the cup, slid herself over the edge, grabbing onto the ledge.
“Guys!”
Clydas, Ovaria turned to face Ellec. Before him lay another cave spider corpse. His eyes went wide when he stared down the corridor. “There’s more!”
Clydas, Ovaria ran to his side. Though the torchlight could not illuminate the upwards path, an innumerate amount were falling over each other to enter the cavern. Ellec shouted, sword point aimed at the centermost creature in the path. “Use the choke. Cut down anything that moves.”
The first three that managed to push through flinched at the torchlight, allowing Ellec to cut down the center with ease, the flanking spiders leapt for Clydas, Ovaria the instant they recovered from the light. Ovaria leapt backwards to avoid the impact, she slashed through spilling the green guts on her. She pressed forward again.
Clydas jabbed at the spider wit the torch, tossing it over the spider’s head towards the corridor. The spider flinched again, giving Clydas just enough time to unsheathe his other dagger, driving both into the head of the horrid creature.
The flame forced some of them back. The spiders hissed at the near touch of it. Others became more lustful in their hunger, lunging through. One by one, the spiders overcame the flame, piling over it. Each recruit hacked down any arachnid that made it through. One by one slaughtering the beasts, but staggering backwards at the sheer amount of them. How in oblivion are we going to get out of here.
Timing heavy breaths, with weighted strikes of their blades, the recruits slaughtered everything that came from the corridor, piling bodies that continued to stagger the recruits backwards… away from the corridor.
In a break from the onslaught, Ellec peered through the path, “There’s an opening, we have to go now!”
A shriek echoed from the aquifer, not quite at the decibels before, drawing the attention of the recruits.
“Allia!” Ovaria tossed her torch aside, sprinting to the cavern’s edge. Allia had both hands on the upper ledge, chalice filled nearly to the brim resting at the surface just beside Ovaria’s knee. She pulled Allia up, becoming transfixed with what lie below.
Clydas, Ellec came over with haste. Crawling out from the depths below were more of the large arachnids. These were oiled black, thicker, much larger. The wretched creatures ascended the steep stone with ease, rising from the depths on all sides.
The recruits backed away, Allia grabbed the chalice, none taking their eyes from the rising threat. The first spider made it over the ledge, dropping piercing sharp legs into the stone floor. Ovaria made a dash at it. Slicing from the closest leg to the exposed thorax.
Leaping back, she held her position for another strike, the damn thing barely took the hit. Ovaria’s slash was barely noticeable, the creature shook it off, not even bleeding. Rather than collapse like the others had, it shook its grotesque head, letting out a shrill screech between bloodthirsty fangs.
No words were needed, the recruits sprinted towards the corridor, Ovaria grabbing the torch mid-step. From the corner of his eye, Clydas saw the profound landing of three more of the spiders. All moving aggressively towards us.
Ellec led the way forward, blade first. Disappearing through the narrow way, Allia followed immediately after. Clydas glanced over his shoulder, Ovaria was one step behind him. Behind her, an arachnid outstretched its knife-like legs mid-air, lunging for her. Turning off his heel, Clydas dug into the ground, clenching his fist with all his might.
Ovaria passed him just in time, within one step’s time, the beast fell upon Clydas’ orbics barrier, clawing at his faint shield. The creature took the first recoil hard, but backed up for another strike, Clydas’ shield flickered out. Oh, no.
Frozen in a failed attempt to bring it back, Clydas watched the creature lunge for him, only to fall prey to the same defense. Ovaria stood at his side, an orbics barrier flickering violently around her. She shouted at the impact of another spider from the side, her shield will fall.
Grabbing her the moment the shield fell, he pushed her through the corridor, “Go!” Without looking back, Ovaria moved up the narrow passage, back towards the open corridor space.
Clydas followed behind, he did not glance behind, but the hairs standing on edge at his neck, along with the piercing movements of the arachnids, gave all the signs needed. They are moments away of feeding.
Emerging into the open-spaced corridor, Clydas caught sight of Ellec well ahead, with Allia. They had stopped, shooting beckoning glances towards himself and Ovaria while they caught up. Where are the rest. Ovaria voiced the obvious concern, “What happened to the others?!”
Ellec still had his greatsword between his hands, “They ran off before we came through,” Nodding past Clydas, “Most likely from that.”
Two spiders fought viciously against each other to push through the narrow passage. We need time. Taking deep hastened breaths, Clydas shouted to the others, “Push ahead!”
Without turning to see if they had gone, Clydas took a step forward, dug his heel in the ground, left fist clenched upright, dagger lowered ready at the right. Come on.
Immediately the orbics barrier came to life around Clydas. The sphere held the same pale-yellow hue, but it held. The two spiders slashed at it, sending ripples across the sphere from both sides of their attacks. Pressure began to build up within Clydas. He felt the weight of his arms grow heavy, his left arm began to shake. Sweat burned his eyes while he held steadfast.
More of the spiders were piling up behind the front two. Clydas’ heel began to cave, the orbics barrier flickered violently. Hold, damnit. Clydas began to shift his weight towards the dagger, -
On either side of him, Ovaria, Allia fell in close, sending up barriers of their own. Both flickered in turn, but neither spider could hack through them fast enough. Moving Clydas aside, Ellec took his place, sending the third orbics barrier to block the narrow passage. The spiders hissed, screamed with futile attempts to break past the barriers. When one would fade, another will hold. Synergy.
“We can’t keep this up much longer.” Ovaria’s barrier flickered out, replaced by Clydas’. She caught her breath quickly, walking behind Ellec. “Switch. When I drop my barrier, let one in, hack it down, repeat.”
Ellec didn’t argue it, nor anyone for that matter. There may be no other option if we are to survive this. In an instant, Ellec, Ovaria switched places. The creatures hissed, not strained in the slightest. They continued battering down at the orbics barriers, till Ovaria’s nearly flickered out –
Ovaria dropped to the floor, the two spiders at the front struggled to break through, mindlessly pushing off each other in the process. Ellec took advantage of the opportunity, in a wide downward arc, Ellec brought his greatsword down upon one, catching it at the skull. The creature howled in pain, legs faltering.
All at once, Ellec pulled his sword free, pulling himself further backwards to drive the beast into the open corridor. He parried the lunging spider, hurling it against the wall with heavy impact. Ovaria rose the barrier again, but not before the other got through.
The injured spider came with all its fury, crawling at a staggered pace towards Ellec. With an aggressive wide swing, Ellec lunged at it, driving the edge of his blade deeper into the skull this time. The legs went limp, still moving. Ellec pulled it free, whirling the blade around to meet the other spider in turn. Hack after hack, he brought the spiders to slower movements, till eventual stillness.
Ellec panted with rage, the blades barely pierce their armored exterior. Without Ellec’s rotation, the three orbics barriers were faltering quicker. This will be brutal. “Send me another, ideally one this time.”
The recruits moved through the movements again, fortunately this time only one managed to push through. Ellec moved with equal parts rage, to agility. May the adrenaline be enough to keep us alive. They repeated the motions, once, twice. Over and over, repeating the process for what felt an eternity. By the near end of it all, it was impossible to tell who was screaming louder, the dying arachnids or the recruits pushing themselves beyond exhaustion.
The last of the spiders fell at the corridor entrance itself. Ellec fell to his knees, dropping the greatsword at his side. Instantly, all three orbics barriers vanished entirely, how they held that long is a miracle in itself. Clydas bent over, gasping for breath. Allia fell to the floor entirely. Ovaria managed to stumble closer to Ellec, “We need to leave, before the other ones come back,” Nodding to the narrow passage, “Or when those come with more.”
Ellec gazed forward blankly, sweat, blood, green ooze, all sprayed across his face, armor. He staggered when he tried to rise. Ovaria grabbed his greatsword, fastening it at his back. Clydas grabbed the torches, while Ovaria lifted Allia. Allia recouped enough to move, making for the chalice set aside near one of the walls.
Ovaria tried to take it from her, but Allia resisted, “No. I got this.”
“Let’s get out of here.” The recruits moved with what energy they had left. Adrenaline began to wane despite the threat still looming. It will take all the sruth we have left to manage this.
The stairwell ascent was the hardest. Legs were absolutely burning at that point. There were multiple points where one of us would just fall upon the salt-stained surface, knees first. Until one of the others would drag us up again. The arachnids never returned, thank Arias. It would have been the absolute end of us.
The main chamber finally appeared again. Upon sight of the main entrance, the recruits dropped the torches, staggering towards it with newfound strength. It’s finally over.
One by one the recruits exited the mine, eyes recoiling from the harsh break of day beaming down upon them. All four collapsed, willingly, the moment their boots struck dirt, the safe embrace of day. After taking numerous breaths of relief, Clydas rolled his head over from the ground, ah there it is. The chalice rested upon flat soil, still well more than three quarters full. Rotating his head upwards, the light forced him to squint hard again. That’s not good. “So, remember what Jaren said?”
Ellec barely let him finish, “Yeah. We’re screwed.”
Clydas lay still, “He’s not out here is he.”
Ovaria cut him off, “Nope.”
Nodding from his idle state, Clydas made no attempt to move. “And the Legions – “
Allia conceding, “Gone.”
Clydas grinned, getting intrigued glances from the others. Nonchalantly pointing in Allia’s direction, “But we have the chalice.”