Standing in front of the glowing chest with its surface covered in gold filigree, 2 sets of eyes covered every detail, the pair felt they’d done everything they could to ensure it wasn’t a mimic.
Kore paced back and forth, eyeing the chest, while Atreo kneeled in front of it, inspecting its locking mechanism.
"Shall we do it together?" Kore asked Atreo, catching him off guard.
"I was thinking more along the lines of 'ladies first'?" Atreo commented with a grin.
"You're right. I'll wait back here," replied Kore with a chuckle. "But no, seriously, I'm ready to get out of here."
"True..." He sighed. "Let’s do it."
Kore walked forward and positioned herself next to Atreo.
"Ready?" said Atreo, starting a countdown. "One, two..." They pushed the lid together on three, and it opened far easier than they had expected. Inside, the contents were revealed.
Boots of the Voidwalker
* Description: Boots crafted of a supple midnight-black leather that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. Interwoven into the leather are threads of deep indigo and violet, which occasionally pulse with a faint, otherworldly glow, resembling the night sky filled with distant stars.
* Attributes:
* Rise just above the ankle, offering both protection and flexibility.
* Thin but incredibly durable soles, inscribed with arcane symbols that enhance the wearer’s ability to phase through solid objects and teleport short distances.
* Delicate trim of dark silver at the top, engraved with runes that spell out an ancient incantation for movement and speed.
* Laces made from a unique, shadowy material that ensures a perfect fit while maintaining the boots' mystical properties.
* Emit a faint, almost imperceptible mist of darkness around the wearer’s feet, giving the impression of walking on the fabric of the void.
* Leave behind ephemeral glowing footprints that fade after a few seconds, reminiscent of a path through another dimension. These footprints can be turned off at will.
There were also 100 gold pieces and a medallion.
Medallion of Forgotten Paths
* Description: An ancient, ornately designed medallion made from a rare, dark metal. It is engraved with complex runes and symbols that seem to shift and change when viewed from different angles.
* Attributes:
* Emits a faint, mystical glow.
* Reveals ancient lore and knowledge related to a hidden class when held.
The final piece of loot in the chest was two gems of teleportation.
Gems of Teleportation
* Description: Allows the wielder to crush the gem and teleport to any location they’ve previously visited within the dungeon.
"Dang, there’s some pretty good stuff in here," said Atreo. "Do you want these boots? You’ve been needing some for a while. I’m sure walking around barefoot has been hell on your feet."
She lifted her foot to show Atreo the sole. His eyebrows furrowed as he examined her tiny feet. They were perfectly normal—no bleeding, no holes, just normal feet.
"What? How?" asked Atreo.
"It’s my healing. When I absorb essence, it regenerates my body," said Kore. "I guess I haven’t really explained to you how my ability works. But then again, I just figured it out myself."
"When I use essence drain, I’m absorbing all life essence and sucking it into my body. In doing so, it refills my reserves, and any overflow starts to repair my body. When I use essence to heal, I use those reserves to push life essence into your body. However, when I’m out of reserves, the essence comes from my own body, which is why you found me in the shape that you did. Have you noticed my hair and teeth have pretty much gone back to normal?"
"I mean, yeah, I did notice your hair at first, and then I noticed your teeth when you were walking around smiling all weird."
Kore gave Atreo a deadpan look, squinting her eyes at him.
Atreo chuckled and looked her over. "I kid, I kid. Of course I’ve noticed the changes. I’ve just never paid them much attention; you are who you are. Also, though, I feel like since I’m with you every day, it’s hard to track, you know?"
I get that," said Kore. "Either way, thanks for sticking with me even though I probably looked like a wraith. But yeah, I’ll take the boots. Do you want the medallion?"
"Yeah, that works. I’m starting to figure out what exactly this Unchosen class might be capable of, and finding a rare class might be perfect to test it out. Don’t forget to loot the Lich though; I bet he’s got some pretty good equipment too."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"True that. What about these crystals though? Should we use them to get out of here?"
"I’m guessing there has to be another way out, right? I mean, if the dungeon places these chests itself, it’s safe to say that this chest wouldn’t have been here when the architects constructed these ruins. There has to be another way out. Whoever built this went through a ton of effort to ensure that the library remained hidden, or was at least challenging to get into. I’m no scholar, but I don’t think a brute would’ve been able to overcome the fire pit puzzle or win the card game."
"Alright then, I’ll let you look while I get to the lich," said Kore.
"Okay, cool."
The moment the items were removed from the chest, it began to dissipate, likely returning whatever energy the dungeon had used to construct it here.
Kore walked over to the scattered bones of their final foe and picked around, hoping to find something she had missed the first time she scanned the remains.
It lay partially pinned between a bookshelf and the floor. It had truly been a massive lich, and she still felt her heart race at the thought of fighting it again. As she rolled over its chest cavity, looking to see if there was anything under its hulking mass, she noticed a chip in the floor. It was a diagonal crack in one of the stones, and she noticed this stone in particular looked as if someone had slid a very thin knife around its edges, separating it from the rest of its stone foundation.
"You alright over there?" she shouted to Atreo.
“Yeah, I’m good! Might’ve found something, not sure yet though.”
She slipped her fingers into the cracks and pulled up, slowly sliding the stone peg out of the square-shaped hole. Her fingers wrapped tightly around the tips, squeezing as she inched it out, until, with a sucking sound, it released from its captivity.
With the unexpected release of friction, Kore stumbled backward, falling onto her butt. Regaining her balance, she glanced up as a purple glow emanated from the hole. She was eager to see what was inside; her heart raced as the thought of more treasure danced across her mind.
Was she becoming a treasure addict?
She’d never had many things of her own, but she liked finding valuables—and she really liked finding things that glowed with ethereal light.
From the depths of the ancient stone hole, a creature emerged with deliberate grace. Its long, slender legs moved in a sinuous rhythm, each step calculated and precise. The spider's body, adorned with iridescent markings that shimmered in the faint light, reflected hues of deep purple and midnight blue, contrasting starkly against the dull gray of the stone.
As it ascended, the spider's movements were methodical, each limb seeming to know exactly where to grasp next, guided by an unseen intelligence. Its multifaceted eyes, gleaming with an otherworldly sheen, scanned the surroundings with unsettling awareness.
Silken threads trailed behind it, remnants of its intricate web clinging to the edges of the stone hole like gossamer curtains. Each strand quivered faintly, attuned to the spider's will, ready to ensnare anything that dared to approach too closely.
Despite its diminutive size compared to the hole it emerged from, the spider exuded an aura of ancient power and guarded secrets. Its presence spoke of ages past and an eternity yet to unfold, bound tightly within its web of immortality.
It ascended from the stone hole, its movements cautious yet purposeful as it approached Kore. The spider's sleek, shimmering carapace caught the dim light, its eight eyes fixed on her with a mixture of solemnity and a lingering bond to its former master.
Kore stood vigilant, her presence a testament to the power she wielded—the ability to extinguish its existence with a mere thought.
As the spider drew near, she sensed a different kind of urgency in its approach—a plea for understanding amidst its immortal servitude.
"You seek my aid," Kore stated with a hint of skepticism, her voice echoing softly in the cavern's silence. "What could you possibly desire from me?"
The spider paused before her, mandibles clicking softly as it gathered its thoughts, its demeanor betraying the weight of its ancient binding. "I am a phylactery," it began, its voice a whisper that carried the echo of its former master's dominance.
"An eternal vessel, bound to contain the essence of a lich."
Kore listened intently, her brow furrowing as she grasped the implications. "You hold the lich's essence," she murmured, a mixture of realization and intrigue coloring her tone.
"Yes," it affirmed quietly, its movements subtly restrained by the residual ties to its past master.
"But the lich's defeat has weakened their influence, allowing me a measure of autonomy. Yet, I remain bound by the remnants of their power."
Understanding dawned on Kore, a mixture of respect and guarded interest settling within her. The spider's plight—forever tethered to a dark master's essence—struck a chord within her, resonating with her own journey of power and discovery.
"Why come to me?" Kore asked, her voice betraying a hint of curiosity amidst the caution. "What can you offer that would compel me to trust you?"
Arachnaeus regarded her with a steady gaze, its eight eyes reflecting a glint of ancient wisdom. "I offer knowledge," it replied, its voice a whisper that echoed through the cavern. "Arcane secrets, lichlike arts that transcend mortal understanding. In return, I seek protection and preservation."
Kore considered the spider's offer, weighing the risks and rewards it presented. The promise of unlocking lichlike secrets—of gaining insights that could reshape realms—tempted her, even as she grappled with the uncertainties of dealing with such dark remnants.
"And your name?" Kore inquired, her gaze narrowing slightly. "You haven't told me your name."
it paused, its mandibles clicking softly as if contemplating her question. Finally, it spoke, its voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "My name is Arachnaeus," it revealed, each syllable laden with the weight of ancient truths.
Kore nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the spider's admission. The mystery of Arachnaeus—bound by the essence of a lich, yet offering forbidden knowledge—held a strange allure, a testament to the unforeseen paths their alliance might tread.
"In exchange for your knowledge," Kore began, "you want protection and preservation. Is that so you can revive your former master?"
"No," Arachnaeus replied solemnly, its voice a whisper that echoed with ancient sorrow. "The lich's essence within me is severed from their will. There is no revival—only remnants of power and knowledge left behind."
"So if you bond to me, you will potentially serve as my phylactery?"
"Yes and no," responded Arachnaeus. "You do not possess the ability to divide your soul, but by bonding with me, you will fully sever the connection to my former master. Maybe one day we will grow to share a soul, but for now, it will be a simple bond—me teaching you and you protecting me."
Kore studied Arachnaeus intently, searching for any hint of deception in its words. Yet, she sensed sincerity in the spider's demeanor—a resignation to its eternal fate as a vessel of dark magic.
"Why then seek freedom and knowledge?" Kore pressed gently, her curiosity tempered by caution. "What drives you, Arachnaeus, beyond the bonds of your former master?"
The spider shifted slightly, mandibles clicking softly as if choosing its words carefully. "I seek understanding," it began, each word measured and deliberate. "To unravel the mysteries that bound me for eons. The lich's arts hold secrets—paths to power and truths that transcend mortal limits."
"And in exchange," Kore interjected, her voice steady, "you offer me these truths, these paths to power."
Arachnaeus inclined its head in affirmation. "Yes," it murmured, "in exchange for protection and preservation. To roam this world, unshackled by the lich's control."
Kore considered Arachnaeus's words, weighing the spider's offer against the risks it posed. The allure of lichlike knowledge—of gaining insights that could reshape reality itself—stirred a hunger within her, tempered only by the shadow of caution cast by such dark arts.
“Who are you talking to?” yelled Atreo from across the room.
He'd been so focused on learning the secrets of the medallion that she was sure he hadn't heard her speaking until just now. She could choose not to tell him; she had no reason to... but he had told her about Nat and shown trust. She decided she would do the same in return, after she made her choice.
"Very well," Kore finally conceded, her decision made. "We forge this pact, Arachnaeus—bound by our mutual need and the pursuit of forbidden truths.
Together, we shall navigate the shadows and uncover what lies beneath."
Arachnaeus's eyes gleamed faintly, a glimmer of gratitude and determination reflected in their depths. "Together, we shall forge a pact—a fragile alliance bound by mutual need and the pursuit of arcane mysteries."
Arachnaeus inclined its head slightly, a silent acceptance of their agreement. As Kore extended her hand, the spider lowered itself onto her outstretched palm. Suddenly, a chill spread across Kore's hand, a sensation of ancient power seeping into her skin. She looked down to see the lich's essence forming onto her palm—not a large mark, but a realistic depiction etched with magical ink.
In that moment, their pact was sealed—a bond forged in secrecy and the promise of revelations yet to unfold.