After an exhausting day of trekking through the wildest parts of the continent, the goal of their journey finally appeared on the horizon: the Yelakin Canyon, leading deep into the underground.
It plunged as far as 30 kilometers into the earth, making it the only gateway to the underground capital, and stretched over two kilometers wide.
Surrounding the canyon, which spanned the center of a vast valley, rose towering cliffs adorned with Ilythyrran watchtowers, ensuring the entrance remained fully protected.
"Been a while since I’ve been here..." murmured Lirian, gazing out the window at the vast, forested valley.
"And you’re telling me?" chuckled Corym, who was driving the wagon this time and had a much clearer view. "I’ve missed this place."
The valley was about twice as wide in diameter as the canyon itself, and if not for the stairways winding up the imposing cliffs, it would have been impenetrable—even with the mightiest incantations.
"So... are we there yet?" Zara chimed in from her lounging position, too exhausted to muster any enthusiasm for the breathtaking scenery.
"This is just the beginning. Wait until we head underground—that’s the real nightmare," replied Niall, perched on the wagon roof with his head hanging down by the window, making himself visible inside.
"Niall! Get inside! If the patrols see you up there, they’ll probably laugh themselves to tears!" Syviis called out, walking between the two wagons to ensure their safety from any threats they might encounter along the way.
"Yes, Mom!" the boy shouted back teasingly, hopping back inside through the window.
"Well then, when will we learn more about this mission?" Lirian asked, rising from his seat and moving closer to Corym.
"Once we get there. Honestly, I don’t know the exact details myself... I just know it’s important." This answer left Lirian unsatisfied, and his curiosity immediately got the better of him.
"Maybe... you could honor us with the story of the Underground Capital in the meantime? To pass the time." he suggested, eager to distract himself with something else.
"...Again? I feel like I’ve told that story a hundred times already," the elf chuckled, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Yeah, but they haven’t heard it yet, have they?" Lirian pointed toward Sylletha and Zara, resting in the rear seats.
"True, true!" Zara chimed in, her exhaustion forgotten at the mention of a tale.
"I... don’t think I’ve heard it either." added the boy softly, trying his best not to sound too pushy.
"...Alright then." Corym turned back, guiding the wagon closer to one of the guard towers that watched over the descent down the cliffs. "The whole history of the Underground began around the Fable Ages, during the last wars between the elves. A more persecuted faction among them found refuge in this canyon... But not everything went as they had hoped—" Corym’s voice swelled with dramatic flair as he tried to breathe life into the tale, but Niall interrupted him.
"And then Seshadri!" Niall exclaimed, throwing his arms triumphantly into the air.
"Yes, Niall... Seshadri." Corym took a deep breath and continued, his tone growing more serious with each word. "Seshadri, the serpent born of The World Tree's branch, Asteryana, devourer of the ley lines, and the slayer of hundreds of thousands of elves—and not just them."
Just before descending, two elven guards dressed in the same armor, like those at the entrance gate to the capital, stopped the cart, standing in front of it.
One of them, a dark-haired elf with a scar on his right eye, stepped closer, standing on Corym's right side.
"Reason for your visit?" he asked in a hoarse, emotionless voice, probably exhausted after a full day's work.
"We have an assignment in Sibashi..." Corym began, reaching into his coat pocket.
"What kind of assignment? Do you have a permit to enter the city?" the guard continued, also pulling a small notebook from his pocket and writing something in it.
Without saying another word, Corym handed him an envelope sealed with a crest, at which sight the elf nearly choked.
"O-Oh, d-damn... a prince!?" he muttered under his breath, opening the envelope.
At the guard's words, Lirian flinched and turned his gaze toward Corym.
Corym simply nodded, preparing the horses for the next leg of the journey.
"Alright... have a pleasant trip then." the guard mumbled, then stepped aside, motioning for the other guard to do the same.
The carriages moved onward, led by horses along the stairs carved into the massive cliffs.
Corym turned back to the others, brushing away the hair that had started to fall into his face from the gentle jolts.
Zara moved to the window, already woken up enough to want to watch the scenery.
From the cliffs' edge, the valley looked far more beautiful. The vast canyon appeared even mightier, with a few small lakes that were falling into it like waterfalls becoming more visible and bluer under the sun's rays. The willow forests, whose catkins were just beginning to awaken with the first days of early spring, swayed rhythmically in the wind.
"Alright then, let’s continue." Corym started, clearing his throat and crossing his arms over his chest.
"For many centuries, the elven clans were tormented by the power of Seshadri... until the time of the Wars of Order and the arrival of the so-called 'Rightful Gods.'"
"Who were they? And this Seshadri... who was she exactly?" asked Sylleth, seemingly the only one listening to the story. Niall continued to play with his carvings, Lirian—who had initially suggested that Corym should tell the story the story—was laying down on the seats with his eyes closed and Zara, watching the views from the window, all ignored what Corym had to say.
"I’ll explain everything in a moment, but first..." The blond elf smiled, resuming his tale with a grin, his tone shifting to something more resonant and heroic.
"After all that came the Age of Heroes! Incarnations of three of the four 'Rightful Gods' rose against the tyranny of Seshadri, facing her in a mighty battle somewhere in Rodograd."
As he spoke, Corym gestured wildly with his hands, getting a little too caught up in the story.
"The battle raged on for months, until finally, Seshadri's tyranny came to an end with the triumph of the incarnations! Afterward, all the clans united under their rule!" The elf's hands waved animatedly, and between them, mana orbs began to form, weaving together into images depicting the heroes of the underground.
"The four gods created four major cities, ruled by their incarnations, until finally, in the year 310..."
The mana orbs shifted to depict the centuries-old capital of Ilythyrra.
"...the birth of Queen Morgaine shook the entire continent, for just minutes after her birth, a mana sink appeared in the iris of her right eye..." Corym's tone turned more melodic, with a hint of reverence for the figure he was describing. The images transformed into depictions of the red-haired elven queen.
"...She became both the queen and the general of Ilythyrra at the age of just 9! And despite her youth, the emissaries who ruled the capital at the time regarded her as their equal..."
His gestures and storytelling quickened to such a pace that Sylleth began to lose track of the narrative.
"She was a brilliant commander and the savior of our race during the racial wars with the vampires! Her swordsmanship was unmatched, and her magic equally so--"
Corym suddenly paused, catching the confused look Sylleth was giving him, and let out a small, sheepish smile.
"...I may have gotten a little carried away, huh?"
The boy chuckled softly. "Ah... a little, but it’s alright. It’s good to know more about our history," he replied, shifting closer to settle into a more comfortable position.
"I'll return to the main story... When the queen was only 26 years old, a revolution began in the underground. One of the four heroes had tapped into the dark magic of Seshadri, which still lingered in her lifeless heart... And with that, parts of Asteryana got infected, giving birth to countless species of draconids." The images shifted again, this time depicting magnificent underground cities slowly consumed by flames.
"The people had grown tired of their rulers thinking themselves superior and tormenting their lands, and for years they fought against them in a revolution. Twenty-six years later, in the year 362, Morgaine's four children joined the uprising. They seized control of the underground, executed the incarnations, and drove the Rightful Gods from the realm."
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The magical orbs vanished, and Corym’s tone returned to its calmer, more measured cadence.
"That chapter of history ended quickly... Morgaine's children were all slaughtered during the war with the draconids about 30 years later, and the thrones passed to her grandchildren, the current princes of the underground."
"And the queen... if I remember correctly, she was poisoned, wasn’t she?" Sylleth interjected, curiosity lighting up his eyes and voice.
"Yes, sadly. In the year 432, the queen was assassinated... The ruling guild took power in Ilythyrrya, wresting it from her second, and only living daughter, who then became the general of our army," Corym replied, his voice tinged with respect and sorrow for the fallen queen.
For a moment, the group fell silent, the weight of the story settling over them like a shadow, as if the echoes of the past still lingered in the air around them.
"And that's about it. Morgaine's grandchildren now rule the underground... unfortunately, not in a very effective way, which means all the problems have to be solved by outsiders," Corym explained, sliding back into his seat at the front.
Sylleth nodded, walking up to the elf and sitting right behind him.
"How much longer?" groaned Niall, slumping dramatically in his seat, as if to emphasize his exhaustion from the journey.
"We're just about to enter the valley..." replied Corym, glancing down the length of the valley they were now descending into from the cliffside road.
"Ugh..." the boy continued to groan, sliding even further onto the floor with a blank expression, prompting Sylleth to chuckle softly.
"You’ll get used to it... he’s always like this," mumbled Lirian, sitting back upright with a faint sigh of resignation.
After another few minutes, the wagons started approaching the canyon, and from a distance, the group could already make out the wooden lifts that would carry them down to the underground capital.
It was a massive contraption, occupying a significant portion of the canyon's width. Soldiers swarmed around it, ensuring its operation and guarding the area. Two sturdy watchtowers flanked it, their purpose clear: to ensure no one unauthorized entered—or left—the underground realm.
"Alright, just a little longer, and we’ll be heading down," Corym informed the group, nodding at one of the guards responsible for the lift's operation before steering his wagon onto the wooden platform.
The shouts of soldiers echoed around the lift, coordinating its activation. Corym’s wagon rolled to a stop on one side of the platform. The second wagon, driven once again by Syviis, pulled in alongside his.
With a slight jolt, the platform began its descent, carrying the group into the depths of the canyon. As it started to move, Sif leapt from her wagon and approached Corym, taking a seat beside him.
"So, are you finally going to tell us what we’re here to do? What’s this mission about?" she asked, settling in with a determined expression.
Zara, unable to contain her excitement, dashed over to Sylleth, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the wagon. "Come on, come on!" she exclaimed joyfully, practically bouncing with anticipation at the thought of seeing the underground capital.
"Careful!" Lirian called after them, rising from his seat and stepping out of the wagon himself. His gaze remained fixed on the pair as he added, "The platform might be sturdy, but you could still fall off if you’re not paying attention!"
Meanwhile, Niall remained in his wagon, sprawled across the bench, staring at the ceiling and mumbling something under his breath, seemingly uninterested in the commotion.
"Everything will be explained once we’re all together." Corym replied to Sif, his sharp elven eyes scanning the platform. His gaze briefly lingered on Zara and Sylleth, who were running around the edge like excitable children. "But that means we need to be in Sibashi first."
As the platform descended deeper into the canyon, the walls surrounding them began to widen. Shadows grew heavier, but the darkness was occasionally broken by clusters of luminescent mushrooms. Their soft, blue glow illuminated the depths, giving the otherwise foreboding surroundings an otherworldly charm.
The group descended rapidly, the wooden lift creaking as it carried them ever closer to the canyon floor.
As the platform neared the bottom, a faint sound began to echo from above—the unmistakable chime of an alarm bell.
“What’s going on?!” Sif was the first to shout, glancing up at the small, bright speck of light far above them—the opening of the canyon, which had seemed massive just moments ago.
“Three chimes…” Corym muttered, leaping down from the wagon. “...It signals danger. Something must’ve happened.”
Suddenly, Lirian, Zara, and Sylleth ran over to the pair, their expressions tense.
“Is it something up top?” Lirian asked, catching his breath.
“I’m not sure… but if the bells are still ringing, it’s probably not good. We need to be ready,” Corym replied, reaching into his bag and pulling out a glowing blue grimoire—the same one Sylleth had seen earlier on his desk.
“Syviis! Wake the others!” Sif shouted, sprinting toward her wagon.
“Damn it... and here I thought this was going to be simple,” Lirian muttered, stretching his arms before heading back to the wagon to grab his gear.
“What… what’s happening?!” Sylleth asked, his voice trembling with both fear and confusion as the chime of the bells gradually faded, likely muffled by the growing distance between them and the surface.
“Probably just a mistake… I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to attack the lift… I hope,” Corym replied, stepping closer to the pair. “If things do get dangerous, stick close to Lirian, alright?”
Both Zara and Sylleth nodded quickly, then rushed after the half-elf toward the wagon.
Sif, along with Syviis, Vidar, Lukius, and Mallory, dashed out of their carriage, all armed with their weapons.
“How long until we reach the bottom?” Lukius asked, clutching his wand tightly.
“A few minutes… let’s hope it’s over by then,” Corym replied, closing his grimoire.
“First mission with you lot in weeks, and we’re already in trouble... I can’t stand it!” Mallory shouted, gripping her hammer tightly, more annoyed about being woken up than frightened by the attack.
“Calm down…” Vidar cut in, his voice weary as he unsheathed his sword.
“I’ll calm down when I feel like it! You calm down!” she snapped back at him, baring her teeth in frustration.
Lirian also leapt from the wagon, accompanied by Niall and the kids.
“All right, we’re ready,” he informed the group, tightening the black bandages on his hands.
As the platform neared the bottom, more and more mushrooms appeared on the walls, their faint glow illuminating the descent. From below came guttural sounds, resembling frogs but far too loud to be ordinary.
“...Drakes?” Niall murmured, listening to the noises.
“If they were drakes, they’d have charged us by now,” Syviis replied, readying her daggers.
“She’s right… they’re basilisks,” Corym informed the group. “Lukius, as soon as we land, light up the cave,” he instructed while still poring over his book. “Lirian, keep the kids safe. Niall, neutralize any magical attacks they throw at us,” he barked orders, his commanding voice trying to bring order to the chaos.
“Are basilisks really that bad? Can’t you handle them?” Zara chimed in, completely oblivious to the danger, in stark contrast to the terrified Sylleth, whose hair had been standing on end since the alarm bells first sounded.
“It depends on how many there are. If it’s just a small group, we can manage. But if they’ve got a Wyrm with them… we’re in deep trouble,” Sif said, leaning against her blade as she glanced toward the part of the platform where they were set to disembark.
All of a sudden, from the depths of the cave, swarms of fire surged upward, touching the underside of the platform and crawling up the walls, shifting to a yellow hue after a moment. Lirian immediately grabbed Sylleth and Zara under his arms, leaping into the wagon. The horses, which had been calmly resting at the front, started to panic as the rest of the group now understood what was happening.
"Well, you called it... we're screwed," Vidar muttered, sighing heavily.
"Shit!" Mallory yelled, leaping onto the bearded man's legs to escape the flames.
"...Change of plans! Lirian!" Corym shouted, extending his hand toward the half-elf, who immediately placed the children safely in the wagon before jumping down.
Without a word, Lirian leaped high into the air, much higher than even three stacked wagons. "Watch out!" he shouted, swinging his arms in the air, while at the same moment, a magical circle shot out from Corym's hand, forming around Lirian’s neck.
With the swing, the half-elf let out a loud yell, as if it would help him with what he was doing. The rest of the group slid down in a practiced manner, leaving him the perfect space right where the flames were at their center.
"Thryn!" he yelled, and a massive glow emitted from his hands. In an instant, Sylleth felt an intense cold wash over him, and a split second later, a wave of ice crashed down directly onto the flames, completely extinguishing them.
The flames were entirely surrounded by multilayered ice, their dancing tongues frozen in place.
"Just a bit more!" Corym shouted at him, extending his other hand, as though he were holding him up in the air... or perhaps, that’s exactly what he was doing.
Lirian twisted mid-air, striking directly at the spots from which the rest of the flames were crawling, which were immediately surrounded by blue ice as they reappeared.
"THRYN! THRYN!" he continued shouting, and even from such a height, it was clear that his hands were completely frozen, with pieces of bandages wrapped around them trembling and falling as pure ice fragments.
The ice strikes shook the platform, tearing massive holes in it, through which the bottom of the canyon became much more visible. Even worse, the canyon's walls were now full of green lizards, and a huge serpent with its gaping mouth pointed upward.
"I'VE GOT YOU!" Lirian continued shouting, flipping through the air and screaming one last time. "THRYN!" This time his voice was louder as he threw a wave of ice through one of the holes directly into the monster’s maw.
The flames stopped in place, and the creature’s mouth shook as it froze, triggering a chilling roar that sounded like a mixture of a serpent's hiss and the laughter of salamanders.
With his last breath, Lirian yelled, "THRY-!" But before he could strike another blow he blacked out, and gravity pulled him downward, crashing through the platform with force and slamming into a swarm of basilisks.
"LIRIAN!" Corym shouted, running toward the hole.
"I'll take care of him!" Niall outran him, nocking three arrows on his battle bow before jumping after the half-elf with a grin.
"You better do... I won't handle the next one..." Corym murmured, rushing back to the wagon to check on the kids.
"Alright, there won’t be a better chance! Let's go!" Sif yelled, jumping down straight into the frozen maw of the Serpent.
The rest of the group followed her, and everyone except Lukius jumped, trying to finish off the monster before it was too late.
Lukius ran up to Corym, who was just about to board the wagon. "I'll take care of them, go help the others, they'll need you more," he said, before heading toward Sylleth and Zara.
After a moment of hesitation, Corym simply nodded. However, before rushing into battle, he reached into his pocket. "If I don’t survive..." With a swift motion, he tossed a black box toward the boy, who was lying on the ground, terrified. "...You know what to do." After those words, he rushed toward the rest of the group, leaping over one of the holes, accompanied by the hissing of basilisks and the roar of the Serpent.
"Corym!" Sylleth tried to follow him immediately, but Lukius stopped him, dropping him next to Zara, who was curled up on the ground, clutching her tail and covering her ears.
"They’ll manage... but you need to stay here." Lukius reprimanded him, standing next to the horses at the front of the wagon. Before that, he briefly glanced at the boy, as if wanting to convey something, then turned his gaze toward the terrified Zara.
Sylleth simply nodded, knowing what he had to do. Until now, it was Zara who had always helped him in difficult moments. During the separation from Shalyn, the escape from the slave hunters, joining the Stormbreakers, in his toughest times when he was about to give up, and now, on their first mission—she had always been by his side, holding his hand and pushing forward. This time, he had to support her. This time, he wouldn’t stand on the sidelines.
His left arm tingled, a faint but familiar sensation that had been growing steadily since their arrival. He barely noticed it anymore, the way his skin seemed to hum when his resolve hardened. This time... he would take everything into his own hands.