Finally, after Aebona let him go, Coney’s vision began to fade. “Don’t forget me, lady goddess.” He said as everything faded to black. Looking at the corner of his vision again, he spoke to the OBS software. “Computer, finish recording. Start new recordings in five, four, three, two, one.” As he said one the darkness started to fade again, as if he was waking up. Good timing on his part, or pure luck, it didn’t matter to him.

“Alright folks, let's see where I’m being dropped off.” He said as he slowly came to. He began to feel his body again, and he realized he was laying face down on some rubble. “Ouch.” He said, his body sore.

“Novice Coney, are you alright down there?” Someone asked from above him. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked up.

“Uh, what?” He asked, a little bit woozy. In the corner of his vision there was a red mark, focusing on it showed him as being concussed. “Well, that’s not good.” As he learned that the tell-tale headache of being concussed hit him, it felt different from a migraine. “I’m just a little concussed. What happened?”

“You fell into the undercroft.” The voice from above said. He slowly found the figure, though he was still blurry. He sounded young but masculine. “I need to get a master, only one of them can get you out.”

“Yeah, alright, that’s a good idea.” Coney said, trying to steady himself. “I’ll… I’ll stay here.”

As he waited for the other person to get back, who he couldn’t tell the rank of at all, he sat up and looked around. There was only one open doorway down here, a large hole that had a lot of deeply cold air coming out of it. The kind of air that only got that cold because it’d been underground for over a day. It smelled weird, dead, kind of the stale air that settles in tombs.

Honestly, this was taking a while, Coney didn’t realize he’d have to wait a realistic amount of time. As someone raised on gaming, waiting more than two minutes for a cutscene was too much… and this was essentially that, just with less to distract him. He decided it would be best to center himself.

Breathing in and out slowly and deliberately, the new bunny began to meditate. Sure, his ears twitched at every sound. He could hear something he couldn’t quite make out from the tunnel, and people sounded like they were walking up on the floor above, simply avoiding the hole he’d fallen through and not much else. Slowly, he was able to get himself to build resistance to listening. Instead, he was able to sense himself, and who he was. It became a lot easier when his concussion wore off.

Of course, it was then that he heard voices from above. “Ah, lazing about. That’s just what I should expect from a beast like you.” The first voice said. It had a refined air, but sounded kind of like the most whiny kids he’d used to go to school with before his life hit the shitter. “I don’t know why the Abbot even lets a pest like you join the great order.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Oh hush now Sumac.” A second voice said. “He’s just meditating, it’s not a bad way to keep up his spirits. Besides, the abbey is a place for safety and reflection, this is a good way of showing it.”

“I’d feel a lot safer if I wasn’t sitting in a hole.” Sasha said, opening one eye and looking up.

“The floor’s too weak, you’re not worth it.” The first man looked barely older than a boy. He was blond, tall, and had tight features. A glance at his ears, which were tucked in his long flowing hair, showed that he was in fact an elf.

“Crass as he is, he’s kind of right. You need to find a different way out.” The other man was older, and seemed to be more of a grandpa-like figure. “I think you can get out through the Undercroft, but it’s like a maze down there. I truly hope you can keep yourself safe.”

“I don’t have the ability to see down here, it’s pitch black down there.” Coney said, standing up and gesturing at the hole.

“Oh, that. Sure, let me teach you a prayer spell.” The older looking monk smiled at him, he was clearly human though his body was ancient. “I need you to hold your hands like this.” He pressed his hands together, looking like how priests were often depicted, with their hands in front of themselves.

“Right, okay, that I can do.” Coney stood up to follow these directions, moving exactly like the older monk.

“Now, pray for light. It doesn’t have to be a loud or earnest prayer, just genuine in its meaning. Know what you need, and ask the divine will to give it to you.”

Sasha nodded as he did as he was told, holding his head down and closer to his hands clasped together. Wracking his brain he tried to think of who to call out to, but a name came to him. “Lighbringer, I ask for your guidance, give me light and freedom in my life.” His voice wasn’t wavering, but he was shocked at how quickly that came to him.

“Accepted.” A voice said to him in his heart. It wasn’t out loud, and honestly Sasha had no idea how his computer would react to it, but it filled him with joy that was only surpassed in a few seconds. That was, of course, when Coney saw a small light ball appear in his hand.

“See, divine will.” The older man said, nodding at Coney with his head while looking at the other older gentleman.

“Fine.” The younger looking one said. “Escape through the tunnels, there may be danger down there. If you are careful you might only have a few fights. Don’t worry about damage to the building, just get out. We can always use magic to fix it later.”

Coney nodded, even the younger master was being useful. For some reason his head told him it was a master, his eyes were drawn to a sash around the man’s shoulder. That was what tipped him off. “Okay, I will try to be careful. I’ll be out as soon as possible.” He smiled a little and began to walk into the unknown, bright light allowing him to see in the darkness, even if it made seeing past it even harder for his new eyes.