I had nothing to gather, I simply walked towards the entrance, and stood before the fissure on the wall that had led me to this room. I turned and looked at the room itself, it was a chamber of the Golden Era, one where all walls had finely detailed engravings. It was a weird room, perhaps part of something greater, but now it was isolated, but more importantly, it was the room that had changed my life.

Here I had found a Third Grade Relic, something that hadn’t been seen in the history of the mines. I didn’t know much about the mines other than they as a whole were called the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow. Hollow because beasts of the Dark Hollow lurked the deepest parts of it. Legends said that a rift from the Dark Hollow had opened many centuries ago, and even if it was now closed the beasts had remained. To this day, it was said that only about twenty-percent of its length had been explored, and at the same time the further one went into the more dangerous the monsters were.

Prowl Reapers did not become a common occurrence until about seven years ago, before that they would wander into the camp every six months, but after it became about two months, and now it would happen about once a month on average. Walking to the stretches of the explored zone went from something that took hours to now ⁠— the camp had to be relocated inside the mine to maintain efficiency. I shook my head, now I didn’t need to worry about whether I’d see the outside world or whether I would ever leave the underworld.

I looked at my hand and felt the whirling energy inside of me, and simply smiled. The hunger was gone, I felt revitalized. I didn’t need to return to camp ⁠— not like they cared, whenever someone was missing they would be forgotten ⁠— it was how things were done in Armag Hollow. With that in mind, I turned on the light of my helmet with a touch and headed back from where I came from.

◇ ◇ ◇

The jog back was much more⁠— it was completely uneventful. The only thing worth noting was that my boots were stained with black blood and left a bit of a trail for the entire journey. I considered cleaning them, but I almost hoped that the blood would attract more beasts, almost. There were other ways to attract them such as sharp sounds, but I wasn’t loud nor did I scream in hopes for attention. Stronger Beasts of the Dark Hollow lurked the mines after all. Even if the likelihood of me encountering something stronger than a Prowl Reaper was low, it wasn’t something I wanted to risk. Prowl Reapers followed after blood, it was the reason they would wander into the camp sometimes.

There was also something I found curious. The wounds that had been inflicted to me by the Prowl Reapers had ⁠— not exactly healed ⁠— but closed. They still ached but they didn’t hurt or incapacitate me. I almost felt like I would be healed after a day, that said the wounds were very minor. I felt like the one on my arm would take closer to a week, however it was still terrifying to think it would be that fast. I had changed a lot.

After a minute or so more, I found myself where it all started. I saw my ripped backpack on the ground as well as the small carry bag that contained my journal. I breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed the carry bag, before flinging it through my arm. I had reached my goal, and that left me with ⁠— seeking Prowl Reapers to kill?

“Huh…?”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion. My original plan was to stumble upon them on my way here, but I hadn’t. I was also looking forward to seeing if [Fallen Embers] were more effective at level 2, or what had changed about it in general. I had no urgency to return to camp all things considered. If I were to show up, I’d just get some reprimand about how I was lucky to not have died, and then promptly questioned about whether I had brought something of value or not. Needless to say, there was no hurry. Once upon a time, the Overseer of the camp had been interested in reading the journal, and he had done so multiple times. The last time, he dismissed me and said that its value had run out. That was a long time ago too.

Needless to say, I didn’t think anyone would go searching for me since there wasn’t any reason. There was never any reason for the Supervisors to search or any important personnel to do anything but focus on killing Prowl Reapers that wandered near the camp. But that didn’t matter, the thing was…

I looked at the darkness behind me, then at the one in front of me. I wanted to search for Prowl Reapers, but… I didn’t exactly know how to go about it? I thought for a few moments before making my decision.

Only about twenty percent of Armag Hollow had been explored, and judging my very rough calculations I had ventured myself about one-percent more of that. I could definitely go further to explore and search around. Perhaps I would find another Third Grade Relic, however, that remained to be seen⁠. Anything higher was practically impossible, but right now I felt hopeful to find treasure for lack of a better word.

In a better mood, I turned towards the depths of the darkness and began walking. The light of my helmet caught the glistening dust particles from the ceiling, and very occasionally some sparkling minerals of multiple colors and sizes. I even stumbled across a vein that was as big and tall as me, something that would’ve had me squirming with joy just a few hours ago⁠— or well, however long had it been before I became an Ascended.

The term was a bit weird for me, considering I was still me. I still felt like me. I was still Sybil. That said, if I was me a few hours ago I would’ve also succumbed to my wounds long ago. Nonetheless, I was still the same person, or so I felt.

I walked for almost an hour before I stumbled upon something. It was akin to an opening within the cave system, it was mostly unassuming and there was nothing of value, however I also noticed ledges and perches on the formation of the walls and pillars. There were cavities and the ceiling, unlike the caves, was more than a dozen meters tall. It was akin to a pocket inside of the mine.

⁠I admired for a few moments before a growl entered my ears. My heart shivered for a moment as I turned and there they were. Two of them. One snarled. They had twisted hunched bodies, talon like claws, dripping maws of serrated teeth and four eyes each.

[(Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowl Reaper. Lvl. 4]

[(Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowl Reaper. Lvl. 5]

After the initial shock of being ambushed was gone, I couldn’t help but smile. I slowly placed my journal down and readied my pickaxe. Unlike the previous Prowl Reapers these ones seemed to be on alert rather than rushing towards me. I slowly circled around them, distancing myself from the journal, the Prowl Reapers too took steps back.

It was a bit odd but I didn’t think too much about it. I steeled myself for what I was about to do and then, I sprinted towards the two beasts, holding my pickaxe in the ready to swing. The bigger one stepped away, but the small one tried to meet me head on and I simply grinned. I pushed the warmth towards my hands and swung with a sting of pain, just as it was about to hit I called the desire⁠— burn. My hands and the pickaxe itself exploded into blue flames, hitting the Prowl Reaper.

The Beast of the Dark Hollow flew, crying through the air as it burst into an azure blaze. Wisps of blue fire trailed behind it as it shrieked on the ground, then I turned towards the other Prowl Reaper, ignoring the burning one. My flames felt more potent, more flammable. I deactivated the skill. The Prowl Reaper growled at me, though it took a step back.

Did it want to run?

However, before my suspicions were confirmed, it charged towards me instead. I couldn’t ready the pickaxe in time as it lunged, instead I took a step back and moved myself out of the way as I made a decision. With my arm I reached towards the Prowl Reaper and then moved the mana inside of me to burst. A small burst of blue flame grazed the beast as it landed. They wisped and expanded in an instant before it cried in pain and rolled. The flames on my hand went away a second after.

I slowly looked at both of them. The first Prowl Reaper was still rolling though the flames looked weak and about to extinguish, though it was close to dying as well. I shook my head and made my decision, rushing towards the weakened one. Before it could even get up, I swung my pickaxe onto its head and with a satisfying clang it pierced through its skull. I felt some pain from my shoulders while doing so, but it was worth it.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowl Reaper. Lvl. 4]

There was nothing else as I turned towards the other Prowl Reaper. I slowly walked towards it as I triggered the flames once more. It was beginning to feel like a muscle, or rather akin to a valve that could be turned on and off. I ignited the pickaxe into blue flames, as I saw them slowly move towards the top of it. The properties of the [Fallen Embers] were weird, it almost felt like it would burn whatever I wanted them to burn.

For a moment I decided to ignite my whole body once more, and in an instant, I felt warm everywhere. It was comforting akin to a loving embrace. I made it next to the Prowl Reaper and slammed my pickaxe against its head, felling it in an instant.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowl Reaper. Lvl. 5]

[Your primary aspect has leveled twice from this encounter. Current level: 5]

[The aspect of Fallen Flames has reached level. 5 ⁠— You have learned a new skill: Fallen Ember Bolt. Lvl. 1]

[Check your status for more information.]

I smiled from incredible surprise, especially given how great I felt. I could feel my mana dwindling but my body felt relaxed, and it was as if I wasn’t even injured. No motion caused me pain, but looking at my body I could still see the wounds even if they were closed by blood clots. It was a weird feeling. That said, I also felt like my flames had indeed improved⁠— though I could only tell simply by how fast the Prowl Reapers succumbed to them rather than something else. The air felt warm, almost boiling, yet it was pleasant, and closing my eyes and seeing the words⁠—

New skill… It was perfect. I could already instinctually feel a nagging feeling on how to use it.

I basked in the feeling of [Fallen Embers] for a bit before finally shutting them off. The cave became dull and unexciting as the light from my helmet illuminated a small part of it. I thought about the name of the new skill, Fallen Ember Bolt, somehow I felt like I could get more information about it, and sure enough, after thinking of wanting to know more, I did. Though, it was almost like a sense, all I knew now was that it was a:

A fire projectile?

It wasn’t very descriptive, but at least I now knew what it was exactly. I could attack things from range now, which just made me happy. I smiled to myself and moved over to reach from a journal. Just as I took a step a deep bellow entered my ears. I froze stiff as I craned my head in the direction of the opening, and a beast that was as tall as me rushed through it. I didn’t recognize it for a moment. It was familiar but its size was big. It was much more intimidating too, and it even had more teeth⁠— many more teeth.

[(Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 7]

It wasn’t a Prowl Reaper.

My mind whirred for a moment before I readied my pickaxe and triggered [Fallen Embers]. In an instant, I exploded into blue flames and the Prowling Harvester rushed.

* * * * *

Endrar couldn’t help but curse the hollow itself. The mines had been his life for well over twenty years, he had seen many people come and go. However, even though he had been here for so long, he couldn’t believe what he was doing, especially after the interaction that had happened well over a day ago. He couldn’t care less for the Sybil girl, she was an orphan abandoned by her father at the camp, her only possession was a mysterious journal.

At some point the Overseer had taken interest in the girl, perhaps that’s why she was able to read and write unlike other folk in the mines. But even then, Endrar couldn’t wrap his head around things, about the situation that had occurred. He had warned her, and she still ventured deep into the mines, and that was… fine. It should’ve been the end of it really, but for some hollowed forsaken reason, the Overseer commanded him to retrieve her.

If Endrar was being truthful, then he sort of got it. It was related to her journal, something that was once mistaken for a Third Grade Relic, then a Fourth Grade, then an Artificial Grade⁠— it was a mysterious thing. A book that only showed its contents so long as she was present, and its contents were rich. The Overseer also believed it hid a lot of things and secrets. Endrar had only managed to read a single page over the Overseer’s shoulder, but that was all he needed. It spoke of legends, it also spoke of those that had forsaken humanity.

The Ascended. Wizards, Defiers, Heretics.

They had many names, but one thing was in common, they all had turned their back on the humans to gain a higher power. They wished to be selfish and try to take the power of the Golden Era for themselves. They were universally acknowledged as the enemy of humanity, and based on rumors even other races had their versions of Ascended that they too hated.

The Region of Armag Hollow had seen a single Ascended in the past three-hundred years, and the capital city of Prowelwater had executed him on the spot by using its Second Grade Relic. Endrad didn’t know what it was, all he knew was that the Relics taken from the mines served a greater purpose for humanity, each and every single one was a cause to be celebrated. There were rumors, gossip that they served to protect Armag Hollow, it was an isolated region after all, separated by vast land and oceans from other human colonies.

At some point in history it was believed that Armag Hollow was all of humanity, that was until the Mayor of Prowelwater had arrived ⁠— an elf, a race that stood much higher than Humans and was only seen in legends. He, the Mayor, educated the people and restructured the region to be more efficient and overall more humane. It baffled Endrad, but he had met the Mayor as a child and he deeply believed that at his hands, humans could live a peaceful end of the world. After all, the world was being consumed by a wretched thing slowly but surely.

However, that didn’t concern Endrad. At most, it was food for thought. Matter of fact was that the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow had become his life. He couldn’t remember much of the city, however that didn’t mean he actually liked venturing into the mines.

He snorted as he walked through the darkness, wearing the Spectral Glass on his eye as he traced the footsteps. They appeared to be white imprints on his vision, white things with a wisping aura that floated into the air before disappearing. It was the power of an Artificial Relic. An item, much like other things he wore, but he felt apprehensive. If it was to break, the Overseer wouldn’t be kind. Unlike all the other Artificial Relics on his person, this one entered in the second grade category. Just like normal relics, Artificial Relics had the same ranking amongst them, just an inner one, and Endrad feared the consequences.

It was worth mentioning that even the best of Artificial Relics couldn’t match a Fourth Grade one. If Endrad were to break a Fourth Grade Relic, then the consequences were unimaginable. Thankfully, he would never have access to one.

He was about five years away from retirement, but if the Spectral Glass broke, that number would most likely increase to ten. He was at the mercy of the Overseer. That’s why, the longer he walked the uneasier he felt, normally he wouldn’t have cared. He had slain numerous monsters from the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow throughout his life. Now though, the fear of breaking the Artificial Relic kept him on edge.

An hour later, he saw more tracks than ever, more footsteps, a garbled mess of them. However he also saw black blood and different markings, small like claws, multitudes of them. Endrad frowned.

Prowl Reapers.

He also saw a backpack, but after examination he found nothing. It was odd but he ignored it. Instead, he readied himself to battle as he traced the footsteps. He was apprehensive about what the Overseer would say upon learning that Sybil was dead, but it wasn’t something that he could do something about. With that in mind, Endrad simply walked forward on guard of any Prowl Reaper that dared to approach, he was apprehensive to get in battle. However…

Nothing came.

He followed the footsteps to a fissure on the wall, where all of them led, the girl’s and the beasts alike. Endrad hesitated for a moment, but unfortunately he had to retrieve the girl’s journal. After a deep breath he ducked and slowly waddled himself through the fissure in the wall. It was a slow and tedious process that pained him, but he had trained for such scenarios, and after a lot of struggle, he made it.

He rolled into the chamber at the other side ready to battle only to pause. He saw black blood, but also two corpses. There was nothing but curiosity as he slowly approached them, they were just black ⁠— charred. Under the azure light of the chamber Endrad felt odd, until finally, he reached them.

He examined them for a few moments and finally confirmed his suspicions.

They were dead Prowl Reapers.

He turned to the mess in the room and examined the bloody skid marks around. He could picture the girl frantically turning and wrestling with the beasts, though in no way did he ever think she’d win. Then he looked at the footsteps and saw them leading to a podium and that’s when he realized.

Sybil found a Relic.

And she was missing, and was very clearly alive.

Endrad frowned in an instant as he looked at shattered glass on the ground. It didn’t take long before he came to a conclusion. She was trying to steal from the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow, taking what was theirs. But more importantly, she was taking from all of the humanity in the region. Endrad closed his eyes. He had found nothing but news for the Overseer.

News that could possibly elicit a hunting party to recover the Relic.