Ebonheim and the others followed Lilin and her cohort of miners deeper into the mountainside, past the main mining chambers, and finally arrived at the deeper excavations. The passages here grew narrower and more constricted as they descended into the earth. At one point, they had to stoop to avoid hitting their heads on the low ceiling.
Evelyne's mech squeezed through the cramped confines like a lump of food passing along someone's throat, clanking and groaning as Orby struggled with every step. Ebonheim chuckled at the sight. She wouldn't admit it aloud, but she found Evelyne's struggles quite humorous despite herself.
Eventually, they reached the newly uncovered tunnel and the murky pool of water near its entrance.
"It's been a couple of weeks since we made this discovery..." Lilin began explaining. "And so far, we haven't detected anything unusual about this area. No sounds or signs that anything lives further in. Nor have we sensed any strange magic. So, today's goal will be to explore this route till we either reach its end or find something of interest..."
As Lilin briefed them on their plans, Ebonheim turned her gaze toward the pitch-black gap yawning wide behind the pool. Her intuition tingled at the sight...but nothing came to mind. If something lurked deep within...she could not detect its presence from where she stood.
Perhaps her instincts were mistaken.
Once Lilin finished speaking, several miners stepped forward with pickaxes and shovels. They started chipping away at the wall surrounding the tunnel's edge, slowly expanding the opening. After only ten minutes of effort, they'd managed to widen the gap enough for everyone to pass through with ease—including Orby.
Afterwards, Ebonheim and company moved ahead first. The miners stayed behind to finish securing the entrance and setting up lights before catching up later on. Lilin and two others volunteered to accompany them instead, lighting the path forward with enchanted lamps.
"We've always wanted to show you how we work, goddess...but we never had a proper opportunity to do so before," Lilin explained sheepishly as she led their group onward. "Whenever you visit our outpost...everything is already set up and running smoothly. Hardly the same as when we're first starting to mine an area."
Ebonheim chuckled softly at her words. "Well...it's not like I come down here often anyway. Usually only during times of importance or emergency situations. And I tend to leave everything else to you and Brevin to handle. You two seem more than capable of keeping things under control. I trust you both entirely."
Lilin nodded happily at her response. "Thank you. We're glad to hear such words from our patron herself. Truly..." Then she paused momentarily as she glanced backward. "Er...what's wrong with your companions back there?"
"Hm?" Ebonheim tilted her head curiously at Lilin's odd question. Upon turning around, however, she immediately understood why.
Both Orin and Serelle seemed distracted by their surroundings; peering closely at every surface they passed. Every now and again, they paused briefly to inspect certain sections before continuing on their way. All throughout this process, Serelle occasionally jotted notes into a notebook while muttering under her breath.
"Oh...those two?" Ebonheim asked in surprise. "Well...they're scholars. I guess they're just studying the environment we're in. Taking note of our surroundings and all that. I'm not sure why...since nothing stands out to me. But I assume whatever they're doing must serve some sort of academic purpose."
"Hmm..." Lilin gave a small grunt before facing forward again. "If you say so. Doesn't sound terribly exciting to me," she murmured to herself. Then louder she said aloud, "Scholars, eh? Must be an interesting lifestyle. We mostly live by our muscles and instincts out here. Granted, there's more to mining than meets the eye...but not something I'd say requires such scholarly pursuits. Hmm hmm~"
Ebonheim couldn't help but chuckle at her remark. "I suppose so. Still...we should let them continue their research uninterrupted. It might benefit us somehow later on. Who knows? Perhaps they'll uncover something new about these tunnels that'll aid in our exploration efforts. Stranger things have happened, haven't they?"
Lilin hummed in agreement. "Fair point. Let's keep moving forward for now then..."
With that, the group continued their trek through the cavernous depths...taking only brief stops to allow the trailing miners to catch up to their position. Occasionally, they halted when Lilin spotted potential ore veins. Each time she marked the site with chalk before urging everyone onward once more.
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"I still can't believe you didn't let me bring a carrier automaton," Orin grumbled to Serelle as he carried his pack over his shoulder. "So inconvenient. Everything is heavy and cumbersome! And hot! Why do these tunnels have to be so blasted warm?! Ugh!" He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
Serelle glanced back with raised eyebrows but refrained from saying anything beyond an apologetic look. She merely patted him sympathetically upon his arm as they walked side by side. It seemed she knew better than to engage him when he got in such moods.
Orby's metal legs clanked loudly against the rocky ground. The noise echoed throughout the darkened confines of the narrow passage, mingling with the sound of other footfalls nearby.
A haughty laugh came from within the mech. "Tsk tsk. So feeble~! You'd think a renowned Artificer such as yourself would have a little more endurance! Ohohoho~" Evelyne chided teasingly from within Orby's cockpit. "Should I take those packs from you? I wouldn't want your fragile limbs to snap like twigs beneath all that weight."
"Shut up," Orin snapped without turning around. He gritted his teeth and ignored her. "At least I don't reek of lavender every waking moment. Does your obsession with that fragrance know no bounds?! Bah!"
"It's called class," Evelyne retorted smugly. "Something which you severely lack~"
As their bickering continued unabated, Lilin muttered under her breath. "...Are they always like this...?"
"Unfortunately...yes," Ebonheim answered, a weary sigh escaping her lips. Serelle nodded silently at her side as if in agreement.
"Aren't they supposed to be the guild masters of their respective crafts? The elite? Hmmm..." Lilin scratched at her earlobe idly and shook her head in disgust. "How undignified..."
Ebonheim chuckled half-heartedly at her remark. "It takes some getting used to...but believe me, there's more to them than what meets the eye. Despite how they act...they're quite good at what they do. And reliable too...usually. Just give them time to adjust. Once they get serious, I assure you, you'll forget about all this nonsense."
"Really?" Lilin raised an eyebrow dubiously. "If you say so. Though I must admit I've never seen two adults argue so...so childishly before..." Then she cringed as Evelyne's voice rang out louder than usual. "Ugh...her screeching hurts my ears. And why does she have to constantly go on about such frivolous matters...?"
Ebonheim smiled wryly at that. "Another quirk of hers I'm afraid. She can be quite fussy at times. Perhaps a tad overly concerned with personal appearance and proper conduct. She doesn't like being seen in an imperfect state. But again, she does have her merits. When she gets down to business...it's truly a sight to behold."
"If she gets anything done with how picky she is..." Lilin murmured skeptically before trailing off into silence.
In due time, Orin and Evelyne ceased their verbal sparring. They soon returned to inspecting the cave walls, and Serelle joined in their examination with her own observations. Lilin raised an eyebrow at this shift but held her tongue for now as she led onward at a measured pace. This allowed their miner cohorts to keep up without undue strain; even halting occasionally so they may check certain areas thoroughly before moving onward again.
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"Cave spiders? Really?" Ebonheim asked curiously, tilting her head slightly to one side as she stared at Lilin.
"About as big as your hand..." Lilin replied, holding out her palm for reference. Her fingers wiggled slightly. "...but they're harmless creatures. Our light scares them off, but sometimes we run into them when working. They don't bother anyone unless threatened...so please don't squash them or anything if you happen to stumble on one."
"Interesting," Serelle remarked, adjusting her glasses while examining the faint web patterns left behind on the cavernous surfaces nearby. "Do these spiders make good eating? I presume they taste quite gamey given how desolate this place must be. Any edible qualities worth noting? Fat content? Are certain parts more flavorful than others? Do your cooks have a special method to preparing their meat? If so, could I trouble you to ask for their recipes? This seems like something worth researching further...yes indeed..."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Lilin stared blankly at her for several seconds before blinking. "W-what...? Err...that's...not something I ever considered before..." She shifted uncomfortably under Serelle's steady gaze; the faintest hint of discomfort flickered across her features. Then she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I'm afraid I have no answers for you right now...but if you wish...I could ask around? I'm sure someone out there has tried cooking with them at least once. If anything comes up...I'll let you know immediately, okay?" She turned to face forward again afterward and resumed guiding them without further comment.
Orin, meanwhile, let out an exasperated groan at Serelle's words. He rubbed his temple tiredly before speaking. "We're not going to eat bugs here. If you're hungry, Serelle, just snack on the rations I brought along in my bag."
He reached into his satchel and retrieved a small bundle wrapped in cloth. Unwrapping the package revealed several biscuits and bread rolls inside. These he offered to Serelle with a polite gesture.
"Thank you," Serelle said gratefully as she took one. "But...isn't a spider technically an arachnid? Hmm...it isn't exactly a bug." Her tone sounded thoughtful as if mulling over the distinction carefully. "...And they're a novel food source. No harm in experimenting to satisfy my curiosity. Perhaps we can learn something new from such a venture. Besides, if we gather enough specimens—"
She paused as she bit into her biscuit mid-sentence and chewed slowly before continuing. "As I was saying...if we gather enough specimens...we may even discover useful applications for these...spiders. Perhaps we may find other ways to use their silk or venom. Or perhaps their bodily fluids contain medicinal properties. Many unknowns exist here. Worth investigating at minimum, wouldn't you agree?"
Before Orin could respond however, Evelyne cut in with a laugh. "Medicines and other potions have never required spider parts before. What would be the point of adding another ingredient? Unless you plan to create a potion specifically made to deal with arachnid-related issues?"
"Well...there could be additional benefits," Serelle admitted sheepishly. Her eyebrows knitted together as she pondered further aloud. "And certain poisons can serve as remedies in controlled dosages. It'd be an intriguing study either way."
Ebonheim simply smiled as she listened in on the conversation. It didn't take long for them to fall into their usual banter once more as they delved deeper into the caves.
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Another four hours passed uneventfully as they trekked onward into the depths...until eventually they came upon a large underground clearing filled with stalagmites and stalactites jutting from both the floor and ceiling. Hundreds of pale pink crystals adorned the walls—glowing faintly in the dim light cast by their enchanted lamps.
Tiny droplets of moisture dripped down onto the stone surfaces below and collected within shallow puddles scattered across the uneven ground. Thin rivulets ran along cracks and crevices and disappeared beneath the surface; while elsewhere they gathered together and formed larger streams and pools within depressions in the rock face. In many places, mineral deposits coated the rocky surroundings in vibrant hues—ranging from deep violet to brilliant turquoise and even bright orange; each possessing a lustrous shine under their lamplight.
It almost reminded Ebonheim of a massive natural cathedral or temple...albeit one devoid of life save for mosses, fungi and other tiny plants clinging to damp surfaces wherever sufficient nourishment could be gleaned.
"Whoa..." Ebonheim murmured softly in awe at the sight before her. "...this is incredible..."
Lilin hummed curiously before answering her. "...Oh? Is this your first time visiting such a place? We often come across spaces like this within the mining complex. Some are smaller. Others larger. Though...rarely do we ever come across anything quite this...enchanting. I would've preferred to show you something like this under different circumstances...but alas...our duty calls..."
"No no...it's fine!" Ebonheim assured her with a shake of her head and a gentle laugh. A broad smile tugged at her lips as she surveyed the marvelous vista. She ran her fingertips across the nearby rock wall absentmindedly as she admired its beauty further. Her skin tingled faintly at the sensation—perhaps due to the subtle ambient magic infused into the crystal formations...?
If nothing else, their faint glow created a cozy atmosphere within the otherwise dark and foreboding space surrounding them. Even though their group carried plenty of illumination to see clearly enough—the ambience provided by the crystals themselves imbued the space with an indescribable sense of wonderment and warmth that permeated everything around them.
"Ahem." Lilin coughed politely after several moments passed without further comment from her audience. "In any case...this area should make for a good resting spot. Let's stop here and set up camp before resuming our exploration."
With that said, their group immediately set about erecting tents and other temporary shelters within the massive open area. Meanwhile, Ebonheim helped Serelle collect water samples from various locations throughout the grotto—dripping from stalactites high above, pooling into shallow basins carved into the rocky terrain below or accumulating in small streams trickling down along the cave walls.
They placed these into vials which Serelle carefully labeled according to their source before placing them securely inside her backpack alongside the rest of her research materials.
"What exactly are you hoping to discover with this experiment?" Ebonheim inquired while they worked together.
"Hmmm..." Serelle tapped her chin pensively as she examined another filled vial. "The water quality in certain sections may differ depending on their proximity to the crystals here. It's possible we might find traces of their essence infused within the droplets themselves. Who knows? Perhaps the crystals themselves hold unusual properties as well. They are reacting lightly to my Mage Sight...though I can't discern what elements may lie embedded within them. Mayhaps an interesting subject to examine in detail at another point in time. Yes...indeed..."
A soft murmur escaped her lips as she fell back into contemplative rumination once more—apparently satisfied with her initial findings thus far.
"Ma déesse~ Could you assist me for a moment over here?" Evelyne called out from inside Orby. The top hatch to the mech popped open noisily—a hissing sound filling the air as steam spewed forth from the opening. "J-just need a hand getting out! Mmmmphh!! Merde...stupid...hatch..."
Ebonheim raised an eyebrow before turning around and walking toward her. "Are you alright in there?" she asked in amusement as she approached.
Evelyne stuck her head out through the hatch; her face red and flustered as sweat dripped down her brow. "Yes! I'm fine! Just...having a little trouble climbing out...It's...it's not built for people my size..." she admitted sheepishly. "Can you give me a lift perhaps? Je t'en prie~" she added in a sweet tone as she batted her eyelashes endearingly.
Ebonheim let out a quiet laugh at her plight. "Alright. I'll pull you out."
She climbed onto Orby's back and positioned herself directly above the cockpit hatch, gripping the edges firmly with both hands; leaning her weight backward slightly to ensure she wouldn't lose her balance during this operation. She reached down with both hands and grasped Evelyne's outstretched arms before pulling hard.
After a few awkward attempts at pulling her free however, Ebonheim paused momentarily. "Your legs got stuck in there or something?"
Evelyne's face turned an even darker shade of scarlet at the question. She remained silent for several seconds before replying meekly. "M-maaaybe..." she whispered under her breath. "This stupid thing wasn't built to fit my hips!!! Ughhhh!!!" she groaned loudly out of frustration as she squirmed about within the cramped confines of her mech's interior. "Just...pull harder, s'il vous plaît..."
A faint snicker left Ebonheim as she began tugging once again—using more force than before this time around; all while Evelyne wiggled her hips back and forth within the cockpit...before finally popping loose!
"Pah!" With a sharp jerk backwards, Ebonheim fell onto her back with Evelyne on top of her—both laying sprawled beneath the Aetherframe.
"Owww..." Ebonheim grumbled as she rubbed her sore rump; though otherwise uninjured thanks to her divinity.
Evelyne pushed herself upwards and rolled off of her with a grunt; rubbing her own rump gingerly as she muttered under her breath. "...S-sorry about that, ma déesse," she apologized hastily before helping Ebonheim to her feet.
Ebonheim dusted herself off and gave Evelyne a pat on the shoulder before turning back toward their campsite. "Let's eat," she suggested cheerfully. "It smells like they've already gotten started on our food supply. I bet they're cooking up something tasty right now."
They joined the others for a late lunch consisting of simple fare: salted pork, bread and cheese with a cup of weak ale to wash it down with. All in all, a rather dull affair despite Orin's best attempts at seasoning their meal with a bit of spice. Ebonheim barely minded though since eating was more of a pastime for her than anything else at this point.
Afterwards, Lilin announced they would continue on further into the cave system for another two hours before calling it a day. She also reminded everyone to stay alert at all times—pointing out several shadowy spots hidden amidst the dim light where monsters or creatures could potentially ambush them from.
So on they went—with their weapons close at hand and eyes scanning their surroundings diligently as they trekked forward once again.
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The air grew warmer as they descended deeper, prompting the miners to remove their helmets and shirts to cool off. The walls narrowed significantly too as they ventured further within the tunnel system. It became necessary to squeeze through gaps which required them to take off any bulky equipment first before proceeding ahead again.
Every so often, Orin would examine rocks and crystals discovered alongside their journey. He kept a collection in the small wooden box he carried by his hip and occasionally asked if he may stop to observe something interesting.
Serelle obliged him without complaint despite her obvious desire to investigate various flora growing from cracks and crevices lining these passages. She dutifully documented every new specimen encountered in her sketchbook after marking the page number where each particular species occurred upon a grid map of sorts.
Another hour passed uneventfully before they arrived at another large open area; albeit one much smaller than the previous cavern they'd stayed in.
Flickering lights from distant corners of the ceiling caught Ebonheim's attention first—it almost appeared as though stars sparkled overhead...if not for their size and irregular placement.
She stopped in her tracks as she spotted movement among the rocky crags above.
"Um...I don't suppose there might be bats around here?" Ebonheim asked slowly while pointing upward at the blinking luminescence beyond. "Like glowing bats...or perhaps fireflies...maybe?"
Lilin glanced upward with mild curiosity as she stepped around to stand beside Ebonheim. "Glowing bats? I don't think so...I've never heard of such a thing."
Orin glanced over in their direction upon hearing this and quickly adjusted his enchanted monocle. "I'd expect fungi or bioluminescent species to be present among stalactites. But neither emit blinking lights like that. Hmm..."
"Maybe bugs or critters?" Evelyne suggested nonchalantly from within Orby. "Something making its home up there somewhere. A nest or den perhaps."
"It looks too...big..." Ebonheim trailed off as she watched one particularly large cluster scuttle sideways before vanishing out of view once more. A vague sense of alarm began creeping within her while studying those strange silhouettes. "I'm gonna check things out closer."