Felix touched a symbol engraved into stone as the stone started to rumble he now stood in front of the giant stone boulder as it rolled, revealing the hidden entrance to the cavern. His runes glowed in the darkness through his clothing. He touched his arm as he clicked sparks appeared, turning to a flame, lighting the way. The cave opened up into a large cavern shaped into the rock. He choked the flame, dissipating it. The Undergrove was home to the Runics, a refuge. They escaped to the Undergrove to hide away from the Crimson Order. To survive they had to send Runics outside the cavern to gather supplies, they were nicknamed Runners. Not many made it back alive. But those who did were greatly honored. Felix was a Runner. He was the only reliable one who was trusted to make it back alive. The Cleansers were getting closer to finding the Runics every day, they didn’t have much time left. Having to travel further and further every day, increased the chance of getting caught, increased the chance of getting killed. Runners traveled in pairs Felix ventured with a blood mage Avery. Avery and Felix have known each other for as long as each of them could remember. As a blood mage, Avery needed to consume blood every day, or she would perish and transform into a Husk. Husks were soulless fiends that roamed the world of Thyclo and looked to quench their hunger for flesh. Felix loved Avery like a sister, they met when both of them trialed for Runners. Since then no one could separate them. They were the most famous duo in the Undergrove. However, that day was their least fruitful, having collected only two full bags of rations each, usually collecting six. Their clan was barely surviving. Every day losing more Runics than the last.

Avery called out,

”Hey, I’m going to wash off!” She gathered her belongings and started to head to the shower block. Felix sat in the training arena waiting for her.

Time passed and she returned. She was dressed in her training tunic, she moved her hair out of her face while saying,

”You ready to do this?” Felix chuckled,

”Was born ready.” Felix selected a wooden sword, Avery a spear. Avery inhaled and thrusted with the spear, Felix parried it away and tried to riposte hitting Avery square in the chest. She groaned in anger dropped the spear and stared at the ceiling, exhaled picked up the spear, and snarled,

”Again.” As she thrust forward with her spear.

Her spear hit the ground.

”Aves, we’ve been doing this for the past hour it’s getting late. Can we stop?” She sighed,

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”Yeah okay. I guess. I’m going to go wash off again.” Felix nodded.

Suddenly, Runics started yelling,

“S-Someone’s moving the stone!”

Panic erupted throughout the cavern. No one had ever moved the stone before. The air was filled with a mix of curiosity and fear. The stone groaned as it rolled over revealing the cave. Revealing. Cleansers.

Felix’s mind was racing not being able to think straight, the only thing he could think about was Avery, he had to find Avery. His legs burned with the pain, but he didn’t slow. Blocking out the sounds of pain and agony of Runics being slaughtered behind him, he couldn’t turn back.

They didn’t plan to take prisoners. She was nowhere to be found, not in the med bay, not in the armory, not anywhere. Fear set in his mind, tears started to stream down his face, as he continued to sprint. His mind couldn’t rid of the thought of, “She’s dead. She’s dead. She’s dead. It's all my fault. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!" The last place was the housing complex. He kicked the door down, and called out,

“AVERY!”

“Felix?!”

“If you’re there, help me!” Clashing noises began to get louder. As he ascended the staircase he saw a cleanser with Avery pinned against a wall.

Felix muttered, “Fucker.”

As he swung for the Cleanser’s head with a scimitar. The blade connected with the cleanser’s throat as they dropped, gurgling and choking on their blood as it spilled from their throat, as they held it trying desperately to keep it from spilling anymore. Eventually, they dropped as Avery gasped for air. Choking, she went to speak as Felix quickly embraced her. As he sobbed,

“I thought you were dead!”

“I’m okay.”

He sniffled and wiped the tears away with his sleeve. “I know. I’m glad.”

The stairs creaked as footsteps paced up them. Felix snapped around and readied his scimitar, touching a rune and sliding his hand across the blade as it turned ember red. Avery crossed her arms touching two runes simultaneously as her hands glowed a dark red. Several Cleansers filed from out of the staircase scythes ready. Avery thrusted her hands forward blood shooting from her palms. Sending two of the Cleansers flying against the wall both dropping their scythes. She raised an eyebrow at Felix.

“Your turn.”

Felix chuckled, as he threw his sword into the chest of a Cleanser, causing him to stumble back as Felix kicked the burning sword further into the cleanser’s body. As the body dropped Felix ripped the sword out. Then stabbed it down onto one of the prone cleansers. Reacting to this a Cleanser swung his scythe at Felix, slicing his chest open, Felix fell to his knee, and they followed with a large overhead strike, but Avery interrupted their attack and sent them spiraling across the room. As the Cleanser hit the floor they screamed in agony as the blood began to draw from their body, absorbing into Avery’s hands. The last Cleanser on the floor began crawling weakly towards their scythe.

Felix sauntered over to the Cleanser and sliced the body’s back open. The Ceanser groaned in pain but didn’t have enough strength to scream or react. Covered in blood and holding his gaping chest, Felix walks off as he says,

“Let’s go help the others.”