Elara noted Selly’s emergence from the tunnel, her form a dark silhouette in the faint light. Esme stood up, her steps slow and deliberate as she approached the tunnel’s opening. Elara and the others followed suit.
“The tunnel’s full of cobwebs,” Selly reported, her voice cutting through the tension. “The deeper you go, the thicker they get, covering every surface. It's not awfully sticky, and I tried to lure the spider or whatever created it out, but it was quiet. It didn't react to movement on the cobweb.”
As she spoke, Elara noticed the fine strands of cobweb clinging to her clothing and hair, a ghostly reminder of her exploration. The group fell silent, each member processing the information in their own way.
Selly took a moment and brushed off the remnants of cobweb from her sleeve. "I didn't go too far in, just enough to get a sense of the layout. It's a straight tunnel for a while, then it starts to twist and turn."
Gilvanis broke the silence, his voice monotone as he spoke. "Did you try to burn it?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Selly. "Maybe we should do that."
Elara could see the appeal of using fire to clear the way, but something about the idea made her uneasy.
Kael spoke up, his voice firm and authoritative. "No," he said, shaking his head. "Burning the webs might fill the tunnel with smoke and make it difficult for us to breathe."
She listened as Kael continued his instructions. "Since Selly says it's not impossible to walk on the cobwebs, we should do just that," he said, his voice carrying a note of determination. "We'll walk in groups again, just as we did before."
A twinge of disappointment settled in her chest. She had hoped to stay with Esme and Tirn, finding comfort in their familiar presence. But at least she would still be together with Ignatius and Isolde. It was a slight consolation, but one she clung to nonetheless.
Kael turned his attention to Ignatius, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Be careful with your fire," he warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ignatius's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. He responded with a curt, "Of course," his voice clipped and sharp. A hint of indignation flickered in his eyes, as if the very idea of being careless with his flames was an insult to his abilities.
As the group divided into their assigned teams, she gravitated towards Ignatius and Isolde. Velma joined them, her presence a welcome addition to their small unit.
She looked at Esme as she turned towards them one last time before entering the tunnel, waving in their direction. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she returned the gesture. Tirn, stoic as ever, simply nodded at them, his attention focused on the entrance where he waited patiently for Esme. Scout Selly and Josephine stood beside him.
As the first group disappeared into the darkness, an eerie silence settled over the chamber. Minutes ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity as she strained her ears for any sign of disturbance. But the tunnel remained quiet.
Finally, the second group prepared to enter, with Arthur at the forefront, his light stone illuminating the way. Kael exchanged a meaningful nod with Isolde before vanishing into the shadows, the rest of his team following close behind.
Isolde turned to their group, her voice calm and authoritative as she outlined their formation. "Ignatius and Velma, I want you at the front again," she said, her gaze steady and unwavering. The two nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination.
As they waited to embark on their own journey, Elara found herself studying Isolde more closely. The woman was undeniably beautiful, with laugh lines etched into her face that hinted at a life filled with joy and experience. Her eyes were drawn to a peculiar handle at Isolde's hip, a wooden stick that she had ignored before. It seemed unremarkable at first glance, but as she looked closer, she spotted a thick chain extending from the underside, snaking its way towards Isolde's back.
Curiosity piqued, she followed the chain's path; her gaze settling on a spiked metal ball at the other end. Recognition dawned on her—it must be a flail. As her eyes traced the wooden handle once more, she recognized something etched on its surface. Her vision began to shift, the familiar sensation of her Novice Glyph Insight activating as she focused on the markings.
But just as she was about to catch a glimpse of the glyph's purpose, Isolde moved, obscuring the handle from her sight. The moment was lost, leaving her unsatisfied.
"It is time," Isolde said, her voice calm. Ignatius and Velma stepped forward, their movements deliberate as they made their way into the tunnel's entrance.
Isolde motioned for Elara to walk in front of her, a silent command that brooked no argument. Elara stepped into the unknown, the darkness enveloping her like a heavy cloak. As they ventured deeper, the light from the cavern they had left behind faded, Ignatius's fire flickering out of existence. For a moment, they were plunged into complete darkness, a suffocating void that pressed in on them from all sides. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she fought the rising tide of panic. But just as quickly as it had disappeared, light bloomed once more, emanating from the tip of Ignatius's staff. The soft glow illuminated their surroundings, casting long shadows on the rough-hewn walls.
They walked forward, their footsteps echoing in the narrow passage. The air grew thick and heavy, a musty scent permeating the space. As they progressed, there was a change in their surroundings. Cobwebs appeared more frequently, their gossamer strands clinging to the walls and ceiling in ever-increasing numbers. At first, the webs were sparse, barely noticeable in the dim light. But as they continued, the webs grew denser, their intricate patterns weaving a tapestry of silk and shadow. The strands brushed against their skin, a ghostly caress that sent shivers down her spine.
Ignatius held his staff aloft, the light from its tip casting an eerie glow on the cobwebs. But there was something unsettling about their beauty. She glanced over her shoulder, seeking reassurance from Isolde's presence. As they pressed on, the cobwebs grew thicker, their strands clinging to their clothing and hair. Each step became more laborious, the webs tugging at their feet like invisible hands. The air grew heavier, the musty scent intensifying with each passing moment. As they ventured deeper into the tunnel, the cobwebs grew thicker, just as Selly had described. Her unease mounted with each step, the ground beneath her feet now completely obscured by the dense web. She couldn't shake the feeling that anything could lurk beneath the gossamer veil, hidden from sight and waiting to strike.
Suddenly, Isolde's hand clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her back. "Stop!" Isolde hissed, her voice cutting through the eerie silence. Ignatius and Velma froze, their eyes scanning the surroundings. Velma's hand instinctively went to her short sword, drawing it from its sheath.
"What is it?" Ignatius asked, his voice low and tense.
Isolde's brow furrowed. "I heard a noise."
They waited, straining their ears for any sign of movement or sound. But the tunnel remained eerily quiet, the only sound the pounding of their own hearts.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Could it be the group ahead of us?" Velma ventured, her grip tightening on her sword.
Isolde shook her head, her eyes wide with alarm. "No, it sounded like the snap of a bowstring."
As the words left her lips, the ground beneath them suddenly gave way. The cobwebs shattered with a sickening snap, plunging them into a dark abyss. Ignatius cursed loudly, his fire extinguishing in an instant, leaving them engulfed in complete darkness.
Elara's heart pounded in her chest as her instincts kicked in. She reached out with her mind, desperately trying to use her voidwalk to escape the fall. But before she could complete the skill, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close with a forceful grip. The unexpected contact disrupted her skill, rendering the voidwalk ineffective.
The sudden drop sent a wave of terror through her as they plunged into the dark abyss. Her body slammed against someone’s chest, their arm tightening around her, holding her firm as they fell. She squinted into the blackness, but it was impenetrable—nothing but an endless void. The wind howled past her, a deafening roar that swallowed her thoughts, each second of free fall stretching her panic to the breaking point.
She guessed it was Isolde who had grabbed her—she had been the only one nearby moments before. The warmth of another body against her own provided a fleeting sense of comfort in the chaos. Yet, the fear of what awaited in the unseen depths below gnawed at her, chipping away at her resolve with every passing second.
The fall seemed to last an eternity, each second stretching out as they tumbled deeper into the void. Her mind raced with possibilities of what awaited them at the bottom—jagged rocks, a hidden lake, or some unspeakable horror. She tightened her grip on the arm around her, holding on for dear life.
Suddenly, the sensation of free falling shifted. They slammed into something soft but unyielding, a mass of tangled webs that broke their fall but ensnared them like flies. The impact knocked the wind out of her, and she gasped for breath, struggling against the sticky strands that clung to her skin and clothes.
"Isolde?" she called out, her voice trembling with fear and urgency.
"I'm here," came the muffled reply, the relief palpable in her tone. "Hold on."
Elara nodded, though she knew Isolde couldn't see her. The darkness still pressed in around them, but the immediate terror of falling had subsided. Now, they had to contend with whatever lay in wait within the depths of this subterranean trap. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and decay, and faint, unsettling noises echoed through the cavern—sounds that hinted they were not alone.
Isolde's voice pierced the darkness, her cry urgent and commanding. "Ignatius! Light up the sky, but don't fry us!"
Elara's heart raced as she heard Velma's muffled curses nearby. Suddenly, a serpentine tongue of fire burst forth, illuminating the cavern a few meters to her right. As the flames climbed higher, casting an eerie glow on their surroundings, Elara's eyes widened in shock. They found themselves in another cavern, its walls and ceiling once again draped in a thick tapestry of cobwebs. The gossamer strands seemed to stretch endlessly, a labyrinth of silk and shadow that threatened to ensnare them further. She instinctively tried to sit up, desperate to assess their situation and find a way out. But as she shifted her weight, she felt Isolde sink deeper into the webs beneath them, the sticky strands clinging to their bodies like a second skin.
"Stay still," Isolde warned, her voice low and tense.
Elara froze, her muscles tensing as she realized the precariousness of their position. Any sudden movement could entangle them further, trapping them in a web of their own making. She forced herself to take shallow breaths, her chest rising and falling in a controlled rhythm as she fought the rising tide of panic. The fire continued to dance, its flickering light casting long shadows on the cavern walls. In the dim glow, she could make out the shapes of her companions. Ignatius was lying on his back with his staff held aloft as he maintained the flames, a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Velma crouched nearby. She must have landed on her feet, her short sword drawn and ready, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. And Isolde, still pressed against Elara, her arm wrapped protectively around her waist, a silent reassurance that they were in this together. Elara saw Velma scanning their surroundings, her eyes darting from one side of the cavern to another. With a determined stride, Velma made her way over to Ignatius, who lay entangled in the sticky webs. She reached out and grasped his outstretched arm, her grip firm.
"Hold still," Velma commanded, her voice cutting through the eerie silence. With her free hand, she began to hack at the cobwebs that held Ignatius captive, her short sword slicing through the strands.
As she worked, Velma glanced at Ignatius, a flicker of an idea crossing her face. "Can you heat up the tip of my sword?" she asked, her eyes locked on his.
Ignatius nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Yes, but it will heat up the entire weapon," he warned, his voice strained. "If you do not have enough resistance to heat, it will hurt to hold."
Velma's jaw clenched, a steely resolve settling over her features. "I don't care," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Do it."
Ignatius focused his attention on Velma's sword, and within moments, the blade glowed; the metal taking on a slight orange hue. The heat emanated from the weapon, a palpable presence in the damp air of the cavern. Velma gripped the sword tightly, ignoring the searing pain that must have been coursing through her hand. With renewed determination, she continued to cut through the webs, the heated blade slicing through the strands with ease.
Elara stared in awe, her heart pounding in her chest as she witnessed Velma's tenacity. She turned to Isolde, who still held her close, and whispered, "Should I try to cut us out too?"
Isolde shook her head, her voice low and steady. "No, let's wait for Velma to do it," she said, her eyes fixed on their companion's progress. "We don't want to risk getting more tangled or drawing attention to ourselves."
Elara nodded, understanding the wisdom in Isolde's words. They watched as Velma worked tirelessly, the glow of the heated sword casting an eerie light on her determined face. The cobwebs fell away, one by one, as Ignatius emerged from his sticky prison. He stood up, brushing off the remnants of the sticky webs that clung to his robes. He held his staff aloft, the flames at its tip casting a warm light on his face as he surveyed their surroundings. Velma wasted no time, striding purposefully towards Elara and Isolde, her heated sword still gripped tightly in her hand. As she approached, a slight grin spread across her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she took in their compromising position.
"Well, well, well," Velma drawled, her voice dripping with mirth. "Don't you two look cozy?"
Isolde sighed, a mixture of exasperation and relief evident in her tone. "Just get us out of here, Velma," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. Velma chuckled, already setting to work on cutting through the webs that held them captive. The heated blade sliced through the strands with ease, the threads sizzling and curling away from the searing metal. Isolde remained still, her arm wrapped around Elara's waist as Velma cut away the webs that bound them together. There was a comfort in the closeness. Velma's heated sword sliced through the remaining webs, the strands sizzling and curling away as she worked. With a final flourish, she cut away the last of the sticky threads that held Elara and Isolde captive.
Velma stood before them, her hand outstretched, a smile playing on her lips. Elara grasped her hand, feeling the strength and surety in her grip as she helped her to her feet. She wobbled slightly, her legs unsteady as she now stood on webs again, but Velma's firm hold kept her upright. As soon as she was stable, Velma turned her attention to Isolde, who was still partially entangled in the webs. With a deft movement, Velma grasped Isolde's hand and pulled her up, the remaining strands snapping and falling away as Isolde rose to her feet.
Velma stepped back, a satisfied smirk on her face as she surveyed her handiwork. "There you go," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of pride and amusement. "Good as new."
Isolde nodded her thanks to Velma, a moment of camaraderie passing between them. Elara watched the exchange, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. They were free from the webs.
Ignatius approached them, his staff glowing with the warm light of his flames. "Is everyone alright?" he asked, his eyes scanning each of them.
Elara nodded, her voice finding its way back to her. "I think so," she said, her gaze drifting to the thick cobwebs that still draped the cavern walls. "But what now? We can't go back the way we came."
Isolde's brow furrowed, her mind already working on a solution. "We press forward," she said, her voice steady and determined. "We have no choice but to find another way."
Velma hefted her short sword, the blade still glowing with heat. “Ignatius, you keep that light going. We want no more surprises,” she said, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.
Ignatius nodded, his grip tightening on his staff. "Of course," he said, the flames at the tip of his staff flaring brighter in response.
Elara felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Isolde standing beside her, a reassuring smile on her face. "Stay close to me," Isolde said, her voice low and comforting.