Talax inspected their temporary shelter, a large cave chamber that could comfortably house the three of them. The walls were jagged and rough, with small crevices and niches where tiny creatures could hide. Moss and mushrooms dotted the cave walls, giving off a soft green and brown glow that illuminated the space. He noticed a small, shadowy opening in the deepest recesses of the dark cavern, but before he could investigate further, sweet and savory smells assaulted his senses.
“Come join us. The menu for tonight is quail with walnuts and crushed potatoes. As for dessert, blueberry pie! I think we've earned a little treat!” Franny announced and Qalo clacked his tusks impatiently as drool slobbered all over his chest. Talax was about to drool himself, when he heard his stomach growling in protest.
“Mmmm, my stomach seems to agree. It sounds like Qalo when he's sleeping!” Ferdinand laughed as he cut the pie into pieces. The aroma of the blueberries and cinnamon wafted through the cave, making Talax's mouth water. Qalo protested with a “Hey!” but forgot all about the insult and watched with rapt attention as Franny divided the food into equal portions.
“Hey, that's not fair! I'm bigger, I should get a bigger piece!” The half orc complained. Franny stopped with the knife midair and went to cut him a bigger piece until Talax intervened.
“No, no, no! Forget it! You already had half a fox! And you didn't even think to share!” Qalo, with unexpected speed, went to retrieve the dead fox. The smell of blood mixed with the aroma of the food, making Talax's stomach turn. He presented the half-eaten animal, with blood dripping on the ground, to Talax.
“Here, you can have it.” Talax, trying not to throw up, pushed the carcass away. “No thank you. Now sit down and be quiet.” The orc begrudgingly flopped down and waited with his hands outstretched, his fingers wiggling like a five-year-old asking for his favorite toy.
Franny snickered as he handed over the hot, steaming food. The savory aroma wafted through the air, tantalizing their senses and making their stomachs growl with anticipation. They eagerly tore into the food, savoring every bite and licking their fingers clean. The sound of their burps echoed around the cavern, a testament to the deliciousness of their meal.
After dinner, they unrolled their bedrolls, exchanging a few words in hushed tones. As they drifted off to sleep, the sounds of the cave whispered in their ears, a lullaby of echoing drips and the soft whisper of the falling rain.
At an undetermined time later, Talax woke up to complete darkness. For a few seconds, he was disoriented and struggled to remember where he was. When he blinked several times and the darkness didn't dissipate, he began to panic, his heart pounding in his chest.
He could hear Qalo's loud snores and Ferdinand's heavy breathing, the sound amplified by the stillness of the cave. But he couldn't make out their sleeping forms, and the darkness seemed to be closing in around him, suffocating him.
"Guys! Wake up!" His voice quivered with a tinge of hysteria, his breath coming in short gasps. In other circumstances, he would have been embarrassed by the shrillness of his voice, but right now all he could think about was what could be lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.
The sound of his own breathing seemed to echo in the cavernous space, making him feel small and vulnerable. He fumbled for his pack, his hands shaking as he searched for the flint he had taken from the bandit camp. He didn't have any wood to light a fire, but these small details had to wait. When his companions didn't wake up, he shouted again, the sound bouncing off the walls and back into his ears. He heard groans, and Franny exclaimed, "What happened? Why is it so dark?"
“I don’t know, I woke up and I couldn’t see anything.” Talax responded, still looking around sightlessly.
"Am I still sleeping?" Qalo asked with a yawn.
"Wake up, you big oaf! Something is wrong!" Talax yelled and Qalo groaned and shifted his weight, as if stretching. The uncertainty of their circumstances had frayed his nerves, and the nonchalance of Qalo didn't help at all.
Frustrated and anxious, Talax muttered under his breath, "Damn it, where's my pack?" He desperately needed to find it, to feel some sense of control in this unfamiliar and uncertain situation.
But then, relief washed over him as he heard Franny's voice. "Wait! I have a torch inside my satchel!" Talax's heart lifted at the prospect of light, of finally seeing their surroundings. "What are you waiting for? Light it!" he urged.
As Franny rummaged through his satchel, Talax heard a sudden noise from Qalo. The sound was unmistakable, and Talax wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Really man, you couldn't hold it in?" he complained. The stench was almost unbearable, but oddly enough, it calmed Talax's nerves as his mind tried to fight off the awful smell.
Qalo protested, his high-pitched voice filling the cavern with sound. "It happens sometimes when I get nervous!" he defended, sounding embarrassed. His words were drowned out by the hissing of the torch as Franny lit it.
Talax blinked several times as light flooded the dark cave, trying to adjust his vision after the absolute darkness he had experienced. The sudden brightness was almost blinding, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust.
As the three men looked around the cave, Ferdinand stood up and walked in circles, illuminating the space. And then, they saw it - the reason for the lack of light - a massive boulder had blocked the cave entrance.
"How? How didn't we hear anything?" Franny asked, astonished. Talax narrowed his eyes, looking around the cave. The moss and other plants that created a carpet on the cave walls had emitted light when they had entered. But now, they looked inert and dull. How hadn't they heard such a massive boulder crash into the entrance? It had to be twice Qalo's height and five times his width!
Suddenly, Talax remembered the unsettling feeling he had had when he entered the cave. It was more than just a fear of the dark, he realized. There was something else, a sense of danger that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
But before he could dwell on it any further, Franny walked over to the small opening that he had noticed when they had entered. The light from the torch flickered, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. Talax felt a knot form in his stomach as he watched Franny approach the opening, unsure of what they might find on the other side.
The nobleman's voice echoed through the cavernous space, "What is that?" he inquired, his eyes squinting as he tried to see through the darkness of the small hole in the back wall. Qalo, who had been tasked with searching the cave, squinted as well, trying to see what the nobleman was pointing at. "Hmm, I didn't see it when I was searching the cave," he admitted, earning an eyeroll from Talax.
The tension was rising as Talax glared at Qalo, "Note to self, don't let Qalo search for potential dangers or fucking ominous black holes!" he growled. Qalo was quick to defend himself, "I was tired, okay? All I wanted was some food and sleep!" he protested, but Talax wasn't having it. "Yeah, well, congratulations! You ate you slept, but now we are trapped inside a dark cave!" he snapped, his anger rising.
As the two men argued, they drew closer together, their bodies tense and ready for a fight. But Franny, ever the peacemaker, stepped between them, "Guys, calm down! There's no use in fighting! We have to think of a way out."
Qalo balled his fists, his anger still simmering, but he backed down. Talax, however, was itching for a fight. The closed space and the lack of light brought out his baser instincts, and he wanted an outlet for his frustration. He could feel his magic stirring within him, the void magic rattling inside his core, urging him to unleash its power.
With reluctance, he calmed down. He didn't want another incident like the one with Bene. Since then, he had avoided using his magic. Even though his mana core had expanded by his leveling up, he hadn't dared to test if he had enough mana for his spell. But the thought of being trapped in the dark cave, with no way out, was almost too much to bear. His mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan.
Now that he had found companions, even if one of them was a stinky, reckless orc, he didn’t want to scare them away with his magic. However, he intended to test his magic when he had some time alone.
Suddenly, a loud crush shattered the silence, and he turned to see Qalo groaning and clutching his arm in pain.
Without a moment's hesitation, the orc took a few steps backward and then charged towards the boulder, intending to smash it with all his might. The ground shook as he slammed into the rock, but his efforts were in vain. He stumbled back, clutching his throbbing arm, as another loud crush reverberated through the rocky chamber.
Talax was quick to assess the situation. "It’s no use," he commented nonchalantly. "Our only option now is to see where this tunnel takes us."
Franny rushed over to Qalo, who swatted him away with a grunt, clearly irritated by his concern. Talax watched them impatiently, his hands crossed and his foot tapping on the ground. "Ready?" he asked, looking at the two men who nodded reluctantly.
Qalo led the way, his large frame barely fitting in the narrow tunnel. He had to stoop down to avoid hitting his head on the rocky ceiling, and his bulky body brushed against the rough walls as he squeezed through the tight space. Despite the discomfort, he trudged forward, determined to see where the tunnel led.
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As they walked deeper into the darkness, Talax gripped his two daggers tightly. He left his short sword on his belt, deeming it useless in the tight confines of the tunnel. He attempted to activate his stealth, but the proximity of the torch caused the skill to flicker and eventually go out. He contemplated waiting for a few seconds to blend in with the shadows, but the thought of losing precious time in case of an attack made him abandon the idea.
The group continued to walk for what felt like hours. The tunnel opened up in some places, offering a brief respite from the cramped conditions, before shrinking back down to its suffocating dimensions. Gradually, the walls became adorned with moss and other unidentified plants, and a soft glow illuminated their path once again. Shallow rivulets of water trickled down the lush green carpet, creating a gentle melody that echoed through the narrow passage.
As they drew nearer to their destination, Talax couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that had gripped him since they entered the cave. It was as though his instincts were urging him to turn back, to flee from whatever lay ahead.
Before he could voice his concerns, a brilliant light appeared at the end of the tunnel, signaling the end of their journey. The group rushed towards the light, but Talax hung back, keeping a measured pace. He couldn't shake the sense of dread that was building within him, like a coiled spring waiting to be unleashed.
As they emerged from the tunnel, Talax was taken aback by the sight that greeted him. They found themselves in a grotto, bathed in a soft, ethereal light. The air was thick with the scent of flowers, and small creatures darted about in the lush greenery. The ground was soft underfoot, and the sound of water could be heard in the distance.
Talax's attention was drawn to two small creatures that resembled blobs of water, their short, splintery legs carrying them in a frenzied chase. An enormous frog, easily twice the size of a man, sat lazily in a corner, its bulbous eyes watching the group with a placid gaze.
But it was the small otters that captured their attention. With frothy wings, they flitted about between the rocky shelves of the wall, plucking berries from the hanging vines and luminous lichens that gave the small space an otherworldly light. They seemed to be playing a game, leaping and diving with carefree abandon.
As they made their way deeper into the grotto, Talax's eyes were drawn to a small pool at its center. The deep blue waters glimmered in the soft light, and he could feel a sense of awe building within him. But it was what lay at the center of the pool that truly took his breath away.
A small island had emerged from the waters, and upon it stood a statue of a human-like creature. The small child depicted in the statue had a tail that resembled that of a seahorse, a rounded fin laid on her lower back, and gills at the side of her neck. As he gazed at the statue, Talax felt a sense of wonder wash over him, and for a moment, he forgot the sense of dread that had been haunting him since they entered the cave.
Talax was completely glued to the small statue, staring at it in awe, when he was rudely awakened by a loud crash. The sound was deafening, and for a moment, he thought his eardrums had burst. He quickly looked behind him at what was, just a moment ago, the entrance, only to see a massive boulder blocking their only way out. It was as if the cave had collapsed in on itself, leaving them trapped inside.
“What the hell?” Qalo exclaimed, his voice full of frustration and anger. Before he could respond, a series of events occurred that had him cursing inside his head. To be fair, he was mostly cursing Qalo for his negligence that had led them to this situation. That damn orc! If they managed to survive this ordeal, he would make him start a strict diet of dried fruits as his punishment!
Before he could say anything else, a sudden rush of air caused his hair to stand on end. He looked around, trying to find the source of the disturbance, but everything seemed eerily quiet. It was almost as if the cave was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Then, without warning, a loud splash echoed through the cavern. Talax felt a chill run down his spine as he realized that something was moving in the water. He turned to face the pond, his eyes scanning the murky depths for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, the air crackled with magic, and words steeped with magic could be heard reverberating around the cave walls, causing Talax's skin to tingle in warning. He felt a sense of dread wash over him as he realized that they were not alone in the cave. He looked around frantically, trying to find the source of the power, but everything seemed to be shrouded in darkness.
Just then, two jets of water erupted from the floor, encasing both Qalo and Ferdinand in a watery prison. The sight was both terrifying and mesmerizing, and Talax watched in horror as his friends struggled to free themselves from the restrictive field that held them in place.
Franny tried to swim to the edge of the column of water, but an invisible current dragged him back to his previous position. Talax knew that he had to act quickly if he wanted to save his friends from drowning.
He took a step towards them when a strange voice halted his movement.
“You have finally arrived.”
Talax whipped around, his heart racing as he saw a three-meter-tall replica of the small statue emerging from the water. A woman draped with a cloak of blue seaweed looked at him with piercing eyes full of anticipation, like he was a treat she couldn't wait to taste. Talax felt his knees go weak as he realized that they were face to face with a strange and powerful being.
He could sense the mana emanating from her, a potent force that set his skin tingling and resonated within his core. The chasm of power between them was so immense that he thought of himself as an inconsequential pebble orbiting in the sun's proximity. With dawning apprehension, he realized there was no way to defeat a creature this powerful in a direct battle.
He unconsciously took a step back, but the woman seemed agitated by his movement. She let out a low growl, and Talax froze, not wanting to provoke the creature any further. The half-woman seemed intelligent. Maybe he could negotiate with her and save himself and his friends from dying in this damp cave.
The woman looked impatient, and Talax was sure that if she had legs, she would be tapping her foot like an enraged wife ready to scold her husband. Talax was unsure how to proceed. The attack he was waiting for never came. Other than the sounds his trapped companions made, the cavern was silent as a tomb.
He knew that negotiations were their only hope of survival, but he also knew that dealing with such a powerful entity was not going to be easy. The creatures that were running and jumping without a care in the world a few moments ago were now huddled and waiting in silence.
Talax took a deep breath and stepped forward, determined to take the initiative. As he approached the woman, his heart raced, and he watched her closely, hoping for a sign of approval or displeasure. But her face gave nothing away, although it held an alluring severity that drew him in.
The woman waited patiently for him, and as he neared, he noticed that her high cheekbones and hollow cheeks made a sharp contrast to her full lips that held a ghost of a smile. Her gaze was fixed on the calm surface of the pond, but when he reached the edge, her severe lines softened, and she broke into an unbridled show of joy.
"Thank you for coming! I've been expecting you for centuries," she said, her voice heavy with a mixture of pain and relief.
Talax was taken aback by her words, and his mind raced with questions. What did she mean by "expecting him for centuries"? How did she know who he was?
"You were waiting for me?" he asked, confused. She nodded emphatically, her wet hair sending droplets of water around the pond's surface.
"Yes, although I have to admit that lately I had given up hope," she said sadly, then turned her head to look at the small statue behind her. Talax frowned, noticing the invisible weight that seemed to burden her shoulders.
"Your kind was said to have been extinct," she continued, "that's why your presence was required to break the curse." With a soft voice, she whispered, "A cruel joke."
Talax felt his heart skip a beat. The woman seemed to believe that he was the solution to her problem, a problem that most likely had to do with the small statue of the little girl. He had to keep her talking, to understand the situation better.
"My kind? What do you mean?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
The woman turned towards him, her gaze assessing and her expression serious. With a measured tone, she responded, "Voidlings. Once a scourge that had to be eradicated. Now, a relic of a forgotten past."
Talax stood motionless, absorbing every morsel of information from the enigmatic woman. Questions had plagued him since his confrontation with Bene. He yearned to unravel the mystery behind the old man's intense reaction. Perhaps he could even unearth his true origin...
"Are you referring to Voidborn?" he ventured, his eagerness getting the better of him. The fish woman appeared impatient, her glances fleeting towards the small statue. Eventually, she relented and decided to indulge his curiosity.
"Voidborn, voidling... It's the same term for the malevolent beings of the void. Once, your kind was both feared and revered, but their insatiable hunger for power transformed them into a menace that had to be eradicated," the woman responded. Abruptly, her demeanor shifted, her face contorting into an expression of frustration. "Enough with the questions!"
Taken aback by her sudden change in tone, Talax wracked his brain for a way to steer the conversation back on course. Yet, the mercurial woman seemed resolute in her silence. Her angry gaze made it clear she had no intention of delving further into discussions about his kind.
He decided to shift his focus back to formulating a plan to free his friends. His gaze drifted towards the small statue beside the woman, and in that moment, realization dawned upon him.
"That statue... it's not a simple statue, is it?" he commented, his voice barely above a whisper. The woman's mood seemed to change by the second, and an almost feverish expression took over her face, making Talax uneasy.
Unshed tears pooled at the edges of her eyes, and she shook her head slowly.
"No. That's... that's my daughter," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. A small hiccup escaped her lips as she tried to hold back tears. "She was cursed by my own mother." Her face crumbled and it took her a few moments to compose herself. "When I fell in love with a mortal, my mother, Nersia, the goddess of rivers and lakes, forbade my union. But I was so infatuated with the idea of love that I defied her wishes. Years later, when I had my daughter, my mother visited me. Instead of the joyous reunion I had imagined, that day left me bereft and alone."
The woman's face contorted with anguish as she revealed the tragic tale of her cursed daughter. Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving a trail of saltwater that mixed with the pond's calm surface. The sound of her weeping echoed through the silent room, creating an eerie atmosphere.
As she spoke, the water in the pool began to ripple violently, causing Talax to take a step back in alarm. He watched as the woman continued her monologue, her voice trembling with emotion.
"She said that I had to be punished for my impudence," the woman said, her eyes now filled with sorrow. "To truly comprehend her pain, I had to experience the void left by my daughter's absence, just as she had. My heart became a hollow expanse where nothing held meaning, and I was consumed solely by the ache for my child."
Talax's heart flattered at her words, and he could see the anguish etched on her face. Even if the creature looked alien and strange to his eyes, he could still recognize her pain. He knew that she had suffered greatly, and he felt a deep sense of empathy for her.
"Only someone who could hold oblivion in his hands could fill my void," she said, her voice trembling. "Their blood will be my salvation."
Talax's blood ran cold at her words, and his brain short-circuited for a moment. But then he realized with a sinking feeling that he had walked into a trap. The woman's story turned from heart-wrenching into bone-chilling in a flip of a coin.
"I am sorry. But for my daughter to live, you have to die," the woman announced, her voice devoid of emotion.
Talax's eyes widened in shock. Before he could react, another creature emerged from the pond, causing violent ripples that shook the calm surface. Talax cursed under his breath, realizing he was ill-fated indeed.
"Oh, shit!"