The eerie silence of the temple shattered when Walter's blood-curdling screams filled the air as he plummeted to his death. His chilling cries echoed through the vast chamber, their haunting resonance lasting for several agonizing moments. Each scream served as a grim reminder of the horrifying plunge that had claimed the old warrior, and the sound reached every member of the group, leaving them standing frozen, gripped by the sheer terror of the moment as they listened to the echoes of Walter's final moments.
Talax remained frozen on the precipice, unable to tear his eyes away from the spot where Walter had disappeared into the abyss. The haunting look of desperation in the old warrior's eyes, the silent plea for help that never left his lips, was etched into his memory.
Franny's calls to him became a distant murmur amidst the cacophony of his own thoughts. Edward's preparations for the temple raid, Qalo's funny arguments with Franny, and Callum's meticulous archery checks, all of it became background noise.
The weight of silence bore down on Talax's soul. He knew he could have warned Walter, could have saved him from the trap. The conflict within him tore him apart. But in that crucial moment, his own survival had taken precedence over another man's life. He had chosen silence over intervention, and now, the guilt was consuming him.
Finally, Franny's horrified words penetrated the fog of his mind, and he registered Edward and Callum rushing towards the spot where Walter had disappeared. "He... He is gone... Gone. Just like that," Franny's whispered words tugged at Talax's conscience, serving as a stark reminder of the price of his inaction.
As the group gathered at the edge of the abyss, their faces painted with shock and sorrow, the once-cheerful mood of having finally reached the final chamber seemed to have turned into a shocked bewilderment. The echoes of Walter's screams still lingered in the air, like a haunting song of regret and loss.
Edward, usually cool and collected, was having an intense reaction. The vein in his forehead pulsed rhythmically, on the verge of bursting. Anger and something else, something that looked a lot like fear, swam in Edward's eyes as he scanned the chamber. "Where is that woman?" His roar shook the chamber's walls, and the enraged man stalked toward Talax.
With alarming force, he seized Talax's shirt and spat into his face. "Where is she? Where is Vesperine?" Talax, already distraught over what he had done, replied meekly, "I don't know."
Edward gave a disgusted scoff and shoved Talax aside with such force that he nearly tripped and fell. The nobleman then turned his accusing gaze on Callum, determined to place blame for the group's latest loss.
"You!" He pointed at the ranger, who was crouched on all fours, peering into the black abyss. Callum's face bore deep sorrow and guilt. Seeing the anguish on Callum's face intensified Talax's own sense of guilt, which threatened to smother him. "You're supposed to be our scout! How could you make such a mistake? It could have been me! ME!" Edward pointed to himself in an unhinged manner, his eyes holding a manic gleam as if he teetered on the brink of madness. "You're responsible for detecting traps! You, you incompetent fool! And you can't even do that!" Edward's voice cracked as he continued his tirade, his face twisted with anger.
Edward paced back and forth, his emotions spiraling into a dangerous place. "Do you even understand the gravity of your failure? We're in a temple filled with deadly traps and monsters. You're our so-called scout, the one tasked with guiding us safely. You've let us down, Callum, and now we've lost one of our warriors, right before reaching the final temple where only the Gods know what we'll face."
Franny, always the peacemaker, stepped in once more. "Uncle, please, calm down. What happened, happened. There's no turning back. We now have to find a way to cross the bridge." Franny moved to offer his uncle a consoling touch, but the older man rejected the comfort with a disgusted grimace.
"Vesperine!" The nobleman suddenly roared, jolting everyone except Callum, who remained on the ground, clutching his knees with vacant eyes, barely aware of his surroundings. Edward was on the verge of berating Callum for his failure once again when Vesperine made her presence known.
"My lord? You called me?" The woman's casual tone only further infuriated the distraught noble. "Where have you been?" he demanded angrily.
"You know very well where I've been, my lord. What happened?" She looked around and, upon spotting Callum's sorry state, she grew apprehensive and started looking around frantically.
"Where's Walter?" Before Edward could respond, Franny interjected, attempting to maintain calm before his uncle launched into a new tirade against Vesperine. "He's gone," he replied simply.
Vesperine appeared confused for a moment, but upon hearing Callum's small hiccup, she realized what had transpired in her absence. "How?"
Franny stepped in to provide an answer once again. Edward paced back and forth, trying to regain control over his emotions while casting sneers in Callum's direction whenever he heard the man sniffle.
"We failed to detect a magical trap. Walter, being Walter, decided to take a stroll down the bridge. Before anyone could react, a large hole opened up, and..." Franny sighed with dejection, finally revealing Walter's fate. "He fell into the chasm below. And to his death." Callum gave another sniffle upon hearing about his friend's demise.
Vesperine didn't speak; she simply retrieved a small bag and began sifting through its contents. After a while, she pulled out a small pouch and started walking toward the bridge without saying a word. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the mysterious woman, and they all remained silent, waiting to see what she had in mind.
Upon reaching the threshold that separated the balcony from the bridge, she untied the small rope around the pouch and dipped her hand inside. She clenched her fist and brought her hand close to her face. Everyone watched in fascination as she opened her palm, revealing a small amount of glittering dust. With a delicate breath, she blew on the dust, and it started to float. Like a sky full of glittering stars, the dust traveled along the ornate bridge. At intervals, the dust gathered in certain spots, shining brightly like beacons, revealing the deadly traps.
However, the dust wasn't inexhaustible and barely managed to reach the middle of the long bridge, leaving the remainder still obscured and filled with danger. Talax used his Mystic Insight skill to scan the area and noticed that the dust had successfully detected all the magical traps, even some he hadn't realized were there. He didn’t know why his skill had failed to detect them, but the discovery made Talax less confident on the skill’s effectiveness.
"Why weren't you using that cursed dust from the beginning?" Edward demanded, crowding Vesperine's space. She didn't seem particularly bothered by his threatening posture and playfully poked Edward's armored chest with a finger, creating a small "ting" sound with each touch of her gloved finger on the metal.
"I'll have you know that I only have three doses left! I can't waste it on every minor inconvenience," she explained. Her tone suddenly shifted to a more business-like one. "Also, as per our agreement, all consumables are included in the final sum of my fee." She smiled behind her mask and tilted her head. "My lord."
Edward's face contorted, and he seemed to be struggling to remain calm and not lash out at one of his few remaining allies. "Fine," he clipped. "How much time do we have until the effects wear off?"
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Vesperine appeared to think for a moment before cheerfully announcing, "A couple of minutes." Edward froze. "What?" His authoritative, composed demeanor crumbled, and he began giving orders. “Give or take...” She added with the same cheerful tone.
"Vesperine, take the lead, in case the dust's effects wear off and you need to use another dose. Callum, get it together and stand up, or you'll be left behind. You still have a job to do.” With contempt he all but spat. “If you're even capable of that." Then he turned to the trio and bellowed. "You three, follow!"
Everyone began to move, aware that their window of opportunity was small. However, Callum remained on the ground. Vesperine passed him by with a spring in her step, playing with a strand of her hair as if she were strolling through a meadow. Edward followed, giving fearful glances around him.
Talax and Qalo were next. Talax, not particularly afraid due to his ability to detect dangers, but Qalo was tense and clutched his hammer for reassurance. Franny, however, stayed behind. He knelt down next to Callum and whispered soft words, attempting to console the bereft man. It took a few tries, but it eventually paid off, as Callum stood up. He still wore a look of deep grief but managed to resume his role as the group's scout. His eyes shone with renewed determination, as if he had made a personal commitment to detect any future dangers that might come their way.
Talax wanted to tell Callum that he shouldn't be the one feeling guilty. Talax had a way to detect those specialized traps, while Callum did not. However, Talax chose not to reveal the traps' existence, fearing another potential enemy. He knew he was directly responsible for Walter's death. He tried to drown out his guilt, and a sigh escaped his lips.
"What's wrong?" Qalo asked. "Is it Walter?" The half-orc expressed sympathy. "I liked the man; he was funny and always had a story to share with us. He..." Talax couldn't take it anymore and lashed out. "Shut up! I don't want to hear it!" Qalo looked wounded, and Talax felt like an ass.
"Sorry. I just..." He rubbed his temples, unable to find the words to express what he was feeling. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling. On one hand, he felt guilty, but another part of him felt relieved that Walter was gone. He had an unwavering belief that if Walter were still alive, by the end of the journey, he would become an enemy. Or perhaps that was something he liked to believe, so that he could ease his guilt.
Suddenly, Talax felt the presence of someone, a focus on him, and the sensation of eyes on his back. His mind quickly leaped to Walter, and he whirled around waiting to see the dead man ready to exact his revenge. Had he returned as a ghost to haunt him? Did he somehow know that Talax played a role in his death? Was he losing his sanity?
Franny, with a look of concern, tried to get his attention, but Talax was too preoccupied searching frantically for the eyes that seemed to bore into him. He could feel their gaze like a physical touch, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find a trace of his unseen stalker.
"Are you okay, my friend?" Franny grabbed his shoulder, attempting to regain his attention. Talax's eyes focused on his friend, and for some reason, he noticed that Franny's hair was unusually untidy. He nodded silently and resumed walking, still lost in his thoughts.
Vesperine's alarmed voice interrupted their contemplation. "We'd better hurry up." Everyone picked up their pace and reached the halfway point, out of breath and panting. Vesperine took out another pouch and repeated the process, revealing new traps as they wound their way through the minefield, hardly paying attention to the splendor around them.
Her warning had sent shivers down their spines, her voice laden with urgency. As they quickened their pace, beads of sweat formed on their brows, their breaths becoming shallow, and their hearts racing in sync with their growing unease. The minefield they traversed was a labyrinth of danger, and they barely spared a glance at the magnificent statues, the brilliant gemstones glistening in colorful marbles, and the precious metals interwoven into the very foundation of the bridge. All these wonders faded into insignificance as they neared the looming entrance of the temple.
Approaching the temple entrance brought a creeping sense of foreboding. The brilliance that had once bathed them in light began to dwindle, swallowed by the colossal stone structure that now cast long, ominous shadows.
"Run!" Vesperine exclaimed, and any semblance of calmness and order was thrown out the window. Everyone started running, their pace driven by the urgency in Vesperine's voice, even though they still had time until the dust's effects wore off. Why had she...
BOOOM
Talax was hurled into the air, landing in a broken heap and aching from the impact. The deafening explosion had sent them sprawling, and the force of the blast had knocked them off their feet. The ground beneath them rumbled and shook, dislodging stones and debris.
Franny struggled to his feet, coughing and disoriented. He scanned the area, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. "What in the blazes was that?" Behind him, Talax saw the beautiful sculptures crack and break into pieces. The beauty and splendor of the bridge was slowly being dismantled and swallowed by the darkness beneath.
Callum, though shaken, quickly checked for injuries among the group. "Is everyone all right?"
Qalo groaned as he pushed himself up. "I think so. Just a bit bruised."
Vesperine, appearing unhurt, was already on her feet, looking around with an alarmed expression. "What are you doing? Move!"
BOOOM
Another explosion shook the bridge as another magical trap was activated. The distant echo of falling rocks reached their ears, increasing their panic. Edward, trying to regain control, barked, "Quickly, form up! We need to reach the entrance."
Everyone came together and started running. Explosions rippled through the air, adding chaos to an already perilous situation. The temple entrance, their salvation, seemed to be moving further away with each step, as if the structure itself was playing a malicious trick on them.
Talax felt his heart racing as they sprinted toward the looming doorways. Behind them, the minefield continued to explode, creating a fiery inferno and a wall of dust and debris that threatened to engulf them.
Just as they were about to reach the end of the bridge, the ground seemed to vanish beneath them. Alarmed cries filled the air as everyone tried to stay upright. With a quick glance over his shoulder, Talax's breath caught in his throat. The bridge was collapsing, like a crumbling ladder to the heavens. The once-beautiful stone structure, a tribute to the long-gone God, was now rapidly disintegrating, falling into the abyss below. Desperation clawed at their hearts as they ran for their lives, their steps fueled by sheer terror as the relentless destruction pursued them, a relentless maw ready to devour them.
With every leap and bound, they narrowly managed to stay ahead of the destruction. Dust and stone fragments rained down around them, making it difficult to see and breathe. In the midst of the chaos, Vesperine shouted instructions, guiding them through a maze-like path among the deadly traps that were exploding all around them.
The sound of cracking stones and the thunderous explosions echoed in their ears like the furious heartbeat of a vengeful god. Each step felt like a gamble with fate, and the world seemed to blur into a chaotic nightmare. They could feel the searing heat of the fiery inferno behind them, and the bridge groaned and wailed as if it were a living creature in agony.
Talax spotted the end of the bridge and the safe haven beyond. Relief washed over him and fueled his exhausted body as he sprinted toward salvation. He wished he had invested more tokens into his athletics skill as he pushed himself to the limit. However, just as he was about to celebrate his escape, he saw, as if in slow motion, the tiles beneath his feet shift. They floated for a moment, mocking him for thinking he was safe, before plummeting into the bottomless darkness below.
With a final, desperate leap, one by one, they jumped to the safety of the balcony surrounding the temple entrance. Talax barely managed to cross the empty expanse, and as soon as his feet touched the floor, he collapsed in a cloud of dust as his body hit the ground. Franny looked back at the destroyed bridge with bleak eyes.
"How are we going to escape from the dungeon?" Edward dusted off his armor and checked his beloved sword to ensure it was still in place. "That's a concern for later," he replied, and Franny nodded with a helpless look.
Talax stood up, feeling his body shake from adrenaline, and turned around. The steps he had seen from the other side of the room, leading to the enormous double doors, were something comical. Each step was like a small island, their size truly mind-boggling. He felt like an ant trying to climb a mountain.
Everyone was still shaken, both by Walter's death and the unexpected collapse of the bridge, but they quickly began working together with a single-minded focus, eager to finally leave the dreadful dungeon. Both Vesperine and Callum proved to be excellent climbers, scaling the several meters tall steps with ease. Each time they reached a new level, they threw down a rope to help the rest of the group ascend the gigantic steps.
When they finally stood in front of the closed doors, silence descended upon the group, each person absorbed in their own thoughts. Some reflected on their journey and the comrades they had lost Some marveled the golden doors, intricate and crafted with such beauty that it was difficult to look at them for too long. Some worried about what challenges awaited them in the final temple, while others mentally tallied the expenses of the expedition and the vows they had to uphold. Some eagerly anticipated their long-awaited wish finally coming true and receiving what they had been owed all their lives.
And some were simply tired.