Chapter Thirty-One

They left at sunrise. Larry fell into step beside them as they trudged out of the once sleepy village. Several villagers had waved them off; a quiet sadness present in their eyes. Mothers clutched their children close, and fathers held heavy weaponry in their hands. The once sleepy village had hardened overnight. Quiet shadows had turned deadly, and the curtain had been pulled back.

Ethan walked beside her, his wings drooped behind him. Dark shadows sat heavily beneath his eyes. The night had weighed on them all, but Ethan seemed to be taking it harder than the rest of them.

Moira nodded to him, are you okay? He grunted in response. I’m fine.

Duke grumbled, an accusatory sound.

Moira nudged Duke with her hip, and he huffed unhappily.

The road turning rocky, a cascade of mountains emerged on the horizon. Small towns appeared, scattered throughout the landscape. By early afternoon, they’d reached the foot of the central mountain. It loomed above. A Majestic structure, standing proud against the landscape.

Situated between a rocky crevice were two grand pillars. Between the pillars sat an ornately etched doorway. Carved into the door was an image showcasing a pyramid broken down into several levels. The bottom was marked with squat figures with ornate braids. Dancing sparks flew, as they pounded into steel, creating together. The top displayed the sky and flying humanoid figures and dragon-like beasts.

Ethan seemed lighter as they approached, like the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He gestured toward the door. “Welcome to my home.”

The doors creaked open, groaning with the weight of the mountain, revealing a dark stone hallway with floating lights.

“Ahem.”

Moira looked down, started by the sound. A short dwarf stood at the entrance, hands on his hips as he dramatically gestured for them to enter. As they approached, he pulled out a long scroll and grunted, “Names and business.”

Cyrus stepped forward with an air of easy confidence. “We are here to try our hand at the Dungeon.”

“Ah. Dungeon Divers.” The dwarf interrupted, scribbling on his scroll.

“But,” Cyrus said forcefully. “We also need to discuss something of grave importance with the Council.”

“The Council? Not just anyone sees the Council.”

“As I said, it’s important.”

“Look here, lad, I need a bit more than that. You can’t just walk in here and demand to speak to the Council.”

Cyrus sighed, dragging his hand through his curly hair. “Fine. On our way here, a town was attacked—by Void birds.”

The dwarf looked back and forth at the group and leaned back laughing. It boomed across the entryway, echoing off the ceiling. “Void birds? You’re pulling my leg. There’re no void beasts in Caelum.”

Larry stepped forward. “No, it’s true. Void birds overran Parvus. They would’ve massacred us if these kind Questers weren’t there. I’ve come as a representative from the village. They speak the truth.”

The blood drained from the dwarf’s face. “Void birds, here—you’re positive?” he asked Larry, staring up at the Minotaur. Larry nodded gravely.

“They came out of the shadows and the darkness. There were hundreds of them. I watched friends dissolve into dust after nothing but a peck.”

The dwarf’s eyes widened; fear seemed to permeate the air around him. His hands shook as he reached into the pouch at his side and pulled out another smaller scroll. He quickly scribbled a message before closing it and whispering a few words. The scroll burst with a loud pop, disappearing from view.

“I’ve messaged my superiors. Someone should be here soon with further instructions.”

The group waited for several long minutes. Suddenly, with a pop, another scroll appeared in the air in front of the dwarf. He grabbed it and opened it carefully, reading the scroll and then rolling it back up and stuffing it into his satchel.

He stared back at the group and cleared his throat. “The council will squeeze you in sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, they encourage you to enjoy your stay at Mons Caput.” The dwarf awkwardly wrung his hands and avoided eye contact. “You’re all cleared to enter.” He turned and once again faced the doorway, blatantly ignoring the group.

Moira glanced at Cyrus; eyebrow raised. He shook his head and strode ahead. The rest of them followed, and they headed into the city.

The hallway was covered in dark gray rock. Tall, vaulted ceilings left Moira feeling tiny. Lanterns floated in the air just below the ceiling, providing the hallway with a soft yellow light. Two-thirds of the way up were small circular holes in the wall. She looked at them curiously.

Myles interrupted her thoughts, “They’re in case of an attack. Archers use the holes to shoot at attackers.” Moira nodded, and he continued, “Mons Caput is the best defensive city in Caelum. The mountain itself provides protection against most attacks and is a defensive beast. But built within the city outskirts are collapsible tunnels and various traps meant to stop and delay attackers from entering the city.”

Sloane, who’d been listening in, interrupted, “Tell her about the maze.”

Myles looked at Ethan. “You want to explain? You know more about it than I do.”

Ethan nodded. “Mons Caput contains a maze of tunnels that leads into the base of the mountain. They’re built on top of the Dungeon. Originally, a means to help keep Dungeon monsters contained, but over time the dwarves realized it could form as another layer of protection in case of an attack from an outside source. The maze has been enchanted to shift, leading intruders and potential attackers to traps and prevent them from reaching the city.”

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“Why aren’t we in the maze now? Wouldn’t they want to protect the front entrance?” she asked.

“There’s a bypass hallway. It’s controlled by a team of two dwarves. One that you saw at the entrance, and one at the archer holes. They have to press a button concurrently to open the bypass hallway. It makes things simpler for approved visitors.”

“Why so many levels of protection?” Moira asked. It seemed like overkill.

“At the beginning of the last age, there was a calamity event near here. Thousands of monsters spawned. The citizens had to build up their defenses to survive. They’ve been maintained ever since. In case of another monster spawning event,” Ethan said.

Cyrus looked over his shoulder. “Tensions have been rising amongst some of the races, Mons Caput responded by keeping its defenses in place.”

The hallway in front of them broadened, the ceiling extending upward. In front of them, a steel gate sat open, and beyond it was the city of Mons Caput.

Moira stared up, mouth agape. The inside of the mountain had been carved out into intricate levels, rising all the way to the top. There must’ve been hundreds of levels from bottom to top. All full of bustling citizens.

The top of the mountain was open to the sky, sunlight strewn in. Moira squinted at the figures flying in and out of the mountaintop. Some looked like large birds, but others looked almost like dragons.

Buildings were carved straight into the mountain, and there was color splashed across everything. Brilliantly detailed murals marked the sides of buildings and bright fabric decorated the streets.

The center of the city was open, allowing citizens to see straight up to the sun and sky above. A large fountain sat in the middle of the bottom floor. Statues of dwarves and harpies, and other beings she’d never seen before, danced together, frozen like a moment in time.

A group of children played together near the fountain. A small red-headed dwarven girl tugged on another little boy’s hair.

Around the fountain were market stalls selling various items, from art to weaponry. Music played softly, light sounds floating up among the levels.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.” Sloane said, capturing her own thoughts.

“How long did it take them to build all of this? It’s incredible,” Moira said, her eyes catching the intricate details of the city that rose around them.

“About a thousand years.” Cyrus said, startling Moira. She hadn’t noticed him approaching. His eyes twinkled as he watched the awe on her face. She smiled back at him.

“It’s truly incredible. You don’t see this kind of intricate craftsmanship on my world, anymore. Everything’s built rather quickly and with the purpose of efficiency.”

“That’s kind of sad. You lose out on a lot of beauty that way,” he replied softly.

“You do,” Moira confirmed, looking up at him.

Duke interrupted the quiet moment by barking excitedly. The little red-haired girl had crept up to the group and was staring at Duke with wide eyes.

“Can he play?” she asked softly.

Duke looked up at Moira. “I play?”

“Yeah, go play. Have fun bud.”

He loped off, following the little girl to her friends, running in circles around the laughing children. Two harpy children flew above Duke, teasing him. He barked excitedly, jumping up at them.

Cyrus laughed beside her. “He’s really enjoying himself, huh?” Moira nodded, smiling back.

Ethan turned to Cyrus. “I figured we could stay at my parent’s place. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them, and they have plenty of room for all of us.”

Cyrus nodded. “Good. We need to talk with your father. Create a plan of approach for the Council.”

Ethan nodded once in agreement.

Larry added. “I have some family here. I’ll stay the night with them and then join up with you in the morning. We need to convince them to send support to Parvus.”

Cyrus patted Larry on the shoulder. “We’ll do our best, my friend. We won’t allow the council to standby as innocents are killed.”

Moira stiffened. Reminded of how he’d hesitated to help during the attack. How his excuses still sounded sour against her ears. It’d been easy to forget in the aftermath of the battle.

Larry nodded his thanks and headed south towards one of the curving stairways leading up through the city’s higher floors.

“Do you really think we’ll be able to convince them?” asked Myles, “I’m not confident, after the reception we received.”

Cyrus rubbed his hair, watching as Larry climbed the staircase. “We will have to do our best. Lives could depend upon it. If someone is summoning the void creatures, I’m sure Mons Caput is their next target. I’ve thought on it, and Parvus was likely just a trial run.” Myles nodded gravely.

The group was quiet, watching Duke prance around the children. The thought of the city being terrorized by void beasts darkening the mood.

After several minutes, Moira called Duke back, and the group headed to Ethan’s childhood home. He led them up the north staircase. It twisted and turned as it stretched upwards towards the mountaintop.

“All the harpies live at the top of the mountain,” he explained. “It allows us easier access to fly above the mountaintop.”

It took a while to reach the correct floor, Moira’s legs burned from the stairs. If she’d been a normal human, she never would’ve made it all the way up here. She could feel the effects of the added stats on her endurance and strength.

Ethan guided them towards a circular home that had been carved directly into the mountainside. It was made of the same dark gray stone as the rest of Mons Caput, but decorated with bright pink and yellow flowers. A large mural of birds was painted on the side of the house.

Ethan knocked on the sage green door, and a short, lithe woman answered. Delicate gray and white feathered wings floated behind her. She looked just like Ethan, with bright blond hair and a heart-shaped face.

“Ethan!” The woman smiled brightly, pulling him into a tight hug. “I didn’t know you were coming home. What’re you doing here?”

“Mom. Come on. We’re just back for the Dungeon.”

The woman pulled back from the hug and whacked his arm. “You should’ve told us you were coming. We haven’t heard from you in months. You need to message your mother more often,” she criticized. “You know how your father and I worry.”

Ethan shrugged his shoulders sheepishly, “Sorry, mom. But you know how it is when we’ve got a quest.”

Ethan’s mom put her hands on her hips and gave him a hard look. “You know that’s no excuse.” Ethan avoided eye contact, but nodded in appeasement.

Moira struggled to cover a laugh. Sloane burst into a fit of giggles. It’d been a while since they’d seen a grown man chastised by his mom.

His mom turned towards the rest of the group and smiled brightly. “Come in, come in. Now, I know some of you, but I see some new faces here. I’m Ethan’s mom Elise.”

Ethan introduced Sloane, Moira, and Duke, respectively. Explaining that they were trial members of their team. She gave Ethan a concerned glance and then turned to them and greeted them kindly.

After some brief discussion, she led them to the two guest rooms at the back of the house and left them to settle in.