Chapter 31 - Of Serpents and Scars

Mary coughed and wheezed on the cold cave floor, the taste of blood faint on her lips. Yumiko turned sharply, rushing to her side. “Mary!” she gasped, her eyes misting with worry.

Groaning, Mary lifted her head and glanced at her blood-smeared armor. “What the hell happened?”

“That ice witch impaled you,” Lukas replied, stepping closer, cradling his visibly trembling arm. Despite the rough state he was in, he offered her a rare nod. “Glad you made it back.”

As her gaze adjusted, she took in Lukas’s battered state. His armor was dented, scarred from blows, and his arms bore fresh scrapes and bruises, testament to their brutal fight. She gave him a half-smile. “Not gonna lie, I feel like death warmed over… but I think I look better than you right now.” She caught sight of his arm, clenched but shaking, and her expression turned serious. “Magic backfired on you again?”

Lukas’s jaw tightened, “We needed a way out, so I had to use a big attack. And… you can thank her for saving your life.” He gestured toward Yumiko.

Mary tried to sit up, wincing as pain flared through her body. Yumiko pressed a hand gently on her shoulder. “Take it easy; you were just stabbed a few minutes ago.”

Mary coughed again, this time into her hand, smearing blood on her palm. “I’m okay,” she muttered, wiping her hand on her armor. Looking down at herself, she was genuinely surprised. “Honestly, I’d expect to feel worse. Did you guys… give me potions?”

Yumiko nodded. “Two of Lukas’s potions, plus a bit of healing magic from me. It was a close call.”

Mary looked up at Yumiko, a warm smile breaking through the pain. “I didn’t know you had any healing magic up your sleeve. You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? Glad to have you around.”

Yumiko shrugged modestly, though she looked pleased. “It’s really basic magic. It takes almost everything I have to patch up minor wounds and take the edge off pain.”

With help from Yumiko, Mary stood up and slowly took in their surroundings. The cavern they found themselves in was unlike any of the previous chambers. Glowing crystals lined the walls in much higher numbers, casting a cool light over the space, and stalactites jutted grandly from the ceiling high above. It felt smaller, more confined, but the ceiling stretched up like the inside of a cathedral, adding an eerie grandeur to the room.

Mary tilted her head, her brow furrowing. “So… where are we? And those two psychos—don’t tell me we actually finished them off?”

Yumiko shook her head. “No. They overpowered us. Lukas might’ve been able to hold off the big guy for a while, but after that woman’s attack… it was only a matter of time before she got to me, too.” She paused, casting a glance at Lukas. “In a desperate move, I suggested we jump into that pit back in the crystal room. It was risky, but it was our only option.”

“I don’t know how we survived that jump, but I’ll worry about the details later.” Mary took a deep breath, steadying herself as she assessed their situation. “Alright, Lukas, you need to heal up. If those two are still alive, they’re bound to come after us.”

Lukas looked at her, eyebrows raised. “What do you mean by ‘heal up’?”

“I mean, drink some healing potions,” Mary replied, rubbing her stab wound, still shocked by how much better it felt already.

Lukas glanced away. “I gave every potion I had to you and Yumiko.”

Mary sighed, shaking her head knowingly. “Of course you did. And I’m guessing that means you have nothing left for yourself… If only I had my potions pouch.” She reached slowly to a small pouch at her side, pulling out a weathered piece of paper. “At least that lady didn’t get her hands on this pouch. We’d have lost the map otherwise,” she muttered, grateful for the one item that remained with her.

She unfolded the map, frowning at the sight of her own blood covering nearly half of it. A faint glowing line traced its way north, marking their intended path through the cave, though much of the upper detail was obscured by her bloodstains. “Well… it’s a mess, but it says we need to keep moving forward.”

Yumiko stepped beside Mary, glancing over at the map while Lukas fell into step behind them, making up the rear. Together, they walked on, deeper into the cave’s winding paths, surrounded by walls embedded with crystals that shimmered faintly, giving them enough light. They pressed forward for nearly an hour, weaving through chambers both narrow and vast, each filled with strange, otherworldly rock formations and glistening crystal outcroppings.

The sound of rushing water reached them suddenly, echoing off the cave walls. Lukas paused, “Wait… aren’t Headwich blooms supposed to grow near rivers with rich minerals?”

Mary nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “They grow anywhere in caves, but have a better chance near water, yes. And by the looks of it, we need to head that way anyway… I think…” She said, trying to read under the blood stain.

Without waiting, Lukas stumbled forward, eager, his footsteps echoing as he hurried toward the source of the water. “Hey!” Mary called after him, exasperated. “Slow down, or you’re going to get lost!”

Mary and Yumiko picked up their pace, following Lukas until they entered a vast cavern. They both halted, taking in the breathtaking sight before them. The cavern was large enough to house a village, the walls lined with a strange glowing fungus and mana crystals that cast a soft, cyan glow over the entire room. At the center, a roaring river wound through the expanse, its surface shimmering with the same ethereal light.

Lukas’s gaze swept over the cavern, and then his blue eyes caught on a faint, pulsing glow near the riverbank. He moved closer, and there, nestled between rocks, was a delicate flower with pure white petals and five small buds clustered in its center, each one radiating a subtle, ghostly light.

He knelt, carefully extending his uninjured hand, his fingers hovering over the bloom before he gently touched it, feeling a faint warmth beneath his fingertips. He sat there for a moment, looking at the flower, deep in thought.

Yumiko watched silently, worry started to well from within due to his stoic-like expression. “Did you find it?” Yumiko whispered, stepping up behind him, her voice reverent in the vast, glowing chamber.

Lukas knelt by the riverbank and carefully pulled the delicate flower from the ground, inspecting it closely. Its white petals and softly glowing buds seemed almost fragile in his hand. “Yes,” he murmured, holding it up for Yumiko to see.

Yumiko’s eyes sparkled as she took in the flower, and she nodded. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered, though her gaze shifted toward his trembling arm, concern etched on her face. She glanced at the river and spotted more flowers blooming along its edge. “There are more over there. I can pick them for you. You should rest for a bit.” She was expecting him to protest, so she quickly tried walking away.

As she turned to go, Lukas called out. “Wait.” He pulled a small sack from his belt, handing it to her. “These flowers wilt within a day. Place as many as you can inside this bag.”

Yumiko took the sack, her fingers brushing against his as she accepted it. “You have an herbalist’s bag?” she asked, recognizing the material and faint enchantments designed to preserve plants.

Lukas nodded. “Yes. Gather enough for Mary as well,” he said, his eyes trailing to the river, lost in thought.

Mary, limping slightly, joined them by the riverbank. She lowered herself down onto the ground with a tired sigh, catching the worried glance Yumiko sent her way. She waved it off with a weary smile. “I’ll be alright. Just need a moment to rest. But stay close; those… people from before could still be lurking nearby.”

Yumiko nodded, slipping away to gather as many blooms as she could. Mary watched her for a moment, then turned to Lukas. “You know,” she said, her voice softening, “she’s more helpful to you than you realize.”

Lukas said nothing, his gaze fixed on the river, muscles taut as he cradled his injured arm. Mary’s eyes traveled over the bruises and scrapes that covered him. “Yumiko could help heal some of those—”

“No.” Lukas cut in, his voice clipped. “Her healing abilities are limited. Even closing a small wound would drain her mana. She needs to be strong enough to get out of here if things go south.”

Mary studied him, noting the shadows in his eyes and the guarded set of his jaw. He was a man with deep emotional scars. She sighed. “You’ve been avoiding every warning and everything we’ve tried to tell you. Will you listen to us now? We can work together, be a group, and find out what our destiny is. Whether you like it or not, we are intertwined.”

Lukas’s eyes narrowed, “I won’t lie,” he began, shifting uncomfortably. “I was wrong about strangers tracking us from Ferloch. But I’m not changing my mind about having you two sticking around. Whatever strange powers you think are speaking to you, they’re none of my concern. I’m not interested in getting tangled up in this… group dynamic.”

Mary met his gaze, “Lukas, we—”

Before she could finish, Yumiko’s voice echoed across the cavern. “Guys! I found something!”

Lukas and Mary exchanged a glance, then pushed themselves to their feet, striding toward her. “What is it?” Mary asked, her curiosity piqued.

Yumiko knelt on the ground, summoning a small gust of air with a flick of her wrist. Dust and debris scattered, revealing an intricately carved tile embedded in the cavern floor, a pattern of a serpent etched across its surface.

“Looks like we stumbled onto something… old,” Yumiko murmured, her hand hovering over the tile.

Mary knelt to get a closer look at the stone tile, her fingers lightly tracing the edges. As she leaned forward, the bloodstained map slipped from her pouch, landing squarely on the carved snake symbol. For the briefest instant, the snake’s eyes shimmered brightly, a flash so quick none of them noticed. But then, the faint pulsing glow resumed, eerie and unsettling, sending a chill down Mary’s spine.

“A snake?” Yumiko murmured, studying the pattern. “Could this be where the serpent staff is hidden?” Yumiko asked, her eyes fixed on the strange symbol, the usual spark of curiosity giving way to wary anticipation.

Mary reached for the map and saw that it had fallen. As she began to scoop up the map she noticed something else inscribed on the tile. Her fingers froze. “Wait… there’s writing here.” She looked up at Yumiko, gesturing. “Can you dust off this section too?”

Yumiko moved beside her, raising a hand over the stone and releasing a small jet of air. Dust swirled away, revealing ancient letters carved deep into the stone. Mary leaned closer, reading aloud, her voice barely a whisper:

“‘Test thy courage, if thou art truly brave. Offer the blood of thy challengers. Only the bold and strong shall endure. Turn back, ye who are weak of will or faint of heart. The King of Stone and Venom reigns here, and none but the worthy shall pass.’”

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The words echoed ominously in the cavern, their meaning cryptic yet chilling. Yumiko’s eyes widened, a shiver running through her. “It has to be here,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement. “The staff… Mary, we’re so close. We can get it right now!”

But Lukas shook his head, his voice cold. “We came here for the flowers—nothing more. Or did you forget that?”

Yumiko shot him an exasperated look, her frustration finally surfacing. “No, Lukas. You came for the flowers. We told you back in the carriage that if we found anything relating to the voice’s request, we wanted to investigate. And look at us—we’re right next to it! We’re not leaving now.” She held out the herbalist’s sack, brimming with gathered blooms. “We already have the flowers—plenty of them. You owe us at least this much.”

Lukas’s gaze hardened as he looked between the two of them. “And how do we know this isn’t some elaborate trap?” he retorted. “Every time this ‘voice’ leads you somewhere, it’s been nothing but danger. And don’t forget—those two fools who attacked us could show up at any moment.”

As if summoned by his words, a mocking voice echoed through the cavern. “Fools, are we?”

The three of them turned toward the entrance of the chamber, where Ronan and Vanessa stood, their expressions smug and their wounds healed, looking more than ready for a rematch.

Mary’s eyes narrowed as she tightened her grip on the hammer strapped to her back. “Didn’t you say Lukas left him in pretty rough shape?”

Yumiko conjured her bow from thin air, leveling it at Vanessa, her eyes sharp. “He did,” she replied, the disbelief and anger apparent in her voice.

Vanessa’s smirk widened as she produced a small vial from a pouch, tossing it in the air before letting it shatter on the ground. “Your potions helped with that,” she sneered. She flung the remaining potions inside the pouch onto the floor, their remnants glinting in the cavern’s eerie light. “Thanks for the top-notch healing supplies,” she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

Mary glanced around at her companions, assessing their condition. Yumiko looked fully recovered, her stance steady and her gaze sharp. Mary herself still felt the ache where she’d been stabbed, a raw reminder that her strength was waning. Lukas looked worse than either of them; his arm trembled, and his face was pallid, though he held the handle of his sword with grim determination. As her eyes shifted to Vanessa’s cold, unblinking stare, a wave of fear crept over her, unsettling her core.

Lukas took a deep breath, steadying himself as he drew his blade. “Steel yourselves,” he said, his voice a low, cold warning. “They’re not letting us out of here without a fight.” He fixed his gaze on their attackers, his grip tightening despite his shaking arm. Following Yumiko’s earlier advice, Mary forced herself to look only at Vanessa’s feet, avoiding her gaze and any potential curse it might carry.

Ronan’s lips curled into a sly smile as he observed Lukas’s trembling. “Smart man,” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. His gaze swept over Lukas, lingering on his injured arm. “These eyes of mine do more than just strike fear. They reveal one’s aura—their mana. And yours, my friend, is a mess. It’s churning like a storm, fighting itself.” He chuckled, his tone almost mocking. “Sure, I hurt you, but that mana rebound must be agony. Isn’t it, Lukas?”

Yumiko’s eyes darted to Lukas, and she could see the pain etched into his features, the slight sway in his stance. She bit her lip, her concern growing. He looked as though he were a single blow away from collapsing.

“Don’t say my name so casually.” Lukas growled.

Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. She turned to Ronan, nearly bouncing on her feet. “Let me deal with him this time!” she urged, practically begging.

But Ronan shook his head. “No. I’ll handle him. He’s barely hanging on, so there won’t be any issues this time.” He slammed his gauntlets together, a metallic clang echoing through the cavern. “Don’t forget, we need one of them alive for the staff.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes, casting a sly grin toward Yumiko and Mary. “You always take the fun out of it,” she sighed. “But fine. I guess I can finish what I started—glad to see you back on your feet!” She chimed at Mary, who tried not to get intimidated anymore from the young woman.

“What do you want with the staff?” Yumiko demanded, her voice hard but edged with tension.

Ronan raised a brow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Color me impressed. I thought the blonde one was the only real challenge here, but now I see—a young woman from the East who dares to resist our fearful gaze.” He watched her carefully, noting her trembling stance. Unlike Lukas, she wasn’t yet immune to the power of his gaze; it was only a matter of time before her resolve would crack.

“Answer me,” Yumiko said, her voice betraying both fear and anger. “Who are you people, and why do you keep following us?”

Ronan chuckled, unperturbed by her anger. “We are The Chosen, an elite order of warriors. Our mission is to end wars, to elevate humankind into something greater than it’s ever been. And as for the staff, our Master has ordered us to retrieve it—just as your own guide has commanded you to seek it.”

“Bullshit,” Lukas spat, his cold gaze narrowing. “Elevate mankind? That’s the same drivel the Dark Knight used to spout.”

Yumiko’s eyes flared. “We don’t have a master!” she shouted.

Vanessa’s mocking smile widened. “Oh, that’s a cute lie! But as I mentioned before, our eyes can see more than you realize—especially divine magic. That little scrap of paper the red-haired woman holds? It’s glowing with it.” She nodded at Mary, who quickly folded the map and stashed it in her pouch. “I can even see the faintest trace of it near your ears. Someone’s been whispering in them, filling your heads with lies about our Master.”

Ronan’s eyes gleamed, a cold satisfaction in his stare. “And we’re here to find out who they are, and why they’re meddling with us.” His gaze shifted to Lukas, scrutinizing him. “The real question is… why don’t you have the same trace of divine magic around you, like the others?”

A heavy silence settled over the room as each side braced for the first move. Mary’s heart pounded in her chest, the weight of her hammer grounding her as she whispered a quiet prayer. Then, with a swift motion, she lifted her hammer above her head and bellowed, “Glory to the first strike!” She brought it crashing down, sending a surge of earth barreling toward their enemies. The ground split, stone and dirt surging like a wave.

Vanessa leapt to the right, laughing as she dodged it. “Trying to split us up, are we?” she sneered. Yumiko’s arrow shot through the air toward Vanessa, but she sidestepped with ease, barely glancing at it. “Same old tricks!” Vanessa taunted.

But Yumiko’s eyes were steely, her movements precise. She drew another arrow, her gaze locked on Vanessa, and let it fly. Vanessa sneered, tracking its trajectory with casual disdain. “What’s with these pathetic—”

Suddenly, the arrow exploded just as it passed her, sending a blinding cloud of smoke and debris into the air. Vanessa tumbled out of the cloud, coughing and sliding across the ground. She scrambled to her feet, her face twisted in fury as she glared at Yumiko.

“You and that blond man are nothing but dirty tricksters!” she spat, brushing dust from her face.

Yumiko’s eyes narrowed, and a faint smirk played at her lips as she drew yet another arrow. “Guess you should start paying attention, then.”

On the other side of the wall, Ronan slammed his gauntlets together once more, the sound echoing ominously through the cavern. Lukas approached him, sword in hand, his body battered, bloodied, and bruised. Despite his injuries, Lukas’s expression was fierce, anger radiating from his eyes as he closed the distance between them.

Ronan observed him with a twisted smile. “Ah, yes… I see it now,” he murmured, nodding slowly. “The vision I had of a wounded beast on its last breath—this is what I saw!” He let out a laugh that filled the air, chilling and full of confidence. “I used to worry because my master spoke of nightmares—nightmares of a blond man destined to challenge him. I thought it was you.” He chuckled again, eyes glinting. “But now I see—there’s no need for fear. That vision dies here, with you. Whether you limp away from this fight or not, you’re already doomed. Your own mana is tearing you apart!” He laughed louder, savoring every word, each one a taunt meant to dig deeper into Lukas.

With a roar, Lukas charged forward, his sword raised, fury pushing him through the pain. Ronan braced himself, his gauntlets sparking with energy as he readied for the clash. Lukas swung his blade down with all his might, but Ronan caught it, holding it in a fierce grip. Lukas’s eyes widened in shock as he struggled to pull the sword free, but Ronan was already moving. A glowing fist crackled with energy and swung toward Lukas’s face.

At the last second, Lukas managed to shield himself, raising his left arm to block, but the impact sent him skidding backward across the rocky ground. The force was devastating. His sword clattered from his hand, and his left arm throbbed with unbearable pain, hanging uselessly at his side.

Ronan laughed, his voice mocking as he watched from afar. “You’re out of your depth. My special gauntlets with weapon magic enhance each strike twentyfold! You may have avoided the strike before, but you are only growing weaker as we fight! I won't lie, I am rather impressed that you managed to survive a direct hit just now. But good luck wielding that sword again.”

Lukas gritted his teeth, panting as he assessed the damage. His left arm hung limp, his fingers numb and unresponsive. Purple bruising spread across his skin, mingling with fresh blood that seeped from torn flesh. He tried moving his right arm, but it still trembled from his last encounter with Ronan’s and Vanessa’s magic.

Lukas’s mind raced, his thoughts laced with bitterness. What now? he wondered, trying to calm his erratic breathing. My magic’s out of control, my left arm is done for, my right isn’t faring much better… and I’m barely standing after our last fight. Resignation crept in, but the fire in his eyes refused to die out.

Ronan smirked, slamming his fists together in preparation for the final blow. “You fought well, but this battle is mine!” He took a step forward, his powerful form looming towards Lukas.

Just as he prepared to strike, the ground suddenly trembled. The tremors grew stronger, sending ripples across the floor. Rocks began to tumble from the ceiling, and the stalagmites overhead swayed ominously. Lukas looked up, confusion flickering across his face—this was far more violent than anything Mary’s magic could create. He looked towards Ronan, thinking it was him, but the man looked just as confused.

Ronan paused mid-step, frowning. “What are you planning now?” he demanded, glaring at Lukas.

Then, from the far side of the cavern, the wall exploded outward in a shower of rubble and dust. A piercing screech filled the air, echoing off the cavern walls, so intense that all the fighters in the room clamped their hands over their ears.

As the dust began to settle, a monstrous silhouette loomed from the broken wall, its form towering and twisted. Ronan’s confidence faltered as he stared, a sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead. He took an unsteady step back, eyes wide with horror as he whispered, “What… How?”

Above them loomed a massive serpent, easily the largest anyone had ever seen. Its body was armored with thick, stony scales that seemed to pulse with the earth’s power, and its eyes glowed a venomous green, casting an eerie light across the cavern. The snake’s fangs, long and wickedly sharp, dripped with a slow, viscous poison that hissed as it hit the ground, leaving burn marks in the stone.

Ronan sneered, but there was a flicker of unease in his voice. “The King of the Evergreen Cavern has arrived.”

Across the room, Vanessa’s eyes lit up with reckless excitement. “Another opponent!” she shrieked, charging toward the creature and forgetting all about Yumiko and Mary. “I’ll make short work of it, so it doesn’t spoil our fun!”

Ronan’s eyes widened. “No! You fool!”

Ignoring him, Vanessa conjured an ice spike in her palm, hurling it straight at the serpent’s face. But the beast was shockingly agile, swerving its massive head just in time to dodge. Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with exhilaration as she dashed closer, calling over her shoulder, “Watch, Ronan! I’ll skewer it like I did that Blaenhorn!”

Gathering a huge surge of mana, she summoned an enormous ice spike from the ground, sharp and towering—too vast for the snake to evade. The serpent tensed, and then, with a powerful coil, launched itself into the air, slamming into the cavern ceiling. The entire space trembled as the snake’s body wedged among the stalactites, dislodging rocks that rained down around them.

Yumiko’s hand trembled on her bow, a bead of sweat forming at her temple. “Such strength… That woman really is a monster,” she muttered, barely able to tear her eyes away from the sight.

Vanessa dusted her hands with a triumphant grin. “See? No problem at all!” she declared proudly, turning to Ronan with a smug smile.

But then, a shudder ran through the snake’s body, and its tail began to twitch. Vanessa frowned, watching as it started to move. In a flash, the serpent’s tail whipped around with terrifying speed, striking her square in the chest. She was thrown across the cavern, crashing into the wall with a deafening impact, a cloud of dust and rubble billowing up where she hit.

“Vanessa!” Ronan called out, a note of real panic in his voice as he looked toward the cloud of dust where his companion had landed.

With deliberate slowness, the snake coiled its body around the ice spike. Cracks started to develop and soon, the massive shard shattered. The beast dropped back to the ground, landing with a thunderous crash that shook the cavern walls, its green eyes blazing as it scanned the intruders with deadly intent.

Lukas stared at the creature, both awe and dread written across his bruised face. Vanessa’s attack was strong, but the serpent looked unharmed—there wasn’t a single scratch marring its stony scales.

Mary swallowed hard, the faintest quiver in her voice. “This is… really not good,” she murmured, her gaze fixed on the serpent as it hissed, the sound vibrating in their bones. “It took down the one fighter we couldn’t even touch… with just one hit.”

Yumiko took a step back, her bow drawn but her hands trembling slightly. “I know…”

Mary forced a nervous grin, trying to steel herself. “Well, there’s no turning back now… we’re in it deep.”