~Cobb POV~
Understanding flowed into my awareness, knowledge at the most basic level but complete mastery over what was given. The usage of a Skillbook was indeed strange, the method of imparting the skill still allowed me to glean random insights here and there as the pages fluttered.
Contos Spellcraft, 3d magic, something I had never even considered. It wasn't an elemental magic, it didn't have its own specific domain of power. It wasn't something as unique as Animate. Neither was it the power over time, or something equally encompassing. In fact, it was most closely akin to enchanting; not the enchantment of items but rather, of magic. But it wasn't a magic. It could most closely be called a technique, one lost to time. A piece of Twoen before the Second Dimensional Break. A damn effective one too.
The poison of Big Bob, a name which I had the unfortunate chance of hearing, completely took JST out of commision. The interface and general HUD helped me realize exactly what was happening. I had filtered through the settings previously, removed the unessecaries and optimized the display, effectively showing me the least and telling me the most. I realized that the poison was depleting everything as my preferences worked to my benefit, HP, MP and Stamina, and he was staying conscious. The bars manifested neatly to the side of JST's head as soon as I felt the need to see them. If I didn't already have the Contos Spellcraft Skillbook out I wouldn't have had the time to discover any magic useful enough for the occasion.
There was a extensive instruction on how to write using the four elements that the technique relied upon, only towards the back of the book were there any effects mentioned that formed through a combination of elements. I had only a handful of seconds of peaceful experimentation before the stakes were raised in the form of JST collapsing. In my case, Fire and Water were needed as i recalled their specific properties and while a miriad of other effects could come into play, intent, power, focus and many other factors contribute to the effect.
For JST and this situation I could only think of rebirth and rejuvenation, two concepts tied innately to two specifc elements. The birthing of a pheonix from the ashes and calm healing of a mountain spring. Despite the general tendency for the red and blue manfiestations of magic to make purple, instead they created a radiant pulsing green, without any interference on my part. There was nothing to indicate what I was supposed to draw, the basic elements had different, simple symbols to amplify their purpose but healing was too diverse, complicated and specifc, that or I missed something. I settled down and did what I so often did when it came to magic. I felt for it.
When I completed my "sculpture" I had no time to actually look it, I punched through and absorbed the power, intent, and feeling I had placed there in the first place. The 3d piece shattered, swirls of green seemingly sucked into my fist, a fast tornado of power focusing into my hand. The sensation of surging power in the palm of your hands is something new to me everytime it happens, though not so often do I ever feel the overwhelming power to heal. It isn't an experience I find myself forgetting anytime soon.
My fist shook with green radiance, a blazing sun held in the palm of my hand. Veins of power ran up from my fist. I briefly wondered if, in my fist, I held so much power that the excess flowed up my veins and into my forearms. Then without pause I slammed my fist into my brother's chest. The edges of my vision curiously tinted green.
Some instinct kept my fist pressed into his chest. He jerked and the power pulsed into him with a physical force, not all of it though. The radiant green faded only slightly as I watched his vitals rise up. It's like I was by someone's deathbed and a miracle just occurred. His HP jumped slightly as well as the rest of his resource bars. It was closely akin to the diagnostic screens by hospital patients. The pulses grew in frequency and his health, mana and stamina all rose rapidly. If there was something like internal bruising but in the fiery context then it would've oddly been fitting. The magic was attacking the very posion in his veins, flaring up and eliminating all traces, the purging visible even under his light tan scales which were reforming as well. His cardiovascular system was mapped out in pulses of bright green that were focused on his left side, which took the brunt of the quills and poison. By the time his status bars reached maximum he became responsive again, yet I kept my fist on his chest, the power hadn't run out yet. His left arm, still in the splint I made for it, calmly realigned itself and looked no worse for wear.
"What... the fuck." His breathing was staggered as his body came under his control once again. "That poison, holy shit." He glanced at my fist. "How are you doing that?" He gingerly tested his left arm as I let the splint fall away.
"It's Contos Spellcraft, you're lucky I gleaned something to do with healing from it by the way. I don't think I could've just reached out for some type of healing magic, especially with me blacking out last time I tried to get magic." My fist still pressed against his chest as the last waves of power pushed into him. "You owe me." I couldn't quite keep the grin from breaking out onto my face.
"I owe you." He said with the type of sigh that comes from a man knowing he's lost. "Woah, I'm going over max." His thoughts on the bleak future temporarily interrupted. Apparently confident enough, he propped himself up on his left arm.
Sure enough, his HP had an extra bar forming below it, his mana and stamina had the same. The extra bars rose steadily but only got halfway before the power ran out. His mana was a painfully small pool and the boost was equally small, half of ten was only five after all. However, his HP and Stamina were ridiculous, so while this didn't make him stronger by any means it did make him insanely more annoying and durable.
"Damn, that's gonna be helpful, assuming you can do it again?"
"Sure, with enough time and mana. For now though, there's something more pressing on my mind." I said glancing over at Big Bob. "This isn't right."
"What? That's the point. I mean we're trying to kill him." JST rubbed his neck when he got to "trying".
"You didn't notice anything?"
Jack, Gaius and George were coordinating their attacks, on the sidelines some workers were watching with a healthy amount of fear. Jones was unconscious to the side, still resting peacefully in the store we left him in. Tad's eyes were hungry, looking at George's sniper. I'd have to keep an eye on him, to one of the weaker races advances in technology have to be their only way forward.
"He's toying with us."
"That's about the jist of it. Believe it or not that thing isn't a predator. It feels like one but no, it's just beyond ancient. Did you see its teeth? Smooth. No, this thing's a herbivore." Confident enough that the rest weren't in trouble, I conjured up a chair of stone and took a seat rubbing my chin.
"True, if he moved the speed he did when he hit me, then they'd all be crumbling sand right about now. But that begs the question why? What are these ruins, the people here don't even know what the place is." I made him a seat which he greatfully took.
"I might have a guess." I was met with a raised eyebrow.
"Care to share?"
"Mineva, the head researcher, remember what she told us? Gyru, scrawled all over the ruins. Now, give me your best guess, why would a beast break out of the deepest depths of a ruin with Gyru written all over it? You know, Gyru, God of the Uncharted and Untamed Beasts? The very same one that took interest in my Rock Tree Boa? The same one who presides over the Uncharted and deals with all the imbalances? Ringing any bells in there?" Knowing my brother he's probably caught on now.
By now the others noticed our inaction to which JST responded with a non-commital dismissive wave.
"You know that Gyru handles the imbalances how?"
"Just a hunch, that thing looks pretty imbalanced to me." He followed my gaze to the behemoth in the center of the floor.
Its breath was heavy but to Big Bob it was probably nothing. He wasn't even breaking a sweat, that is, if he could. Another glance at the beastly visage left me with no doubt, it was smiling, ever so slightly. Strange that something presumably ancient shares a small similarity in facial expression.
"You think Gyru runs a zoo." He said plainly.
"I think this is where he keeps all the 'Untamed Beasts' that's part of his title."
"That doesn't explain why one escaped, you'd think a god kept better care of their pets. If you lock them up with the intention of keeping them there you might as well throw the keys away."
"It does explain a lot of things though. Alwatl could translate a bit remember? Mineva mentioned her piqued interest when the Research Division mentioned the ruins to her, since then she's been all over the place. Of course, we were only told that she was translating, deciphering and decoding the language along with the rest of the researchers. The way she spoke Standard earlier, that fluency, I'd be surprised if she had a whole slew of languages under her belt. I'm not saying I know how the culture works in Geckan society but i'm sure that without a doubt royalty get a high education. We're also forgetting one thing." My brain was working overtime, the conspiracy forming as fast as the thoughts came together. Seemingly unrelated details finding their spots next to each other.
"Shit. Why would the only intelligent species in the Uncharted we've met so far not know the local language." It was more a statement of fact than it was a question.
I nodded. "Even if it wasn't the local language, i'm not gonna underestimate the Geckans and think that they haven't at least come across the same language before."
"Which means Big Bob didn't escape." He looked towards Jones and Tad. "He was freed." His eyes no doubt searching for someone I'd confirmed missing moments before.
"She's gone." I said following his gaze.
"We need to stop her. We can't have Bob just rampage around though. I haven't found anything in the way of weakness." He paused suddenly, realizing his own words. "We need to wake up Jones. The kid's been sleeping job way too much."
"Only because he pushes the hardest." I replied. It was the truth too.
A short walk later I was slapping Jones with a jiggling ball of water, hilariously.
"Wake up bitch." JST got straight to the point, going so far as to grabbing my magically conjured blob and slapping him himself.
"Ughh. Leave me alone." Jones rolled over.
"Jones we need you, check the weaknessess on Big Bob, we have to put him down or at least subdue him." That got his attention, he perked up, albeit groggily and glanced at the beast. I didn't blame him, mana loss in most games generally leaned towards headches as the punishment, in varying degrees of severity. Twoen was one of, if not the most, punishing in this aspect.
In the meantime I did my own info gathering.
Inform
Baby Great Turgill - Lvl 98
HP: 12,503/12,503
MP: 1,000/1,000
Though relatively weak in terms of strength and stamina to the beasts of its time the Great Turgills make up for the deficiency in effective poison and insurmountable defense and hardiness. Their young, unable to control the amount of poison administered are generally left alone as predators fear the consequences should they be pierced by the quills surrounding them. Peaceful by nature, Great Turgills enjoy combat and sparring with each other, immune to their own poison the method works perfectly. Great Turgills existed before the First Dimensional Break and still live to this day. The only remaining Great Turgills are ancient and in deep slumber, their locations marked, yet never expected to be seen awaken. To find a Baby Great Turgill is something unheard of.
Unfortunately there was no hidden information for me to glean or any insight into its weaknesses, but the descrption does explain why it was toying with us and smiling all the while. It's just a baby having fun. I laughed out loud drawing stares from Tad and JST. It was a result of the futility of it all, an ancient baby and we haven't so much as made a dent in it.
"Have ye finally gone bonkers? I'm on the verge meself watching the beast wreck the 'ole place." His words were harsh probably angry at me for taking this a little too light hearted.
"Sorry Tad. We're under the assumption that the Alwatl released the beast, which i'll let you know right now is just the baby version of its species." I said smirking.
"It's a fucking baby? You're kidding me." JST got up and pointed, unbelieving. "That thing?"
"And apparently compared to everything else from its time its the weakest of the lot." I said remembering the wording.
"Fuck me..." He exhaled a controlled, calm, annoyed sigh. "Right, okay the thing is ancient, no shame." I could almost hear him mentally repeating the phrase.
"Sure. That's why those are there." I pointed at the two JST shaped indents on the far wall and gave him my smarmiest grin.
"Fuck you."
"It has no weaknesses." Jones groaned, still clutching his head, although the intensity at which he did abated somewhat. "This thing must be really strong. Its strengths are as listed: Extreme Strength, Defense, Stamina. Add to that it's just a baby and that's kinda depressing."
"Well it's just a baby. I'm great with kids, why don't I just play with it or something?" JST shrugged surprisingly unconcernced of his brush with digital death, or the fact that said baby was capable of sending him flying into concrete walls.
No matter what idiotic stunts Derjar pulls in game and in real life, not even his own brothers could deny his skill with children. Where one might assume a total lack of responsibility and therefore qualification as a babysitter, Derjar had both in spades when it comes to kids. There was a gentle patience and humor in him that only a rowdy child could coax out of him, perhaps it was that he was that child in his life before, perhaps it is simply the fact that humans are unpredictable, multifaceted beings, nonetheless one thing is certain, Derjar is undeniably great with kids. I sighed audibly, aghast at myself for even considering that he might succeed, because while I might think his idea is outlandish, bizzare, unconventional, and just plain stupid; those are the exact categories in which many past plans have fallen. The very same plans he brings up to rub in my face, whenever I deny him a shot at trying something equally unprecedented.
"Remember how we dealt with that angry god who tried to destory the world? Armageddon or something. Anyways back then you said- "
"Fine." I was self aware enough to know my forehead was creased with wrinkles, tangible evidence that a small part of me warred with my decision.
"No, but i'm saying, it worked at least give me- " He paused. "What?"
Honestly, he didn't really need permission from me, it was just a formality, a dynamic we've always had whenever immersed. If he really thought it was the best idea he wouldn't bother asking me. Either he asks as a courtesy or not even he is going into this as confident as I think he is. Of course, he could just be planning to corrupt an ancient baby being into destroying half the world, it wouldn't be the first time.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"I'm saying go play babysitter with the Great Turgill. Only God knows where the luck you get comes from." I massaged my forehead, something that seems more and more nessecary.
Then JST started laughing, wholeheartedly and mirthful.
"What's so funny?" Jones squinted.
"Oh nothing, just that, this might actually be more fun than actually fighting the thing." He took a moment to stare at what was probably a notification, smiled and ran off.
"Really?" Jones sidled up next to me, eyeing JST as he ran over to the fight.
JST could be seen calling the rest of the group away from the beast. The spartan and samurai backed off, somewhat hesitantly, all George had to do was stop shooting. Big Bob, a name that seems even less fitting than it did before, paused and looked at JST, he quirked his head to one side, a motion that would've come across as eerie, creepy, distrubing or sinister now it gave the impression of a toddler puzzling out something new.
"Something your Class Skill doesn't readily explain, although it is undoubtly strong, the creatures are actually rather peaceful. Meaning it's not really a threat if you don't get it angry, and from the expression on its face I think it's been having fun this whole time. So yes, really."
"Yer bout to let yer friend go play with that thing, what might you lads be doing?" Tad butted in, skeptical. "This doesn't solve anything, i've still got a near damn gigantic beast in me facility! Not that I don't appreciate you lads, thought I'd point it out though." He quickly reiterated.
"We need a map of the ruins." Jones said catching on quickly. "We need to find Alwatl."
I raised my eyebrow, glancing to my side.
"It was pretty obvious she had something to do with it." I was not one to doubt Jones when it came to finding ulterior agendas and underlying motivations.
"Well then, that's that let's go find her. Tad, the map?" I asked.
"We folks din't have a map, no need, them ruins are a simple thing really, ye can see the entrance right over there. It's a dark hallway all the way down, straight as an arrow, long been removed of traps, protections, magic, gizmos and whatnot thanks to Alwatl. It ends in a larger hallway, I only know cuz I was down there meself. Now, I din't see nothing, at least not much, but by the time the beast popped right out of the wall I had a good reckoning. It came right out of what 'ad to be a cage, and now that I've got the brain to spare, Alwatl be the one inspectin' the thing. Fortunately and unfortunately, we had to run out of the place, or else get run over ourselves. Truth be told, I never trusted the lizard. Then again, woulna' have gotten so far down the wreck without 'er. Ahh, but maybe we shouldna' been pokin' down there in the first place."
"Only God knows what's down there." I told him, not entirely lying. Also realizing my usage of the singular God as I spoke.
"Ye may be right there, lad." Taking my slip up in stride, hinting at a great many religous views.
I took the time to check my notifications as well as my new equipment as we walked towards the entrance Tad indicated, not that it was hard to miss. It was basically a black hole, somewhat stark against the gray concrete walls found everywhere else.
New Skill: Contos Spellcraft - Beginner 4 (57%)
Practitioners of old utilized a miriad of techniques as a magical focus. William Contos is one of many who endeavored towards the goal of increased magical power, birthed from his efforts, Contos Spellcraft. The method of illustrating magical attacks in a battle was percieved as a tactical folly, if not for the unique twists many mages spun on the technique. Not every symbol or drawing was the same yet even the same symbols never produced the same effect from two different mages. Before any progress could be made the Split War forced many Battle Mages into falling back into old and reliable methods of focus. Then, the magic was lost to time.
Effects:
+54% in magical amplification when using Contos Spellcraft
The power I felt was off the charts an approximate 50% increase in magical power didn't seem like it would account for that, but the technique did allow me to condense almost my whole mana pool into my right hand and forearm. Come to think of it, I don't recall getting a headache from that particular drain. From the looks of it the Skill actually had many more mysteries tied to it as well, the Split War was mentioned in actual book that I read. The Skillbook itself only contained techniques and ways one could get started, aside from that there was nothing too advanced, only the basics, but the basics allowed some very, very interesting building blocks to begin with.
New Skill: Healing - Beginner 5 (99%)
Not all methods are known, but there are multiple ways to alleviate wounds. Many magics lend themselves to the art of Healing, though some are more suited than others, with enough control many arcane practices can have a positive effect on the body. The arcane, however, is not always as reliable as the mundane. Basic first aid and the like are generally just as effective and much easier to learn, one not as mystically inclined has the potential to become a Healer just as easily as an Archmage. The art of Healing is not so easily tied to a single practice, methods known and unknown, no matter their origin, when directed and focused to healing the body, mind and soul, without a doubt, qualify as Healing.
Effective:
+5% effectiveness of desired effect, should it succeed
This no doubt came from using Contos Spellcraft to heal, the very first thing I did with it actually, aside from the few seconds I had messing around drawing in the air before JST's condition knocked him off his feet. So far we didn't need anything to heal us, with JST's insane endurance, Jones' general slipperiness, and my mindful positioning and battle awaress, nothing really needed an instant save-the-day heal. We've only been able to close the level gap with teamwork, if it were any one of us alone out here most of these enemies would be too much for us to handle, we've all gone all out in our builds. A combination of teamwork tempered by years of battle, singuluar lopsided strengths, strategy, problem solving and a huge dose of luck were the only things that let us power through.
Contos Practitioner Robes (Rare)
Robes traditionally worn by those seeking power through the strange technique that is Contos Spellcraft. Loose sleeves and light material facilitate easy movement for drawings to be constructed in three dimensions. The robes are artfully dashed in stripes of color amid the white cloth. Lines of dark color surround the upper body while lighter, brighter colors are found as the eyes wander down. Enchanted through the technique themselves, they offer a measurable amount of magical defense.
+45% magical resistance
Effects:
+10% experience gain in Contos Spellcraft
Contos Picture Staff (Rare)
Specifically designed to channel the altered elements to the tip of the staff, this allows the wielder to draw through the staff. In addition the staff is enchanted by the very same technique it aims to facilitate. The staff is made of smooth twisted woods, of varying colors, four shades of brown intertwine to form the staff, each shifting slightly to a more coloful shade. A brownish red, a earthier brown, a leafy green, an autumn orange, all come into view as the perspective shifts.
Damage: 18-22
Effects:
+20% magical amplification when using Contos Spellcraft
+20% magical amplification to all magic channeled through the staff
I found the effects both welcoming and suspected, some type of facilitation using the skill fit in perfectly with my assumptions. The thing I didn't suspect was the enchantments, not only did it confirm the possibility of enchanting items with the technique, it also gave each a boost I was happy to have. The robes I expected to have some kind of resistance, after all it was magic, but 45% resistance seem kind of much, until I realized I got no defense in return from mundane attacks. The magical amplification on the Contos Picture Staff was almost too good to be true, the last effect means that if I use Contos Spellcraft, I gain 40% amplification. Since I didn't really find myself holding anything in the fights anyways, as long as i'm holding the staff i'll be indefinitely stronger.
For now I left the Demon Familiar Stone in my bag, nothing good ever comes from demons.
I noticed Jones holding his grass dagger, I believe it was called Whist Grass or something along those lines. In his other hand was the very first Sand Dagger I made for him, strangely that came with a sense of pride over my work. The other one was strapped to his hip. That drew me to eyeing his armor, which I realized covered his setules - his spider hairs - almost completely. I brought the issue up with him.
"Oh, my hairs can actually poke through in certain areas, the most useful for me anyways. Forearms, shoulders, calfs, shins, knees, elbows, feet and hands. I took the description seriously, enchanted coregath hide is almost impossible to come by. That said, if someone skilled enough to hunt down a Coregath, powerful enough to skin it, then audacious enough to enchant it why wouldn't they have some enchantments on this to give some leeway for races with extra appendages?" That was about a good an answer as I could get , and with only a little effort on my part I could see he was telling the truth.
Now pondering all our rewards, I reminded myself to ask JST about his "Access to the Glade" reward.
I filled Jones in on my previous theory as we ventured further down the hallway. Tad wasn't entirely lying, it was once a dark hallway, but thick electrical cords, extension cords and LED lights ran across the floor and ceiling, purging every shadow that once called the place home, some hung around, a result of smashed LED's and ripped cords. There were deep, quill-like grooves all around the tunnel and the resulting fine rubble on the floor, though the culprit was easy to guess. From what Tad said, the walk was neither short nor long, the only thing stopping most from entering further were the safeguards put in place to prevent just that. In retrospect I should've queried him as to what exactly those entailed to be prepared for any that might actually pop up, or any they missed.
"There's still isn't any reason for you to believe this place belongs to Gyru, okay well maybe with his name written everywhere there is, i'll give you that. Maybe it's a shrine and Big Bob was the guardian? There's nothing else that hints that this place is actually a 'zoo' as you said. In the same vein, nothing really points us to believe that Gyru actually does maitenence on the Uncharted. He might just leave the place to work by itself, if that's true then there'd be no reason for this place to even exist, meaning there'd be no monsters down here. That mean we shouldn't stop Alwatl from doing whatever she's doing though." To say Jones was skeptical was an understatement.
"Look, I've been over this before. What was our quest? Do you remember it? No? Then i'll give you the exact wording, 'An intelligent species of Geckos that are found deep within the Uncharted. Their intelligence threatens the balance of the Uncharted and you have been tasked with putting an end to them.' now, let's dissect that. The part of their intelligence threatening the balance of the Uncharted really catches the eye, don't you think? Remember when Gyru took notice of me? That was around the time my Rock Tree Boa was decimating Geckans left and right, the very same intelligent species that threatened the balance. In addition, Gyru took my Rock Tree Boa, no idea where it is now but i'm betting it's somewhere down there. Our quest coincides with keeping the balance of the Uncharted, i'm sure Gyru had some kind of reason for his interest in me and that was probably it." I paused.
"I guess we'll find out when we get there." He had the stoic focus about his face that he met most things with.
"If you were a God, one that had to deal with powerful beasts in a remote part of the world, a remote part of the world removed from all intelligent species, for beasts to be bred only through instinct, genetics, and the constant struggle for survival, what do you do with the anamolies? When one singular beast wipes the foodchain, threatening the balance of an ecosystem you so carefully cultivated? Personally, I'd think it'd be a waste to just kill it, so I'd just store it for later. Now, do me a favor and stack centuries upon centuries of this. Sooner or later you're gonna need to start doing something with all the outliers, the ones killing everything and upsetting the balance, and the truly spectacular specimens you can't bear to go extinct."
"That's assuming Gyru doesn't just kill them outright."
"If there's anything we know about gods Jones, it's that not everything they do makes sense, they have their peculiarities and quirks as much we do. I'm betting Gyru doesn't watch the whole of the Uncharted because he has to, i'm betting it's something more of a passion for him."
"Your logic is circular, it ends with another conditional. For all we know Gyru actually has to watch the Uncharted, it might actually be a job, not a hobby." He countered.
"You better hope it's a hobby."
"Why's that?"
The room expanded into a large cavernous hallway.
"Because if it isn't I have no idea what the fuck we're walking into."
~LoneJones POV~
I relaxed my grip on my daggers, staying loose was important. Without JST here, I'd be the only early warning between stopping something from taking out Cobb. Right now though, there was nothing disturbing the air. Except for Cobb getting ready for whatever awaits us, his wind magic controlled enough to only disturb the air slightly. Alwatl could be anywhere, if her magic is anything like Princess Awta then i'm in for another headache. I've been through enough mental strain for a month. Fortunately, I've got 20% magical resistance from my new equipment and a new dagger to boot. Though how that would affect magic affecting the mind is anyone's guess.
I took the time to take in my surroundings, increased perception allowed me to see things others weren't exactly privy to. Nothing but an empty cavern and weird drawings.
On our right, scrawled across the walls were strange glyphs and patterns, something I'd be leaving to Cobb. In the exact same vein, across the room and to our left there were the very same markings. I gave one of our many signals for temporary safety, two almost,but not quite, simulataneous snaps using my fingers. The signals we used were born less from necessity and more from not really wanting to talk to each other. If Cobb awknowledged the signal he didn't show it, which means more than likely he did.
"Anything?" I asked. Normally he would've said something by now.
"Well the only lead we have are these markings." He straightened out and glanced around, the room was filled with them. "Which is a problem because we should have another one."
"Another one?" Then it hit me like a boomerang.
"There should be an empty cell somewhere." He said.
"There should be an empty cell somewhere." I repeated moments after, knowing the truth in the words.
I sent an illusion of myself down the hallway and made him as obvious as I could. We were only at the very first set of markings, at this point though I don't think it mattered the hallway looked identical all the way down.
My older brother watched my Fake Jones jog down the hall. "And yet, there isn't an empty cell or a Geckan Queen." He eyed the end of the hallway, it was visible even to him, then hunched over and inspected the markings yet again.
I turned back around, I had a plethora of other senses besides feeling for the air currents and it was entirely possible Alwatl was concealing herself somehow.
"Maybe if I- " My brother's mumbling abrupty stopped, at the same time there was such a huge displacement of air that I was forced to turn around on instinct alone.
"What just- " I froze.
"Oh shit, shit, shit, shit." Cobb was panicking to himself, calmly. Somehow he made it work.
The wall that Cobb stood in front of only moments before had completely and entirely dissappeared. It wasn't the change that happened past the stone floor, the fact that it changed to a dark lush grass, nor was it the overload of aromas that flooded the nose, neither was it the unfamiliar sounds of animals so lost and extinct to Twoen they could probably be considered aliens, no, it was the fact I was staring at one of them that I froze in place. The fact that it was staring right back didn't help at all, its size didn't help either, its easy gait did nothing to thaw me. What really kept me frozen was that it was apparently a pack hunter, it was also the biggest one, once its focus turned the rest of the gigantic beings turned their head in the slow moving, powerful way that only absurdly enormous entities can pull off.
My frozen state wasn't something due to fear. It was something done of absolute necessity, I had gone invisible bringing Cobb under the veil as well. Although it wasn't technically being invisible, at least the way I percieved being invisible to be it was close enough. I was frozen because, despite all traces of me dissappearing, it had still caught sight of me, only the one but still, they all locked eyes with me. I pulled a magical muscle and formed some words in front of Cobb.
"No sounds." He nodded, that was the best I was gonna get. A perk of being under the veil with him was that I could see him fiddling with the markings on the portion of the wall that decided to exist. Right now though, it wasn't even a wall, just a slab of rock, there were no illusions that it could hold anything as dangerous as the beasts behind it back.
When I made the illusion of myself I linked myself to it, giving me control to direct it, just in case Alwatl actually showed up. He was actually a decoy designed to draw Alwatl out. I was patting myself on the back because now I could call him back and sacrafice the poor guy to ancient beings of the past. I was oddly proud when I saw myself running by my invisible spot, drawing ancient stares, without a fear in the world. This was odd for a handful of reasons, first; that wasn't me, second; I wasn't in any danger and third; the giant behemoth's head's swiveled to follow him but didn't so much as move. Their heads moved much like an owl, observant, huge eyes followed the illusions movement yet no action was made. One bent down, leveling with my clone probably trying to get a closer look, or sniff him or something. Then something truly frightening happened, a giant blinding white bolt of lightning took a portion of my vision away from me, something not even possible when looking up at the sky.
Wait, sky?
True enough the sky was perfecty clear past the rock hall, it would've been perfectly normal too if we weren't leagues underground. I'd have to assume this whole thing is a habitat, even the trees are larger, the grass darker and richer. The thoughts pertaining to the soil drew my eyes to the striking point of the lightning bolt and back into the present.
In the spot where a fake me was just a little bit before, now held nothing but scorched earth and a deep, deep crater.
Then their heads swiveled back to my exact location.
They're magic! Of course they can sense something here. But the type of awareness to make eye contact with me...
Almost as if they rehearsed the whole thing they started walking towards me. Examine Enemy would do me no good here, I was almost postive I was dead.
Then abrupty the giant, stone, cavernous wall decided it wanted to exist again, and there was nothing to ever indicate anything existed behind that wall either.
"Got it." Cobb said wiping his forehead. "These aren't only magical runes, they're based on a system of technicality. It's language, function and practicality rolled into one. Without anything to go off though I had to make some guesses, basically what i'm saying is now I know 'open' and 'close' sorry about that." He grinned the grin of a man in possession of another near death experience, and another great story under his belt.
"Don't... mess with those." I sat my butt down, emotionally drained. "Seriously."
"Point taken, noted and filed. I learned my lesson. At the same time I learned how to open these cells and more importantly close them so not all is lost."
A flash of movement on the edges of my perception caught my attention. I snapped my head, moving in a fashion I found eerily familiar even as I used it. Immediately I was locked onto a pair of royal, reptilian eyes.
The Queen.
"That's not good." Cobb said before I could chase her down.
"Why's that? We found her, now all we have to do is chase her down."
"Because," He strung the word out. "If she didn't find those worth freeing." He jerked a thumb backwards to the cell we just sealed.
"Then what the fuck is she trying to free?" He finished.
My eyes went wide.