Chapter 31. Devastation Underground

How could I relay that story to Aimon? I couldn’t seem to make the words. When I was a boy, it was Sofia who had told me about our parents’ death. I remember the moment she told me, vividly, and then little else. I had been sitting in my room, tinkering with robots. “Warren,” she had said, “why don’t you come over here to the bed and talk to me.” I had been so engrossed that I told her I was busy. When I finally looked at her, I saw my sister as I had never seen her. Swollen eyes. Jaw set. I think most people crumble in the wake of devastation. Sofia became determined. She grew up that day, became the adult I needed. I, however, became lost.

Janica saved me. I had forgotten that she was able to speak with the Earth Spirit back in the mine. She must have gained this ability when I did. “He said your parents were below ground,” she told Aimon. “These two were not.”

Aimon nodded.

“Why didn’t you pass on?” Janica asked them.

I’m glad she asked the question. I didn’t have the stones.

“Don’t know,” Lensa said. “Many of us passed on. Some of us didn’t.”

We relayed this to the group.

“Will we be able to find my parents?” Aimon asked.

Lensa and Voron looked at each other. Voron answered. “Don’t know. Nobody has been able to contact anybody below ground since the accident. The university had doors with codes that protected everything down below. That’s where the research labs and library was. When the power system failed, the doors remained locked forever. They were powered by magic and couldn’t be unlocked with traditional keys. It could be very dangerous down there. I worry about what you’ll find. Or what will emerge if those doors are unlocked.”

I shuddered at that. “What do you mean?”

“There are many ghosts, like us, who did not pass on. Who are not angry. Just saddened. Some of us live in the cottages around the University.”

Lensa jumped in. “We get together with them and play cards. It’s like a little deceased retirement community.”

He looked at her and chuckled.

Ghosts were playing cards together? I pictured a group of them playing hacky sack in the quad.

Voron got serious again. “But we don’t go into the university building anymore. None of us do. Many of our colleagues went mad, or worse. An experience like that, when nearly everyone you know is instantly killed can be… traumatizing. I believe if Lensa and I weren’t together, I might have—”

“Hush,” She put her hand in his wild hair. “We don’t have to think about that. I have a theory,” she added.

“My little psychologist,” he said, rolling his eyes.

She elbowed him. “I have a theory that if a ghost is stuck in a stage of grief, their body transforms into a facsimile of that stage. Those in depression become banshees. Those in anger become wraiths.” She shuddered. “But the worst... the worst are stuck in denial. Those are the Madmen. And the Madwomen.”

“What’s happening?” Henry asked. “What are they talking about?”

I put a finger up to show Henry that I needed a minute. I didn’t want to interrupt the ghosts.

“But it doesn’t all make sense,” Voron said. They were speaking as intellectuals again. Scientists. “What about the stage of bargaining?”

“It’s a working theory, dear,” she said. “And it’s not like I can go in there to perform psychological studies.”

“You said you were worried about what might emerge from below,” I interrupted.

“Yes,” Lensa said. “Very worried. Imagine, not only being stuck in a stage of grief for years and years, but being confined deep below ground. I believe the effect could be devastating on the psyche.”

I nodded, then caught the rest of the group up on what they had said.

“But we need to get down there,” Henry said. “And we need to recover an item to do that.”

I turned to the ghosts. “We have a way to bring power back to the university,” I said. “But we’re going to need something from the school. An item, possibly a relic, that represents the place. Something of rare quality, or epic if possible. Do you know where we might find something like that?”

Lensa looked at Voron, then at me. “Why do you want to get involved with something so dangerous?”

My palms began to sweat. “Wel, Aimon wants to find his parents.” I had an instinct that I needed a better reason to unleash angry ghosts on the world than just to reconnect Aimon with his folks. These two were scientists. Scholars. “And all of that knowledge is lost to the world. The stacks and stacks of research, the recorded histories. We’d like to bring it back.”

They looked thoughtful. Then Voron spoke. “I agree,” he said. “Thousands of people contributed to that knowledge. It should be brought back to the world. But I worry about what will happen. What you’ll find. What will emerge.”

“There’s a book in the Headmaster’s office,” Lensa said. “The Student Registry. It’s as old as the school itself, and contains information on every student that was ever admitted to the university and a list of their accomplishments. That should do.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I relayed the message. We had what we came for. It was time to say goodbye.

“Please tell Aimon to be careful,” Voron added.

I turned to Aimon. “Is there anything else you’d like to say?”

“Just tell them that it was good to see them. And that I love them.”

I translated.

The ghosts smiled at Aimon and said their goodbyes.

Quest: Family Heirlooms Part 1 was updated.

Quest: Family Heirlooms Part 2

Objective: Aimon’s parents are trapped within the university’s underground. Help him find closure with them.

Rewards: Unknown

Do you Accept: Yes /No

I accepted the quest.

We gathered as a full team on the university grounds to discuss our plans.

“Are we ready for this?” Rowan asked. “We only have until 10 a.m. to plant the Dungeon Seed. That’s not a lot of time. What can we prepare in that time?”

I looked at Ilrune. “Have any of you fought ghosts before? What are we getting ourselves into?”

“I have,” Ilrune said. “Years ago. When they could still use mana. Very dangerous. All sorts of spells that did shadow damage, fear effects and silence effects. Debuffs that make you start to feel insane or add so much stress to your mind that you can have a heart attack.”

“Do all of those things require mana?” Henry asked.

Ilrune shrugged. “Not sure. It was a long time ago, and I didn’t really understand the mechanics.”

“Is there some way we can protect ourselves against those things?” Rowan asked. “And are we able to do damage to ghosts with traditional weapons?”

“Traditional weapons will work,” Ilrune said. “They’re vulnerable to holy damage, but we don’t have any of that.” He turned to Dread. “Is there anything we can do to arm ourselves better?”

“Well,” she said. “We can start by fully equipping the youngsters. Their gear is pitiful. If we had some Ectoplasm, we could treat our leather with shadow resistance. But I don’t have any.” She looked thoughtful. “We could use a home base, of sorts. A place to make gear, sleep, and recover our health tonight. Then head out early in the morning. Aimon, do you have any ideas?”

“Mm-hmm,” he said. “I had some cousins that owned a general store down in Lakemore. Maybe they’re willing to host us? I would say that we could stay with the ghosts, but I don’t think I could do it. Too many memories in that house. And all the wailing and screeching creeps me out. Even if I know that they mean well.”

We agreed.

“I would like to stock up on herbs,” Henry said. “It would be nice to be full on potions before we get into a bunch of fights.”

“Let’s get settled first,” Ilrune said. “Then we can split up and gather what we need.”

#x200e It took us about thirty minutes to walk from the University campus to the lakefront business district. Aimon led us down curved roads made of cobblestones. The town had enough abandoned buildings that felt uncomfortable. Twice, as we twisted and turned through the streets, we heard wailing from empty houses. Apparently, Lakemore had a thriving ghost population. I wondered if they were all card players. I pictured a ghost trying to hide an ace up its partly transparent sleeve.

NPCs walked up and down the shopping district, exchanging fish, barrels, bait and supplies. It smelled like dirty water and fish. The general store sat near the end of the wharf. A three story building whose ground floor once served as a place where people bought basic things. Grains, beans, pickled meats. Bait and tackle. At least, that’s what the signs read. We stared through the windows. The place was empty.

“Should we break in?” Dread asked.

“Stay here,” Aimon said. He walked up the street by himself.

He was back in a moment with an official-looking woman with a large keyring that jangled at her belt with about a hundred keys. Her nameplate said .

“We’re so glad you’ve returned, Mr. Aimon,” she said. She had her key ring out and was trying key after key in the lock of the general store. “So glad. Having a lot of trouble keeping people from leaving, we have. Don’t help business none at all when half the town wants to leave and the other half are ghosts. I practically beg people to set up shops nowadays. Do you think you’ll be staying long? We could use another general store. Your cousins used to sell the best pickled fish on the lake. Mmm-mmm.”

“I’m not so sure yet,” Aimon said.

The lock turned. She pushed the door open. “Here you are, Mr. Aimon.” She took the key off of her keyring and handed it to him. “I’ll be getting back now. Let me know if you need anything.”

She started to leave, making quick little steps. This woman was fast.

I ran to catch up with her. “Excuse me. Ma’am.”

Talia stopped. “Hi. Yes, how may I help you?” She wore big round glasses that didn’t fit her face and an official outfit that reminded me of something you might see an accountant wearing in a movie.

“Hi,” I said. “I was wondering. Are there any storefronts available for purchase?”

At this, she seemed to get very excited. “Yes, yes of course. Are you planning on staying in Lakemore?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I was thinking about it. I might open a tannery.”

“Oh,” she said. “That’s wonderful. Wonderful. We haven’t had a tannery in ages. Come on into the clerk’s office and we’ll draw up the paperwork.”

“Oh um… ” I said. “I don’t know if I’m quite ready to do it today. But my sister is coming to town. Her name is Sofia. She’s more of a business person than I am. I’ll send her to see you.”

“Very good,” Talia said. “I’ll look for her arrival..” She walked off, feet shuffling, keys jingling.