I met many people on my travels while hiding my identity, both to evade problems and also to not cause any trouble for my teacher. Still, young as I was at that time, I made many mistakes, and the emotions of youth are quite unrefined. In the end, the only person that truly understood me was my teacher.
One day, during my travels, I was met with a strange woman who claimed herself to be my teacher’s mentor. She told me things that only someone that was either his mentor or his lover would have known. I was wise enough by then to understand where my irk came from when I had that conversation.
But I was still young and childish, and I accepted my teacher’s mentor’s ‘test’. Looking back, I would come to know it was to be a turning point in my life.
-???
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Three Heroes?
“Yes, yes. I know that look, Yuelei.” Eithne was one of the few that could read Yuelei’s usually expressionless face and laughed. “We didn’t pick the nickname, others from the guild did since we only take missions in threes.”
“It’s not a complimentary term.” Nuatha looked up and added. The traveling band had taken a rest at his request, having traveled in this miasma for the past four hours and fending off the maddened victims that attacked them. The ruins of Nol’gana offered plentiful shelter, and they had taken up residence in a two-storied building to rest.
“The League of Adventurers usually posts requests and members of the guild can pick and choose,” Lugh explained. “But there are times they would commission adventurers for a task, but we have a policy that they would have to commission all three of us.”
“Two A-rank and an S-rank adventurer with skills in the rank ninth or higher realms are quite expensive to hire, hence the term ‘Three Heroes’” Eithne smirked. “It’s quite patronizing, even with the number of feats we have on our belt.”
“Still, meddling with the affairs of others without being asked is the essence of being a hero.” Lugh smiled at Yuelei.
“Heroes are commonplace in Lugh’s home.” Eithne. “It’s like a tradition there.”
“I wouldn’t call it a tradition, but redemption instead.” Lugh shook his head and started to explain to Yuelei. “When we are young, we are given a choice to take an oath, and if you accept-.”
“- you will learn to shoulder the weight of the world.” Eithne butted in, having heard his next words thousands of times. “All in order to save mankind, because one of your ancestors had an epiphany on the ruined state of the world.”
Even the inhabitants of Lorresta are well-spoken among magical beast kind. Liur informed Yuelei to her surprise.
“Bah, who has the time to deal with everything wrong in the world when death always looms so nearby?” Eithne pointed outside from a hole in the wall, where the iridescent miasma congealed against the barrier formed by the Reliquary like tar.
“Dying is easy, Eithne. Living is harder. ” Lugh shook his head slowly, gravely. “This world is burdened with sorrow. Life should be a blessing, yet it has become our enemy. Does that not make you sad? This place was probably once the home of many like us, and yet now it has been reduced to this.”
“I am just one girl. Why and how should I care for those that I cannot reach or touch?” Eithne rolled her eyes. “One of these days, those teachings will crush you, Lugh, even if they are right.”
“And what say you, Miss Alia, youngest among us?” Lugh shook his head sadly at Eithne and turned to Yuelei. “Perhaps someone of this generation can tell us what they think?”
“I’m too young and too busy to spend time on some thoughts.” Yuelei replied curtly. “My teacher said that living is just suffering in disguise.”
“Before us, every tragedy divides the things which ought to be protected and loved.” Lugh sighed. “Yet, you are forced to take on the burden of a world that was created by those older than you. For that, I truly apologize.”
Yuelei glanced over to Nuatha, who had not made any comment on the conversation. Feeling her gaze, he looked up and met Yuelei’s eyes.
There was a deep melancholy in his eyes.
“Enough of this dismal conversation about the state of the world.” He stood up and closed his book. “We are taking a perilous road to Nolg’ona tomorrow from the shores of the Lou Ona lake. Rest well.”
Whether it was because of the threat outside, or because of the prior conversation, Yuelei’s sleep was uneasy and disturbed by dark tidings.
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“How goes the war?” Yuelei asked Liur as the adventurer band started to gather their things and prepare to leave.
Let me see… Liur’s eyes turned a shade of cerulean, and her body froze atop Yuelei’s shoulder for a full minute before her movements resume. It looks like Lumnieve’s advance had slowed. There are several squads of knights that have grown wiser and started to employ guerilla tactics. Lumnieve’s ship can’t sail atop a minefield and receive magical mortar blasts from a distance.
Of course, it was ineffective. Liur snorted. Most of the time lost was because Lady Lumnieve gave time for men and beasts to evacuate in her wake. She has grown softer since she met your friends.
“It’s just like Lumnieve to not needlessly take lives, even though her presence means there will be deaths.” Yuelei murmured.
To live is to take the lives of other things unless you are a plant.
“Are you talking to your companion? It’s time to leave.” At that moment, Lugh called out to Yuelei. “We won’t be stopping until we’ve reached the edge of the city, so prepare well!”
There are good people in the world. Liur tilted her head towards Lugh. That man’s beliefs may be naive and idealistic, but it is good to know that there are some that care for the world they live in.
“When you are strong enough to affect the world, only then you have the time to worry about many other things.” Yuelei shook her head. “One day, if we get to that point, then we can decide how to better the world.”
Magical beasts think differently. There are many Divine Beasts that simply decide to rest peacefully. Liur commented. To sleep away from the world until we are called upon, or pass away in our dreams.
Eternity is not easy to pass alone with your own thoughts.
“We all have things that we want to protect.” Yuelei echoed Liur’s sentiment. “The time at the academy is a reminder that the world is not always your enemy, but we don’t have the time.”
You either have no time, or you have too much. There is no balance. Liur replied.
…
The miasma that plagued the vicinity seemed to avoid the lake, floating several meters away from the surface. The result was that once the party of the Three Heroes reached the shore, they were greeted by a serene view of the subterranean lake.
The waters of the Lou Ona lake was a crystal-clear shade of blue and green. Great stalactites protruded from the ground amidst small geysers that occasionally released bursts of steam.
Perhaps protected by the waters, the wildlife was teeming in the lake, with a great many plants covering the lake floor, accompanied by all manner of amphibious creatures.
The party stopped a moment to admire the unsullied sight, a respite from the whispering and maddening miasma that surrounds them. However, all good things must end, and the party soon started traveling towards the forgotten city, using the edge of the lake as a guide. Every so often, Yuelei would get goosebumps as they travel, as if there was something in the far-off darkness that was peering at her.
That, or it was the strange whispers of voices she would get in her head whenever she took a glance to long at the tar-like darkness.
“I hate that god-forsaken sound.” Annerose sniffed. She was the designated ‘supporter’ of the group, with powerful blessings and anointments that assisted the party in every battle. Due to her importance, she was often at the center of the formation, right next to Lugh with the Reliquary and Yuelei.
“Come now, Annie, just think about the celebration after it’s over! ” Eithne suddenly dragged Yuelei forwards until the two of them were side by side. “If you’re being distracted by the sludge around us, why don’t you talk with Yuelei and Lugh? From her card, she’s a promoted Knight from your homeland.”
“Oh? And at such an age too.” Annerose looked over at Yuelei and smiled. Although Annerose was almost in her thirties, easily twice Yuelei’s age, she nodded at Yuelei as a sign of respect. “Usually the few that manage to do so are of certain families, Florella, Siegla, Geisla, Dusate, Hectare, or Alfe. That was two decades ago, has it changed at all?”
“Some of them are familiar,” Yuelei recalled Priscilla and Byrhilda as a pair, as well as the High Priestess, who bore the name of Geisla. “I sparred with some of them before, and they were all very capable.”
“Of that, I’m sure. Family traditions only bring trouble and pain, but there are some that actually bring glory.” Annerose jerked a thumb at Lugh. “Much like our big oaf of a friend over here, from the land of Lorresta.”
“Hm.” Lugh broke into a grin and nudged Eithne who was scowling. “It seems like the name of Lorresta is still remembered after all.”
“The men and women of Lorresta are known to be faithful spouses, so there were quite bold stories in the dorms.” Annerose winked at Yuelei, and the comment caused Eithne to burst out laughing.
“The fabled valley of Lorresta is quite alluring. Only the inhabitants and their spouses are allowed to enter.” Lugh shrugged and chuckled as well. “The beauty of that land is like a jewel that has been untainted by human eyes. The earth is rich and would grow all that you desire, and the lakes are teeming with fish. There are few magical beasts in this land, only those that could be companions from our adventuring days. It is called the Land of One’s Final Rest for a good reason.”
“I come from the Sel Forest, where there dwells a hidden city within the great trees.” Eithne butted in and boasted.”Mighty bridges span the skies, from tree to tree, and there are many homes built into the canopies for half-beasts and magical creatures where we live together in peace. It is a peaceful home, away from all the troubles of the mortal world. Ah, but you have to be a half-beast to be granted entry. Not a fan of humans, you see.”
“I come from a land of unending snow,” Yuelei spoke up after the group looked at her expectantly. “The trees are laced in white, and the peaks of the Whitefrost Mountains hover over them. There are deep caverns of ice beneath the ground and hidden valleys where people make their home. It is a cold place, but there are a many pockets of warmth to be found that make it seem all the more homely.”
“The Kingdom of Four Winds is a place of constant political war and intrigue.” Nuatha snorted and spoke up. “There are four main islands with sub islands with their own ruling groups, but there is one throne where the families of the four islands constantly fight for, based on merit. Those that are deemed not useful are disowned by their families and aren’t allowed to return until that make a name for themselves.”
“Nuatha’s from one of those families, you see.” Eithne nudged Yuelei. “He doesn’t like them that much, as you can tell. ”
“Nonsense. They are all beneath me now.” Nuatha snorted. ”Every time they send a letter praising my success and saying ‘I should return home’, I just toss into the fire. I have no intention of dealing with politics for the rest of my life.”
“We have a saying. ‘It is troublesome to know too little if you are strong, and also troublesome to know too much if you are weak’," Lugh added. “Responsibility is a strange thing. The same bonds you forge are the same chains that hold you.”
Which is why we must be careful, Yuelei. One must be willing to make mistakes, but only with a great amount of caution involved. Liur, who had taken her perch atop Yuelei’s shoulders, chirped in.
“I had thought I understood the languages of most magical beasts.” Eithne pointed out as she saw Yuelei and Liur converse. “But it looks more like the two of you communicate differently.”
“Phoenix song is a weapon, you would not appreciate it if I were to cause your entire troupe to go deaf.” Yuelei relayed Liur’s words.
“By all means, feel free to join the conversation.” Lugh smiled at Liur. “I have known a many a magical beast, and you all possess knowledge and wisdom that can surpass that of humans.”
I like this human. To Yuelei’s surprise, Liur flew up and perched atop of Lugh’s winged helmet. You don’t often see his kind that treats magical beasts with the same respect. A rare and dying breed indeed.
“She says you are a dying breed of humans.” Yuelei was amused with Liur’s actions and a bit of mirth crept into her voice.
“Alia... your voice is actually nice!” Eithne seemed surprised and patted Yuelei on the shoulder. “It’s almost like an old friend of mine that is half-siren!”
It’s because you consumed the essence of a phoenix. Liur commented but Yuelei decided not to translate it.
“You can say I might have a bit of beast blood in me too.” Yuelei smiled. “Although as for which one, I don’t know what type.”
“Wouldn’t it be a phoenix, if your companion is one?” Lugh seemed careful not to shake his head too much as he walked, so Liur would not be jostled.
“Nonsense, the few I met that had a hint of phoenix blood were stuck-up brats,” Eithne interjected. “I would say some sort of bird, right Annie?”
“Possibly.” Annerose nodded. “Many birds of prey are solitary creatures and it would explain why Miss Alia is wandering about on her own.”
Having the blood of beasts does not influence one’s core personality. Liur snorted. Merely some traits and the color and element of their Aeht.
“Time to end the conversation.” Lugh suddenly interrupted and pointed out in the distance, where there seemed to be a bridge that stretched out onto the lake. “We must be nearing the city harbor, so it’s time to keep quiet and keep your wits about.”
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Nuatha Fourwinds was titled ‘The Alphascape Explorer’ for his set of abilities that allowed him to notice minute details in his surroundings. One of those skills granted him what could be best described as a virtual ‘map’ of the area around him in his mind, and this was the skill that made him such a valuable leader. It was also the reason why he was highly sought after to lead this expedition into the miasma that blocked everyone’s vision.
“Get ready! Enemies from the lake!” His shout alerted all of the adventurers, and within moments, they had drawn their weapons and their entire formation had shifted to face the water’s edge..
Yuelei readied her Frost Edge and started conjuring up Winter Moons in preparation. One of the second-ring mages casted a powerful light-spell that shot over the lake, hoping to reveal what their assailants were going to be.
“There’s nothing…?” Annerose, who had a staff at the ready to cast support spells, exclaimed in confusion. There was nothing emerging from the lake, and she turned over and looked at Nuatha.
“Wait…” Nuatha closed his eyes for a brief second, before suddenly turning in the opposite direction of the lake. He frowned for a brief moment in hesitation, but in the next moment one of the warriors in the outer ring shouted out a warning before he could say anything.
“There! There are ripples in the lake!”
Yuelei spotted movement, or rather, the results of the movement. There was no Underdark monstrosity, no army of aquatic creatures, or any semblance of a monster that was crawling out to attack them. However, like the point man had shouted out, there were countless ripples emerging from the lake that was approaching them at a steady pace.
“Archers! Aim at the central points! ” Quick to retake initiative, Nuatha barked out a command. Eithne was the first to respond, quickly sheathing her sword, and drawing her composite bow.
In a single motion, she fired a glowing arrow into the epicenter of one of the ripples. The water stilled, but there was no sign of blood. In the next second, as if something had been aggravated by the attack, the ripples transformed in a surging wave accompanied by a roar.
There is magic at work here... Liur quickly signaled Yuelei. Focus with your inner eye, and you will see that whatever approaching us has no Aehts.
“It’s either an invisibility spell or an illusion!” Lugh quickly shouted out, but Nuatha was already one step of ahead of him. A ball of swirling green wind in both his hands, he brought them both together and a giant blade of supersonic wind tore out towards the lake.
The force of the attack caused the lake waters to torrent up into the air as it flew past. At the same time, Annerose acted. She had heard Lugh’s warning and she raised her staff up and started murmuring the reciting words for a Grand Dispel.
“Turn towards the city! Spearhead formation!!” Nuatha quickly shouted as he turned around and blasted a wave of cleaving wind in the other direction. Even though the miasma clouded their judgment, there was no mistaking the cries that arose beyond the darkness.
The former group of mercenaries acted on instinct at the alert, a skill honed from their years on the battlefield. In the span of seconds, they had changed from their hexagon-shaped formation into an arrow-shaped formation.
And within the next moment, an army of the Followers of Uthrak stepped out of the fog.
“They are no longer human! Leave no survivors!” Eithne shouted as the backline released the first volley of arrows and spells into the impending swarm. It was a horrific sight, half-naked men and women with monstrous tattoos over their bodies, with eyes billowing black miasma charged towards the mercenaries.
It was a one-sided slaughter.
As many as there was, they were nothing against the use of widespread area of effect spells. Nearly all of the Three Heroes’ group were somewhat accomplished magicians that were able to use some manner of wide-ranged destructive spell. Whether it was swathes of explosive Fireballs, giant Galeblades, destructive Hydrojets, or rolling Grand Boulders, the mindless Followers of Uthrak fell in droves. There was no mercy to be given, for even those wounded, in flames, or with giant gashes and deep puncture holes, they advanced like a rapid tide, closer to zombies than that of men.
“This leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What sort of vile sorcery does one make which brainwashes men and women to throw away their lives as so?” Lugh scowled after the last three Followers fell. It was a mountain of corpses, with blood forming a river that trailed down into the lake.
“Which is why we are here to put an end to this miasma. Imagine what would happen if this madness drifted into any of the nearby countries.” Eithne snorted, but she looked away from the corpses nevertheless. “If It wasn’t for the League of Adventurers wanting to monopolize Lou’ona, then we wouldn’t even be here. Those without an affinity to magic would succumb to this fog. Of all of us, only Nuatha would be able to actually traverse this on his own.”
“And you would have me walk through this maddening landscape on my own? Please, I am a delicate and sensitive man.” Nuatha chuckled. “Let’s keep moving and finish the job. Although they are enemies and savages, what evil that brought them to this state deserves to be put to an end.”
“There are some things in this world that must not be allowed to exist.” Lugh nodded, his words holding hints of truths from his ancestors.
With renewed determination, the group started to enter the lost city.
I do not like this. These actions, and movements… they defy logical behavior. Liur spoke to Yuelei. Beholders are mighty in magic, and I have no doubt one would be capable of this. But why?
Do you not wish to find out where and why this happened? Despite the bloody scene behind them disappearing into the fog, Yuelei felt a sick sense of curiosity, as if she had to get an answer to the madness that surrounded them.
This one is afraid, Yuelei. I cannot help but feel there is a deep-rooted story behind this and for all our sakes, we should let this story continue sleeping. As if nodding in agreement, the pendant around Yuelei’s wrist constricted and dug into her skin lightly.
But we must cross the Underdark, and this is the fastest path. We are accompanied by three people whose strength is immeasurable compared to ours. This would be safer than having to fight an army.
By your bidding, Yuelei. Liur grudgingly agreed with her view. Even I, myself, do not know why this place makes me feel as such. Perhaps, this miasma affects me differently than it affects humans. It feels less like we are walking into a den of monsters than into a graveyard burdened with a sense of bottomless sorrow
Your warnings have always had weight. I do not like this place or this city, but for some reason, I feel as if I have to see this to the end. Yuelei confessed. Call it a natural curiosity.
You can be quite meddling when you want to be. Liur clicked her beak as if sighing. Just like that time with that child of the wolf, Lothar.
Our decisions will be our own. Yuelei shrugged. I was mistaken for Lumnieve for quite a long time, after all.
One day, your teacher and Lumnieve will return to their final rest. Liur replied. At that time, you will be one that will speak for them.
Yuelei did not know how to reply to that.
There is something strange about this place, Yuelei. Even with the miasma… do you hear it?
Hear what? Yuelei took a brief glance up in the air where the miasma lingered. It was for the briefest of moments, but Yuelei can hear something in the fog. It was standard for the ‘hallucinations’ that the miasma was said to bring about.
Nothing. I had not noticed it before, but it looks like it even affects magical beasts as we near the epicenter…
We must be careful. There is something about this place that makes me want to avoid it.
“These buildings do not look like they have been left to decay for decades or centuries.” Lugh murmured as they finished climbing the steps from the harbor that led up to the sleeping city. “What are they made of, to have lasted so long?”
The architecture was foreign, but it had a grace and mystical beauty to it. Dull gold arches and pillars lined the foundation and roof of every building. There was no concept of doors for these homes as if whatever society that lived here had nothing to fear from each other. And perhaps, what was the most surprising was that every inch of ground past the city gate was paved with the same material. Even the small wall that surrounded the city seemed to be wrought from that strange material.
“This land, in its prime, must have been ruled by mages.” Annerose pointed to the side of one building, where there were the remnants of magical runes “Magic used for the purpose of all is a noble idea but it seldomly ever ends well.”
“The Magic Republic of Hyrax and City-State of Daluden are the only two that have managed to make it work, but they are not without problems. Advantages come with disadvantages...” Nuatha agreed. “My map shows me that although these buildings appear small, they descend deeper into the ground. A bit ironic that a city beneath the earth has buildings that dig even deeper into the ground.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“At least that gives us plenty of open space.” Eithne nodded. As soon as they entered the city, they had returned to their hexagonal formation, albeit a lot more closely knit. “Nuatha, where are the enemies? How is possible that we had to deal with hundreds outside of the gate, yet here in Nolg’ona, it is as silent as death?”
“There’s no signs of life within a hundred meters of us.” Nuatha replied quietly. “There is nothing here, not even traces of magic or critters or plants that should dwell here.”
“Is it me, or is the miasma less thick as well?” Annerose pointed up. “Even though it looks like it’s still surrounding us from above, it doesn’t seem like it is entering the city at all.”
“We came this way thinking that the city was the source of the miasma, but perhaps it is not true. The miasma is surrounding the city as if to keep something in.” Lugh shook the lantern-like Reliquary, which seemed to have lost its glow. “We don't need this now, but we will to return home…”
“Perhaps we should go take a look from a vantage point? That one looks like a mage’s tower.” Eithne pointed to a tower in the distance, where one tower, in particular, stood out. On its side was a faded crest, and the metal it was made from was tinted a dark blue instead of gold.
“These inscriptions aren’t like anything I have ever seen.” At the base of the tower, the adventuring group made their camp while Eithne, Nuatha, and Lugh ascended the tower. With Nuatha’s radar showing that there were no enemies nearby, most of the group soon relaxed and made the tower their base of operations.
The inside of the tower was a stark contrast to its exterior, displaying the exquisite ivory-white marble that the tower was cast from. However, the contents of the tower had suffered the decay of countless years. What was once a mage’s tower full of knowledge had transformed into an old ruin.
“How old is this?” Eithne tried to pick up a sheet of dusty paper, but it crumbled into pieces in front of her eyes. “I bet we can mine the marble and metals and make a hefty sum, but there’s absolutely nothing in here. No lost forgotten technology, or ancient history of a foregone era, not even monsters with valuable ingredients.”
“We were here to deal with a world-ending crisis, but it’s like we are wandering around in circles,” Lugh added. “Where is the beholder? Where is the army of darkness?”
“Hmph. We’ll find it sooner or later, or it’ll come looking for us, what’s the fuss?” Eithne seemed disinterested at the state of affairs. “How does that saying go again? 'All opposing forces cross paths eventually, as fated to a pre-destined meeting, in anticipation for the next seedling of conflict'.“
The Symphony of the Origin of Legends. Liur commented, having heard the quote before. It is a book of a hundred pages that has been split up, and never fully assembled. There used to be a war to assemble the original manuscript- called the War of the Pages.
“Lugh and I will try to see if we can find anything in this mess. You’re not suited for this type of work, Eithne.” Nuatha sighed and started rummaging around the piles of aged furniture and decayed parchment on the ground. “You have the best eyes out of all of us, so go upstairs and scope out the area.”
“Fiiine~” Eithne yawned and jumped up from the stairs she had seated herself and glanced over at Yuelei. “Alllliaaa, want to join me for some fresh air?”
“Sure.” Yuelei brushed off her Shieve Cloak and trailed after Eithne. The top floor of the tower was like a cathedral's top, and in an older era, it would have been a glorious sight against the city’s skyline. However in this time and era, it was night unrecognizable, and like everything else in this tower, a shell of its former self.
“Why is it that this mage’s tower, specifically, seems much worse than all the others?” Eithne murmured as she stared at the other towers and buildings, at least the ones that could be made out in the lightless caverns of the Underdark.
However, she made a fair point. The mages tower, despite the strong foundation and solid material, was like the remnant of a war zone. There were puncture holes embedded into the wall and even deep gashes and claw marks.
"These markings are usually made from the claws of flying beast." Eithne peered off the side of the tower. "But we are deep underground... there is no reason for beasts of the earth to even have wings."
Not necessarily, magical beasts are intelligent creatures and sometimes desperate times mean more... Unconventional measures. Liur clicked her beak in denial. But there is some truth in it. These are no doubt caused by some sort of winged wyvern.
“And the rest of the buildings…look, Yuelei.” Eithne pointed out the landscape around them. “It is only this building we are in that looks like it’s been through hell. It’s subtle enough to be hidden away with the age and the dust, but this is just unnerving.”
“This is a city that’s been lost to the world, and we are just wanderers amid a lost time.” A voice replied to her, and Yuelei turned around to see Nuatha climb up the stairs. He raised a hand to stop EIthne from talking.
“I heard what you said. There’s something that’s not right with this current situation, and what you said just confirms it.” Nuatha shook his head. “I will go and confirm my suspicions. Stay up here and keep an eye on things.”
“Did you tell Lugh?” It wasn’t uncommon for Nuatha to leave and scout on his own as his abilities made it nigh impossible for him to be surprised by anything. The tradeoff was that his team would no longer have an early warning for any trouble they would encounter.
“I already informed him. This is the first time that I have led a force into a ghost town. Either all of us have been put under a spell without any of us noticing, or the League of Adventurers information is wrong, which means we have no idea what we are dealing with.” Nuatha sighed. “It’ll be faster for me to scout and come back then having everyone else come with me.”
“Be careful.” Eithne seemed to have accepted his response. She knew Nuatha well enough that she is aware that he has a more independent, adventurous side to him. It was also the reason why he was called the Alphascape Explorer.
“If I am not back by the end of your shift. Take everyone else and leave this place.” Nuatha waved, before leaping off the tower onto the nearby building.”
However, neither Yuelei or Eithne would see him return in the future.
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“What’re the two of you doing up here? Did you not hear us calling that it was mealtime?” A disgruntled voice called out, and Yuelei turned to see Lugh walk up the stairs, holding onto three earthen pots of stew.
“Monster stew again?” Eithne accepted the bowl and looked disdainfully at the yellow-red gibbets of meat floating around a syrupy-looking blood-red broth.
“Come now. Show some respect for the food, will you? ” Lugh chuckled and sat down with his legs crossed beside Eithne.” With the lack of beasts here, our meat supplies will run out three or four days.”
“Things will probably be over by then.” Eithne retorted as she sipped at the broth. “Nuatha would probably figure it out by the time he comes back. There’ll be some sort of hidden passage or secret chamber in one of these buildings. How many times has that happened?”
“There are as many people in the world that wish to hide away as there are that wish to confront it head-on.” Yuelei murmured to herself, but they seemed to have heard her.
“Yuelei’s right. We should let the strong, bold, and courageous deal with the problems.” Eithne chuckled “Let me retire to a nice home outside a major city with enough gold to last me for a century.”
“With your spending habits, I doubt you would be able to sit still.” Lugh chuckled. “Plus, you have dryad blood in you, so you’ll need a huge fortune to even think of retiring in the first place.”
“Hmph. Nuatha is the same now that he’s a Divine Being. I’ll just cling onto him until he makes enough for all three of us to retire.” Eithne smiled. “I’m surprised he managed to catch up to both of us when he used to be the most timid. Now you’re the lowest-ranked out of us three, Lugh.”
“Low-ranked doesn’t mean weak.” Lugh smacked her on the head. “Neither you or Nuatha has ever beaten me in single combat now, have you?”
“As if I’d take the risk of fighting you sword fiends from Lorresta.” Eithne snorted. “What was it again, you trained with a sword at the age of six?”
“Five.” Lugh corrected.
“Can you believe this guy, Alia?” Eithne slipped a hand under Yuelei’s arm and pulled her close. “This poor man never had a childhood, and had to swing sticks and branches.”
“That’s not a bad thing...” Yuelei replied after seeing them wait for a reaction. “If I had done the same, then perhaps I wouldn’t be in this predicament now.”
“...” Yuelei realized too late that her tone had shattered the mood, and for the next minute, there was only the sound of spoons scraping against bowls.
“So, Alia, what are your plans after this? I know we said that we’ll get you through the Underdark, but someone with a divine element and a Knight’s Title at your age really makes me curious about who you are.” Lugh shot her a look that she shouldn’t pry too deeply, but Eithne kept looking at Yuelei.
“My homeland is a dangerous place for me to return to right now, and I am trying to meet up with my brother.” Yuelei mixed truth and lies together. “I am taking an alternative route to the Desolate Tundra where I think they are headed.”
“The Holy Land of Ecclisa is indeed under a lot of conflict right now.” Eithne nodded. “No sane person would stay in that country when it has a war every decade. Truly a pity, since the citizens of that land are known to be quite devoted to their Goddess.”
”Trying to find someone is truly hard.” Lugh shook his head. “There is common magic to find simple things but to find a living thing is nigh impossible. You would have to know everything about that living creature, things like what it’s wearing, proportions, weight… It’s practically impossible.”
“Which is why it’s possible to track people down if they have one of these.” Eithne flashed her League of Adventurer’s card, which had significantly more sigils than Yuelei’s. “Does your friend have one?”
“They… do.” Yuelei was surprised at this new information. This was more common knowledge that she did not have.
“Then when you arrive at the Desolate Tundra, the nearest camp should be at Greygrave. You can go there for more information if you don’t know where among the Tundra your friends are.” Eithne added and smiled at Yuelei.
“Alia… you don’t go to civilization much, do you? I can tell because I used to live in the Sel Forest.” Eithne tugged at Yuelei’s arm lightly. “Humans aren’t that bad, and I’m a half-beast, so you can let your guard down around me.”
That girl is quite insightful. Liur, who had taken a perch atop the rock, commented.
“I grew up in the Whitefrost Mountains, so I am accustomed to not having to deal with people.” Yuelei volunteered some information. “It was only me and my teacher, so I am not accustomed to human society. Some things happened and we ended up separated.”
“It is a tale we have in Lorresta quite often, akin to a rite of passage.” Lugh nodded as if remembering several stories from his homeland. “Student and mentor go out to see the world, and split up at some point. ”
“You see? This one was abandoned as a child. This is why he grew up this way.” Eithne nudged Yuelei and pointed at Lugh.
“I turned out well, thank you!” Lugh grumbled, but his exaggerated reaction evoked a slight smile on Yuelei’s face. Although she didn’t realize it, the two of them were trying to make her more comfortable.
“Please Lugh. No sane man would walk into an inn and ask if there are people in need, or if there is a quest or mission nearby.” Eithne rolled her eyes.
“That was only for the first month, how long are you going to bring that up? Despite how I look I am the youngest out of us three, even if you’re the one that looks like the youngest sibling.”
“Well, you’re a big strong man, while I am a plant that needs sunlight to survive.” Eithne waved her hand in dismissal. “Come now, how does that tenet of yours go again? ‘Serve to protect the weak, and be a just voice for those that are meek’?”
“If anyone has seen the way you spend money, or the way that you eat, I don’t think ‘meek’ is the right wo-” Lugh’s words were interrupted as Eithne kicked Lugh in the shin.
“Damn brat, you were much cuter when we first met.” Eithne sighed dramatically. “Naive and unfamiliar with the ways of the world. How did you turn out like this?”
“I went out and saw the world, just like someone else did.” Lugh shrugged with a smile. “Sometimes the people you travel with rub off on you. Even if they’re not the best influences.”
“I wonder who that is.” Eithne stuck out her tongue at him. “Certainly not I, since I am the face of benevolence, compassion, and kindness.
”We may be the three heroes, but you might as well be the three evils of greed, gluttony, and sloth.” Lugh rolled his eyes, and the contrast to his otherwise stalwart demeanor caused Yuelei to break out in a smile.
“Perhaps the life of an adventurer and wanderer is not so bad after all.” Yuelei mused to herself quietly.
“It is an enjoyable life, especially for wandering souls like us.” Eithne scooted next to Yuelei and smiled. “Cherished companions are part of it, but it looks like you already have a partner in life.”
“Without her, I would have died,” Yuelei replied, and Lugh nodded in approval in the background.
“It’s good to always have someone you can count on.” Lugh patted Eithne on the shoulders, and she had a light smile on her face. “Even if sometimes they’ll be the death of you.”
His final words caused Eithne to punch him in the gut.
“Enough, let us rest,” Eithne grumbled as Lugh pushed her away. “Hopefully when Nuatha returns, we can leave this depressing place. I miss the warmth of the sun on my skin.”
Little did she know that dawn was still a far way off.
...
“Enemy attack!”
Yuelei was forced awake by the sound of a great crash, but just before she was about to open her eyes, she was hit with a sudden wave of dizziness and fatigue.
Liur? Yuelei shouted internally, but there was no response.
“When did the miasma get so close? Where is the Reliquary!?” Yuelei heard Lugh’s voice for a brief moment. Whatever spell was in effect, it seems he had barely managed to resist it.
“We need to wake up Annie so she can put up a barrier! There is a -” Eithne's voice soon joined his, but it was suddenly cut short.
It was at that point Yuelei heard a deep and rumbling voice that seemed to echo in her mind. It spoke in a language that she could not understand, but before Yuelei could ponder the meaning of the words, darkness had taken her.
You who bear the blood of beasts… leave this place.
----------------------------------------
“Alia, wake up!” A female voice shouted at Yuelei.
This is no time to be sleeping, Yuelei. Liur’s chiding voice roused Yuelei from her stupor. Suddenly recalling what happened before they were attacked, she shot up with a Frost Edge at the ready.
“This is..” Checking her surroundings, the only thing Yuelei felt was a sense of confusion and unease.
“We’re outside the city.” Yuelei turned to the source of the voice and found Eithne leaning against the wall, or rather, what was remaining of the wall. It was as if whatever magic or illusion masking the passing of years of Nolg’ona had dissipated, revealing the dilapidated ruins of a city it actually was.
“I should have known after that attack from the lake, but none of us realized it.” Eithne gritted her teeth. “That was an illusion on a scale so powerful that it distorted space and reality... as if we had stepped into a different realm.”
“Where is everyone else?”
“I… think they are in the city.” Eithne swallowed before replying. “Whatever Nuatha had set out to do, he managed to bring down the illusion we were trapped in. The miasma is gone as well, but I heard the signs of battle in the city...”
“I was waiting for you to wake up.” Eithne sniffed. “I have no idea why the two, no, three of us are outside the gate, but it would be rude to leave you and enter alone.”
“I see. Thank you.” Although Yuelei was sure Liur was watching over her the entire time, Eithne's intentions were good and for her benefit.
“Well, then. You have a choice now.” Eithne rubbed her shoulder and shrugged. “With the miasma gone, you should be able to travel around the city without trouble, but there are no guarantees on what you would run into in the Underdark.”
“And the other option is to go with you.” Yuelei murmured.
“At the very least, once we meet up and finish this mess, we would be able to protect you,” Eithne added. “The fact that Nuatha saw through this illusion means that the Beholder isn’t on the same level as him. He’s probably the one that shattered the dream as well.”
... Liur, what do you think? Yuelei asked while pretending to think.
This one thinks… our chances are about fifty-fifty either way. Liur paused before replying. With the disappearance of the miasma, our opponents are no longer mindless beasts, and no doubt whatever creatures wise enough to have fled the city will notice and will be skirting around the area, waiting for a chance to return.
“I suppose it would be good to witness a once in a century matchup.” Yuelei nodded quietly. Liur, who had perched herself atop Yuelei’s shoulders clicked her beak in agreement. She felt strangely drawn to the city as if something was calling to her. The prospect of witnessing a Beholder, known to be able to manipulate all manner of magic, fight against a Divine Being was a hard thing to give up.
“That’s the spirit!” Eithne hooked an arm under Yueleis and started to walk towards the gate. “The first thing we should do is regroup with any others!”
Her words sparked a restlessness and unease inside Yuelei, but it was too late ⎼ they had crossed the threshold of the ruined gate.
And like a jolt of electricity, a wave of fatigue and drowsiness assaulted the three of them in three waves.
“This… wasn’t it just an illusion?!” Eithne was the first to react, pulling and throwing herself and Yuelei towards the side. However, whatever spell at work here was clearly not targeted at the two of them, but on anyone that entered the city as a whole. In some ways, it was better to call it a ‘curse’ instead of a spell.
“Hold on, Alia.” Eithne’s voice was drowsy but she quickly steeled herself and pulled out a dagger and held out her arm. Just before she could cut herself and use pain to wake herself up, Liur opened her beak and let out a note.
Phoenix song was a magical sound powerful enough to disrupt spell casting, but a small dose of poison can be equivalent to a cure. Eithne’s body shook for a brief moment as she covered her ears at the head-splitting sound. But a few seconds after it passed, she quickly came to her senses and realized that the magical fatigue and drowsiness had vanished.
After shooting a thankful glance at Liur, Eithne quickly knelt down by Yuelei, who was the cusp of falling asleep and becoming a victim to the magical curse.
“Alia, do not sleep now, or you might never wake up.” Eithne frantically tried all she could to keep Yuelei conscious. Pinching her, aggressively shaking her, slapping her face, or even pressing a dagger against her arm until it drew blood ⎼ none of it had any effect.
Now is not the time to be sleeping. For a brief moment in her daze-like state, Yuelei thought she heard Gallienoir’s voice before the darkness took her.
However, that was only for the smallest of moments, a time so minuscule that could not even be measured by human reason. Yet that one moment seemed to have lasted for an eternity, for she had a strange dream, one that she felt she had once before. It was like a distant memory, yet… There were subtle changes in the atmosphere.
It was an endless void, where she felt someone’s eyes upon her. The darkness seemed to writhe and tremble, before slowly converging into a humanoid figure.
“Begone. I know who you are; you are not wanted here.” Lin’s voice seemed to echo around her, and Yuelei felt a hand covering her eyes. “Your intentions are-”
Before Yuelei could hear the rest of Lin’s words, she was met with Eithne’s frantic face.
“Alia, are you alright?” Eithne slowly released Yuelei’s shoulders and helped her up. “Nothing seemed to work, and your body was starting to grow cold, so I was fearing for the worst.”
Yuelei did not comment, instead, placing a hand over her heart where a comfortable coolness was pouring into her body, stabilizing her fear and emotions.
“I am fine, what was that?”
“Whatever Nuatha did to bust us out of that illusion, seemed to have awakened a sleeping beast,” Eithne said quietly before pointing at the entrance from which they had just entered. As soon as they stepped through the ruined gate, the miasma had returned, forming an impenetrable wall that locked them from leaving.
Stay alert, Yuelei. This one does not think this situation is as simple as it seems. Liur cautioned Yuelei as she sat up.
“Judging by the fact that the miasma has returned and locked us in, we’re going to need to reinforce Nuatha in his fight as soon as possible.” Eithne seemed to come to a conclusion after making some deductions. “I don’t think he would lose to a Beholder, but if it had the assistance of all those that were brainwashed by the miasma…”
“Nuatha was always a better commander than a fighter, yet he started to walk tall when he became a Divine Being.” This was the first time Yuelei saw the hints of worry appear in Eithne’s eyes. “You probably don’t know, Alia, but the first time he said ‘Trust in me’, Lugh and I almost shed tears to see him grow up.”
Her emotions are in disarray. The color of her Aeht is being distorted. Liur quickly shot off a warning to Yuelei. Both you and I are protected by the Snow Butterfly’s Sigil, but there is something sinister at work here.
“Eithne?” Yuelei tried to grab her to calm her down, but Eithne’s eyes glossed over her as if she wasn’t even there. Her body shuddered for a moment, as if shuddering off some unseen gale before she returned to normal.
“Alia.” Eithne’s eyes darted about erratically. “Do you hear it too?”
“Hear what?” Yuyelei’s ears could not pick up anything, and for a brief moment, Yuelei wondered if Eithne was hallucinating. “Did you look at the miasma for too long?”
“That must be it.” Eithne nodded slowly as if accepting Yuelei’s words before slapping her own face. “...We are closer to the source… so it’s only reasonable that the voices would get pronounced. I must be hallucinating.”
“What did you see?” Yuelei asked, seeing that Eithne had snapped out of her magically-induced stupor.
“It wasn’t what I saw, but rather what I heard that invoked some bad memories.” Eithne sighed. “Have you ever heard a bard sing a tune that’s horribly dreary but it lingers forever in your head? Don’t you hear it too? ”
“I don’t hear anything.” Yuelei quickly glanced over at the miasma that blocked the path from which they had come, but there was none of the effects that she had experienced prior.
“Whatever it is, it seems to have passed-” Eithne started to get up, but in the next moment, Yuelei felt it. It was the same sensation that she had in the dream, where they were being watched.
“Alia-” Eithne also seemed to feel the same thing Yuelei did, but her warning was soon cut short as she dropped down on her knees, with both hands on the ground. “What is that sound!? My head!”
Yuelei did not say anything, because in the next moment she also heard the maddening whispers crawling into her very being. Then, the tearing and soul-rending pain hit her.
“Liur? What- “ Yuelei blocked her ears as if it would help block the noise, but there was no response from her companion. Meanwhile, Eithne had started screaming from pain as the mental attack took on a more… physical attributes.
It was at that moment, the voices suddenly quieted, ending with a single sentence, and despite whatever strange flowing language it was in, Yuelei could understand the garbled words.
And the braves that approach the abyss shall see from them taken their greatest strength.
“My eyes! My eyes!!!” Eithne started to scream in pain, but Yuelei felt no better. There was a heavy feeling upon her chest, as if there was something wrapping around and constricting around her heart.
“Liur…it’s painful.” Yuelei cried out, causing Liur to fly over and climb next to her. Whatever was happening to her and Eithne clearly did not affect Liur, but her companion did not offer any words of comfort.
Eithne’s screams soon diminished to painful groans as the curse ran its course. On the other hand, Yuelei sat up once that heavy burden disappeared, and dragged her body over to Eithne’s side.
“Alia...? Is that you...? I can’t open my eyes...” Eithne turned around to Yuelei’s direction, and she was horrified to see the amount of blood that had formed veins dripping down the side of her face.
”Don’t open your eyes.” Yuelei forced herself up, still feeling dizzy and cradled Eithne’s head in her arms.
“Tell me… how bad it is.” Eithne gritted her teeth and forced her eyelids open, but Yuelei almost wished that she hadn’t. Her eyes had been twisted and crushed, mixing with the flesh in her eye sockets. As if on cue, more blood started to pour out of her eyes.
“Ungh… do you have… anything through… the pain?” Eithne's eyelids hid the mess beneath it, but there was to be no escape from the pain.
“I do.” Yuelei covered Eithne’s ruined eyes with her hand, intent on using a bit of frost magic to numb the pain.
However, when she tried to call forth her Winter’s Breath… nothing happened.
Frowning, Yuelei tried again, everything even more willpower this time, but the result was the name. She could not muster any bit of Frost magic.
“This can’t be possible.” Yuelei looked over at Liur, hoping that she would have an idea of what happened. Was her magic sealed in some way?
However, Liur just shook her feathers and scratched the ground with a talon. It seemed like she was indeed saying something, but Yuelei could not hear it at all. It was then a thought, a certain possibility entered Yuelei’s mind.
“Can it be?” Yuelei gulped. “Liur, did we lose our mental connection?”
At her words, Liur bobbed her head up and down in what could only be a nod. She seemed even more distressed than usual, flapping her wings and condensing her Winter’s Breath as if trying to tell Yuelei something,
“We’ll focus on that later, do you think you can dull her pain so she can at least stand?” Yuelei was shaken by the current affairs, but her mentality was to take stock of the situation as soon as possible and deal with the top priorities. Her greatest worry was if that attack was not the last.
Yuelei’s pain was sharp and cut into her like a burning blade, but Eithne’s suffering was akin to having her skin flayed and flesh minced.
Liur didn’t say anything in response ⎼ or perhaps she did, but Yuelei was not able to hear it. Instead, she hopped over and placed a wing over Ethine’s eyes. A thin layer of frost formed around her closed eyes, leaving traces of ice on her eyelashes.
“Thank you, Alia.” Eithne’s face that was scrunched up in pain lessened a bit.
“It wasn’t me. Drink.” Yuelei pulled out a Rejuvenation Potion and put it into her hands. After she finished, Yuelei pulled out a Homeostasis Potion and applied it to her eyes, and finally wrapped it up with a Snakeskin Bandage.
”Your first aid skills are quite good.” Eithne tried to smile, but it soon fell flat. To suddenly lose one’s vision was a powerful blow.
“We can’t go back.” Yuelei glanced at the place from which they entered, and the miasma seemed to have thickened even more, almost taking on the form of a fetid bog. Even just a mere glance at it filled Yuelei’s head with a strange melody that seemed to shake her very core.
“This probably means… Lugh, Annie, and the others would have been affected as well.” Eithne groped around for her bow, and with Yuelei’s help, she used it as a crutch to stand up. “The only one that may have been able to avoid it would have been Nuatha.”
“Alia, what happened to you? I can feel there’s something off about you, but I can’t place it.” Eithne gripped Yuelei’s arm in an attempt to comfort her.
“My frost magic is gone,” Yuelei said quietly, and the words caused Eithne to stiffen. Her eyes can be healed, but how is it possible to recover something like a divine element?
“Can you use magic at all?” Eithne grasped her bow and caused a thin trail of wind to slide along the bowstring. Although she could not see, she was still part dryad and had a natural affinity with the environment.
“I...” It hadn’t occurred to Yuelei to try, but after a few quick tests, she realizes that she could still use wind and water magic. “I can still use some.”
“Okay. Good. I am sorry to say this Alia, but we will have to leave that matter for later.” Without the pain clouding her mind, Eithne quickly took control of the situation. Letting go of Yuelei, she placed a finger on the bowstring and gave it an experimental twang. “How is it with that phoenix of yours?”
“We still have Liur.” Yuelei took some comfort in the fact that Liur was still with her, even though she felt a void in her mind where she had always had a mental connection to her. “Liur, can you still use magic?”
In response, Liur fired a Frost Bolt into the miasma. The writhing darkness trembled only slightly, but there was no sound of impact on the other end. It had swallowed her spell.
“You are going to need to be my eyes then, Alia.” Eithne clearly heard the sound of the projectile. “Do you know how to use a sword? Take the one at my waist. I can’t use it anymore.”
Yuelei fumbled around and unsheathed Eithne’s pale-orange blade. The weight of a blade was unfamiliar in her hands, but it gave her courage.
“It's a minor wind enchantment Wind-Guided that makes it lighter and swing faster than it appears.” Eithne quickly explained. “I had to spend a pretty coin to get it enchanted, but it's useless to me now.”
“Our priority is to find Annerose, and then Lugh and Nuatha,” Eithne told Yuelei. “Annerose is a powerful healer, so chances are she can fix my eyes, and tell you what sealed away your powers. We’d need to find Lugh and get him fixed up as well, and then find and help Nuatha put an end to this. Until then I don’t think we will be able to leave.”
Yuelei nodded slowly, acknowledging Eithne’s words. There was no time to regret or time to ask what could have happened. There are some things that one could not prepare themselves for, and you only have to learn to deal with it.
It was at this time that the ground started to rumble, followed by a wave of immense pressure.
“Blasted, what is it now?!” Eithne cursed as she lost her balance and was forced onto her knees. Yuelei fared no better and was soon knocked down next to her. She sensed that there was something different about this ⎼ as if it was trying to expel something instead of attacking them.
“Your… phoenix…” All of a sudden, EIthne started to groan and cover her ears. Yuelei forced herself to look up, only to see Liur suspended in midair, constantly twisting around and letting out cries.
“Luir!” Yuelei tried to force herself up, but this pressure was insurmountable. Try as she might, she could only helplessly watch Liur as she suffered. She tried to channel her anger and rage to force herself to stand, but the result was the same. At the same time, the whispers started up once more, speaking in a tongue Yuelei couldn’t understand.
This trial is a path that one must walk alone. Begone!
The pressure upon Yuelei suddenly ended, but in the next moment, space seemed to distort and crack where LIur was hanging in the air. A thin trail of dark green void cracked open in the space Liur was suspending in the air.
In the split moment, before she was sucked and spirited away, Liur gave one meaningful look at Yeulei.
“No!” Yuelei shouted, but there was nothing she could do.
With this, her bond with Liur was truly and fully severed.
And she would be alone to face the tribulations in this sleeping world.