FSE

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As best as the cave allows, their body acts as a natural clock, and Krivkris and his party prepare camp. Consequently, they resort to cold rations though they agree that the flavor is more delectable than the cockroaches; the dwindling supplies force them to limit their consumption for conservation. Not a single individual seize the initiative to strike a conversation to maintain an ear out for potential threats further ahead or behind them, allowing them to listen to the echoes of water dripping and loose rocks falling. Their stomachs grumble at the paucity of food intake and demand for additional sustenance. Another reason for the silence is waiting for Krivkris to be comfortable enough to articulate the recent incident from his perspective.

When Ashereth, Lyera, Rakiri, and Takasato finish their diminutive dinner, they investigate the artistry of the delineations on the antre's walls while Krivkris prefers remaining alone. Red, orange, brown, and black colors depict stick figures hunting deer, bear, and buffalo, fighting off wolves, a gigantic lizard with six legs, and a three-headed lion with three barbed tails and a barbed mane, blood-red eyes, and razor-sharp claws and teeth, and living in a civilization. Seasons change between spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter. A lone mountain similar to the rock formation a couple of days ago is in the process of erupting, ejecting ash and fireballs into the air before gravity assumes control and percolating lava from its crevices. Near the volcano are additional stick figures, although they are devilish in their aspect. The story transitions over to the infernal figures fleeing from a gargantuan worm with hundreds of tongues bursting forth from the ground. It terminates at the end with numerous handprints.

"How much you want to wager the natives are behind the drawings?" asked Lyera.

"That is one bet I don't mind gambling on," Rakiri replied.

"Not a bet if everyone believes the same theory," Ashereth said.

"The worthier wager would be if the devils represent the Soulmonger's forces or not," Takasato spoke.

"Four platinum on the Soulmonger," Ashereth retorted.

"Likewise, but for the unknown entity," Rakiri responded.

"I'll escalate it by wagering one runic coin towards the obscure culprit," Lyera spoke.

"Ditto," Takasato said. "Towards the Soulmonger."

"You're that confident?" asked Rakiri. Both females nod their heads. "In that case, I'll raise the stakes to the same amount."

"I'll add mine also," Ashereth spoke.

"What about you, Krivkris?" inquired Rakiri before he closed his mouth abruptly.

"Toss mine towards the unknown perpetrator," Krivkris answered, not affronted by the question. The other group members return to him and sit. "How are you coping so far?" he asked Lyera and Takasato.

"Don't stress about us," Lyera replied. "We're more concerned about you."

"I apologize for my previous actions. I figured I had enough willpower to resist the evil influence, but I was incorrect and, therefore, jeopardized your lives and the quest."

"Are you comfortable to tell us your side?" asked Takasato.

At first, Krivkris stares at Ashereth. Then he catechizes him, "Remember Esaal?"

"There's absolutely no way I'll suppress those memories," Ashereth answered.

"Then, you'll recall when we were separated."

"Yes."

Krivkris inhales deeply before sighing. "It began there as soon as it occurred. Members of Zaat Qilärü or the Desert Vipers captured Aezusko and I. During our captivity, I witnessed multiple males gang-raped her and purloined her virginity before they eventually beheaded her. The moment the queen began to violate Lyera, and Takasato was when the memory triggered, and I became enraged enough to consider the Arcanium Scroll. I had absolute control over its power initially, but I lost it when I heard about my pendant."

"What was it about the pendant that caused you to succumb to the evil power?" asked Rakiri.

"I cherished that pendant because it was one out of three souvenirs I had of Aezusko. It belonged to her family for generations, but an individual stole it, and I discovered it before the quest in Esaal. There was a space that could easily fit a ring, and I originally planned on transferring it to her with the ring inside as a marriage proposal after the mission. As you're now aware, that never occurred. When the queen told me it no longer existed, I was too frail to oppose the scroll's influence, and it possessed my body. I still retain images of forbidden knowledge, and I'm certain the Soulmonger knows where we are. It's best if one of you possesses the artifact instead of me from now on."

"I'll take it," Ashereth said with his hand extended. "I promise I won't use it."

At first, he hesitates, but Krivkris cedes ownership of the Arcanium Scroll over to Ashereth and instantly experiences minor withdrawal symptoms, but he maintains his composure. Repossess the scroll , a malevolent entity with a raspy coaxed him inside his head. That simpleton is unworthy. None of them are worthy. You know I'm the only option to achieve your ambition. Shut the fuck up, he replied to himself. Throughout the rest of his rest, the voice never bothers him as he, Ashereth, Lyera, Rakiri, and Takasato, agreed to sleep simultaneously, accepting the risk of an ambush.

The next day, or what they assume to be the next day, Krivkris and his squad wake up and continue down the cavern to locate an egress. Their hope deteriorates quickly at the sight of multiple ponderous rocks of a cave in. After Ashereth dislodges a boulder, other stones fall and one of them almost lands on his feet.

"Know any spells that can assist us?" asked Takasato to Ashereth, Krivkris, and mainly Lyera.

"I can create another wall similar to the barrier behind us underneath the boulders and, theoretically, pulverize them to dust," Ashereth answered. "Though they will only increase strenuousness of an already taxing spell that I'm not sure I'm capable of performing."

"The last thing I'm sure everybody wants is for my blasts to cause the cave to collapse and bury us, so my magic is impractical," Krivkris replied. Seize power, and you won't be useless. Not interested, he replied and shook his head.

"I have several," Lyera replied and extended her hands. "Art of Transmutation: Compression!" The first layer of giant rocks in her vision begin to contract and cause another batch to implode, replacing the mini stones and foil her efforts.

"If it continues to rain more rocks, then we'll be here for an extended time," Krivkris said.

"Time that we don't have due to lack of resources and the Soulmonger's forces advancing closer to us if what Krivkris said is true," Lyera replied. I do have an idea that I want to execute. It depends on one specific detail. "I have a question, Ashereth. Is your barrier vertical exclusively, or can it alter to a horizontal position?"

"I can change it to horizontal," Ashereth answered. "And the cave provides the opportunity for it."

"You have sufficient mana to create tinier sections instead of one immense wall when I shrink the rocks?"

"It's easier to create tiny walls than tall."

"Want to assist me?"

"Sure."

"Hold up," Rakiri interjected with concern before they began.

"What's the matter?" asked Takasato.

"We aren't considering the possibility that the Moonskins deliberately induced the collapse. Perhaps they did it to protect themselves from the threat on the opposite side."

"Moonskins?"

"I coined that name since we have no clue what race the natives are. If we know what they are, then I'll switch. Anyway, what if they sealed something just as vile as the Soulmonger or worse?"

"What's your proposal?" asked Lyera. "We don't have the luxury of infinite options to select, in case you didn't notice."

"As far as I'm aware, we have three; two known and one unknown," Krivkris spoke. "We either die of starvation or dehydration, reverse course and travel through the city again except the new queen won't be gracious this time, or we press forward and accept the risk for the possibility of locating an exit." Or you can trust me, and I'll guide you and your party towards salvation. Krivkris simply shrugs the voice off.

After spending four minutes ruminating the possibilities, mainly inducing Rakiri, the party members vote unanimously for charging forward and accept the risk of what lies ahead. The blockage is less severe than previously imagined, compounding on the ease Ashereth and Lyera exert their mana as they are tag-teaming it by her contracting the most immense boulders. At the same time, he creates barriers to act as ceilings for four layers. On the other side, there are patches of yellow crystals on the cave's sides and roof illuminating one ziggurat with a flat top with moss growing on the outside walls, a moat from two waterfalls environing it, and two paths either ascending or continuing straight with the water. The noxious odor of rotten eggs burns their nostrils, and tears stream from their eyes. The structure's entrance is too broad and taller than the typical ingresses of the Moonskins or other humanoid races.

Ashereth, Krivkris, Lyera, Rakiri, and Lyera start to tread closer to the structure. They hide behind stalagmites adjacent to a burnt, skeletal pile when they detect heavy footsteps booming from the door, and the vibrations it causes sends dust floating gracefully to the ground. Mini gravels tumble down the sides and form piles, and the party members observe the water disturbance from the ephemeral tremors. The shadow is incredibly obscure to discern any features other than the creature is tall and elephantine. Each footstep increases the group's heartbeat. A growl chills their blood, and they hold their breath or inhale slightly to decrease their sound and their bodies sweat; for the mages, the amount of mana they detect from it shakes them to their core.

The creature reveals itself with its head and neck first to the group's trepidation and then admiration. Its jaw contains numerous lengthy, narrow, sharp teeth with strings of saliva connecting the top row to the bottom when it opens it. Golden eyes with a vertical line that widens in the center for its pupils roll as it scans the cave, and its nostrils expand to smell. Brass scales provide protection and reflect light from the crystals, and four horns are on top of its head with the pair longer than the back. The creature exposes its body fully as it emerges from the ziggurat, revealing additional scales on its colossal, serpentine body. Other characteristics are four legs with pointy claws, spikes along from the base of its neck to the end of its tail, and two foldable wings straighten to form a wingspan of one hundred ninety feet across.

"Reveal yourselves," he ordered in a monstrous, male voice. "Or I'll fuse your melted bodies to the melted stalagmite with my fire." To prove his point, he launches a fireball near the party. "Fuul Narkeesh: Fuuljuk!" Though it appears as a standard fireball, his spell has extra power that only the more powerful mages can perform, albeit he can cast it without breaking a solitary sweat. The explosion is the catalyst to chunks of rock from the ceiling plummeting to the ground, shattering into tiny pieces upon impact and scattering dust in the air; the sound fades gradually to nothing.

One-by-one Krivkris and his companions reveal themselves to the dragon in a non-threatening gesture. Confused, he positions himself to gain better visibility of the group.

"You're not a Myraxin," the dragon spoke. "Why did you disturb my home?"

“A Myraxin?" asked Krivkris.

"The race with the moonlight color on its skin and a weird head that curves downward."

"We ran into them," Rakiri replied. "They have incredible hospitality. I highly recommend them," he said sarcastically.

"You still haven't answered my question. Why did you remove my barrier? Are you plotting to steal my horde of treasure? If so, you're just as unsavory as them, and I, Brazeriin, will enjoy incinerating the flesh off of your bones. Speak now!"

"We apologize for disturbing you and your domicile, Brazeriin," Krivkris said. "We are searching for an exit to continue on an urgent quest and have zero intentions on plundering your treasure. If you guide us, we will appreciate it deeply."

Brazeriin lowers his head to Krivkris and stares at him. As the tallest and broadest member of the group, his jaw drops in stupefaction at the fact the dragon's nostrils and eyes tower him. Satisfied at the time of the entire inspection, he raises his head to its original height and exposes his teeth in a snarl. "Just as I suspect, you harbor potent evil."

"That's the main objective, we're trying to destroy a dangerous artifact."

"That's not what I meant. I'm talking about you specifically."

"I don't understand," Ashereth said. "What do you mean by him?"

"A sliver of a vile entity's power has its roots inside him and currently expanding. It's been ages since I last felt it."

"You felt it before?" asked Takasato.

Brazeriin nods his head and swivels his head towards the ascending path. "Back during Kovul Grahakth or the Second Age or Expansion Age in your view. After the events of Graalok Nuuth, long before Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and other current races sat foot, I scoured the land for a lair until I discovered here, building included. I accumulated gold, jewels, and other various treasures and made other improvements until I was satisfied. Then the Myraxin formed civilization in the beautiful surrounding landscape. I observed and mingled with them secretly to amuse myself before everything changed from that evil power, conflict, and natural disaster. Several Myraxins became too inquisitive in my horde for their self-preservation, so I had snacks until they annoyed me to the point where they forced me to collapse the tunnel to protect it until you destroyed it. The evil that drove the Myraxin underground is inside him now."

"Is there a way to exorcise it out of Krivkris?" asked Lyera as she and the remaining party members that lost the bet exchanged money. "Also, why didn't you assist in the fight against it in the Second Age?"

Brazeriin ignores her second question. "Perhaps the Cyclosians have the answer deep inside beneath the ziggurat."

"Cyclosians?"

"A race that existed before Graalok Nuuth. They built structures exactly like this for rituals, minus my space expansions and other improvements."

"I assume you won't aid us," Takasato said.

"You're correct."

"Why?"

"I don't concern myself in the trivial affairs of mortals, and it's the exact answer to another question about the Myraxins. Just because certain dragons decide to help prior, we're automatically obligated to do the same, but we are our own unique individuals. I have bigger kaathriiks to burn right now. Plus, with the path open, I desire to protect my cornucopia of treasure from any curious Myraxin."

"You don't have to fear about them," Ashereth replied. "I've summoned a solid wall of earth to prevent them from pursuing us."

"I still have to observe you, and I won't hesitate to terminate your quest immediately and allow the artifact to exist if you dare attempt."

"We won't," Krivkris promised. "You have our word."

"I'll hold you to it." Brazeriin shifts his body until he faces the ziggurat's entrance. You'll locate the stairs straight ahead from the ingress, and you'll face arduous trials."

"We appreciate it." Krivkris and his party stand inside the ziggurat at the entrance to the basement. The winds from below blow Ashereth's and Lyera's hair, Rakiri's and Takasato's fur, and any loose clothing on the group. "Let's discover what lies beneath," he ordered, and they took their first steps.

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