Jake did not bother Guryo since he is busy and Kara seems not in the house, maybe visiting with his friends. Jake went to the adventurer guild when he saw several parents pleading to find their lost loved ones, the guard in the town was already been dispatch to remove those parents pestering inside the guild. Jake went inside and saw Diane and Annael in the teller talking with Marfin.
Jake approached them, "Do you need an extra hand?" Diane nodded, " Great! I don't need to request for teammates. We actually need four, we already have Terry coming with us, so we are done already." Jake faced Terry. This guy is using dirk on both hands, he looks like a slayer. Annael called them and sat on one of the empty chairs and table. This quest is one-star Erudite realm difficulty, this retrieving an artifact of the fallen high tier Erudite in the cavern of Sura.
Jake thought, cavern of Sura, as far as he knows there is nothing there but bats, moles and occasional stone salamander. He did not voice out anything and continue to listen. Annael clear his throat, " Can you guys tell us your name, current realm, and your class? I am Annael, warrior type and currently peak of the mortal realm. Diane spoke, " I am Diane, Acolyte, high tier mortal. Terry nodded, " Terry, Slayer high tier mortal. Then everyone is looking towards Jake's direction, Jake, low tier mortal, warrior- mage. Anna smile, "Just make sure though that you focus only to one class or it will take you how many lifetimes to master one, just a piece of advice." Jake nodded, " So cavern Sura? How many days till we reach the place?" "About 4-5 days. It is just northwest from here. Please go to buy anything then just proceed at the entrance of the northern gate, especially you" Annael pointed jake, " You need to buy at least a leather armor, that cloth will not protect you, my friend. Okay! Dismissed."
Jake went back to the armor store and bought a circular shield they called it villagers shield, made out of brass, a set of cheap leather armor, bought several rations and some ropes. His remaining money is now 4 gold and 50 silver.
Jake went directly to the northern gate and saw his other 3 mates waiting for him. Annael nodded, " Let us go."They have to continue to walk for several hours until the daylight almost setting down. Annael decided to make a camp. Diane started to cook, some sort of pale yam then distribute it to everyone. The taste was grainy and bland. Jake just eat everything because he does not want to insult her.
Diane said she need rest early, so I just volunteered to watch for first next 6 hours. As they were sleeping Jake realized that he felt that someone is following them but he can pinpoint where. He really wants to have the ground whisper, that skill can detect any people within the given diameter. Jake saw Terry sleeping on one of the trunks then suddenly I heard murmur inside the tent.
"Annael…do you think they followed us?" Diane seems worried. "I did felt earlier, around 2 of them but I am not sure if they will attack us or continue following us." Annael sigh. "I can't let this happened again…..If they are indeed here,I am that they will show their face once we got that artifact. I doubt they will make a move as of the moment." Annael did not say anything.
Jake thought hmm….they are hiding something….if those two that they mentioned are connected to their death in the game…what will I do now? Jake realized it is a waste of thought for he can't do anything as of the moment. After 6 hours, Annael woke up change Jake as the watcher for the next 6 hours.
Jake woke up around 5 am. Diane is now cooking again, he just look the bland yaminside the wooden bowl and sigh.
They are halfway through the cavern of Sura. Jake suddenly stop, pick up a stone and throw it to one of the bushes in front of them but no one is coming out. "Jake are you alright?" Diane asked. Annael smirked, "Maybe he got poisoned by your food." Diane glared towards Annael. "Have you felt something, it seems like, someone is following us?" Terry knitted his eyebrows and flicks his finger and dust flew towards the ground and behold there are footprints just behind the bushes. Although this place is not as congested with trees the bushes are as high as 5 meters. Terry was inspecting the footprints, "there are at least 4 of them but they are good in erasing their tracks." Jake glances towards Diane and she seems disturbed. Jake sigh, " Anyway, there is no use of worrying let us not waste time."
On the fourth day, they manage to reach the entrance of the cavern. The opening is 5m x 5m. The place seems hunted. The air coming from the cavern produces a sound that sound's like a ghosts from movies.
"This is it!" I smiled. Annael nodded, " We need to be careful, especially the stone salamander, they can cause petrification. I will be the vanguard, Terry will be 4 feet behind me, Diane will be 3 feet behind from Terry and Jake, you will be rearguard since you area warrior/mage. They rested for about 3 hours before walking inside the cavern.
"Firefly" Diane mumble 20, 1cm of ball of light floating around the party. Jake was amazed on this skill, in the game majority of acolyte's will not get this spell due to their limited usage but in reality, maybe they are useful contradictory to what most gamers think. Jake touch the ball of light and the light disappear like dust. Diane laugh, " Please don't touch it or the spell will be dispelled." Jake scratched his head and nodded.
Along the way, Jake notice again that someone is following. He does not understand why Terry can't locate them or fell them. Jake did not make a fuss about it because the people who followed them seem to keep their distance away from them.
They reached at the hanging bridge. The bridge is made up of some planks of woods. They are standing at the opposite side of the cliff. The inside of the cavern was very spacious, there are several stalagmites on the walls and ceiling of the cavern.
"Do you think the cave is a bit silent," Jake asked Terry. Terry nodded, "There are supposedly gnome bat flying around but I can't sense them from here." Jake knitted his eyebrow and mumble, " So that was the reason."