The cave was pretty dark even with the torch Mercer had brought. The entrance chamber was massive, the ceiling was higher than any building he had seen, at least 7 meters high. He could see 3 tunnels out, one on either side and one the the far wall. Looking up he could see numerous small holes that he assumed functioned as air vents. The longer he was here the more it looked like someone had carved this place out of the stone rather than it being natural.
Mercer decided the center tunnel would probably be his best bet, the most important rooms were usually the easiest to find, straight is the easiest direction.
He walked to the tunnel he had decided on and peered into it, it was very long, and a bit cramped. He would have to crouch to be able to fit. For how big the entrance was, he had though the exits would be a bit more spacious.
Walking down the tunnel proved to be more difficult than he first thought it would be. It twisted and curved, it was steep at times and just rocky at others. There seemed to be no end. He kept walking, determined to find who he was looking for. He couldn't give up now when he had only just started.
When He finally came out, he was back in the main hall where he had started. He had ended up at the same tunnel though he did not remember any point where the tunnel wound back in on itself. He took a look around to make sure it was the same hall. Every thing was identical, including the entrance where he could see Lera practicing some of the footwork Mother had taught her.
"Hey! Wait!" Mercer saw a pair of Golden eyes watching him from the tunnel to his left. When he looked towards them they immediately disappeared. His heart was pounding, but he chased after the being anyways. They might lead him to whoever it was he needed to find... or they could be a predator... He tried not to think about that much.
This tunnel was much like the other one. It had so many twists he almost lost his balance a couple times, and at other times he had to slide down just to follow the path. No where did he see the thing he was following though. It must be quick and live in the tunnels. There was no way someone who had never been here could be that fast.
"Where did you go! Come back I need to talk with you!" He hoped that it was the person Mother Ara had mentioned that he was following. He would rather not dwell on the other option.
When he reached the end he found himself in another larger room, this one had a huge statue in the center.
He went over to the base of the statue where he could see some words written.
Tilu Ritimu Silutomoso
The writing was not in any language he could read. Which was three of the four in Eyrien: English, Ligerian, Konri, and Valan. (There are four main languages: Shirag of the west, Ligerian of Ligeria, Konri of the North East, and the dead language Ahmesh. English is not a language of this world.) Though he did have a strong aptitude for learning languages and took very little time to learn them. Above the plaque was a shield with crossed axes and a sword stuck behind it. The sword appeared to be slightly off center. He reached forward and adjusted it.
Mercer stumbled back and fell to the floor. The whole room had begun shaking, Runes began glowing all over the statue and it slowly pushed back revealing an opening in the floor. The statue revealed a stairway leading down hidden beneath it, cautiously he began stepping down, it was significantly steep, though manageable.
Upon reaching the bottom he found himself in a small hallway that led towards a door at the end. Above him he heard the statue sliding back into place. He looked around to see if he could find a switch to move the statue, but could not find anything. He then turned back towards the door.
Mercer walked forwards hoping for no more surprises. He examined the door. It appeared fairly sturdy, and most importantly, there was no handle nor keyhole. He had no idea how he was supposed to open it, when he pushed on the door it didn't even budge.
He took to knocking, hoping he would be able to talk to the one he came to find, as there was no way out.
"Excuse me, I need to talk to you!" He banged on the door and then waited. He heard some thumping around as someone moved on the other side of the door before it a rune showed up in the middle of the door and it swung inwards.
Inside was a cat with golden eyes sitting amongst stacks of books. Lining the walls were bookshelves full with scrolls and books. Where there weren't shelves the walls were covered with maps, old and new. Behind a large oak desk an elderly man sat writing furiously in a book. Behind an archway a woman Mercer recognized as the mountain Nymph could be partially seen peering out at him.
Mercer looked at the cat who walked back to the elderly man and started meowing incessantly. After a moment the man looked up and studied Mercer.
"You must be Aliara's son. I figured it wouldn't be long before you came here. Please have a seat and I will talk with you once I have finished writing what I need to here." With that he turned back to his book and began writing again. Mercer glanced around at the room looking at all the many books wondering what they could all be. A number were written in a script he did not recognize, Many appeared in the languages of Eyrien, and he recognized a few as English. He looked back through the archway but the nymph had left. He was curious who she was, but didn't go back there to try and find her. He settled down and pulled out his journal, detailing the statue and runes he had seen.
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~Statue in the Cave~
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(picture of the statue was drawn here)
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Depicts a young man with a crown
Probably royalty of some kind
Text beneath read Tilu Ritimu Silutomoso
When crest is adjusted magic moved the it
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