The Dragon King rushed towards the pitch-black opening, as he stared into it with wide eyes, he heard splashing noises and the boy's pained grunt.
"Are you all right?" he yelled, crouching at the floor to see better.
"I can't see anything, it's too dark." The boy's voice echoed. "Ah, wait."
A faint light radiated from the crescent shape on his palm, it was enough to illuminate the surrounding area. He stood in a shallow pond, the murky water reached about his ankles, staining his ivory boots. His eyes darted around as he slowly waved his hand to the darkest corners of the cave. The place was massive, dark green stalactites hung like icicles from the ceiling, sopping with a strange liquid. Frey ambled around with heavy steps, his gaze glued to the dripstones sparkling at the light. Suddenly he stumbled and heard a muffled crunch.
The boy's piercing shriek reached Yuan's ears and he jumped into the pit without hesitation. He winced as the humid air hit his nostrils. Frey stood there motionless, he turned around, his face even paler than usual. Yuan saw the thing that had caused him fear. A few bones floated in the water below him.
"Human bones," the boy said, "told you we were at the right place."
The man opened his mouth ready to reply when a sound of metal dragging onto stones distracted him. The pair exchanged looks. Frey held his breath and pointed his palm towards the sound source. Purple orbs appeared in the distance, they floated in the dark, slowly nearing at the two. The light flashed on a helmet shifting ridiculously on a white skull, violet flames moved inside its eye sockets as it limped over, the axe clutched in its bony hand grazing on the cave walls. Behind him followed other corpses, leather armour too tattered from the soil dangled over their bones like peeled skin.
"Oh, for the love of three realms," uttered Yuan.
The skeletons gave a snarl, encircling them from all directions.
"Perhaps they came to greet us," Frey whispered.
The corpse in the lead gave a bloodcurdling growl and the dead soldiers charged towards them with their limbs freakishly contorted.
"I take it back, run!" He exclaimed and summoned the golden sword. He sliced at the wave of skeletons attacking from behind. Their skulls collapsed into the pool, yet the headless bodies kept striking. He groaned and thrust his blade again, crushing a soldier's ribs. He grabbed him by the armour and threw him at the rest, taking advantage of their confusion to run deeper into the cave.
"Grab my hand, we are leaving," Yuan spoke to him.
The youth shook his head. "Are you kidding? I'm not scared of some bony sons of bitches."
The momentary havoc did not last long as the corpses made their way inside the tunnel. Frey clutched his sword with both hands and held his ground, the chilling growls got closer, pulsating inside the jet-black cave. He swung the sword blindly and heard the cracking noises of bones, he felt a sharp sting on his back and cursed, pulling an arrow from his flesh.
"Archers? For fuck's sake Erena, it's us!" He shouted and sliced the air.
The blast took out the skeletons up front but more of them surged through the tunnel. Frey retreated further deep while parrying the attacks, he leaped, avoiding the blow aimed for his legs but lost his footing and plunged into a deep pool.
The liquid stung his eyes as a strange force pushed him lower down. He felt a tight grip on his leg, upon illuminating he saw more corpses with chains tied around their waist. They snatched and squeezed the boy's limbs, choking him with their restraints. He gasped; the pungent water burned his lungs as he struggled to get away.
Fleshy hands yanked him from the corpses' clutch and brought him to the surface. Frey coughed, breathing in the humid air with greed. The dragon King pushed him on the rocky ground and then pulled himself up beside him, water drops trickling down his hair.
The youth gave a weak grin as he puffed. The dead soldiers ceased the attack and stayed at the other side of the pond, snarling at them from afar. He stood up and called forth his sword, the golden blade emerged from the water and flew in his hands.
"What foolish creature dares to awake the Goddess of death? For I shall fulfil your desire of demise and scourge you and your remaining bloodline!"
An ear-splitting voice shook the place like an earthquake, the skeletons went silent and kneeled down, casting aside their weapons. The cave was at once illuminated with violet flames and a shadow covered the entire tunnel. The shadow shrunk as the clicking of heels approached. A lanky woman dressed in black appeared from the dark. Her luminous curls swayed in the air like seaweeds in water. Sharp letters of the Empyrean language traced along her arms and chest, projecting from her low-cut dress. Her violet eyes landed on the boy and the blackness of her expression disappeared in an instant.
"Oh, bones! My angel, is that you?" She dashed at him like a hungry predator towards its prey; the clank of chains around her waist smothered her footsteps. She pulled him to her chest with the strength of a beast and held him tightly.
The boy whimpered, his muffled voice barely audible. "It's… nice to see you too."
"Did you come all the way here to visit me? I feel so honoured!" Erena squealed and gave him a once-over.
"Don't flatter yourself, our trip took only seconds." The man's voice cut like daggers. She glared at him, the air between them tensed. "You just have to horn in as always, don't you?"
"Why yes, that is one of my strong points."
Frey exclaimed with alarm and stepped between them.
"Come on, take it easy. We have not seen each other in years." He paused and waited for them to calm down. "I know you are busy Erena, but I must ask for a favour. There is someone I need to speak with, someone's soul."
The goddess stared at him in wonder, she waved off and the horde of skeletons disappeared within the depths of the tunnel, the clatter of their axes faded out slowly. The duo followed her as she proceeded towards the stairway descending into a chamber. Large columns stood high, supporting the massive cavern ceiling. A throne was carved inside the stone wall, the sloppy handwork became apparent as they got closer. Human remains were dispersed around the floor like gravel, the goddess kicked a few of them into the pool of glowing liquid as she shifted glances around the chamber.
"I was not expecting any guests," she mumbled. "That said, before you ask me anything, bear in mind that as the guardian of souls, I cannot disclose their secrets without a valid reason. Even for you, my beloved."
Frey nodded. "Of course, I would not trouble you otherwise. That man was involved in something major and was murdered right in front of my eyes before I had the chance to look in his mind. I can't help but think it's somehow connected to a greater scheme."
The woman bent down and stirred the pond with her slender fingers. Violet shapes squirmed around, twisting and turning like snakes as their joint whispers echoed through the space. Her forehead puckered.
"Are you sure he passed away? The wraiths cannot find him, which means his soul is not in the underworld."
"I have no doubts. You saw him too, the blade went right through his heart." He turned at the man.
Yuan shrugged. "I must confess that is quite peculiar. Perhaps you bother the dead so much they decided to retaliate and mock you. Why would they take orders from a pretentious wench anyway?"
A cervical spine came flying towards the man, he tilted his head and dodged it easily, his mouth curved into a satisfied smirk.
"Do you wish to join them?" She gave him a dirty look. "The souls are cut off from their vice behaviour after they pass on. They could never lie, to me especially."
"Then why is the soul of a dead man missing? You had one simple task and you fail to accomplish even that. How disappointing." The dragon King faked a sigh.
"Hey! Don't you think you're taking it too far? I'm in charge of the deceased, what the living do is none of my concern. Either way, angel, I can't help you. It is better to search that man in the living world."
They both stared at the boy, his eyes were glued to the ghostly figures. He suddenly cried out in realisation.
"Can you invoke one of Vulzan soldiers instead? Someone with a high position if possible."
Erena raised her eyebrows but did not question him, she reached at the pool once again. Not long after, a translucent shape of a man emerged from it, his bare, muscular chest was covered in wounds. His Dark beard was braided messily, soaked with a sticky fluid. He stared at the boy across him and smiled.
"To what do I owe the honour of meeting you again, Fiery One. Must you torment me even in the afterlife?"
Frey gawked at him. "So you were defeated at last, General… I'm terribly sorry."
The man laughed, his rough voice caused the walls to tremble. "Why do you apologize? One is prepared for death before he steps into the battlefield. My only regret is that I did not get the chance to fight you one last time." He paused. "Should I guess, you want to question me about the battle."
"That's right, about your warriors to be specific. Who blessed them with power like that?" Asked the boy.
"A curse in disguise was what it was… All because of that youth, that foreigner who looked like he came from another world. He charmed the Salamander with his quirks, he made the soldiers stronger, but…" The General lowered his head.
"There was a price."
"Indeed. They became hungry for violence—most of them, attacking their own companions, their wives, their children. And the worst of all, Fiery One, was that our leader did not stop him, instead he pleaded for more. More power, more beasts."
He stared deeply in the boy's eyes.
"Your kingdom is in danger, Fiery One, that man can smell the blood in the water." He paused. "I could not understand his intentions, but I know he does not wish to help my people. Be aware of him."
Frey nodded. "I appreciate your worry. Though I have one last question. Does your tribe have alliances with other countries?"
The man laughed again. "Vulzans are prideful folk. We do not associate with others… to a fault perhaps."
His ghostly figure shifted and merged with other shapes into the pond. The cavern was engulfed in silence, the three deities stood still, staring at the glowing water.
Yuan approached the boy and ruffled his hair. "Fascinating! I could not see this coming, you were right all along."
"Yeah."
Erena smacked the man's hand and held Frey by his shoulders.
"How could this be? An Empyrean cursing human beings? This is outrageous… he is damaging our reputation! We should inform the High Council about this, surely they will take care of it."
"Uh-huh," murmured the boy and ambled towards the stairs.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at the man, the dragon King shook his head in disapproval. "Way to go."
The boy drooped on the stone stairway, he steepled his fingers in front of his mouth as his mind returned to the reeking battlefield. To the stench of the dirt mixed with blood and intestines, to the butchered bodies of his fallen wards dumped like scraps of food tossed to the hounds. He relived the aggression of the soldier fighting back his tears as he held him by the collar, the pain behind his red-rimmed eyes and the loathing in his wobbly voice. His hands tightened into fists as he burst up to his feet.
"The Heavens are definitely aware of what's going on, we have to handle this ourselves. Why was the Union created in the first place?" He grinned. "We are going to beat the daylights out of that son of a bitch."