I hear a noise earlier, but I didn't know what it was.
Clak.
Tch—k... Lhrl—
Llkr... Khl—r...
Kkh—Lrhl.
A few small pebbles roll across the rough and stony surface of the floor. Its sound echoes all throughout as it bumps lightly at the corner of my footwear.
From the corner, I could hear someone exerting light breaths.
I do a double-take and lean my body further. Or perhaps, it's more accurate to say; I may be hearing some panting instead.
A faint shudder creeps across my skin. The base of each strand of my arm hair starts to contract and stiffen—yes, even goddesses get goosebumps.
Just as I'm about to reach out for a weapon, a pale and wrinkly hand comes into view from the corner of where the panting's coming from.
Almost simultaneously, an old man brings a relaxed fist to his mouth to cover his coughing.
The worn, ratty and old sleeves that cling to his wrist slide down—revealing a very skinny arm and slightly sagging skin as he pulls down the hood of his cloak.
His face is stiff, yet airs a sense of stateliness despite his attire. It's hard to tell how old he really is—though to be fair, it's hard to determine that for any of us, immortal beings.
My eyes search for any suspicious aura from this old man, though I find there is none. My shoulders relax, and I rest the base of my weapon on the ground.
"Oof. Sorry about that. I was just soooo excited to see someone come over, that I just had to check it out," he says sheepishly.
Clearing his throat, he begins to go chat in a more serious tone, "My name is Yren. Yes, you pronounce it as Yee-wren. Short 'r', mm." Yren begins to stroke his beard with three of his fingers.
Like he was hit by a thunderbolt, his back stiffens, and he stops stroking his beard at the same time. He immediately shifts his body and prostrates on the rocky floor behind me.
"Ahhhh~! I apologize, your Majesty, I must greet you properly! Please forgive this loyal and faithful servant! I beg of you!" Yren pleas, as he keeps his face as close to the cracked surface beneath us.
Why is he...? OH! I almost forgot about Melaina. I stifle a giggle as I turn around and look for where my trustworthy steed is. Melaina is still on Rem, sleeping as soundly as can be.
Feeling quite amused, I start to tease Yren, "Are you looking for a punishment worse than death for waking up your Princess, Yren?"
The poor soul lifts his head up and stammers—completely turning into a wreck now, "I-I-I, of course not, War Goddess Khirelle! I would never dare do so!"
Oops, maybe I shouldn't have. I feel a slight twinge in my heart for messing with this old man in the first place. "Alright, alright. I'll put in a good word for you if you just stop it and get up already. How about you take me around as I don't know this place very well."
"Oh, thank you, War Goddess! That would be wonderful." With excitement, Yren claps his hands together. Some dust puffs up from his palms, probably from him prostrating earlier on the ground.
"Oh dear. Oh my. Quite embarrassing and a somewhat dreadful display of myself. I apologize once again." He frets like usual while he starts by clapping his hands together first. Some clouds of dust starts to disperse as he does so. Then Yren proceeds to get rid of the dirt on his clothes.
I laugh at his silliness and I offer to help tap his clothes down. "Here, let me help."
"You are very kind, Goddess."
"Nonsense. This is the least a decent being can do for one another."
"Thank you— Ah~! I almost forgot!"
"What is it, Yren?"
"Yes, how about Yren takes you on a~ Wait. What was that word again that humans use? YES! A tour! Please, let this humble servant give you a tour of Tartarus—where the worst God-offenders reside." With his face now turned towards me, he shows me a toothy smile before saying, "Please follow me," the elderly man marches onward as I follow behind him.
[...]
As we go through, what seems like huge tunnel-like hallways, I look around as I continue to follow Yren.
I grin at the excitement the old man's exuding as he adds a few hops in his steps. "Ohhh~! I don't know who I should show you first."
As I follow the elder, he continues to converse with me as he moves onward, "It's certainly been a while since I've last shown anyone around Tartarus! Would you like to see the Prometheus? You know, the one who introduced fire to humans? Though I'm just here to warn you—he's quite a disappointment."
Prometheus is a disappointment?
Somehow, I'm doubtful that I'd think that way, as I don't even know the guy. In fact, I'm not even sure if the punishment is even 'just' in the first place. Fire has done more good than bad, after all.
"You'd think he'd be used to getting his liver being eaten day in and day out. But oh boy, is he still a screamer." Yren shakes his head like a disappointed father, his beard swishing to and fro as he lets out a soft, yet exasperated sigh. "My goodness. That noisy young man is either screeching out of pain day in and day out—or worse, just wailing. He does it as if there's even an audience. No one will care, even if he constantly bemoans about his predicament."
One of my eyebrows shoots up and I'm at a loss for words. The golden flecks in my eyes tremble upon hearing such callous and disturbing words from such an innocent-looking old man. Although I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting anyway, he's one of Tartarus' guardians after all.
All this time, we haven't stopped walking as he takes me further into the dungeons.
While he continues to walk straight ahead, I continue to stare at the dark aura he emanates from behind. Yren may not look like much at first glance, but he has been chosen for a reason. A demonic being that is as strong as one of the ti—
"Alright, thank you for being patient. I'd like to show you the highlight of tonight's tour. It's going to be the second to the last room I'll be showing you. The next one after this will be your final destination."