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Nameless wanderer
Returning to the Brave Man's Keep Ages after the end of the war sure was an interesting experiment. It is allot more friendly towards tourists, although it has nothing special aside from his harbour.
But that was always the case in this region wasn't it, the real excitement lies underground. One of such places is Bale. A human settlement right under the city that lives from the hunt of beasts and treasures found inside the lightless world.
Especially the architecture is worth a visit, although having no fear of highs is advised.
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Walking through the one and a half man wide tunnels one would expect cold grey masses of stones to surround us from every direction. However the truth was far from that, the tunnels were far from lifeless, flora and fauna everywhere nourished by the magic pulsing in the air.
Faint glowing mosses and vines crawled al over the walls, trying to attract pray. Small animals like rodents and insects constantly filled the surroundings with sounds which they used for orientation as well as to find their pray.
In conclusion absolutely different than I had imagined.
But although we would not starve to death and it looked pleasing to the eye, It also made it infinity harder to spot any thread before it ambushed us and ripped me apart.
So while trying to relax my nerves as not to fall back into a state of mental instability, we spend 2 hours to sometimes crawl climb and squees our way through the tunnels.
Finally the way began opening up again leading into a giant cave with pillars as thick as football stadiums preventing hundred of millions of tons of stone to crush everything.
Our lamp was barely able to illuminate anything. The only reason we were able to see these things, were the immense quantity of lights that surrounded these pillars like fireflies that someone glued to a wall.
They shed light upon hundreds of houses, workshops and pubs that were worked into the stone.
They were connected with some sort of wooden bridges, suspended in the air.
I was already getting goosebumps thinking about treading on them.
On of these bridges were even connected with our cave.
„Hey Jack we don't have to use these deathtrap do we?"
He looked at me with a big smile plastered all over his face.
„Obviously not what are you talking about, just jump down and climb up at the others side, we will see you there."
I turned towards Leonard, would he support me?
„I have seen worse on my journeys. Also he's just trying to scare you, these ropes and planks are made out of monsters, they have probably existed for hundred of years."
Although I was still unsure, there was nothing else than getting over it. The journey to the archives was bound to have risks, I know that.
But I would finally get more knowledge about magic, knowledge that would further my goal.
Still I waited for jack to go first before following him.
Ant there presented another's Problem. Height.
The bridge slowly moved from one side to another as we walked across it, darkness was the only thing that was beneath it. Soon even the way back was swallowed by it as the light of our lamp was truly weak.
No one spoke.
When we made it to the other side I was truly relieved, to stand on a stone floor.
Right now we were standing at a restaurant where they sold quite high end food. It was however sparsely populated as right now most of the people were out to hunt or work.
„So there are a few capable guides but all of them are not currently there."
I was confused
"What do you mean they are not there?"
"Well" he looked at me as if I was an idiot"obviously they are working, not everyone is as free as you, you bloody moron. What do you think people live on.
So do any of you have some sort of business you want to do so we can wast a bit of time?"
Leonard came forward.
„We would need a few weapons and some cloths, for the boy. Kieron what about you, could you build something like last time again? It could be useful."
Hmm while a Molotov cocktail could be useful , it dependent on the situation and the destructive capability's were quite limited. The worship we fought before for example would have just brushed it off with his shield, the kinetic force was minimal.
I would like to build some TNT, I had the tools available and I often build explosions with my mentor for fun. But there was still the problem with a remote detonation, I didn't have the ability to make a good fuse and I would rather not gamble my life on it.
„Not at the moment, maybe later."
Nodding jack walked towards one of the bridges near to us.
„Okay there are a couple of craftsmen around and I know one that's trustworthy . You should also be able to buy some clothes in the area."
In the end I just tagged along. While Leonard was buying a gamberson similar to his own, except the patches, I walked along the streets and let myself soak in the atmosphere.
It was the first time in my life I truly felt small. Not in the face of nature, staring up in the sky or even just listening to a documentary would do that, but in regards to our society.
Walking across another bridge I could see people of various colour and occupation chatting with each other.
Hunters returned from the depths as they carried with them carcasses of beasts. Some small and rather ordinary, while some were so horrendous that they made me doubt our mission.
Were they not even hiding their magic? what were the worship thinking, I was sure that they knew of the humans here.
I shook my head there was no time to contemplate.
Spotting Leonard I waved at him and tried to sped up to reach there faster, only to bump into a young man. He had a strange silvery cloak, blond hair and golden eyes.
"Ah I am sorry"
He just ignored me and continued walking, what a strange man.
When we met up again it was already after-noon and we were ready to meet our guide.