* CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! *
The sound of metal breaking through solid stone cut through the air drowning out the crisp howling winds that engulfed the foot of the mountain in long thick blankets of powdery white snow. Entrenched in a giant quarry like pit, hundreds of human laborers (Slaves, weak adventures, poor/homeless looking for easy money) worked towards one common goal.
Find and open "The Tomb of The Immortal Empress" or at least that's what the Abyssal (Those who reside or originate from the realm of the abyss a.k.a this novels version of hell) call it.
"Markess, go and relive the paid labor and replace them with more slaves... use some of the captured Abyssal if you have to. The boss wants this done as fast yet as cheaply as possible"
A low scratchy voice belonging to a rather lean, grey-haired individual spoke out to his companion who stood just a step behind him. Markess, the man spoken to, frowned upon hearing the orders given to him by this old man.
In truth he wanted nothing to do with any of this as provoking the Abyssal was something every race in the mortal realm knew better then to do. Hell, even orcs who would fuck anything that had heartbeat and a hole wouldn't dare disrespect even those considered low class here!
"Sir, with all due respect... Do you really think this is such a good idea? I do not think it's too late to convince the lord to abandon this quest of his before we uncover something best left buried. Besides we all know how the Abyssal operate, status and power mean everything to them, the higher up on the hierarchy they are then the more powerful they must be! Why would someone once hailed as the ruler of the entire abyss be buried in a place such as this?"
"Markess... It would be best if you remember your place..." The lean man spoke with a slight squint of his cloudy blue eyes. "Go! Do as your told and ill happily forget we had this conversation.. Understood?"
"Y- yes sir, i'll be going then.." After a slight bow of his head Markess quickly ran off to complete his task of putting more slaves to work.
Old-man Sebastian smugly grinned and was content to peacefully enjoy the rest of his day, but it seemed luck was either favoring him greatly today or was simply out to piss him off for just as he managed to drift off into a state of half concoiness a sharp shriek jolted him awake.
"Ayeee~ What the hell is it now?!" He swore as he reached out for his old sandalwood walking stick, but it seemed there wouldn't be a need for him to stand as Markess could be seen hastily making his way over.
"What is it boy! I can't even close my old eyes for a second before you flea ridden savages go and make a mess of things!" Sebastian was furious as he had always kept a strict schedule to his life and refused to stray from it unless the situation was truly dire.
This did not stop Markess, however, from racing up to him with an expression mixed nervousness, fear, and excitement.
"Sir, I'm sorry that your rest was disturbed but you should come and see the situation for yourself, the miners believe that the have found the entrance to the tomb... However they face a problem..."
Sebastian's aed and wrinkled face suddenly broke out into a happy smile that he just couldn't contain. At that moment when he heard that little slaves (Markess) words he felt ten.. no.. twenty years younger!
"Haha! Its alright! Quite alright! Come child tell this old man the problem troubling you!"
Needless to say Sebastian was feeling elated after hearing this news. They had been searching these mountains for the tombs location for months with only small leads to go by. This had frustrated him beyond belief! On top of this he also had his boss breathing down his neck while urging him to hurry and find the tomb before anyone else could.
"Sir, the thing is... even though the entrance has been uncovered... it wasn't by intention. One of the miners had caused a small cave-in and revealed the door, however everyone I had sent to investigate ended up meeting the same fate.." The more Markess spoke the easier it became to pick out traces of pure, unfiltered terror he felt towards the topic of the door.
However, how could Sebastian care for the feelings of the slave before him?
With a cold snort he strode past the kneeling Markess before suddenly stopping to look back with a crinkled facefull of pure disdain towards the ladder.
"Why are you still sitting there? Come bring me to the door! My time is precious and i would like to leave this frozen hellscape sooner than later!" He roared causing the already trembling Markess to stumble to his feet and hurriedly lead the way.
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"This is it sir." Markess spoke with a slight tremble in his voice as they approached a huge, castle-gate-like, door. The door itself was made from a glass like crystal that held no discernable imperfections, however despite its clarity one still couldnt see what lay on the other side. The frame of the two huge doors was made from a strange white stone that was glossy smooth while giving off a harsh, bone-chilling aura. Just out front of the gate rest two crystal statues standing unwavering atop here pedestals. Both statues were equipped in thick plate mail, while the one on the right held a sword and shield the one on the left held a helbard of sorts. Both weapons and armour were made from the same strange stone that lined the door.
"Didn't you say there was a cave in? How come these statues look untouched? And where are the people you sent to investigate? If something happened to them there should at least be a body left behind.. " Sebastian inquired as he stepped closer to the door only to be stopped by a hand tugging at his robes.
"Sir! you mustn't get closer! I had sunt two of the enslaved Abyssals over to open the door and well..." Without speaking further he simply gestured over to the two statues. "They turned into that..."