Worshipper Arc: Chapter 12. A Deadly Cave.
Valoran and the others go deeper and deeper into the caves.
Tiara's worry increases step by step, she tries to hide her fearful facade which Valoran does notice and something else…
"Her magic awareness is impressive. She might not realise it herself due to her being socially anxious and shy; what she currently feels is something off in these caves. These caves are…"
"HALT!" Aleister instructs firmly.
Valoran and the others stop.
"What is it?" Cera questions in confusion.
Aleister looks around the entire caves in disbelief and worry and then he faces the rest of the group who are just anxious to know what is going on.
"The caves…tunnels have somehow changed" Aleister reveals in puzzlement.
"What do you mean changed?" Alesia questions with uncertainty.
Aleister then looks toward the right, the others also look toward the right.
It's a turn that leads to a dead end.
"That dead end should not be there, but it is."
He then looks straight ahead, the others also look straight ahead.
"That turn goes right, it should be a left turn at this point."
The others now realise what danger they are truly in.
"How are we going to find our way out of here?" Egor questions with frustration.
"Now we know how the adventurers who entered the caves got lost." Sage states with calm to not worry Valoran and especially Tiara.
"But…how can the tunnels change?" Cera asks herself, scratching her head.
Valoran steps in.
"The cave itself has a soul trapped deep within this sealed by ancient magic…it seems that the soul trapped in this cave wants to ensure that no one leaves to share the punishment" He explains.
Everyone stares toward Valoran with clueless expressions.
"Are…Are you sure this is the case?" Cera questions with hesitation.
"I am. Although I have only heard about it from lore…it is the cause for all of these strange events." Valoran states with confidence.
Tiara's expression is anxious, fear and deep sadness all complied which puts an unbelievable mental strain on her mental health.
"H-H-How do we get out of this place?" She asks, breathing heavily and shaking in her voice.
Everyone stares at her.
"I want to go home already. Please let's go" Tiara expresses barely being able to hold back her tears.
Everyone feels sympathetic for her.
Aleister then takes the lead: "It will be alright. As long as we stay together everything will be fine"
Egor, who is usually quiet, speaks. "We will make it out of here. I believe in Valoran the way you act and defend the weak reminds me of someone who I also believed in"
Everyone including Valoran are stunned that Egor who had hated Valoran at first even going up against him would now change his mind so suddenly and believe in him.
"Who was this person I remind you of?" Valoran asks curiously.
Egor closes his eyes. "An old friend…A good friend…my best friend…A demi-human adventurer who's potential was low but his determination high…a person who shared your ideology to never look down upon anyone and to defend the weak with your strength. He died sadly to protect the ones who couldn't protect themselves." He says with a deeply saddened voice.
Valoran, hearing the description of Egor's old friend, immediately realises who he is talking about…
"You are talking about Reven don't you?" Valoran asks, knowing the answer already.
"I am. It seems I finally get to meet you…the pupil who was like a son to him" Egor replies opening his eyes.
"He told you about me?" Valoran asks, surprised slightly, since Reven never mentioned anything about Egor.
"He did. He mentioned that you were his Pupil and that you had the potential to become someone great…you meant the world to him…after his Wife and Daughter passed on, he was a wreck meeting you saved him '' Egor reveals sincerely.
"He saved me, and I couldn't save him" Valoran replies with regret.
"No…He never intended to put you in any danger. But I think we should continue this conversation after we get out of here" Egor suggests.
Valoran nods in agreement.
The others look confused at what Egor and Valoran just discussed but they decide to drop the topic and focus on getting out of here.
"What's our next course of action?" Sage asks calmly.
Valoran steps in: "We need to follow the magic trace of the ancient spell down to the source and dispel the ancient magic that binds the mysterious soul in here"
Alister scratches his chin and thinks about it…
"Alright. Let's try Valoran's plan, it's better than starving in here"
"How are we supposed to trace back this magic?" Alisia questions with doubt.
Valoran turns his head slightly to face her: "I already located the trace. Like a trail it will lead us straight to the source"
Aleister realises that Valoran should now take the lead if they want to make it out of the cave.
"Please lead the way" He speaks with a smile.
Valoran looks toward the others who all share Aleister's view that it should now be Valoran leading the group.
"Alright, the trail leads this way." Valoran declares.
They walk further into the cave Valoran following the magic trail with the others close behind him.
They are at a dead end.
"A dead end." Cera obviously declares.
"What are we to do now" Sage questions.
Valoran smirks a little: "What dead end?"
BOOOM!
The dead end which was a thick rock wall disappeared with a gaze of nirvana's eye, not even a subatomic particle remains that made up the rock wall.
Everyone is shocked to see what just happened.
"Incredible…Just incredible" A stunned Sage speaks.
"I…I know I blinked and…the wall…is gone" Egor states almost being speechless.
Valoran turns around with his eyes still emitting the same colours as nirvana facing the others.
"GET DOWN" Alesia instructs as she knows what his eyes are capable of and fears it will kill them at an instant.
Everyone immediately gets on the ground to avoid a direct gaze from Valoran's deadly eyes. 7
Valoran's eyes return to the normal crimson red colours.
"No need to fear. It's not you who I wish to annihilate, Nirvana's eye only works on things I want completely gone" Valoran ensures.
Everyone else gets back up on their feats.
"Wow, aren't you full of surprises." Egor says with a smirk.
"I have my moments." Valoran replies.
"Well…we should get going." Aleister declares.
Valoran and the others now stare directly straight ahead and see a long dark tunnel that was blocked by the dead end.
"The magic trail gets more potent from this tunnel" Valoran shares with everyone.
"Then let's go." Sage says.
Valoran and the others begin to walk the path down the dark tunnel.
Valoran, Aleister and Cera lead the way and the others follow behind.
It now has been hours since Valoran and the others have entered the cave, and Cera's staff, which has illuminated the way with a flame until now, begins to dim down and Cera herself begins to show fatigue.
Aleister realises the situation: "Stop everyone."
"Cera what's wrong?" Aleister asks with concern.
She falls into Aleister arms barely able to stand and keep her eyes open.
"What is it?" Alesia questions with worry.
Tiara also looks concerned for Cera's well being.
Everyone is confused as to what is going on as there was no battle so far.
Valoran moves closer to Aleister holding Cera in his arms.
"It's her fragment, her magic power is almost depleted by casting Izaru (flame magic) for continuous hours without rest, she has to strain herself harder and harder in order for the flame to not go extinct, the strain on her body casting magic without any magic power is comparable to climbing a mountain hundreds of times without rest" Valoran lectures.
"Why didn't you tell us anything about it?" Aleister asks in frustration.
"I-I wanted to prove my worth to you, and now I became a burden" Cera says with tears emitting from her eyes.
"The fact she uses a magic staff to help her to cast magic, proves that her magic power and potential is low, despite that she managed to get this far…she truly is a strong and valuable member of your party Aleister" Valoran compliments.
"She truly is." Aleister declares.
Valoran then reaches out his right hand and casts vita (healing magic).
At an instant Cera's full strength returns.
"What is this feeling?" Cera questions
"I replenished your magic, now let me take over by illuminating the cave, you have done enough" Valoran instructs.
With that Cera gets back on her feet and they continue to walk down the path with Valoran creating serversal magic flame spheres (1 in front of them, 2 at the sides and 1 behind the group)
They continue their path until they see a skeleton, with armour and equipment still on it.
Tiara looks away at the horrible sight.
"What happened to him?" Egor asks.
Valoran and Aleister move closer to the skeleton to inspect it for any clues to what happened.
Upon closer inspection: "This person didn't die of starvation, something killed him…claw marks can be seen on the skeleton" Aleister observes.
"Let's see if he can tell us what happened" Valoran says
Valoran casts alexium (resurrection magic).
"I have the ability to resurrect the dead, however only within a time frame less than a day. Given how long he is with the dead, bringing him back to the living will be agony for him, but it needs to be done" Valoran says without hesitation.
The skeleton begins to move his head.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
The skeleton screams in agony.
"Your torture will end soon enough if you tell us what happened" Valoran says to the skeleton.
"R-RUN GET OUT OF HERE THEY WILL KILL YOU ALL!!!!" The skeleton warns them all.
"What killed you?" Valoran calmly asks.
"Arachnators…"
With that Valoran then lifts the spell and the skeleton becomes still once again.
Everyone is now on edge from what they just saw and heard.
"Arachnators….? I never heard of such a beast before" Sage says.
"Let's continue" Aleister instructs.
They continue to walk and as they do they see more skeletons. More death.
They hear slight vibrations coming from within the cave wall itself.
Just ahead they see a little spider-like creature.
As soon as it makes eye contact with the group it speeds towards them.
Valoran casts a little izaru (fire magic) flame and kills it
At an instant the wall's vibration becomes louder.
"I can see they are inside the cave walls, millions of them…be prepared when they come." Valoran warns