After the squabble that was the tavern, the Duo kept going, making themselves a list of missions to accomplish. Said list was written down on a napkin, carefully designed and protected in a box, the first being to take out whatever remained in the dragon's lair. High upon the now near-melted mountains, Harvard would be seen scaling it, not trying to use his cards to assist him, while Zazel would be seen lifting himself with one of his sigils, looking onwards at the child. "You know, I COULD help you get up there faster. You don't have to get yourself hurt like this." Zazel was beginning to warm up towards the new stranger, a possible friend even. Would be worrisome if that friend somehow died in a tragic manner after simply meeting them.
"Nuh-uh! This is what all hero's strive for..." He'd began, struggling with his words as much as his foothold on the side of the mountain. "...You....Have to EARN the right of being a Hero..." He'd continue, grunting and reaching towards a higher peak "...By doing things that you may not be prepared yet! If not..." He'd gasp out as he would finally reach a bottleneck, sticking his hand in it and holding on tight. "...Then what kind of hero are yah if you ca-AAAAAAAAAAH" Such a scream was heard when his grasp slipped, causing the child to fall from that side of the mountain. Harvard scrambled to grab himself a spell, seeing which ones can save him, before his fall stopped suddenly. It was a seal. A sigil even. Zazel lifted the sigil as if it was a platform to hoist up the Card Magician.
"Told yah you needed my help" The Demon had a smug expression when saying this.
"Oh Shaddup." Harvard pouted as the demonic child snickered to himself, lifting both of them upwards towards the mouth of the mountain's cave.
The cave itself was wide. It was vast. It almost felt like there was no end, witnessing the darkness inside it. Lots of bones and scratches on the walls, as well as audible flies hovering over what can only be described as the meat of those who dared approach the Silver Dragon's home. It was almost like a graveyard, nay, a tomb for the foolish who dared to face a dragon. The two children entered inside, gazing at the stone being scratched and scribed, showcasing what one may assume to be chicken-scratch, can be assumed as a separate language. A manner of communication for itself, showcasing its isolation away from prying eyes.
Admittedly, the boys were a bit afraid of the cave, as well as the supposed "dragon" that once inhabited it. Keyword however being "Once", as luck would have it for them, that dragon is now long dead.
Harvard and Zazel ventured onwards, being told by the paper that there was, at least accordingly, a bounty. A Treasure which was once held by the Oaking's strongest knight. An Artifact. An item that bypasses the laws of energy when it comes to casting magic, using that item like a substitute for proper magic, arguably one of the few exceptions when it came to proper spellcasting. Not much information was given of this artifact in specific, only detailing that it was a magic blade coated in a shiny material. With Harvard casting a Light spell as a means to view the darkened parts, the very same spell he used on the mob, the two were able to make good progress, though arguably wished they didn't. The deeper they went in such a vast cave, the more it felt as if it was being more dead than alive. Skeletons piled on one another, and there seemed to be no end to it all.
"Asmodeus" Zazel would state, spawning a sigil which hosted the demon's insignia, casting a strong fire at the ready. He uses this spell as extra light, letting it glow hot red, as the cave only got darker the more they keep walking in it. "So...What exactly do you think these people got in here for?"
Harvard shrugged to that answer. "Beats me. For all I know, these guys must've thought there was gold or somethin'. Its what happens in most stories anyway."
"Most Stories?"
"Yeah! Most stories! Papa used to read them to me whenever I go to sleep. I like to think of them as a means to teach me how to be just like them. I can show you some if I ever get my hands on them again!"
Zazel smirked a bit in this offer. The main motivation for a child's mind in venturing towards uncharted territory, the main reason as to why he chose such a dangerous path, is because his hero's in books said so. What a crazy world his mind is running on. "Alright. I'll take your word for it. Though so far, nothing seems to be happening ye-" His voice got cut off when hearing a sound. A growl. The two children instinctively aimed at the source of it all, amazed and somewhat shocked at what they're seeing.
Zombies. More specifically, Zombified Masses. The chomped pieces of bones, mauled muscles and charred sinew of certain individuals begin to act by themselves. Figures that once looked human, now nothing more than mindless beasts, all crawling across the very stone of the caverns where they died. Their bodies restless, their flesh-like tendons trekking across the crypt they now call home to. Incoherent, throaty sounds bellow out of their bodies, as if trying to re-learn speech. They are monsters, yet they're human. They wish to be human. They wish to rest, saving the sliver of humanity they once lost. The duo were shocked at such a sight, unaware of what to do next.
Zazel's first instinct was to try and find a passage where they will not interrupt them, while Harvard's idea is to go in through the crowd, acting as the shambling mounds so as to not be spotted. Both have their benefits, but both have weaknesses to that plan. Flaws which become apparent when they notice one of the creatures behavior, being reckless and scrawling across the cave, ramming itself upon the walls. It caused the two to rethink on what needed to be done..
An idea, however, struck the child's mind. He'd get a card out of his pocket, aiming it towards a wall opposite to his direction, gesturing Zazel to move out of the way. Silently, he followed Harvard's idea, allowing the boy to spawn what seemed to be coins, aimed towards the wall. It would make a sound, audible enough to capture the mounds attention, letting the ringing of that sound become an instigator to move, quickly. They'd silently get through the path in the deep, dark cave, letting the zombified masses be distracted with the coin. Whatever is down here is more than likely able to recognize and try to attack first. Its their job to stay safe from whatever that threat may be.
Wherever it is.