Perspective : Brandon Vlodsky
I carefully released the buckle of my belt, separating it from my trousers, and gently encircled it around my fractured right foot.
"It hurts".
That's when Robin asked me,
"How are you holding up ?"
Noticing the severity of my injury, Robin added, "Your foot seems to be quite swollen."
In response, I brushed off his concern, stating,
"It's none of your business. I've dealt with worse."
Robin quickly apologized, acknowledging his overstep, saying,
"I'm sorry, I crossed a line."
I replied calmly,
"Just remember to be more mindful in the future."
(Who does he think he is?)
(I don't need is pity)
(I don't need anyone's pity)
With my fumbling legs, using my great sword as a makeshift cane, I stood up.
Thanks to luck, I hadn't suffered much of an injury except for my leg. Because When we fell, the squishy floor beneath my feet absorbed all the impact.
And if not for that Idiot Robin who fell right over me , I would be walking just fine.
As I raised my gaze, a vast opening loomed above me, seemingly the gaping mouth of the chasm through which we had fallen.
Robin asked,
"Something the matter sir".
I replied, promptly,
"Nothing".
It was a nuisance but before we could do anything to escape our predicament, we had to find Marcus.
I knew that Robin wouldn't leave without him.
There was no arguing it.
And what kind of a mentor will I be if I had left one of my pupils behind. It was a responsibility that I had to fullfill.
Some kind of strange roots were sprouting all across the walls, I surmised that if we could use them as grips, we would probably be able to climb our way out of that hell hole. Even if it meant leaving everyone behind.
"Only if marcus was here".
But first we had to locate Marcus.
While I contemplated why Robin hadn't mentioned him, he voiced his worry, saying,
"I hope Marcus hasn't suffered any injuries either".
"I am worried about him".
I reassured him, saying
"Well don't ... focus on surviving yourself".
He replied,
"Right".
After resting and contemplating our escape for a while, we embarked on a search for Marcus.
Given the circumstances, the floor being this squishy meant that not only us but others too had to have survived, so the best course of action was to regroup with everyone else and find a way out.
However,
" stepping on the darkness where who knows what awaited us, without any preparation on my part, and considering my battered condition at that, would be quite foolish of me."
So, I asked Robin to cast "Lurk".
As Robin chanted the spell, he snapped his fingers six times. In response, tiny flickers of glitter began to sparkle around us, and slowly our bodies became see through, allowing light to permeate through us and rendering us invisible.
This spell was always handy, on multiple occasions it allowed us to slip pass enemies avoiding confrontation.
Because,
"Why risk your life fighting unnecessarily?".
Slowly but surely we searched for Marcus, as far as we could, we went in all directions, but didn't locate a single soul.
It had become apparent to me that there was a distinct possibility of we being the only survivors.
With every passing moment, Robin grew unstable,
It made sense, Robin and Marcus were inseparable,
With desperation in his voice, Robin shouted, "MARCUS! MARCUS! ... It's me, Robin. If you are there, please say something. MARCUS! MARCUS! ... MARCUS!"
His calls echoed throughout the entire chasm, but nothing returned except the empty void that reverberated through the echoes.
As I was their mentor, I had to tell him, break the news to him, and do the right thing.
There was still a chance for us, as I might not like it, but they were our only choice.
That guy (Conrad) , that bitch (Regina), that bastard (Kyle). They were our only choice left.
We would have regrouped with them. If only that thing hadn't showed its face again.
The entire idea of coming here was stupid, risking my neck for gold, that allure of gold was irresistible.
"Marcus! all this is my fault".
"My greed got the better of me".
"Why didn't I notice it before? It was so glaringly obvious. 900 gold for each adventurer, just for participating in this expedition?" "No way. It sounds too good to be true." "That old geezer played his cards well." "Of course, he never expected all of us to return." "And to make matters worse, that treacherous sniveling snake Kyle was in on it." "He never intended to pay any of us, did he?"
I pondered while,
That giant centipede, the reason we fell inside that hole, was staring right at us.
However, that oversized vermin didn't knew we were there.
I quietly whispered into Robin's ears,
"Stay still ... don't make any noise".
"He can't see us".
"Let's wait for him to pass".
As it poked its head from a hole, he scanned the area. Presumably searching for food, which meant us.
We had one thing to do, squat there quietly until it goes away. Or so we anticipated.
However, that cursed thing, discovered us. An eerie silence enveloped the air, a chilling presence, the cunning thing lowered it's head towards my face, staring a hole into my conscience, making us know that it had discovered us.
Its head, a haunting sight, a huge skull, covered in a thin layer of skin, adorned with two menacing horns.
The centipede further lowered its head, bringing it closer to me. I could feel the weight of its presence, its every movement filled with a sinister grace. Its body undulated with a hypnotic rhythm, its countless golden legs skittering across the ground, producing a haunting hiss as they moved. The pale glow of dim light filtering through the chasm's cracks cast eerie shadows on its form, accentuating its grotesque features.
"It's all over now".
I fell on my knees, there wasn't a single thing that could I have done to escape now, nothing.
Nothing was coming in my mind.
My mind was blank, slowly filling with dread and horror.
My eyes un blinking, won't shift away from that thing's head. Those empty eye sockets seemed to bore away at my very soul, sending an unsettling shudder throughout my entire body.
Every moment felt excruciatingly slower, death was at my door, and fear was my bride.
The hopelessness I felt was suffocating, as if I stood before an force beyond my comprehension.
As if I was born only so this thing can eat me.
the quietness itself was painful, because I could hear my heart pounding, ever so clearly.
I had all but surrendered to my fate.
As voices consumed me,
[Father!]
[Father!]
"Now, I can reunite with my daughter".
[Coward! You just accept, never fight back ]
[Are you even a man!]
"No Josephine, I tried".
[Tried, our daughter is dead ... your Kana, she is gone].
[You say you tried]
"Those guys have more influence... they have the whole system in their pockets".
"We are nothing compared to them".
"They can stomp us out with little effort".
"Can't you see they are leagues above us".
"There is nothing we can do".
"Let's just move on".
[Coward! why did I marry such a spineless man.]
"Don't say that".
[We are done!]
Their voices enveloped me, as I would want nothing else then to hear my family's voice before dying.
I wanted to bicker with them, until forever.
"Sir ... don't worry".
"Away with you foul thing".
As I was about to re unite with my family, Robin released a blazing arrow that pierced through the air, aiming straight for the creature's menacing eyes. As the arrow found its mark, the creature's pitch-black eyes erupted, sending forth a torrent of inky black liquid, painting the air with a grim spectacle. Writhing in agony, the centipede retaliated by lashing out its undulating tail, striking Marcus with a force that caused a crimson ring of blood to spray into the air. Helplessly, Marcus was sent hurtling through the air, his body colliding heavily against the gnarled roots protruding from the walls.
As he collided with the wall, I heard loud cracking noises reverberating through the chasm, fearing the worst, I rushed to his sight.
Blood trickled from a gash on his brow, mingling with the dirt and sweat on his face.
The strain of the collision took its toll, as his breathing became labored and shallow.
Every movement he tried to make, seemed to sent waves of agony rippling through his body, as he cried out of pain.
He was bleeding profusely, a result of the centipede's retaliatory strike. Ripped armour and clothing revealed a deep wound, bleeding profusely, staining his armour with his blood.
"