Perspective : Conrad Garnier
[Present]
Elkdrack exclaimed,
"Dammit! I have got leeches on me feets".
I replied Sternly,
"Just run for now".
As we followed the trail of my small fireball, our group cautiously ran towards the next chamber, only to discover a disturbing sight. The entire area was too infested with swarms of leeches. They emerged relentlessly from the very ground beneath our feet, completely enveloping the floor.
However, the ceiling in that area had significantly lowered, giving the impression that it was being supported by an unseen force. It was then that I noticed a familiar trace of magic – ice. The ice seemed to be holding the ceiling fragments together.
And right before our eyes, a massive chasm stretched out, spanning the entirety of the floor.
That's when I heard a voice,
"Guys .... mind lending a hand here".
As, my gaze shifted in the direction of the voice, my eyes widened in surprise as I saw Yuna,
Floating in mid- air on her shimmering wand.
Her hands were out streched before her, palms emanating a constant steam of freezing energy, that collided with the crumbling ceiling, instantly transforming it into a frozen state.
The icy grip on the ceiling was temporary, lasting only a few seconds before the frozen layer began to melt and then freeze again, repeating the cycle in an unyielding rhythm.
Yuna was trapped, hovering tirelessly in the same spot, her focus was solely on casting the spell time and time again.
Yuna's voice, filled with urgency, rang out once again,
"Guys... help, please!".
I paused for a moment, trying to fathom the situation before responding,
"Wait, I am still processing all of this."
A mixture of odd admiration and confusion filled my voice as I asked,
"What in the actual hell happened here?".
Yuna swiftly responded, her tone laced with a hint of exasperation,
"As you can see, the ceiling fell."
My curiosity piqued, I pressed further,
"That much I can see, but... how? Why?"
Yuna, still floating on her wand, let out a sigh.
she said,
"Do you want me to provide an extensive analysis of the incident while tirelessly holding the ceiling at bay?"
she retorted, the urgency in her voice palpable. "Help me... I promise I'll explain everything later."
With that,
In a synchronized display of power, I unleashed a barrage of relentless fire bolts while Yuna cast her freezing spells repeatedly. The falling boulders were subjected to an intense cycle of heating and cooling, causing them to shatter into tiny fragments that scattered around us. As the debris fell away, Yuna was freed from her trap, able to descend safely to the ground. Relief washed over us as we caught our breath after casting our spells relentlessly .
Yuna's voice filled with delight as she exclaimed, "Shit ! my hands they hurt like hell .... Ohh, Conrad! It's nice to see you again."
She hurriedly approached, aiming to hug me. However, her cheerful expression quickly turned to surprise as she realized the absence of my left arm. Puzzled, she questioned,
"You didn't actually chop your left arm off just so I wouldn't cling to it, did you?"
I responded emphatically,
"Of course not... Are you crazy?"
Yuna's curiosity persisted as she inquired,
"Then what happened?"
With a sigh, I replied,
"It's a long story."
Acting quickly,
Regina firmly grasped Yuna's arm, pulling her back. Her voice filled with a sense of urgency, she declared,
"Give me a break. Now is not the time.".
Elkdrack exclaimed,
"What's happening? Those leeches are returning inside those holes."
Patrick, with a touch of exasperation, responded, "Good grief! I literally don't care. Just as long as they leave."
Afterward, Yuna proceeded to explain to us how they had been walking straight for nearly two days, eventually reaching a chamber with a vast chasm at its center. She vividly recounted the emergence of a gigantic Centipede from that very hole, taking us through the events leading up to the climax. The tale continued with the dramatic moment when the ceiling suddenly crumbled, and Yuna, showing immense strength and bravery, had been holding it up ever since.
She said that, bravery and immense strength, in her own words.
Narcissism, Yuna appeared to be a narcissist.
Kyle sought clarification from Yuna, his voice inquisitive as he asked,
"So, an earthquake caused all of this? And what happened to the others?"
Yuna's response was unsure as she replied,
"I suppose they fell into that chasm. But I can't say for certain."
Kyle sought to confirm the sequence of events, summarizing,
"So, let me make sure I understand this correctly. The centipede appeared, the earth shook, the ceiling collapsed, and everyone supposedly fell into that hole."
Yuna confirmed with a nonchalant tone,
"Sounds about right."
Curiosity still lingering, Kyle probed,
"And you're not bothered by any of this?"
Yuna's response was filled with indifference as she simply stated,
"I don't care."
Suddenly, and to everyone's surprise, the earth trembled once more. Yuna, observing the tumultuous scene, calmly remarked,
"This is exactly how it happened before."
With each successive jolt growing stronger and more powerful, the previously opened chasms began to close. The land underwent a gradual process of self-repair, leaving behind only a massive hole in the center of the room.
Soon the short tremor subsided, as an eerie silence of confusion and uncertainty washed upon everyone.
However,
In that moment, the tranquility of the surroundings was interrupted by the distinct sound of iron armor clanking against the walls of the deep hole. As the echoes reverberated, a hand emerged, determinedly pushing and pulling until an entire figure emerged. The first glimpse revealed a bald head and, with each upward movement, it became evident that it was Brandon who had successfully scaled the surface.
Without a single utterance, he gestured with urgency, bringing a finger to his lips, instructing us to remain quiet. We could feel a sense of anticipation in the air as he exclaimed,
"Shhh! ... be ready."
Although his message remained mysterious, it was evident that something ominous loomed nearby. The metallic clanking against the walls of the hole intensified, growing louder and louder, reverberating through the depths. The sound served as an unsettling reminder that an approaching presence, or perhaps multiple presences, drew nearer. The tension hung thick in the air, heightening our senses and leaving us on edge.
Anticipation tightened its grip on my heart, causing a mix of disbelief and a tinge of horror to spread across my widened eyes. From the depths below, human sized figures emerged, their bodies entangled with wriggling roots and covered with leeches that clung to their body. Frustration washed over me like a tidal wave, but not with surprise. After countless encounters with unspeakable monstrosities, nothing had the power to shock me anymore. This growing weariness within me had reached its peak, for I had grown fed up with these abominations that continued to appear before me.
Their hands, gnarled and twisted, gripped onto the rocky edges with an unsettling determination. With each pull, their bodies ascended, fueled by an otherworldly strength. The roots that encased them seemed to pulse and writhe, as if possessing a sinister life of their own.
As these nightmarish beings climbed closer to the surface, I couldn't help but feel a surge of weird determination coursing through my exhausted body. The weariness that had settled deep within me momentarily faded, replaced by a fierce determination to put an end to those eerie spectacle once and for all.
"Fuck!".
"Die! I don't care what you are ... just fucking die".
Gripping my sword tightly, I stepped forward, my weariness momentarily forgotten. With a resolute gaze and a will filled with resolve, I prepared to face these abominations head-on. In that moment, nothing mattered except bringing an end to those creeping horrors, as they continued to appear, no matter how many we had defeated.
It was frustrating, unnerving and down right absurd.
"It's one thing after another".
My patience had reached its limit, nothing could have stopped me.
Those abominations were slow and seemingly weak , it became apparent that they lacked any form of protective armor. A sense of opportunity lingered in the air, as if the odds were in my favor.
Positioning myself for the strike, my blade poised with precision, I prepared to deliver a decisive blow to the first figure's head, aiming to sever it completely. The weight of my weapon felt reassuring in my hand, a symbol of my un-resolute determination.
Just as I was about to unleash my blade upon that unsuspecting creature, Brandon's voice pierced the silence, halting my motion in an instant.
"Stop... that's Emilia,"
he urgently relayed, his words hanging in the air like a sudden jolt of electricity.
Time seemed to freeze as a rush of conflicting emotions coursed through me. The anticipation of victory transformed into a gripping suspense, as the revelation that one of the creatures was actually someone I knew sent shockwaves through my entire being.
My mind descended into a whirlwind of chaos upon hearing Brandon's words. Disbelief and confusion overwhelmed me, rendering my thoughts incoherent. I managed to stammer out, "What! ... Can you repeat that again?"
My voice betraying the shock I felt.
Once again, Brandon repeated in a grave tone, "It's Emilia, Thor Gild, and Sheela."
The names reverberated in my mind, but their connection to the approaching figures remained incomprehensible.
Frozen in place, my hands refused to respond to the commands of my racing thoughts. I watched in a state of disbelief as those creatures, who were supposedly our companions, drew closer with unhurried determination. The line between friend and fiend blurred, leaving me stranded in an unsettling limbo of uncertainty.