The Cave Mother squealed audibly, calling her children's into combat. Several Cave Gnomes came out of the darkness surrounding us and flew around their mother.
Then, with a shake of her head, the Cave Mother ordered her cubs to attack, and they did. With a series of high-pitched squeaks, the small winged creatures dove towards us.
"Don't let thossse thingsss bite you, they can caussse infeccction!" I shouted to my group.
The Girl and Moonless responded with a wave and a bark, respectively. With that out of the way, we focused on the approaching monsters.
"Iron Ssshakessspeare! Get rrrid of the sssmallerrr onesss! Girrrl! Ssstay ccclossse to me!" I ordered, forming a plan in my mind.
Without saying a single word, Iron Shakespeare charged toward the Cave Gnomes, swinging his flaming fists, burning and crushing some of the creatures.
The rest retreated with frightened squeals, and flew around the Iron Shakespeare like a cloud of bats.
Simultaneously, I put my plan into action. The Cave Mother flew above us; I just needed a way to bring her down.
Pointing Kitab at the great winged monster, I cast Glimpse of Truth. Kitab's pages flipped quickly, releasing green smoke that enveloped the cave mother's head.
The Cave Mother flailed frantically, screeching in panic. Her erratic flight caused her to crash into the cave walls, ceiling, and stone pillars with enough strength to leave yellow bloodstains on the rock.
With a final scream, the cave mother fell with an audible thud a few meters away from us.
"Moonlesss! Go get it, girrrl!" I shouted at the wolf while pointing at the injured monster on the ground.
"WOOF!"
With a bark, Moonless quickly advanced toward the injured and confused Cave Mother. The monster tried to use its wings to get up, but before it could do so, Moonless jumped up with its fangs bared and bit the Cave Mother's neck.
Blood gushed from the wound and flowed towards the ground, the Cave Mother screamed in agony as she thrashed, trying to throw Moonless away. This only happened because Moonless decided to release the Cave Mother.
Moonless landed safely on the ground a few meters away from the Cave Mother. The wolf growled defiantly at the monster in front of it.
Hm… We had a good start. Iron Shakespeare kept the Cave Gnomes busy, the creatures' teeth were unable to pierce the armor, and I doubt Iron Shakespeare would be infected since he is undead.
Shifting my attention to the Cave Mother, I saw the monster flapping its wings, trying to take off, but I didn't allow it. I cast Glimpse of Truth again, generating a similar reaction to the previous one.
"Moonlesss, attaccck the leffft wing!" I ordered again.
"WOOF!"
Moonless advanced again. Like a dark blur, the wolf closed the distance between the Cave Mother and itself, and with a powerful leap, bit the Cave Mother's left wing.
The Cave Mother screamed, but it did nothing to remove Moonless. Well... I think it's time to do my part.
"Ssstay here girrrl." I said to the Girl next to me.
With Shark Teeth in my hand, I rushed towards the Cave Mother and quickly slashed her right wing repeatedly. Shark Teeth slid through the flesh with ease, tearing the skin and shooting jets of blood away.
With an angry roar, the Cave Mother thrashed furiously, forcing Moonless to release her, and causing me to move away to avoid being hit.
Taking a few steps back, I noticed the Cave Mother's eyes focusing on me. I quickly jumped back, dodging the series of bites the monster sent my way.
Suddenly, the Cave Mother lunged toward me, but I was quick enough to move out of the way, narrowly avoiding the creature's mangled wing.
Taking advantage of this opening, I slashed the Cave Mother's back repeatedly, tearing skin and flesh and leaving behind a series of bloody wounds.
Without wasting time, I returned to the girl's side, keeping the Cave Mother in my field of vision.
I felt Kitab moving in my hand, I opened the book and read the contents of the pages.
"I'm surprised; you took the initiative and fought the monster!"
"Honessstlyyy, the morrre thingsss betwwweeennn me and the monsssterrrsss, the bettterrr, but I realizzzed sssomething durrring the fffight in the catacombsss."
"What?" Kitab asked.
"I cccan't depend on my magiccc, I don't want to have anotherrr moment of madnesss. To avoid thisss, I need to get bettterrr at fighting monsssterrrsss and leading our sssmall grrroup."
"Look at you! You are learning! I'm so proud of you!" Kitab exclaimed.
I didn't respond to the book, as the Cave Mother attacked the Girl and me violently. We quickly moved out of the way, causing the creature to head into the rock wall behind us.
I felt Kitab moving again, and for a moment I changed my focus to the book.
"Hey, the girl wants to help."
Looking at the Girl in question, I saw that she was holding her dagger in both hands as she stared at the Cave Mother nervously.
Hm… She wants to help in the fight, but she is still afraid of the monsters.
"Yyyou want to help, don't yyyou?" I asked the Girl.
She jumped in surprise upon heard my voice but nodded quickly to my question.
Focusing on the Cave Mother, I saw the creature remove its head from the wall, this gives us time.
"We'll do thisss togetherrr, I'll go ahead and yyyou'll come rrright behind me. An advice; aim forrr the legsss."
The girl nodded with a nervous smile, so we advanced toward the Cave Mother.
Come on! Just one more time! I cast Glimpse of Truth and what I expected happened.
With a determined face, the girl slashed at the Cave Mother's right leg, the cuts weren't deep, but the Girl's dagger was sharp, leaving a series of cuts behind.
The Cave Mother's legs shook. The monster had difficulty staying upright and fell on one knee. This allowed me to swing Shark Teeth towards the Cave Mother's neck.
The monster let out a choked scream as blood gushed from its throat. Wasting no time, I applied more strength behind my strike, ripping out the Cave Mother's throat.
The monster staggered, trying to stay upright, leaving bloody trails wherever it went, but it was too late. A few seconds later, the Cave Mother fell to the ground, creating a pool of blood.
I let out a relieved sigh but jumped slightly when I felt someone tugging at the tail of my shirt, looking down I saw the girl smiling at me as she jumped slightly.
It would be a lovely sight if she wasn't covered in yellow blood, come to think of it, I can't judge, after all, I am too.
"Yyyou did a good jjjob!" I said, stroking the Girl's head.
She smiled upon receiving the compliment.
"WOOF!" Moonless barked; approaching us.
The wolf sat in front of us, waving its tail.
"Yyyou did a good jjjob too, Moonlesss!" I said, stroking the wolf's head.
"WOOF!"
Looking to the side, I saw the girl crossing her arms, looking away.
"Oh! Arrre yyyou jealousss? Don't think I forrrgot about yyyou!" I said, petting the girl again.
So I alternated between Moonless and her.
I stopped as I heard heavy metallic footsteps approaching. It was Iron Shakespeare, his armor covered in scratches but intact.
"Yyyou don't wannnt a head pat tooo, doo yyyou?" I asked the knight, but there was no answer.
Laughing at my question, I took the soul stone out of my pocket and pointed it at the Cave Mother; a small light came out of the monster's body and entered the stone, causing it to glow.
Cave Mother's soul increases attack. But what should I do with it? Give it to the Girl? No, I don't want her to fight every monster she sees and the Girl isn't very strong, I doubt the increase will be significant. Moonless? No, I don't have anything to attach the stone to her body.
Maybe I can use it on myself? Nothing is saying I can't use the power of two souls. Or maybe… I looked at Iron Shakespeare.
Approaching the Undead knight, I stood on tiptoe and opened the front of his helmet, I flinched when I saw the empty eyes staring at me, but ignoring that, I placed the soul stone on Iron Shakespeare's helmet and quickly closed it.
Taking a few steps back, a flash of blue light surrounded Iron Shakespeare's body before quickly disappearing.
I think the soul stone took effect. If I'm going to give a soul stone to the girl, I think the best ones would be from the Black Witch, White Angel, or Salmonsnake.
With that solved, we returned the way we came, but I couldn't help but ask Kitab a question.
"Heyyy, Kitab, whyyy haven't I gottten anyyy new ssspellsss? The cccave motherrr wasss a bosss."
"Yes, but the fight was too easy, the Old Ones determined it wasn't impressive enough to merit a reward."
"Damn it!"
"I share your frustration; I would love to acquire new knowledge for my pages."
Unfortunately, our little conversation was interrupted by the appearance of a man wearing a cat mask on our path.
"Hello! A great show you did back there! I felt my whiskers standing up with excitement! A round of applause for you!" Pocketcat spoke excitedly, clapping his hands.
I frowned at that statement, so he was watching us. Damn it! One of the people I didn't want to meet.
"Let'sss go!" I said to my group, ignoring Pocketcat's words.
But before we could turn the corner toward the mines' entrance, Pocketcat took a long step to the side, placing himself in front of me.
At that moment I realized how tall he was, according to the fairy tale books, Pocketcat was extremely tall, I just didn't expect it to be that much, since as soon as he stopped in front of me, I found myself staring at his chest.
"Now, that was rude. I don't remember doing anything to offend you." Pocketcat said with mock sadness, tilting his head to the side and looking down at me with his bright yellow eyes.
I slowly looked up, looking Pocketcat in the eyes. Hm… He must have been almost three meters tall.
"I would like to apologizzze, it wasss not my intention, now if yyyou will exxxcussse usss…" I said, trying to get past Pocketcat, but he leaned against the cave wall, getting in my way again.
"Hm… Are you leaving so soon? A shame... I has been some time since a saw new faces here, I'd love to chat a little." Pocketcat spoke, scanning us one by one.
"Unforrrtunatelyyy we can't do that, we'rrre in a hurrryyy yyyou know." I shrugged.
Pocketcat gave me a dubious look before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gold watch, he looked at the time for a few seconds before putting the watch away.
"I believe we have time to talk a little." Pocketcat said amusedly.
"About what exxxactlyyy?" I asked, taking a step back and placing myself in front of the girl, I felt her holding me tightly.
"I don't know. We could talk about how wonderful today is, or about life's challenges. Tell me, are you depressed? Do you want to die?" Pocketcat asked, cleaning his nails on his shirt.
"Honestlyyy, it'sss difficult to tell dayyy frrrom night down herrre, ssso I can't anssswerrr that quessstion. Life hasss been ssshit asss usssual, but it'sss gotten worrrssse sssinccce I enterrred the dungeon. I'm not deprrresssed, afterrr all, I have people to keep me company, about wanting to die... Well... I prrreferrr to ssstay alive, thank you, but I believe I ssshould asssk you that lassst quessstion."
"Oh! What do you mean by that? Come on, tell me! I'm curious!" Pocketcat asked with barely concealed aggression as he took a step forward.
"GGGRRR!" Moonless growled, baring his fangs at Pocketcat.
Pocketcat stopped his advance and looked around. Iron Shakespeare raised his fists defiantly and I raised Shark Teeth, in the meantime; I felt the girl sobbing behind me.
"I am sorry! I don't tell you what went through my head!" Pocketcat said, bowing politely.
"No prrroblem. Now would you be ssso kind asss to ssstep out of the way?" I asked irritated.
"Of course! Of course! I believe I took enough of your time, but could you answer one last question?" Pocketcat asked, raising a finger in front of my face.
"Asssk." I sighed audibly.
"Are you a child of light or darkness?"
"I am a ccchild of the void."
Pocketcat tilted his head in confusion, before pulling away and tapping his index finger against his chin as he looked up.
"This answer is new, and unfortunately, I don't have an answer for it. It's the first time I've heard something so peculiar." Pocketcat shrugged.
"What can I sssay? Life isss peccculiarrr when you are peccculiarrr." I smiled.
Pocketcat and I stared at each other in silence for a few tense seconds before we laughed audibly.
"HAHAHA! I like you, I can feel a connection forming!" Pocketcat spoke, holding out his hand.
"HAHAHA! That'sss good, I love making new frrriendsss!" I responded, accepting the handshake.
Pocketcat and I faced each other, shaking our hands slowly, I tried to use my increased strength to crush Pocketcat's hand, but he showed no reaction.
I held back a scream of pain when Pocketcat returned the gesture with more strength, almost breaking my bones.
"Wow! What a strong grip you have!" Pocketcat said in false surprise, rubbing his wrist.
"I can sssay the sssame!" I replied, shaking my sore hand.
"Well, I believe it's time for us to say goodbye, it was a pleasure meeting you, my friend." Pocketcat spoke, bowing exaggeratedly and stepping to the side, clearing the way.
I kept the girl close to me, putting myself between Pocketcat and her, but as we walked, I noticed Pocketcat's eyes focused on her, making the girl flinch.
"Tell me. Why don't you give me the girl? I have deep pockets, you know. Maybe you'll find something that interests you?" Pocketcat asked.
Once we all passed Pocketcat, I turned and answered his question.
"Tell Rrrherrr if he wantsss the girrrl, he'll have to come in perssson." I responded seriously.
For the first time in our conversation, I saw Pocketcat lose his mocking stance and stand still like a statue. For a moment I saw his eyes widen behind the mask before returning to normal.
"Who are you?!? Who the hell are you?!?" Pocketcat demanded, approaching with hurried, heavy steps, his arms and legs stretching and claws tearing his gloves and boots.
We all prepared to fight, but as soon as Pocketcat raised one of his claws, he stopped mid-strike and turned back, looking at the cave ceiling.
Quickly Pocketcat returned to normal, letting out a heavy sigh, Pocketcat dusted off his clothes and adjusted his shirt.
"Look at me. Losing control over a little nonsense like that. Where are my manners? I would like to apologize again, my friend."
"Of courrrssse…" I replied hesitantly.
"Oh! I almost forgot I believe that despite our little conversation, we never introduced ourselves properly. My name is Pocketcat, a humble traveling merchant."
"And my name isss…"
I stopped for a moment to think. Despite the time I spent in the dungeon, I never told anyone my name, and I want it to stay that way, I prefer not to give out my personal information in a place like this.
However, what name should I give? A smile formed on my face as I remembered a certain crazy scholar.
"You can call me Micccolasssh."
"Hm… A peculiar name for a peculiar person; I hope to meet you again, Mr. Micolash."
"Likewissse, Mr. Pocccketcccat." I replied politely.
With our conversation over, we walked away from Pocketcat.
"One more thing before I forget." Pocketcat spoke.
"What?" I asked, holding back an angry scream.
I turned around in time to catch something that Pocketcat threw towards me, opening my hand, I saw it was something wrapped in a candy wrapper, catnip.
"A gift from your new friend. And if I may say so, you have a peculiar accent." Pocketcat spoke, winking one eye.
I nodded, putting the catnip in my pocket and finally entering the mines.
As soon as we took a few steps into the tunnel, I let out a cry of frustration as I punched the wall.
"Holy crrrap! I thought I wasss going to die! Talking to that guy wasss unnerrrving!" I screamed, punching the wall repeatedly, surprisingly, I didn't hurt my hands that much.
"GGGRRR!" Moonless growled towards the tunnel entrance.
I had to resist the urge to tell it tear Pocketcat apart.
Iron Shakespeare remained silent.
But what worried me most was the girl, I looked at the child who remained next to me, staring at the ground in silence.
"Arrre you ok?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The girl jumped scared as soon as I touched her, but after seeing it was me, the girl started crying.
I quickly hugged the girl, trying to calm her down, so we spent a few minutes like that, the only noises in the mines being the girl crying.
In the end, I don't know how much time passed, but finally, the girl calmed down.
"Lisssten, I underrrssstand why you're ssscarrred. I wasss too. That guy wasss a weirrrdo, and dangerrrousss too, we need to be carrreful with him, but don't worrry, I won't let him get ccclossse to you."
The girl stared at me with red eyes as she sniffed her nose and nodded slowly.
"You arrre a brrrave girrrl, I am happy to have sssomeone like you by my ssside." I said, stroking the girl's head.
The girl closed her eyes and held my hand on her head with both hands.
Before I could say anything else, we were surprised by an earthquake.
The entire mine shook as rocks fell from the ceiling and walls, looking back, I saw a stone wall rising at the entrance to the mines, preventing us from returning.
And then the earthquake got worse, the entire tunnel shook, I quickly hugged the girl, keeping her close to me as she tried to stand up, but suddenly, the earthquake stopped.
We remained still for a few seconds, waiting for another surprise, but nothing happened, with the girl in my arms, we advanced deeper into the mines.
And what we saw left me frustrated.
The mine was no longer a relatively linear path, what I saw were tunnels stretching in all directions. There were three tunnels to my right, five to my left, and seven in front of me.
Peeking into a tunnel, I saw a fork inside them.
Perfect! This place became a maze!
END OF CHAPTER