Viviana stared at Theodore, her eyes wide with disbelief. The venom in his words hung heavy in the air between them.
"So," she said slowly, pushing herself to her feet. "This is how you really feel about everyone? About the townspeople, about our fellow Chosens?"
Theodore swallowed hard, his face still ashen. "Viviana, I… I didn't mean for you to hear that. I was just frustrated and-"
"Save it," she cut him off sharply. "I always had a feeling there was more to you than met the eye. Guess I was right not to trust you."
He took a step towards her, his expression pleading. "Please, let me explain. It's not what you think."
But Viviana backed away, her gaze hard. "I think I've heard enough. We need to focus on finding a way out of here and reuniting with the others."
Theodore reached his hand, but before he could respond, a faint noise made them both freeze. A low groan reverberated through the darkness, along with the shuffling crunch of footsteps over debris. Viviana's heart hammered as she exchanged an anxious glance with Theodore.
Acting on instinct, Viviana grabbed Theodore's arm and dragged him behind a large boulder, pressing them both against the stone. They held their breath, pulses racing, as the shuffling footsteps drew steadily nearer accompanied by pained moans. Theodore's muscles were tense.
But the noise soon began to fade, the agonized groans growing fainter until only silence remained. Still, Viviana and Theodore remained hidden behind the rock, neither daring to move as they listened intently. The silence stretched on interminably. Finally convinced the threat had passed, they cautiously emerged from their hiding spot.
Theodore stumbled back, his eyes wide, "What the heck was that?!" he exclaimed, voice rising by each word. "Some kind of monster? You heard those groans - it didn't sound human!"
He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "That miner swore there was no danger down here! So why are there creatures roaming around? This is insane!"
Viviana grabbed his arm, her grip firm. "Theodore, stop spiraling," she said sharply. "She's a Runescriber, remember? She only guaranteed safety if we stuck to the path she led. But we didn't listen."
Theodore scoffed bitterly. "Yeah, because of those two idiots, Colin and Katheryn! And the rest just went along with it. Damn it, I knew this was a bad idea!"
Viviana's eyes narrowed. "Hey, back off. You didn't exactly stop them either."
"It all happened so fast!" Theodore argued.
"Shhh!" Viviana hushed him. "Keep your voice down, you idiot! I'm pretty sure whatever that thing was, it's gone now." She glanced around warily. "At least, I hope so."
"Pretty sure? What if there are more prowling around? If I'd known there would be actual monsters, I would've grabbed a greatsword or something." He looked around frantically. "And where are we even going now?"
Viviana rolled her eyes, "To find the others, dummy. They can't be far from here."
As they cautiously moved through the rubble, avoiding the larger pieces of debris scattered like the remnants of a forgotten war. The dim, blue light barely illuminated their path, casting long, ominous shadows that danced mockingly around them. Viviana broke the silence,
"Why did you even come down here if you clearly didn't want to?" she asked bluntly. "You've done nothing but complain since we arrived."
Theodore faltered, after a long pause he mumbled, "I just…I don't know,"
Viviana raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You don't know? That's your excuse?"
Theodore scoffed. "Oh, so I'm the only one who needs an excuse?" He crossed his arms. "What about you? All you've done is push us away all day. Why would you agree to spend more time with people you clearly don't even like?"
"I didn't agree for the company, that's for sure," she said derisively. "I only said yes because I wanted to ask that Runescriber some questions about her craft."
"Oh, is that right?" Theodore scoffed, "Getting more and more connections, I guess we aren't so different after all."
"No," Viviana said exasperatedly as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "What's with you and 'connections'? I'm not interested in currying favor."
"Connections are everything if you want to get somewhere in life," Theodore stated as if it were facts, "They're as useful as a knife in battle."
Viviana merely huffed, "Seems rather phony to me."
"Phony?" Theodore bristled. "Do you honestly think anyone would lift a finger to help if you keep them all at arm's length? No one's going to do you any favors if you don't help them in return. That's just common sense, Viviana."
"Well unlike you, I don't help people just so they'll be indebted to me," she shot back.
"As if you've tried to help anyone!" Theodore exclaimed. "You won't even give them a chance!"
Viviana's eyes flashed dangerously. "You don't know a damn thing about me."
"And you clearly don't know anything about me either," Theodore snapped, "so get off your high horse Viviana."
Viviana let out a derisive laugh. "You are just…unbelievable! Let's just get this over with. I don't want to spend another minute with you."
"Believe me, the feeling's mutual," Theodore spat.
The two carried on without a word as the dampness of the walls surrounding them in the initial cavern—a dark, foreboding place that seemed to echo with their every step. Theodore and Viviana navigated the uneven ground with caution, then the oppressive atmosphere of the initial cavern began to subtly shift. The damp and darkness gradually gave way to a slight, inexplicable warmth. The air, previously heavy with the scent of moss and stagnant water, started to clear, becoming fresher, almost charged with an unseen energy.
Viviana's steps slowed, her simmering anger momentarily forgotten as she noticed the walls of the cave beginning to change. The rough, moisture-slicked stone transformed, becoming smoother, and started to emit a faint glow.
"What's happening to the walls?" she murmured as she studied it, then symbols started to appear, she recognized them, healing, hardness, calcite, these walls are made out of crystal, at least the properties of it.
Theodore, who had been moving ahead, stopped and turned back to her. His previous irritation seemed to falter as he took in the changing scenery. "Vivian," he said, his voice losing some of its earlier hardness.
Viviana looked up ahead and her mouth opened slightly. Before them lay the crystal cave, a breathtaking sight. The walls, ceiling, and floor sparkled with countless crystals and gemstones, bathing the cavern in a soft, mesmerizing light that danced in myriad colors.
Gone were the narrow, claustrophobic passageways of the earlier cave; in their place was an open, airy chamber. Tall spires of amethyst, clusters of emerald green, and sapphire blue crystals jutted from the ground and adorned the walls, reflecting and refracting the light from their gleamglobe into a dazzling display.
"Beautiful," Viviana whispered.
Theodore and Viviana moved through the crystal cavern, each step echoing in the vast, silent expanse. Their journey was halted when Theodore stopped dead in his tracks, transfixed by a large, mirror-like crystal. Viviana watched as he stared at his reflection, seemingly caught in a trance. With a roll of her eyes, she tugged his arm, "Come on Narcissus, no time for that." She then pulled him away from the crystal.
He blinked, "Huh? Oh—right," He stammered, "I thought.." He shook his head, "Never mind." "Well alright then." She muttered as they continued. Behind them, the reflections lay undisturbed, capturing a moment long passed.
As they walked, Viviana's mind wandered, how long had they been here already and what were the others doing? Were they alright? What of Lilith and Camille?
Viviana shook her head, why is she even thinking about that right now? Right now she should just focus on getting out of this chilling cave. She shivered, this cave really is cold, like a frost on winter branches. But that's too expected, right? They are in a cave after all.
She turned to Theodore who seemed unfazed by the sudden coldness, not a shiver, or anything. She almost asked him if he was feeling it too but kept her mouth shut instead she hastened her steps, trying to outrun the chill, but the sensation began to morph. The cold receded, replaced by a nascent warmth that started as a mere flicker within her. She stumbled forward, her hand instinctively reaching out to steady herself against a nearby crystal.
What the heck is this?
She gasped as the sensation got worse like a fiery pit burning beneath her skin. In the corner of her eyes, she saw the symbols hovering, mocking her, that's when she saw the fiery symbol just inches away from the crystal. The crystal she has been touching, she recoiled, snapping her body away from the crystal
"..iana..Viviana," She barely heard Theodore, but then his hand reached out to her. She waved it away dismissively, trying to steady her breathing.
"I'm fine," she muttered, though her voice trembled slightly.
That's when they heard it: the skittering of countless tiny feet, the chittering of an unseen swarm. Then, from the shadows cast by the luminous crystals, emerged creatures of an indistinct form, their bodies shimmering with the same iridescent glow that bathed the cavern walls.
These beings, small in stature but overwhelming in number, moved with a synchronized fluidity, their sleek forms catching the light in ways that fragmented their silhouettes, rendering them nearly invisible one moment and glaringly present the next. They advanced, and the light fractured off their crystalline skins in a dizzying array of colors, making it difficult for Viviana and Theodore to gauge the true size of the swarm.
They sprinted, the sound of their footsteps a frantic rhythm against the cavern's floor. But the skulkers, relentless and swift, mirrored their pace, a tide of shimmering menace close on their heels.
"Watch out!" Viviana shouted, just in time for Theodore to dodge a particularly bold creature. In one fluid motion, she swung her shield in front of them, the skulkers colliding with the solid barrier with a series of sharp, crystalline clinks. The impact jolted her, nearly sending her stumbling backward, but she planted her feet firmly,
But then it hit her again — that deep, bone-chilling cold, stronger now, crawling through her veins like ice water. Her strength waned as the sensation clawed at her insides, turning her bones to ice. Her knees buckled under the invisible weight, and she felt herself starting to fall.
Theodore reacted instantly, his arms wrapping around her to prevent her from hitting the cold, hard floor of the cavern. Surrounded, his gaze flickered desperately for an escape, and caught sight of a tall crystal nearby. His own reflection stared back at him, a silent, mocking twin. He cursed under his breath.
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Viviana's eyes fluttered open to a less vibrant, more subdued part of the cavern. The oppressive energy that dominated the previous chamber was absent here, the air lighter, easier to breathe. She watched, dazed and disoriented, as Theodore still fighting off the swam. But as she watched, the figure was overwhelmed, the skulkers enveloping him until he collapsed under their weight. Viviana lunged forward, a desperate "No!" escaping her lips.
"Theodore!" she reached out, only for another Theodore to grasp her arm, halting her.
"That's not me, Viviana," he said urgently. "Look at me. I'm here."
"Huh? What?" She glanced back to where the skulkers had scattered, expecting to see Theodore's fallen form. But there was nothing; no body, no sign of the struggle that had just played out before her eyes, "How do I know it's really you?" she demanded.
Theodore pinched her cheek, hard. "Because that hurt, right?"
"Ow! Yes!" Viviana rubbed her cheek as she glared at him, "Yeah, that's you alright."
They retreated to a quieter area of the cavern, where the overwhelming presence of the crystals dimmed to a mere whisper. An awkward silence enveloped them, thick and palpable, until Viviana couldn't stand it any longer.
"What the heck was that, Theodore? Who… who even was that?"
Theodore ran his hands through his hair, "I think that was me, but also not," "That's a crappy way of explaining it." She shot back.
"Okay, fine," he conceded, "I think it's my 'gift.' I can duplicate myself, and I used the fake to distract those creatures while I got you to safety." His eyes met hers as Viviana nodded slowly, processing his words.
"Also, what the heck was that?" he asked, "Blacking out in the middle of a fight? Did you decide to take a nap?"
"No," she grumbled, "I… I don't know, I think it was the environment. The crystals, they were probably affecting me."
"But I felt nothing," he countered, brows knitted in confusion.
"That's because…" She sighed heavily, "My gift is to see the properties of objects. And I guess now I can sense them too."
"You what? You discovered your gift? Since when? Why'd you never say anything?"
"Because I didn't think it mattered Theodore." She said through gritted teeth, "I don't see why I have to share every moment of my life."
Theodore threw his hands up in exasperation. "Oh, that's rich coming from you!" he retorted. "You're always so quick to judge others, but you never open up about yourself. How are we supposed to trust each other if you keep everything locked away?"
"Trust?" Viviana scoffed. "That's a big word coming from the guy who complained about his so-called friends. Why are you so intent on being buddy-buddy with them when you clearly don't like them? What exactly do you have to gain?"
Theodore's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and something else… something more vulnerable. He opened his mouth to retort, but the words seemed to catch in his throat. He turned away, his hands balling into fists at his sides.
Viviana watched him, her brow furrowed. "Well?" she pressed. "What is it? Why are you so desperate to be everyone's friend when you can barely stand them?"
Theodore's shoulders tensed, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts, "I don't know, okay? I don't know!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls, "I don't know why I do the things I do, I don't why the thought of people discarding me feels like a weight trapped in my chest I don't know why I feel the need to lie and pretend every second of the day."
"Well, you could have been a pathological liar in your past life."He laughed, a broken one, "Maybe, it's so funny and at the same time ridiculous, I had a life, but those memories and answers have been swept away from that goddess, and now.." He looked at himself, "I don't know anything. What to do. What I want. How could you possibly know what to do with your life when you don't even," He silted and huffed, "don't even know who you are."
"How should I know?" Viviana then sighed and offered him a hand, "Look I'm not going to be your life couch, 'cause the thought of it is worse than being here for all my life."
Theodore rolled his eyes as he pulled himself up, Viviana continued, "but I will tell you this. Try. Try whatever interests you. And see what sticks that's what I've been doing."
"That's what you been doing? All this time?"
Viviana shrugged, a hint of a smile on her own lips. "It's worked for me so far. Besides, it's not like we have a lot of other options."
Theodore nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You're right. It's not like I can die again and hope for a better one."
"Exactly," Viviana agreed. "And who knows? Maybe along the way, we'll figure out who we are and what we're meant to do."
"I hope so," Theodore said softly. "I really do."
A comfortable silence settled between them as they turned their attention back to their surroundings. The crystals glimmered softly in the light of their gleamglobe, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the cavern walls.
"We should probably keep moving," Viviana suggested after a moment. "The others…We have to find them."
Theodore nodded in agreement. "Lead the way."
As they set off deeper into the cavern, the tension that had hung heavy between them seemed to have dissipated. They walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the stillness, each lost in their own thoughts but no longer feeling quite so alone.