Merlin carefully assessed their situation; they were relatively unharmed, aside from a few bruises, but nothing too serious. As for their current "hosts", the sounds of hurried scrambling and thrashing made it clear the creatures were still hunting them.
"Got to admit, I'm rather grateful we never faced these things in this state," Merlin remarked.
"I thought you guys managed to take them down before moving on to that giant spider?" Eris questioned.
Merlin let out a dry chuckle. "A bit of an exaggeration. If you couldn't tell from the voices earlier, we ran before things got much worse."
"Got it," Eris replied, glancing around at the muck and waste surrounding them. "But... what now?"
Merlin picked up his tattered journal, now coated in an unknown sludge. With a sigh, he muttered a simple incantation, tracing a small gesture over the book, which began to glow faintly as the grime disappeared.
"We keep moving," he said, his tone steady. "Like usual."
After careful navigation through the sewer, Eris finally began to tolerate the smell—though her gag reflex still kicked in whenever they passed anything particularly foul or decomposed. Merlin, meanwhile, was focused, using his location spell to trace where the Candleravens were in this point of time.
For most, this sewer maze would be impossible to navigate without getting lost or disturbing some lurking monstrosity. Fortunately, Merlin's creature-tracking spell still glowed faintly, guiding them through the tunnels. But there was a catch...
Eris's eyes widened, following the magical trail down a massive, dark pipe leading further down. "Don't tell me we're actually going to jump down there!" she blurted out, pointing in horror.
Merlin cast an unbothered look at the pipe, then back at Eris. "Unfortunately."
"Oh, man..." she muttered, folding her arms tightly over her chest.
"Relax." Merlin gave her a calm, reassuring nod. "I'll go first if it helps. Besides, once they're done with the spider, we can slip away, find them at the club, and rest for a bit."
Eris huffed but finally nodded, stepping aside. "Alright, fine. Just... don't break anything on the way down."
With that, Merlin took a step forward, peering down into the pipe before leaping in. He landed with a thud and began sliding down the slick interior, gravity pulling him at a rapid pace. The ride was anything but smooth, the jagged edges of the pipe scraping against his cloak as he struggled to keep balance. The narrow space amplified the sound of his descent, echoing around him as he shot downward.
Finally, the pipe opened up, and Merlin plummeted from the end, landing directly on a stack of old crates. Wood splintered beneath him, the noise echoing sharply through the tunnel.
Eris, peering down from above, winced as the echo of splintered wood faded through the tunnel. "Yeah, that wasn't subtle..." She leaned closer. "Are you okay down there?"
A loud groan of pain drifted up from below, confirming her suspicions. Eris cringed. "Oh, great," she muttered. "We're off to another amazing start."
Merlin lay sprawled among the shattered crates, breathing slowly to recover from the impact. Every bone and muscle in his body seemed to ache from his impromptu descent. Though he'd never admit it, age was creeping up on him, making each tumble a bit more unforgiving. His mind still burned with purpose, but for a fleeting moment, he let himself long for the quiet comfort of home.
Merlin forced himself to sit up, stifling a groan as he gingerly pressed a hand to his side. "Just... give me a minute," he muttered, wincing as his fingers traced along his ribs. A sharp sting made him inhale sharply. "Feels like I cracked something," he grumbled, his hand lingering over the tender spot as he assessed the damage, clearly irritated with himself.
Eris listened, biting back a smirk as she pushed herself to her feet. "Well now... guess that makes me next," she remarked, bracing herself for the jump. But before she could even prepare, a chill ran down her spine. She wasn't alone.
"Offering?"
The word cut through the silence, and her breath hitched. The statue had found her, its plate lifted expectantly. Eris stood utterly still, knowing any sound could provoke the creature into charging her and, in turn, ruin Merlin's mission. Her mind raced. She'd read in the Candleravens' logs that attempts to distract these creatures had been hit-or-miss, but it was all she had. Carefully, she reached into her back pocket, fingers brushing the edge of a golden coin.
With painstaking caution, she flicked the coin, watching it arc in slow motion before it landed with a soft clink onto the creature's plate. She allowed herself a faint smirk, glancing up to gauge the effect.
The creature's head jerked downward, its unblinking gaze fixed on the coin. For a brief moment, it seemed to work. But just as quickly, the creature's head snapped back up to her, its empty eyes locking onto her own.
"Offering?" it intoned once more, disregarding the coin completely.
Eris clenched her jaw in frustration; so much for that plan. She took a quick glance at her escape route, she could probably make a break for it. But the creature's reaction was unpredictable. If it followed, it could not only throw her and Merlin off course but might catch up to the Candleravens ahead, dragging them all into a worse mess.
Her heart pounded as she weighed her options, each second stretching agonizingly long as the creature tilted its head, seeming to respond to her every breath.
"You alright up there?" Merlin shouted from below, sending a shock to Eris as she immediately turns her attention back at the statue. In that split second, the creature was quick to pounce towards the pipe, thankfully crashing into it instead of falling down towards the magus below.
"Shit!" Eris yelped, scrambling back in horror as the creature attempted to lunge at her with unnerving speed. She landed hard on her back, her heart pounding as she locked eyes with the statue-like fiend. It twisted, preparing for another strike as it heard her cry, and Eris at that moment felt her patience snap. This creature didn't seem inclined to back down, but neither did she.
"That's it!" she snarled, pushing herself up, her fingers sparking with volatile energy. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, conjuring a sphere of crackling, chaotic magic that shifted colors—fiery red, electric blue, venomous green—as it pulsed in her grip. "Listen to this— Kaos!" she screamed.
With the incantation echoing in the tunnel, she unleashed the spell, and the magic surged forward like a storm unbound, sizzling and sparking in wild arcs. The creature's tilted its head, now drawn by the sound and energy of the casting and Eris' scream, it lunged once more, closing the distance between them.
The bolt struck with explosive, fiery force, hurling the creature backward as its plate clattered to the floor. It crashed into the wall with a resounding impact, leaving deep cracks spidering through the stone. Eris watched, her chest heaving, as wisps of chaotic energy floated around her, the tension finally easing. For a brief moment, she felt triumphant.
But the relief was short-lived. A sudden, searing sensation spread through her body, and she gasped, realizing she might have overextended herself. Her magic reserves, already strained, now pulsed uncontrollably, wild energy crackling under her skin as if ready to burst. Placing a shaky hand over her stomach, Eris felt the surge build, twisting her insides with raw, untamed power.
"No, no, no! Not now!" she said in a panic, darting glances around the sewer. If she couldn't hold back the surge, she could very well blow this entire dank tunnel to pieces. Though she suddenly thought, better here than above ground, she thought wryly, sparing only the sewer rats and rubble from her explosive aftershock.
Unable to contain it any longer, she felt the magic take over and braced herself for the worst. She clenched her eyes shut, feeling the surge reach its peak...
Then, with a tiny, unexpected hiccup, she released it.
Eris blinked, startled, as a shimmering unicorn suddenly materialized in a puff of violet smoke beside her. The magical creature gave her a bewildered look, then pranced off down the sewer, its hooves echoing daintily against the stone.
Eris sighed, rubbing her temples and trying to steady her breath. "Could've been worse," she muttered, half-grateful for her magic's bizarre sense of humor. But another creeping feeling tugged at her, then it hit her.
She barely had time to glance over before she saw the other statue in mid-air, just inches away. Before she could even react this time, the creature crashed into her, sending both of them hurtling into the murky, grimy water. They struggled in the sludge, moss and filth clinging to her as she wrestled the snarling statue.
Eris's hands sparked with arcane energy, her eyes glowing fiercely as she gritted her teeth. "Get the hell off me!" she yelled, releasing two crackling bolts of magic toward the creature. Both missed, blasting into the walls instead, but the shockwave punched a hole in the ceiling above them, sending a torrent of sewer water flooding down. The force knocked the statue off her, giving her just enough time to roll away.
Now crawling out of the muck, she sputtered, her face twisted in disgust. Her resolve had drained with each misfire and splash of filth. She staggered to her feet, muttering, "Could this day get any worse?"
Her words had barely left her lips when the creature, trapped briefly in the rushing water, lunged out, arms outstretched and ready to strike. Eris's eyes widened as she braced herself, but then—
Behind her, the air rippled and twisted as a quick rift began to form, swirling with intense shades of indigo and violet. In that very instant, a tear in the fabric of space itself appeared, giving way to the opening of a dimensional door. Its edges crackled with raw energy, illuminating the dank surroundings with an eerie, shimmering glow. Out of this arcane portal stepped Merlin, his face set with steely frustration.
Without missing a beat, he raised his hand toward the airborne creature, his fingers forming a gun gesture as he channeled a focused energy into his spell.
"Begone," he said, his voice laced with irritation.
With a flick of his fingers, Merlin unleashed a thin, green ray that crackled through the air and struck the statue mid-leap. The creature froze as the disintegration spell took hold, the impact instantly halting its momentum. The force of the spell pushed it backward, its surface already crumbling and fragmenting.
Merlin closed his eyes, releasing a long, frustrated sigh before turning to Eris, prepared to scold her. Yet, when he saw her avoiding his gaze, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, he paused. She looked genuinely rattled, as if ashamed of the chaos that had unfolded. He recognized the signs well enough; this hadn't been her fault—just an unfortunate chain of events set in motion by their choices.
He swallowed his pride, deciding, for once, to hold back. This whole escapade was his idea, after all, and what was an adventure without its share of obstacles? Still, his eyes flicked briefly to the crumbled remains of the statues. He wondered fleetingly if their destruction would ripple out any consequences in the grand scheme of things. Then again, Merlin figured, rewinding time for such a minor inconvenience was a waste of resources—and patience.
With a resigned sigh, he slicked his hair back and adjusted his coat. "Come on," he said, extending his hand toward her.
Eris hesitated for a moment, glancing at his extended hand before meeting his eyes. She took it, and Merlin helped her to her feet, leading her toward the shimmering portal, its edges pulsing faintly with arcane energy as if urging them forward.
"Not to be rude, Merlin, but..." she began, a bit sheepishly, "couldn't you have just used this spell to get us both down here earlier?"
Merlin gave a faint smile, understanding her exasperation. "Nothing rude about that, Eris. I get the frustration. But I needed to know exactly where I was aiming first. Jumping throw portals through unknown sewers could've landed us right in the middle of one of those creatures. Or worse. Besides, I needed to scope out the area first."
Together, they stepped through the portal and emerged in the lower part of the sewer system. Before them lay the felled remains of a giant spider, its legs sprawled in a tangled heap, the same creature the Candleravens had supposedly battled before pressing onward in their quest. Merlin's shoulders slumped slightly as he took in the scene, disappointed to have missed yet another critical moment for his journal.
His thoughts drifted back briefly to the crash from his recent fall, recalling the overheard voices of his friends just before he returned to Eris' rescue.
~~~
Moments before, as he'd tried to catch his breath after that haphazard slide, Merlin had cast a quick healing spell over his chest, easing the ache from his battered ribs. Just as the pain began to ebb, a familiar voice echoed around the damp corner where he crouched, the unmistakable banter of his party.
"Artemis, my friend," came the exasperated drawl of Arctic Ink. "Are you sure this is the right way?"
"Well, yeeah!" Artemis replied in his usual sass. "I can smell her perfume from here despite all the rancid piles of shi—"
"Guys," Florian interrupted, his voice cautious, "I think we're not alone here..."
Merlin couldn't help the fond smile that tugged at his lips as he listened to them, taking his journal from his bag, jotting down every word.
And so, there we stood, ankle-deep in the filth of the sewer, surrounded by heaps of refuse and decay. The air was thick, damp, and every step felt like a descent into another world's forgotten corridors. Yet, it was our steadfast wolfkin, Artemis, who guided us, his keen senses unclouded by the stench, bringing us reassurance amidst the gloom. With Artemis leading, our unease faded, and our path forward felt as clear as any moonlit road...
The magus paused, quill poised thoughtfully as he tapped it against his chin, replaying the memory in his mind. Just as he began to piece together the next line...
"SPIDER!" his younger self's voice bellowed, nearly startling him out of his skin and causing him to smear ink across the page.
"Oh, wow! Look at the legs on that thing!" Artemis called out, his voice brimming with excitement rather than fear.
"This is... a nightmare," Florian muttered, a tone of disbelief barely masking his horror.
Present-day Merlin exhaled sharply, inching closer to the corner and leaning against the damp wall for cover. He angled himself just enough to glimpse the ongoing chaos, watching his younger self and the Candleravens facing down the giant sewer spider of Aldryean'ne. He began to scribble notes hastily, capturing every daring maneuver, every desperate parry, until a low rumble beneath him brought him to a halt.
Merlin froze, eyes widening in realization. None of the Candleravens' magic or attacks had been powerful enough to shake the ground like that. A prickling sensation ran up his spine, and with a sinking dread, the answer hit him.
"Eris!" he whispered, a note of alarm breaking through, as he quickly turned back toward the path he'd left her.
~~~
"I'm really sorry if you missed out on all that," Eris said, breaking the silence.
"It's fine," Merlin replied with a dismissive wave. "Nothing's changed. Besides, it's not like this is the Candleravens' last quest. Let's catch up to them."
"Oh, to the club, right?"
"Yup."
"Alright, sweet!"
As they continued following the faint, golden trail left by Merlin's locate spell, Eris suddenly caught a whiff of something sharp and foul in the air, her nose wrinkling in disgust.
"Oh, whoa!" She grimaced, trying to shield her nose with her sleeve. "That one packs a punch."
Her gaze shifted to a massive metallic pipe nearby, its rusty crank busted and letting out an incessant, hissing leak of noxious fumes. A sour, almost egg-like stench unmistakably filled the narrow corridor. She moved toward it, hand outstretched, ready to try sealing it with magic.
"Wait—stop!" Merlin snapped, grabbing her wrist before she got too close.
"What?" Eris looked up, confused.
"Those fumes are as volatile like a dragon's fire," Merlin muttered, eyeing the pipe warily. "One spark, and this entire sewer could go up in flames."
"Right, which is why I was going to use Mending to seal it up," Eris replied, pulling her hand free from the magus' grip and giving him a quizzical look.
"Yeah, but... my point is..." Merlin hesitated, scratching the back of his head.
Eris raised a brow. "Hmm?"
"It's actually... well, a key element for something later during this time," he admitted.
Eris blinked in realization. "Oh. Uhh, right. Got it."
She ran a hand nervously through her hair, casting a wary glance at the pipe. "So... just leave it leaking, then?"
"Exactly," Merlin reassured her, leading her forward and shooting another wary glance at the pipe. "Besides, the location spell's trail is getting stronger. We're almost to our destination. Just keep any fire spells out of mind."
Eris stifled a sigh, shrugging. "Right, no fire spells. Got it."
They continued down the tunnel, the golden trail before them shimmering more brightly, indicating they were closing in on the Candleravens. With each careful step, they moved more slowly, cautiously watching their footing as the floor grew damp and slick. Strange shadows seemed to dance in the flickering light, making the two extra cautious as they navigated the maze of pipes and damp stone.
At a bend in the corridor, Merlin stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. Voices filtered through the stone passage, faint but growing clearer with each step. Eris strained to listen, recognizing the familiar tones of the young Candleravens.
"Finally," The wizard whispered with a grin, exchanging a nod with Eris as they edged closer, keeping to the shadows. From around the corner, they spotted the Candleravens scaling a ladder that stretched up to what he had cryptically told the girl to earlier as "the club."
"We'd best give them a few minutes before heading up ourselves," he advised, sinking down to the ground and leaning back, his face etched with exhaustion and hoping to regain his magical reserves. Eris followed suit, sliding down beside him to sit cross-legged. Even she, usually the liveliest voice in these situation, found herself content with the silence.
As they waited, a heavy silence settled between them, punctuated only by the faint murmur of voices fading above. Eris couldn't help but reflect on all they'd been through in such a short time: dodging death, running from statues, nearly blowing up the sewer... one too many times. The lingering scent of those volatile fumes they'd passed still hung in the air, ominous and foreboding. One stray spark, she thought, and they'd be part of history along with this place.
She realized with a strange thrill that they were, in fact, witnessing history, a key moment in the Candleravens' story that, she vaguely remembers, would go down as one of their most notable moments.
But for all the excitement, her unease crept back in. She glanced sidelong at Merlin, this enigmatic man she'd known barely a day but had chosen to follow into such chaos. Her mind churned with questions, curiosity buzzing at the edges. She still didn't fully understand his intentions, nor the full scope of his work. Yet here she was, sitting with him in the dimness, committed to seeing it through.
"You know," she started quietly, almost hesitantly, "I've stuck around because, well... I don't know. Feels like something worth doing, I guess. Even if I'm still in the dark about your bigger plan here." She let her words hang, not quite sure what response she expected.
Merlin cracked an eye open, his expression softening just a bit. "If you've already forgotten, I dragged you along because I still need answers about the Conclave and their dealings," he replied with a wry edge, "not because I needed a travel companion."
He paused, as if weighing his words, then added with a hint of exasperation, "But finding a quiet moment for it with all the chaos we've run into? That's been... challenging." He glanced her way, a faint, knowing smirk pulling at his lips. "Still, for someone who's 'in the dark,' you're holding up surprisingly well."
Eris shrugged. "Oh, I've worked with way less to go on, and probably under shadier circumstances, too," she replied. "I mean, there was a time I was a scholar at LuminVeil. Now that place was bizarre to the bones."
Merlin raised an eyebrow, mildly amused. "LuminVeil? The flying academy in Malavia, that LuminVeil?"
"Yup." She nodded, satisfied.
A snort escaped Merlin. "Surprised they let you in. But on second thought, I guess they'd accept anyone these days."
Eris grinned, ready for the retort. "Oh, you'd say that, but I've heard you were actually headmaster there once. Can't say that did LuminVeil any favors."
Merlin froze, sitting up straight as he stared at her in disbelief. "No way I was the headmaster of that place!"
Eris laughed. "Come on, it's just like you said, they'll let anyone in these days."
He let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples. "I think I understand why, but still, you caught me off guard with that one. Got any more... 'spicy' details about my other selves?"
A sly grin spread across her face. "Ohh, now you're interested?"
"Only mildly," he said, shrugging. "It's not like I'm keeping track of all these versions of me anymore. Plus, I'm already having trouble keeping my own memories straight these days."
Eris tapped her chin, pretending to think deeply. "Well, there was that one time with me and my mom—"
"Aaah!" Merlin blurted, clamping a hand over her mouth. "Not another word from you."
Eris raised an eyebrow, giving him an unamused look as she pointed at his hand.
"Apologies!" he said, pulling his hand back. "But, please, keep that little nugget to yourself." With that, Merlin glanced around the corner, eyes tracing up the ladder where the Candleravens had just disappeared.
"Break's over. Time to go, Eris," he said, standing up and pulling the girl to her feet. They started up the ladder, but as they reached the top, Merlin paused. The hatch above them appeared sealed shut, a sturdy metal lid with a heavy latch that didn't budge.
Merlin tilted his head thoughtfully, then leaned closer, fingertips hovering just over the surface. "Alright then," he murmured, his voice shifting as he spoke the words of a spell. His voice seemed to resonate within the narrow space, the sound carrying a faint, musical ring. Threads of arcane energy laced around the hatch, settling over the latch with a soft glow before emitting a satisfying click, releasing the lock.
With a nod, Merlin pushed the hatch open, and they both climbed up, finding themselves in the dim, cramped maintenance room at the back of the club. The faint hum of music seeped through the walls, a low bass beat mingling with muffled chatter from the other side of the door. It was a stark contrast from the dank sewers they'd just left behind.
Eris took in her surroundings, but Merlin was already moving. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a small shimmer of light that quickly enveloped them both, cleansing away the sewer grime and ridding them of any lingering stench. She inhaled, relieved to no longer feel like she'd been dipped in sewer filth.
"Now for a bit of some blending in," Merlin muttered, weaving his fingers into an intricate pattern. Another spell washed over them, their clothes shifting and transforming into an attire that fit the bustling nightlife. Merlin's coat morphed into a dark, fitted jacket, his collar loosened to blend in with the club's upscale patrons. Eris looked down, noticing her own outfit had transformed into a sleek, stylish dress that could easily pass under the club's ambient lights.
"There we go," he said, satisfied with the disguise. "Now... just try not to stand out too much."
Eris squinted at the wizard. "Easy for you to say," she muttered, rolling her shoulders and preparing for the lively scene just beyond the door. But just as they were about to continue, she glanced back and her stomach immediately dropped. The hatch to the sewers was still open, and the fumes were starting to seep into the room, carrying the faint, acrid tang of something volatile and very, very flammable.
She quickly grabbed Merlin's arm, gesturing toward the hatch. "So, by the Candleravens' account, we're supposed to just… leave that open?"
Merlin followed her gaze, his expression darkening as he saw the tendrils of gas creeping into the room. He pressed his lips together, considering, then sighed. "Much as I hate to admit it, yes, it needs to stay open. By their account, this very leak leads to something important down the line."
Eris eyed the growing haze with increasing unease. "And that doesn't risk... blowing us all sky high?"
"Oh, it absolutely does," Merlin replied, a smirk playing on his lips despite the risk. "But that's the beauty of it, isn't it? We've just got to hope they wrap up their fight quickly before things take an explosive turn later."
The two exchanged a grim look, and with one last wary glance at the danger behind them, they turned toward the door, ready to dive into the bustling scene ahead, but now all too aware of the ticking clock waiting below.