Elder Elies moved through the bustling streets with ease, like a fish cutting through water.
Thalvyr and I, however, were far less adept. Each step forward felt like a battle.
"Please slow down, Elder!"
I called out, only to be cut off by a rush of Novathorns carrying fungal logs.
"Watch it!"
One of them barked as I stumbled back.
Thalvyr wasn't faring much better. A particularly tall Novathorn with a satchel full of bioluminescent moss nearly toppled him as they brushed past.
"Apologies."
Thalvyr muttered, though the person was already gone.
By the time, we finally reached our destination, my face and clothes were streaked with dirt. Similarly, Thalvyr's once-neat appearance was disheveled.
Thalvyr held out his hands and began to concentrate. The air around us grew cooler as beads of moisture gathered in his palms, condensing into a small pool of water. He splashed it over his face, rubbing away the grime.
He glanced at me, water still dripping from his fingers.
"You could use some too."
I leaned forward as he cupped his hands to offer me a quick splash of water.
Elder Elies turned to look back at us, one eyebrow raised.
"Are you two done playing with water, or should I give you more time?"
"I would love a bath, we looked like we have been dragged through a mud bath."
I shook my head to dry my hair.
Elder Elies enter the building located in the heart of the settlement.
With walls rising high and built from a patchwork of stone and reinforced metal, exuding an air of authority and permanence.
Inside, looking up, an intricate network of chains crisscrossed, forming a jagged web, their spikes glinting faintly.
Guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements steady and deliberate.
Their armor was a makeshift patchwork of hardened exoskeleton fragments and tanned hide, giving them an imposing, primal appearance.
The plates of chitin gleamed faintly, while the leather straps holding them in place creaked softly as they shifted.
Each guard carried a weapon unique to their station—some had spears tipped with glowing crystal shards, while others bore heavy clubs embedded with jagged bone.
We trailed behind Elder Elies. Their eyes tracked us as we passed, though they made no move to stop us.
At the center of the imposing structure, Elies led us to a sealed metal door, a small scanning panel embedded on one side.
Without a word, she pulled a card from a pouch at her side and swiped it across the scanner.
With a soft hiss, the door slid open, revealing a bustling room beyond. The sterile glow of artificial lights spilled out, illuminating a space alive with activity.
The door opened wider, and instead of the disciplined and focused scene I'd expected, chaos greeted us.
The room was sprawling, its high ceiling laced with crisscrossing pipes and glowing cables, casting light over the scene below.
Elder tricrowns lounged about, sprawled across mismatched furniture. Plates of half-eaten food and overflowing cups littered every surface, filling the air with a pungent mixture of roasted fungi, fermented brews, and something smoky and sweet that made my head swim.
In one corner, a group of Tricrowns sat around a table carved from a single, massive crystal, their laughter echoing above the din.
They are playing video games?
To my left, a few were gathered near a large vat, dipping bowls into it and passing them around. The liquid inside bubbled ominously, its color shifting with each ripple—sometimes golden, sometimes a deep, foreboding green.
Elder Elies stepped into the chaos without missing a beat, brushing past a Tricrown who staggered too close, their cup sloshing liquid onto the floor.
"Get a hold of yourselves! Do you even realize the state of things out there?"
One of the Tricrowns near the vat, a broad-shouldered figure with deep grooves of battle scars etched into their skin, raised their bowl with a lazy grin.
"Elies, you're back! This is great news. Come on, sit down, relax for a moment."
He gestured to a seat beside him.
Elies' eyes narrowed as she ignored the offered seat and drink.
Jorrik shrugged, taking a long gulp from his bowl before setting it down with a clink.
"So this is your grand plan? Last I checked, you were assigned as one of Glowhaven's managers to ensure stability—not to indulge."
Jorrik leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Stability is exactly what I've ensured, Elies. As long as this settlement keeps contributing its share of resources, the higher-ups won't bat an eye. They're far too busy to bother micromanaging. All it takes is a report every now and then, assuring them that everything is running smoothly. Which it is, by the way. Am I not a genius or what?"
"You're a fool. A short-sighted fool. You think keeping up appearances will hold this place together forever? Because of you, another young settlement has failed. Five out of seven broods—gone. Wiped out."
Jorrik's smirk faltered for a brief moment before he waved her off, his tone dismissive.
"That's not my problem, Elies. My job is here, making sure this settlement thrives. And it is thriving. You can't argue with results."
Elies took a step closer, her eyes blazing.
"Your job was to ensure the survival of our people, not to sit here playing king of the hill while others shoulder the real burden."
Elies took in a deep breath to calm herself down.
"A massive wave of cavecrawlers attacked us. This kid here—"
she pointed directly at me
"—has a gift. He can control the worms with his mind. He used that ability to stop them."
The room stirred, some Tricrowns were exchanging
glances.
"But that's not all. He saw it. A humanoid cavecrawler."
The room froze. The laughter and lazy chatter died abruptly, replaced by a tense, oppressive silence. The very mention of such a creature seemed to drain the air from the space.
"Are you certain? Those haven't been seen since the war. Let's… let's not jump to conclusions. It could've been… I don't know, a misidentification. The kid could've—"
"I didn't make a mistake." I interrupted.
Elies raised her hand at me.
"We don't have the luxury of doubting this. We need to prepare. You all have watched the footage of the last time this place seen a humanoid cavecrawler."
Jorrik opened his mouth to protest but closed it again. Finally, he nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"First, we'll need to rally the surrounding settlements. If these things are organizing, we'll need every bit of support we can muster. And you two."
Elies turned to us.
"You've already proven your value in the field. I'll need you both to prepare for what's coming next."
Thalvyr and I exchanged a glance, his face grim but resolute.
"Let's not waste time, then," I said, stepping forward. "What's the plan?"