Chereads / Emporium of the Psyche / Chapter 7 - The first floor

Chapter 7 - The first floor

The voice Finn hears isn't of a stranger. It is Maria's voice. Why would her voice linger on the first floor of the Chasm of Forgotten Souls? The question gnaws at Finn's heart. He gasps and suddenly starts running toward the sound of her voice. Elias tries to stop him, but Finn runs too fast for him to catch up. But he starts running quite fast for him to catch. While running, he sets off multiple traps. A barrage of poison arrows flies toward the party. "Earth Magic: Mud Wall," Oren chants, conjuring a wall of mud that protects the party. However, one arrow pierces Finn's right hand as he runs. He doesn't stop everyone is calling but he is stuck in his own world and doesn't reply. Forced to act, Oren chants, "Wind Magic: Gushing Winds and Flora Magic: Ivy Rootsnare." A powerful gust of wind sweeps in front of Finn, causing him to falter. While he struggles with the wind the a group of roots come inside of the ground and fully binds him. Elias shouts, "What the heck, Finn! What kind of stunt were you pulling? Do you even know what you've done? You've put the entire party in danger. Just look at yourself!"

Finn looks at his right arm. It looks like as if it was bit by thousands of poisonous snakes. The hand is swollen covered in blood and is looking blue with poison. "These arrows must be laced with a highly potent poison," Ronan says. He says we have to do a surgery. "But... Maria! I heard her voice. I need to save her," shouts the Novice. Elias explains,"Listen you dumbass the voice you might have heard was an echo of the past. They linger inside the Chasm of Forgotten Souls that's why the labyrinth is called 'Chasm of Forgotten Souls' the echoes are the forgotten souls." Finn says, "So Maria isn't here?" "Yes, dumbass!" shouts Elias. Ronan says,"Now, you have to first get treatment or the hand might not regenerate properly." Finn realizes his mistake and agrees to get the surgery. Ronan explains,"We have high-level healing potions that can regenerate bones and skin, but only if administered by a professional like me. In your condition we'd need to at least cut off your hand up to your shoulder. Then, we'll regenerate it since the poison has already corroded your skin and flesh." Finn becomes frightened by the procedure and wants to disagree but the whole party agress to the procedure as per his treatment is very much needed. Finn starts to rebel and get the binding cut off. But the poor soul has no chance against Elias. Elias straps his arms to the ground and pulls out a cloth. Elias Folds the cloth and puts in Finn's mouth. He pulls out Finn's cleaver and starts chopping slowly. He chops the shoulder bone of his right arm and says,"Wow, this cleaver is quite sharp. It almost feels like it's calling me to kill you. But no worries kiddo I'm not going to kill you. Boy next time remember to follow the instructions." Finn cries in agony while his hand is cut off. He tries to scream, but the cloth in his mouth muffles the sound. In shock the boy goes unconsious. It's not quite what he expected to happen. Ronan carefully carves away the corroded flesh from Finn's shoulder. Then he uses the high quality healing potion. It regenerates his whole hand back. Ronan splashes some water on him and asks,"Are you okay?" Finn in shock replies,"My shoulder? You didn't cut it off?! I think I saw an awful dream, where Elias cuts it off." They tell him that it was not a dream. He is in shock and tells them that it was a very painful and frightening experience. He says while breaking down, "I thought I might die. I will always listen to your orders. (Shakes in fear) S...So, p...please never do such a thing to me ever again."

Tears come down from Finn's eyes. He is genuinely crying and freighted. Seeing his sorry state Ronan explains,"Look, we were just helping you. Stop overreacting." The party threatens to leave him behind if he does such a thing again. Finn confused, frightened stops talking. Oren secretly takes him into a corner and explains,"You shouldn't be moving recklessly here. Everyone's lives are at stake. Everyone has sacrificed a lot of things to get here. There's something each of us must agree upon. Our primary goal is to reach the tomb. A lot is at stake for us to be babysitting you. Elias even trained you so we wouldn't run into trouble like this."

Finn realizes the gravity of what happened here. Nobody is close enough in the party for him to fully trust. He is very much in agony. The party is moving quite slowly towards the second floor. Suddenly a group of the cunning bastards "Goblins" appear. The party is surprised at how they were waiting near the 1st floor's door way. The party realizes they were teleported close to the doorway, allowing the goblins to spot them quickly. Ronan uses a vile of the luring potion on Nyx. She emits the Petaloom's sweet aroma and gets All the aggro towards her. She is prepared with a sledge hammer and shield to tank the party. The goblin's are very nasty in nature as they fantasize women very much. The goblins come running towards Nyx. Nyx blocks the attackers and smashes some of their skulls. Their brain gushes out of the broken skulls. Elias swings his Claymore against the band of the goblins. The goblins in front are beheaded instantly. Those alive are given another pounding by Nyx's hammer. The goblins had a champion and several goblin riders amongst their ranks. Oren brings out his tome and casts, "Debuff Magic: Slow," the goblin riders slow down. There was a goblin shaman amongst their ranks that went unnoticed by the party. The shaman chants, "Μαγεία του Διαβόλου Επιτάχυνε (Devil Magic: Accelerate)," the goblins' movement suddenly become faster than before. Everyone is quite frightened as to how such a vile creature is very much targeting them perfectly. The goblin shaman again chants, "Μαγεία του Αίματος Δόρυ του Αίματος (Blood Magic: Blood Spear)," The goblins' blood transforms into tangible spears that hurtle toward the party.