Chapter 4: Into the Earth

I leaned heavily on Fredrick as we descended the last length of stairs, my arm over his shoulder as I felt my legs shrivel up and die below me. Those stairs had gone on for almost an hour in total, and even the short breaks on the few scattered landings hadn’t helped me too much. Somewhere along the way I’d finally given up and taken up Fredrick on his offer.

 

But not because I needed it or anything! It was because…err… Saphry did. 

 

Yeah that was it.

 

Now though, as we finally descended the final steps and set foot upon the cavern beyond I found that I couldn’t care less about such things as I collapsed on the wall panting.

 

“I’m going to see the plan for the rest real quick, my lady.” Fredrick said as he kneeled beside me. “I’ll be right back.”

 

I nodded weakly, not even bothering to open my eyes again.

 

This body… it was a curse. Weren’t transmigrators supposed to get super strong powers or something? Where was my explosion magic or god companion or rechargeable smartphone? Shouldn’t I have been getting a harem by this point? I’d been jipped. 

 

In fact, not only had I not gained any powers: I’d actually lost some as well! The magic was gone, my stamina now equal to that of a first grader, and I didn’t even have my best friend to comfort me as I sat panting for breath.

 

I only had a snarky dragon and the frail body of what felt like a cancer patient to guide me back.

 

Damn it Gideon! Couldn’t you have chosen a better world to jump to?

 

Was it really that bad? I felt him jump off my head and plop against the ground. They weren’t that steep.

 

Opened my eyes and glared at the dragon.

 

“I don’t…want to hear anything… from the damn freeloader.” I wheezed. 

 

As we waited for the next few minutes, I looked around.

 

Around me, the homely musk of rock and stone  pervaded the room, and the cool air of the cavern dried the sweat on my skin. It was a large space but not gigantic, and I guessed that it was about the size of a small warehouse. I figured, from past experience, that you could probably fit around two hundred golem soldiers if you really tried. It was made of grey stone that shone red in the lantern light, and there was only the bare minimum of pillars needed to support the roof. At the other end was an opening that disappeared into darkness beyond. On the sides, small openings loomed deliriously out of the stone, each one steadfast in shadow unpierced by the blood light of the priest’s lanterns.

 

I’d only been in one other cave before, as part of a tourist attraction in Colorado, but this place was incredibly different. The weight of the mountain pressed heavily upon the air here, and the distant sound of far away water did little to hide the footsteps and whispers of the party which echoed through the cavern like a ghost in the basement.

 

I had never been one to fear tight spaces, but it was… unnerving.

 

You would think that these can’t be a natural formation. The drake’s head flicked around the space like a snake, zooming from one feature to the next. But I’d be hard pressed to find evidence of them being dug.

 

I examined the walls again and was startled to find that he was right. The walls were free from pickaxe grooves and drill holes, only the blobby curves of calcified mineral to be found. It was obviously very old.

 

“I have to wonder how the church found it.” I asked, my breathing finally stabilising. “There’s no way they just dug straight down for that long and happened to find this, so I, for one, am willing to blame ‘magic’.”

 

We still don’t know if that exists here. Gideon thought. 

 

“Yes, but…” I rolled my head against the wall to look at him. “I’m willing to huff quite a bit of copium to believe it does.”

 

And this is why I made all the plans. He thought, rolling his eyes.

 

“Like the emergency potion one, yes.”

 

One mistake! Over an entire year!

 

“It was a pretty big one though.”

 

“Lady Astrian! The party is leaving!” 

 

Brother Han’s voice called out from the centre of the cavern.

 

“Already? [God damn little…]” I mumbled English curses under my breath as I took to my sore feet. It felt a little better than when I had sat down, though I knew it’d ache like hell tomorrow.

 

Looking down, I extended my arm towards the drake and after a second of deliberation Gideon scrambled up my arm and onto my head. It really did feel like he wasn’t there, which didn’t make much sense to me as I knew he weighed a few pounds at the least. Could that be magic as well?

 

Everyone joined the priests and Fredrick in the centre, and Hans gathered our attention.

 

“Is everyone prepared?” The priest asked, to mixed answers. “Good. It is the tradition among the Lmeri for petitioners to enter the caves by themselves. Don’t make those faces, it should be quite safe!”

 

What, into that horrid darkness by ourselves? It probably wasn’t the best time to mention it, but after reading the grimoire neither I nor Gideon were huge fans of the dark. It was the place of dark rituals and home of nebulous horrors after all. 

 

Either that or whoever wrote the grimoire was a huge troll.

 

“But I must warn you: stay on the main path.” Hans warned. “We venture into the tunnels every day to keep them clear of pests, but there are still water-hidden holes and uneven surfaces to deal with off the main path. It should be a straight shot forward, and I daresay one that’s hard to stray from so I don’t expect problems. Any questions? No? Then let's get you all going.”

 

He handed his red-light lantern to Andril, appointing him de-facto leader of our merry band. Then with a shrug and a wave, Andril led us into the cave.

 

…

 

 

 

I stayed close behind the others as we wandered through the gloom.

 

Hans had been right: the main path was even and relatively straightforward, making it easy to follow. As well, small crystalline fragments lay littered on the walls and floor, forming an excellent trail of ‘bread crumbs’ to follow if one was unable to walk straight. 

 

What he had neglected to mention was just how poorly the lantern actually worked, giving us only a bubble ten feet in diameter to see in. It almost felt like we were swimming through some shadowy sea, and I found myself looking over my shoulder over and over again.

 

You’ve seen worse horrors th…than some dusty rocks, right? Gideon thought from my arms, a hint of fear making its way through the link. Surely reapers don’t lurk on this planet too…

 

I started at the mention of the monster. I still wasn’t entirely convinced the grimoire had been entirely truthful about their abilities, but it hadn’t outright lied about anything else, so it was probably prudent to keep some measure of guard in the dark.

 

“Not quite on scale with a reaper, no.” I whispered into my arms.

 

You’re not really scared of the dark, right?

 

“I’m not scared of the dark!” I angrily whispered. What kind of moron was afraid of something like that?

 

“Are you alright?”

 

I looked up to see that two of the others, the coat girl and the hunter lad, were looking back at me like I was a little crazy. Which, from their point of view, I might’ve been.

 

What had their names been? Aura and Fening maybe? 

 

“Me? I’m just dandy, why?”

 

The two shared a glance before the girl turned back towards me. 

 

“You looked like you might’ve been prayin…”

 

“She actually means.” Fening interrupted.  “That you looked like you were maniacally whispering to yourself like a Falian veteran.”

 

Aura looked scandalised. “You can’t just say something like that!”

 

“But it’s true?”

 

I chuckled, more amused than hurt. Evidently talking to one’s dragon wasn’t considered a normal thing to do. Unfortunate really, but at least this happened in a situation that wouldn’t be disastrous.

 

I bounded up to them and matched pace beside Aura. Even under all the clothing, she seemed to be about the same height as I.

 

“I was just whispering to G…Silst here.” I grabbed the drake and held him in my arms. “Don’t have a lot of fun memories in the dark, you know.”

 

Aura nodded fervently. “I know what you mean! Why couldn’t they have lit the path up?”

 

“A waste of resources.” Fening scoffed. “Most people, at least half the population, aren’t scared of shadows.”

 

“I’m not afraid of ‘shadows’” I argued. “I’m afraid of the soul sucking demons that lurk in said shadows, like any reasonable person.”

 

It was a slight distinction, but one incredibly important in my opinion.

 

“S-soul sucking demons!” Aura squeaked. “What do you mean?”

 

“Children’s stories!” Fening declared. “Is that all you mean, Miss…?”

 

“Ry-Saphry.” I said, correcting immediately. “And you’re… Aura and Fening, right?”

 

To my disappointment they both shook their heads.

 

“AurO.” She said, stressing the ‘o’.

 

“FeaniN.” He said, stressing the ‘n’.

 

“Oh.” Eh, close enough. “But no, I speak of reapers.”

 

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Feanin said. 

 

“That’s because they're rare.” I explained. They come in the dark nights of the empty moon…moons and stalk around looking for lone humans walking through darkness. They… well I’ll admit it’s not a story for the faint of heart. I probably shouldn’t tell it now.”

 

“You’ll find no coward among us here.” Feanin boasted. “Pray continue.”

 

I grinned.

 

“I guess I can, if you insist. Most people only hear the sharp snaps they make when the reaper moves, darting from shadow to shadow much like a hawk. It is said that the sound reminds you of snapping jaws and cracking wind.”

 

“Wh-what do they do when they find you?” Auro asked. Seeing her get scared actually made me feel a little better about it myself, though I couldn’t decide if it was because she was kind of cute when she was frightened or because I had a serious problem.

 

“They’re not fast about it.” I said. “First the victim will hear heavy breathing plaguing their steps, stopping when they turn around to check. Then they'll start to feel a cool wind blow down their back, even on a hot night.”

 

“L-like a ghost?” Auro asked. 

 

“Like a ghost.” I confirmed. “But then, just as the victim begins to panic, the reaper pounces, ripping open the stomach like wet paper. But the victim won’t scream, for they’ll find their voice dead in their throat as they gaze upon the monster, their soul slipping away into its belly pouch, never to be seen again.”

 

Don’t forget about the ‘Ring’-esque part. Gideon added helpfully. 

 

“AND it’s said.” I continued dramatically, laying a hand on Auro’s shivering shoulder. “That anyone who first hears of a reaper’s kill shall be its next victim, and that it’ll stalk you forever until you step out alone near a shadow.”

 

“How horrid…” Auro muttered.

 

“Most times however, you won’t know you’ve seen one until it's too late. You’ll just glance into a shadow and next you know it a chill runs down your spine.” I pat Auro’s shoulder. “So be careful looking into shadows, m’kay?”

 

Auro backed away, slightly horrified. I could see her struggle to not immediately look around in fear, and I had to suppress another chuckle. Maybe I did have some problems.

 

“That’s a devious tale you weave, I’ll give you that.” Feanin said, exasperated. “But did you really have to add all the theatrics for poor Auro? ‘Stalk you forever’? Come on now.”

 

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“I’ve added no embellishment.” I said. “Only the truth of the reaper.”

 

Rather, the truth of what the grimoire had written.

 

“But that’s preposterous. I’ve spent many nights under the empty moons during a hunt.” Feanin said. “And I’ve never seen hide nor tail of such a thing.”

 

“They congregate near large cities, I hear.” I explained. “Try sleeping in an alleyway for a few nights.”

 

“What a load of goatwash.” Justeo suddenly said from ahead. He sounded vaguely more Italian than I would’ve expected. “It’s obvious you’re making it up. Reapers? Puh.”

 

The chubby merchant’s son offered a dismissive wave, and I found that I instantly disliked him.

 

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” Andril broke in without looking back. “I have heard dark mutterings in a similar vein from villagers in east Ostip. There could be an element of truth.”

 

I opened my mouth to agree but didn’t vocalise the thought after thinking about it. Wasn’t it actually bad that he’d heard about it? Meeting a reaper in a foreign world wasn’t exactly high on my bucket list, nor was having my soul stuck into a sack for all of eternity.

 

“Like the abyss you did.” Justeo chuckled.

 

“Actually, now that I think about it.” Feanin said. “This all reminds me of a tale from Fangpeak…”

 

I stayed out of the conversation for the most part after that, but the party spoke openly among each other while we walked, a far cry from the distressingly silent walk through the dark before.

 

…

 

 

 

As we kept walking down that level road, the crystals that had scarcely populated the tunnels before began to appear more frequently on the walls and ceiling, steadily coming to dominate them. After a few minutes of travel it became more rare to spy a patch of gravelly wall than shining crystal, any last vestiges of fear I had faded with its passage.

 

For these crystals, clear as they stood to be, reflected the red light of the lantern spectacularly against the tunnel, until it appeared more to me like a cool crackling fire than rock as the light sparkled through the air. All of those in the party were forced to slow as they examined the sight, with even Andril crouching to examine the wall closer.

 

Amazing. Gideon remarked as came into a particularly reflective batch of the crystals. I’ve never seen anything like this.

 

“That’s hardly surprising.” I whispered. “You’ve rarely left the lab.”

 

If I were to see things like this, I might’ve been inclined to.

 

I couldn’t object to that.

 

So far, the world had been top tier in regards to sheer beauty. The misty cliffs and vales, the city on the mountain, the red light reflecting crystals: all of them held a fantastical element I hadn’t been aware I had wanted until now. If the sights were going to continue to come like this, I probably wouldn’t mind staying a little while longer to see them.

 

“The ‘Fires of the White Mountains’.” 

 

I jumped a little as Fredrick suddenly appeared beside me.

 

“That’s what the dwarves call this phenomenon. Supposedly they grow all about under the range.”

 

“Grow?” I raised an eyebrow, a little irritated that he’d spooked me again. “Like a plant?”

 

To my surprise, he reached over and broke off one of the longer crystals from the wall and handed it to me. It was warm in my hand, though still as firm as a crystal should’ve been.

 

“It’s warm!” I said in awe. “But are you allowed to just…?”

 

Frederick nodded, the same serious expression on his face as always. 

 

“They grow to that size in about a fortnight, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

 

Glancing up one more time at the walls and walls of crystals, I shrugged and examined it again. He was the native after all.

 

Just looking at it, you would probably think it to be flawed glass with how clear it was. It was strong though, and even when I smacked it against the wall it held firm. 

 

Let me feel. Gideon commanded from in my other arm. 

 

I obliged, puting the crystal against his outstretched paw. He blinked in surprise before nuzzling it with his snout. 

 

How interesting…

 

I snorted as I watched. Knowing Gideon, he was probably thinking of some alchemical experiments he could do with it, each more inane than the last.

 

“Looks like we’re here.” 

 

Everyone in the party looked forward to where Andril pointed, and dim reddish light could be seen peeking out of the tunnel ahead, independent of our own.

 

We all hurried forward, though I was a little slower than the other due to my poor battered legs. 

 

Indeed, the cave opened up right after into a small but beautiful cavern. It was about twice as long as it was wide, and about as tall as well. In the front portion six thick pillars of solid crystal rose up out of the floor to embrace the roof, each one as wide as I was with arms spread. In the back the ground rose up to just above our heads like a cliffed plateau, and upon that the altar sat.

 

It was decorated simply in comparison to all the land around it, a plain white box made of wood and silver. Four red gems were placed into the front of the device, each one gleaming like four small stars, glittering like no jewel I’d seen before. Inscribed upon the top edge were four sentences I could not read, written in a runic language I’d never seen before.

 

Prince Andril strode up to the box and, holding his lantern over his head, read the inscription aloud in poetic verse.

 

“With light under mountain, where shadow dwell.

 

In dwarrow down peak and man settled vale.

 

The great Morn and Lmeri pale.

 

To belit the places where skyfire fell.”

 

Having no idea what it was talking about myself, all I could think was that Andril was a pretty swell orator. 

 

“You speak Paiz?” Feanin asked.

 

“The princes are expected to learn it.” Fredrick said.

 

“Among others.” Andril didn’t turn his head from the box, so intent was his study.

 

He changed the words a little, to make them rhyme in Veroline. Gideon sniffed. Although the general meaning is the same.

 

Show off. 

 

I sighed. I wanted to disparage Saphry again for not knowing it, but I really couldn’t find it in me. I didn’t know Spanish after all, so why should I expect Saphry to speak Dwarven?

 

One after another, the other nobles knelt down to silently pray, and I did the same. Though probably to a different deity. Mine was a simple one as well: Guide me back home.

 

I’d only been here half a day, but already I found myself missing my dorm room back in college, and my parents despite the fact that I wouldn’t have seen them in that time anyway. I even found myself missing most of my classes and professors as I knelt there deep in the mountain.

 

Not proofs though. I’d never miss that one.

 

Despite the slight homesickness, I felt a little cheated as I kept kneeling there. I had almost expected to be whisked away to some magical god’s living room for a chat where I would get some sweet powers, or maybe to receive some quest, but of course nothing of the like happened. I just continued to be the saddest transmigrator I’d ever heard of.

 

Oh well. Perhaps it was for the best that I didn’t get some divine quest after all, so that nothing stopped me from getting back home as soon as I could. This was apparently an entirely synthetic journey after all, it didn’t have to be a nerve-racking adventure .

 

The others were done just a moment after I got up, with Andril being the last to rise.

 

“Are we all ready to return?” Andril asked, to general nods. “Then I shall lead us back.”

 

We began back down the tunnel into the crystal ‘fire’, everyone else deep in thought. They looked off into space as they walked, and Auro and Fredrick even had their eyes closed as they walked, supposedly pondering what they’d just prayed for. It was an uncommon sight for a modern city dweller like myself, to see a group of people so stalwart in their faith.

 

From what I’d been able to hazard together so far, the religion in Verol revolved around a star of some sort called the Everstar. Maybe the colour red had something to do with it as well, given the lanterns and windows the church above had, but other than that I had no idea what it entailed. 

 

It didn’t involve sacrificing girls named Saphry though, so for that I was glad.

 

Our deep reflective walk didn’t last long however, for no sooner had we stepped back into the fires than did a soft sound meet my ears. It sounded like a brisk wind was rushing through the caves, though I couldn’t feel anything of the sort to accompany it.

 

“What was that?” Auro asked, a hint of fear in her voice.

 

“WInd blowing in from the lower caves, I’d hope.” Feanin said.

 

It blew again, whistling louder than before, but again I felt nothing.

 

“We should hurry back.” Auro’s eyes darted between the empty caves that branched off the main path, as if some monster were due to appear.

 

“You’re just spooked because of that story Saphry told.” Justeo rolled his eyes. “Caves like this echo the smallest noises. We should just conserve our strength for those pitching stairs.”

 

About half of my willpower left me as I was reminded of my iron legs, almost as calcified as the limestone deposits in the entrance cave. Thankfully our pace had been slow enough for me to handle so far, but I was actually afraid of attempting to climb those stairs like this. I didn’t know if this body could even make it up without passing out at this point, which would be a little embarrassing.

 

“Indeed.” Feanin said. “The Everstar guides us in any case.”

 

Personally I was with Justeo on this one, but I could understand Auro’s point of view. It was pretty creepy and dark after all, and the vague threat of shadow demons tugged at my mind. But what about the prince and Fredrick? They had both stayed silent during the exchange, and when I glanced forward I found them intently listening to the cave ahead. 

 

“We should continue as we were.” Andril finally said, and I could see Feanin and Justeo nodding. “Keep your eyes peeled though. According to legend these tunnels run deep. It isn’t impossible that something came up from the depths.”

 

“R-really?” Auro asked. ”Like what?”

 

“Bats, small rodents.” Andril looked back at Auro, a dark shade falling over his eyes. “Cave wyrms.”

 

“A wyrm?” Auro squeaked. “In Verol?”

 

Fredrick sighed.

 

“Andril…” 

 

The prince laughed and I had to grin at the sight of Auro’s face. “I’m sorry, I'm sorry. I’m just joking of course. The priesthood walks these caves, there shouldn’t be anything here.”

 

“Oh, thank the Star…”

 

 “But.” Feanin added. “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared in case one does show up. There are wyrms underground after all.”

 

Auro looked between Feanin and Andril, a mix of confusion, anger, and fear fighting for dominance before she huffed and turned away from the boys, irritated. 

 

Well, the other boys.

 

“What a bunch of jerks…” She muttered.

 

With that done, Andril gestured us forward with a small laugh.

 

Right back into the direction of that mysterious wind.

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