Chapter 171: 165: The Metal Door

"Do you think that they're still others in that cocoon?" Marcus asked.

"I don't know. I couldn't hear any heartbeat except the one Abby was in." It was also the reason why Ryu didn't suggest lingering in the Giant Spider's lair. 

He couldn't be sure if the others were alive, and it was too risky to remove the cocoons all at once. If it was just one, then it was no problem, but two or more and the Spiders might notice that their food source was missing or that they'd woke up from the vibration of their webs if they released the cocoons all at once.

Marcus's eyelids closed a little. "I see. . ." then the hard lines on his face was back. "I guess we'll find out once Abby is awake. But at the moment, we must look for a safe place to rest."

".. ." Ryu wasn't interested in resting, but since Seraphina and Marcus were mortals, they needed rest every two or three days.

"How did you become a merc?" Ryu asked. He suddenly thought about Ferris and what she told him about broadening his social skills.

Marcus's eyes shone. Ryu was finally conversing with him. He puffed his chest and blew a breath through his nose. "Well, I was a village boy. I grew up in the fields, dreaming of the day I became of age and joining the mercenary guild for quick cash. I plow the field day in and day out. That was why at twelve, I was already buff like an ox. With the great earth affinity bestowed upon me by the soil, I started to train at age thirteen."

Ryu looked at the side. Ah no. .. I was just asking how you become a merc. Not your entire life story. He mused to himself though he let Marcus continue.

"At age fifteen, I was fighting bandits and drove away goblins in my village. By then, I was the strongest in our town, and nobles even recruited me as one of their soldiers. But I was steadfast on becoming a mercenary. The pretty life inside the noble's estate doesn't suit me anyway."

Marcus continued on and on, and Ryu didn't know how to stop him.

"And at the age of twenty, I met the love of my life. . ." Marcus's voice turned mellow as his face softened. "I never did once hope to catch Jane's attention. I mean. .. I was just a nobody back then. I'm no noble and certainly not handsome."

He laughed. "I'm only proud of my brawns. I don't even have enough brains. But she. .. she and Theodore accepted me for who I am."

Marcus's fingers balled into fists, and Ryu felt the anger and guilt radiating from his voice.

"I wanted her family to accept Jane and me because I knew that her family meant so much to her even if she mostly argues with them. And to make them finally accept me, I venture into the Nightmare Sea in their name. . ."

"I never once expected that we would be trapped in here. .. if I'd known. . ." Marcus closed his eyes tight. "Theodore wouldn't have died. It was my fault that he died and Jane. .. Jane is all alone and had to suffer because of it."

".. . Yes. It's your fault." Ryu looked Marcus in the eyes. "It's your fault because you failed to protect them."

Marcus gritted his teeth and his face buckled in despair.

"So if you want to make it up to Jane and Theodore and still had the guts to face her, you make sure to offer her Vein's head when you meet."

".. ." Marcus was stunned for a moment before his eyes turned to slit and his face hardened with determination. "You're right." Vein! Marcus hissed in his head. He would make sure that Vein wouldn't have an easy death in his hands. 

Marcus gripped Ryu's shoulder. "Thanks."

Clank. . .

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The both of them looked to where the noise came from.

"Do you hear that?" Marcus asked.

Ryu was shaken out from his thoughts at the sound of the rattle and clinking of chains on stone. A metallic rattle and scrape ended with a loud clang, perhaps from a metal door.

Ryu's back was heating, and he felt it vibrating as they neared the end of the pathway that was blocked by a metal door. It had many rune carvings that none of them could decipher.

"Whatever is inside that thing, I'm sure that it isn't to our liking." Even on the other side, Marcus felt the oppressive aura of whatever was in there.

Ryu felt it too. Only his back was relentless and felt like a desert from how it warmed his skin. 

"We should camp right here," Ryu said.

"Huh?" Marcus didn't want to have anything to do with that door nor be near it. "Are you serious?"

Ryu nodded. "Whatever is inside obviously couldn't come out, or it should have attacked us the moment we came near it."

That made sense but still. .. Marcus was hesitant.

"And besides, whatever is inside. .. ," Ryu looked over the empty hallway, "it repelled all kinds of creatures and beasts."

Marcus looked over the ceiling and found no trail of cobwebs nor vermin loitering in the grounds like the previous tunnels.

"This is the safest spot," declared Ryu with confidence. 

Marcus stifled a groan. It was either here, or they go back in the desert where Tiamat was still at large. There was also the spot near the entrance, but Marcus feared they'd be pincer by the Giant Spiders and whatever would come in the ruins. At least here, if ever they were pincer, they had the option of going through the door, though probably not the best option.

There was no safe spot. Everywhere was dangerous. 

"As long as that door remains close. We'll wait for the desert to come to peace, and then we'll venture outside." 

Ryu didn't say anything. For now, he'd keep his idea of entering the door. The important thing was that they had a place to rest to plan their next move, away from the prying eyes of Tiamat.

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A/N

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