Chapter 28: 28 – Exit

X found himself surrounded by light, confronted by a short but corpulent, bearded humanoid that kept talking in some strange language.

“Awas! Leisa’fe soi... Ofel fal’kah owana.”

"What?"

“What?!” 

"What are you trying to say?"

"You're an elf, and I’m speaking elven.”

"Ah... erm... I hit my head too hard a while back, lost many memories... and... What the hell was that back there?"

The new creature stared at him. "I'm sorry I was late, I tried to warn you young elf. I’m sorry about your friend."

"Huh? Oh yeah, she was my best friend... I don’t know what I’ll do without her. Anyway, what in the demon-gods' name are those creatures? And who the hell are you?"

"That is the Swarm, an ancient beast made to serve and protect the dwarves’ homeland, my homeland. This dungeon is under its protection."

The elf’s eyes flickered with incredulity. This world held more shocking secrets than he could have imagined. "Aha. And you?"

"I’m a dwarven tamer."

"What the hell are you taming down here in the darkness?"

"The Swarm."

"For real?” The dwarf’s answer caught him off guard. “'Cause it doesn’t look like it."

The dwarf didn’t reply. X noticed the short creature squirming in response to his factual statement, probably due to a fault in consciousness, a guilty core, regrets and everything in between. 

"Where’s everyone else of your kind? I suppose others like you live down here."

"Gone, and the few that remained... eaten, just like I will... in due time."

"Nice, those nasty beasts even protect you from yourselves."

"You don’t think I’ve tried to stop it? Me?! One of its tamers.”

"Tamer of the Swarm... then tame it! From what I see, you're doing a terrible job at it.”

"It’s not that simple! The Swarm is the reason everyone left in the first place. We slowly lost control of it... Everyone that stayed was a fellow tamer, and now, only I remain. Somehow the Swarm still heeds my call, less now... but still..." The dwarf trailed off, his sight delving into the void.

The elf observed the dwarf’s miserable semblance and discovered strong lines in his face, signs of a quickened maturity, an artificially advanced senility. Stressed roamed free inside him. X decided to veer the conversation in a different direction.

 "How long have you been down here by yourself?"

"Several years... It doesn't matter. My fate is here, controlling the Swarm.”

"You mean, failing to control it."

"It wasn't always like this."

“Yeah, that’s pretty much the definition of failure. Crap goes your way until it doesn’t.” X sighted before facing the dwarf with a faint smile. “I wish you the best, locked down here with all your demons, but I want out.”

"You're an elf. You can come and go as you please. But... weren't you sent down here to help?"

Several words echoed inside the elf’s head. He needed to squeeze every last drop of information from the sad character before him. However, one thing had been bothering him from the start.

“How do you know I'm an elf?"

"Who else could see and use the Last Rites?"

"Those glowing scribbles, aren't those warnings?"

"Scribbles? You really did hit your head. That's elven. And while the Last Rites can be used as a warning, here those were used in another way. It's part of an ancient treaty. Elves imbued magic into rock, and after signing the treaty, we dwarves are capable of using those as well.”

The elf laid back on a nearby bed and sighted. 

Is there something as too much information? 

Probably not, yet many aspects of this reality were difficult to digest. First, he needed to fully accept the premise of such a screwed-up world. 

"I noticed you and your friend, may her soul be praised, were... Your chains. Do you want me to take them off?”

“Sure.” X said, holding out his hands.

The dwarf retrieved a glowing hammer from a chest and instructed, "Put your hands on this table and don't move."

The dwarf lifted his glowing hammer, sending green thunder-like sparks flying as he smashed at the chains binding X, which shattered like paper with each hit, until the final blow broke them completely. He gazed in wonder at the glowing hammer in the dwarf's hand.

In that moment, he understood that it was a race for knowledge and that he had been done dirty by those demon-gods. A group of demonic deities living to inflict revenge upon the cursed. He saw no other choice but to trudge forward and find a way to make it work in his favor.

"Were you sent here to help us?"

The elf met the dwarf's gaze and sat up straight. 

"No.”

The dwarf's face fell in disappointment. 

"It's my time to go.”

"Of course," the dwarf said, "just a heads-up, don't touch anything that might trigger the Swarm, don't disturb the treasure, don't disturb the dungeon... you know what, you’d better get out of this dungeon as fast as you can.”

"Yeah, I figured as much.”

"Did you grab anything from the throne room?"

“No, I didn’t.”

“Good, the Swarm can smell our gold, and you don’t want it coming after you. And if you encounter the others... don’t mention me. They can’t be trusted.” 

"Oh, I know," X said, wondering if his status as an elf guaranteed the dwarf’s trust.

Maybe it were the chains. Or both.

He stretched his arms, feeling the weight of the chains lifted from his hands.

“I’d personally guide you out, but I need to look after the Swarm. Anyway, without those chains and some rest you’ll be able to exit the dungeon.” The dwarf faced the nothingness before him. “It’s amazing what you elves can do.”

"Yes, it is."

"And don't forget to use the Last Rites to navigate Dureld Dungeon faster and safer.”

“Like what you did back there, when the Swarm was about to swallow me whole?”

“Exactly!”

"Right," X said, "Can you give me some pointers? My head is still a bit foggy."

The dwarf doused the torches lighting the room. 

“Do you see them now...? The words.”

“Yes. The... elven language. But, uh... do I have to say something or...?”

"Don't you remember?"

"No."

“Ah...” The dwarf let out a sigh. "Special doors can be created at the raalt'vens."

“Those shiny eggs?”

“In a way. Those orbs are meant for special entrances and are far more sensitive... and function slightly different.” 

The dwarf gestured towards the wall they had entered from.

"Observe it. The elven word for door."

“Mhmm.” The elf did his utmost to commit those scribbles to memory,

"Now, place both your hands on it."

He obeyed and a tingling sensation surged through his hands.

"It will form in your mind... let it happen. Can you envision chambers and passageways beyond this door?"

"Yes... yes, I can!" X retrieved his hands and stared at them.

"All that remains is to imagine yourself opening it, and it will become reality."

“Holy crap, magik is incredible!” 

"It's amazing what your elven blood can accomplish. You can easily wield magic left by your ancestors... or equals. You get my point."

"It's not my magic?"

"No."

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"I see."

"Take the passage to your left, it will lead you to the main hallway."

"Can I avoid the main hallway?"

"No. This dungeon is like a labyrinth. And while there are shortcuts, there's only one way out, the way you got in. You really don’t remember anything do you?”

"I remember my name."

"Well then, I am Droffiqillua Ghenters."

"I am X the elf."

Droffiqillua extended his arm, palm open. They shook hands.

"Ekk's?"

"Yes."

"That's a strange name for an elf."

“There’s no better one for me.”

“It’s funny... but with your memory gone, you don’t behave like an elf. You sound too human.”

“Me? Noooo. Can’t be. I’m a one hundred percent bred, fed and raised elf.”

"Of course you are."

X stood before a scribble, touching it and absorbing the visions.

"Once you reach the main hallway, turn left and you know the rest."

He pictured himself opening it, and a small hole appeared on the wall, expanding. Shadows laid beyond. He stepped through.

"Get out this dungeon and don't look back."

In the dimly lit passageway, the eerie writing cast a haunting glow, illuminating just enough to outline the surroundings. He considered inquiring with the dwarf for food and a place to rest for a few hours, but he didn’t want to spend any second longer than necessary down there. Not with those critters nearby. No way in hell. He hastened his steps.

[Lucky are the wicked]

"Disappointed?"

[No. I’m merely surprised that you can’t see it.]

"No crap, it’s too dark to see anything."

[A second chance and you’re still the same.]

The elf stopped and confronted the apparition.

[Got something to say? Come on, spit it out, you’re not the shy type.]

“I’m just saying this once ‘cause it freaking hurts. Listen to me and then shut up.” He took a deep breath. “I was a motherfucker-” he gritted his teeth while pain surged through him, “in one world. I’m a motherfucker-” he knelt from pure agony, “in another. Arghh! Who wants to be anyone other than themselves?! Fuck- Ahh! you demon-gods! You’ll... never... break me... Ahhrgh!” The pain got him on all fours, nearly passed out. He panted heavily, his stomach felt like it was on fire, as if someone was drilling it.

"I... won't do it again... I promise," he slurred, like a frat boy suffering from a night of drug-fueled mistakes.

Spitting blood, the elf laid on the cold dungeon floor, exhausted. After several minutes, the apparition vanished back into the shadows. Struggling to regain his footing, he limped down the passageway until he reached the end. There, he encountered another raalt'ven, which he managed to open by repeating what Droffiqillua had taught him. Although he remained uncertain about his chosen path, those nasty insects could be anywhere, the sight of light on the other side lured him to go on. If the dwarf was telling the truth, he should be on the main hallway, illuminated by human torches. He crossed, turned left and, without looking back, walked straight ahead towards the dungeon's exit.

Tired and with a sharp, but decreasing, pain in his abdominal region, X dragged himself towards freedom once more. The elf was grateful to be walking in a well-lit area as his eyes had grown weary of the dim lighting. He shuffled his feet, using his left hand to prop himself against the wall and forcing his legs to keep moving. His frail nerves betrayed his exhausted body, making him look back every two steps, but his mind pushed forwards, one way or another he’d get out. 

Behind him, the dungeon laid quiet and desolate. He wondered what kind of cognitive beasts would actually choose to live underground, closed off to everything but their own circular thinking.

[I’m still not convinced]

“Huh... you’re still here... I thought I ran you off. Forever.”

[Run? How could I? How could we? ]

“Watch me.”

One and a half hours later, he still trudged along with the gait of a troubled creature, albeit at a somewhat quicker pace. 

[You can rest too, you know.]

“With all the craziness trapped in this craphole. Nah. I’ll rest when I feel the sun on my face.”

He stopped.

“Did you hear that?”

No answer came from his shadow. X took a few steps before stopping again.

“Something’s... not...”

This time the voices and footsteps were louder, growing closer by the second. He frantically searched for a raalt'ven to escape into but found nothing. He picked up his pace, trying to outrun the sounds.

“Ah! Stooop! I need to reeest!” 

“Damnrrrl that thing! Squeal!”

“It stopped back there, listen to what I’m telling you, it’s no longer chasing us!”

“Fuuuck! My hand!”

The shadows appeared before him.

“Bait!?”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Where the fuck have you been?!” Ferraine yelled.

“And your chains? Slllamaga?” Heiran asked with a calm demeanor.

The redheaded elf surveyed the group and saw exhaustion and frustration mirrored in their faces. Orjas had a bandaged arm with blood seeping through, and his left hand was missing.

“Some really peculiar, little black insects came out of nowhere. Those ate Slllamaga, and my chains-”

“Thooose little shits ate my haaand too!”

"I told you, Heiran!”

"Oink oink!”

"We need to go.”

“No shiiit.”

"Now.”

"What are those black... things?" X asked.

“That’s the damned Herald!” Ferraine momentarily lost herself. “Fuck it Heiran! It wasn’t suppose to be that thing!”

"We’re dooone."

“Shut up!” Heiran raised his voice and everyone got quiet. “First, we get out. We don’t spend a second longer in here than we need to. Once out, we take Orjas to a healer, and then... then we figure out what just happened. Understood?”

“Suuure thing boss.”

“Oink...”

“Let’s do that.”

Heiran approached Ferraine.

“We are going to need your eyes wide open, something smells rotten down here.”

Ferraine nodded, her focus sharp.

"Move it," Heiran ordered. "The exit is close."

With everyone’s nerves on edge, they made their way out in silence Yeres assisted Orjas in walking, he had lost too much blood. Ferraine kept watch at the rear for the Swarm or any other potential predators, while Heiran took the lead. X pushed through his fatigue and kept pace with the group. The elf cursed his luck, encountering the shadows put a crack on his plans, but his mind raced against time trying to find a solution. 

“Yes! We made it!” With the gates in sight, X yelled.

"We're almost there," Ferraine said.

“Orjas squeeads needs, oink, a healer and fast. The snrnotion he took is ending its effects.”

“I’m... fiiine...”

"Ferraine, as soon as we're out, find Seijen and tell him to bring the carriage," Heiran instructed. "Yeres, get Orjas in the carriage and leave. I'll find horses for me and Ferraine, and we'll catch up."

Everyone nodded. X heard those instructions that didn’t include him. He smiled to himself, once outside he would chart his own course.

Finally, they stepped into the sunlight, and the group quickly made their way across the gates, relishing the warmth of the sun and the fresh air blowing their way beneath a dazzling blue sky.

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