In the Abysses, the Monsters Dwell

A monumental thud.

    For a moment, I wonder if my heart hasn’t been ejected from my chest at the same occasion. Even though the Mimic King has somewhat smoothed the shock by outstretching its lianas, the landing remained rough as hell.

“Is everyone alive?” I ask, feeling each part of my body shaking in plenty ways it shouldn’t.

“Yes!” Beluacor exclaims.

“Ghh…” Tyffeon grumbles, and the following moment he ignites a spark at the end of whatever useless item he has grabbed.

    Thanks to the source of light, I turn my head towards the only one who hasn’t replied yet.

“Timoria?”

    She stares blankly into the void, holding onto Awa as if onto a lifeline.

    Oh okay. Timoria’s soul having momentarily left her body, she hasn’t replied. I guess it’s legit.

“Phew… We’ve made it. We’re truly in the depths.” I glance at Beluacor. “They won’t follow us down there, right?”

    He shakes his head.

“That is forbidden to go down there. The only folks allowed in the depths are the ones sent to complete their rite of passage.”

    I can feel his silver eyes on me, waiting for answers. Of course he deserves them, especially after helping us, and this despite not having any clue what was going on.

    Without him, maybe we would already be dead, or at least back in jail.

    But, at the same time, I wonder how much I can tell him. He shouldn’t have come with us. Not in the place he can meet the person he’s susceptible to kill before getting tainted…

    Is this another tricky twist of the scenario to keep unfolding? Does this mean…

“Amako?” Tyffeon frowns.

“Oh, umm, yeah.” I try to chase these thoughts away for now. They’ll bring us nothing. Instead, I turn my gaze at Beluacor. “Sorry. I know we owe you an explanation for what has happened…”

    As Tyffeon’s father prompts his Mimic to go forward into the vast cave, Timoria coming around, I explain him how we aim to defeat the emissary before it even reaches Toll Dubh. That we destroyed the eggs to ensure the safety of the village during our absence. All I keep from him… is the reason we planned such an expedition.

“Mmm… Now I understand why you were so eager to accompany me in my work… and insisted each time on fighting monsters.” He frowns a tad. “You were training.”

“Yes.” I nod.

    Holding an iron stone he found on our way, Beluacor’s magic allows him to shape it into what resembles an oil lamp. Reaching it out towards Tyffeon, he lets him light a spark inside.

“Why haven’t you said anything to our Chief? He might not have believed you, though by keeping silent as you did,.. everyone now thinks that the Saintess is possessed by demons. Some wonder if it isn’t because of you that the emissaries appear in the first place.”

“That’s ridiculous, we’ve already fought and defeated one in Ard Ramalia!” Tyffeon exclaims.

“I know. They know. Though…” Beluacor trails off.

“It’s ok.” I assure. “We were aware of the reputation it would bring us. But I didn’t want us to risk saying words that would have angered Gobha enough to execute us on sight. He’s not exactly… the serene type.” I pause, taking a glance at Beluacor. My next words… I hope they won’t sound suspicious. “And you, you’re not holding a grudge against us for destroying your treasure?”

    He doesn’t answer at once.

“According to your words, a vision showed you these eggs were corrupted?”

“That’s it.”

“Then, as much as they represented for us, I believe in you. I won’t argue. Your actions will show me all I need to know.”

    These are the only words he shares on that matter, soon focusing ahead of us.

    The area we explore is scattered with crystals, bunches of them protruding here and there like flowers would have in another setting.

“Can you help us find the other Knockers?” Tyffeon asks his father.

    Beluacor doesn’t even glance back at him. He simply nods.

    In the silence of the depths, the only sounds which echo through the caves and tunnels we cross are squawks of Basilicks, eager to wrap their long and thin tongue around a fresh prey, and bones’ rattle of Skeletons wandering around.

    Even following Beluacor’s guidance, it may take us days or weeks before finding anyone… or reaching the place where they should be. Hence, after what seemed like hours, we decide to establish our camp for the night. At least Beluacor calls it so. I don’t know how they can distinguish day from night in this grim place.

    The place we choose to stop at is encircled by some sorts of glowing trees, seemingly made out of crystals. At least, if something approaches, we’ll be able to see it.

    As we set camp around a crackling campfire, we prepare some food to grill.

“Don’t put this much herbs.” I squint my eyes at Tyffeon.

    He frowns in reply.

“Where has Timoria gone?” Beluacor chimes in, stepping closer.

“She said she wanted to see if she could find something edible.” Tyffeon answers. “She shouldn’t be far from here.”

“Something edible…” Beluacor pauses, as if lost in thought. “To wander alone through the depths isn’t safe, let’s not leave her alone.”

“Aight. I’ll go check on her then.” I straighten up.

    As I head in the direction Timoria went earlier, Beluacor follows me. Leaving Tyffeon and Awa to watch over our camp.

***

    No one can be sure of how long they would stay down there. Their provisions probably won’t be enough for the duration of their stay, so Timoria decided to take a look around. Maybe she would be able to find some edible plants, some fruits, or…

    As she walks through the cave, a torch lighting her path, her malachite eyes fall over white forms erupting from the ground.

“Mushrooms?”

    A smile appears on her features. There is a good bunch of them! Surely if she shows them to Beluacor, he’d be able to tell if they are safe to eat.

    Kneeling next to one of the mushrooms, Timoria already extends her hand to grab one.

“She’s over there.” Amako’s voice reaches her cow ears.

    Glad at the idea of having found something, she stands up and turns in the direction the voice comes from.

“Look! I’ve found some mushrooms.” She beams.

***

“See?” I smile back at Timoria as she waves at us. “It didn’t even take us long to find her.”

    But as I seem reassured, Beluacor doesn’t utter a word. Glancing down at him, I catch sight of his eyes wide open.

    A strange, uneasy feeling beginning to fill my chest. I glance back at Timoria only to notice the white mushroom she holds in her hands.

“Run away!!” Beluacor screams. “Don’t stay close to these things!”

    Timoria barely has the time to take on a puzzled expression before the ground behind her begins to quake.

    A breath.

    It needs no more time. It takes no longer than that to surge from the ground, letting stones shatter all around. A massive, brownish silhouette rises on its four paws, towering Timoria. Covering his grey and brown back, a bunch of white mushrooms.

    Her first reflex despite the fright is to cover her nose with her hand, the fur of the monster she now faces being atrociously stinky. Worse than a mix of rotten meat and fish.

    In a brisk move, the monster hurls its clawed paw at Timoria’s waist. Giving her no time to even fully turn back at us and run away before the blow hits her back, sending her flying straight to the nearest wall.

    Blood soon staining the rocks.