Chapter 1

Interlude 1

To my subjects I say; go forth with your grit and determination. Delve deep with your hearts and strength, for honor, glory, and riches await those willing to risk their lives and sanity in the Cavern and its probable unending depths.

- King Romulus 3rd, Year 226th of the Imperial Calendar

*****

“Please whichever god can hear my prayer, don't let it end here. In this dark and dank pit.” These thoughts flashed through my mind as this beast drew closer. “Please without me my brother will surely…” At that moment the beast chose now to strike at its meal, that being me of course. People say all the time when an adventure doesn’t come back that they knew the risks. That’s bullshit! Some of us bust our asses down here not for fame or glory. Most of us don’t have much else we can do.

I remember years ago before I ever set foot in this forsaken pit, “Astrid please,” I ask as I looked into her bright eyes, “ if something happens to me please make sure to take care of Nikolai”. Of course she wouldn’t say no. She’s known us since before my parents passed, but how would a woman like her even be able to afford his medicine let alone continue to feed him as she does. The pain in my arm is throbbing pain with intense pain. The beast is finally getting a taste of it’s next meal, my fucking arm.

I hope I taste good, you stupid wolf. Probably a low rank alpha at least rank C. No wonder I’m going to be eaten. I knew going this deep was stupid. I just wished to buy us some breathing room. Breathing… oh yeah something I should probably do. Astrid, Kaylin, Nikolai… if only I could see them one last time. Light feeling… Fuzzy feeling… feel…

Chapter 1 -

The Cavern is an accursed pit of despair and longing. It holds countless treasures but the risks are beyond words. Cursed weapons especially among them. Some offer minor benefits for minor gain. Others however may instill amazing gifts to the user, however making such a pact with these accursed tools always comes at a price.

Rudolph Von Jaxon, Excerpt from his book “Curses and Vexes in our Time” Circa Year 343 IC

*****

“I don’t know if I will ever get used to this feeling” the young man laments to himself as his blade slowly pulls out of the beast before him. The beast, some hairy wolf-like creature, was only a low rank D creature. Not much could be gained from killing such a lowly creature. Its fangs were a dime a dozen on the surface, their pelts were far too mangy at such a low rank to be made into a rug or clothing, in truth the only real reason to kill something like this would be for survival. They made a modest food source if you were to be stuck in the caverns for any real extended time.

In truth the young man's laments were because of how caring his heart was. To take the life of another living creature never sat well with him, but his options were thin and he knew this all too well. “Well better keep going” he quietly mouths. Before moving too far from the downed beast he checks his satchel attached to his side. In it are a handful of sparkling rocks, a bloody bag full of some sorts of squishy organic and bleeding objects, and a couple of rather decent sized purple crystals.

“Well this should get us by alone for about half a week but if I could take out the Arcane Viper ahead we would be set for at least two weeks maybe three if I stretch out each coin” he thinks to himself before closing up the bag and turning around. “If I come back home beat up like last time I took on a Rank C Sheila will probably kill me personally”. The truth is an adventurer of his rank, a lowly rank D, is going to always struggle with something ranked above them. The young man knows this yet the risk versus the reward has caused many adventurers to bite off way more than they could chew. “Maybe it’s about time to partner with a group again” he contemplates as he makes his way back up to the upper floors.

*****

Finally breaking through to the surface, the light blinded him as he had spent way longer inside then he had planned. Entering the Cavern before dawn and returning to the village of Caprice, a quaint little hamlet with a lively market, by mid afternoon was fairly typical for the Young Man. “I wonder how Nikolai is doing” he comments as his stomach starts to growl. “Ugh I hope Astrid made that stew again. Honestly I’ll take anything at this point” he says while holding his stomach.

He quickly handles his business washing the pillaged goods from within the Cavern that lined his satchel and diligently trading them at their respective vendors. As he walks up to the florist in the market square a middle aged man and young woman, presumably the man’s wife, greet him. “Long day Silas?” the man asks. “Yeah didn’t help I missed out on breakfast so you know, just slowly dying” he laughs. “Getting something for Astrid or Nikolai?” the woman questions. Why not both he thinks to himself. They both deserve to have something beautiful now and then. Besides, he got a good deal on the sack of rice he planned to bring home. Though his sword could also stand to be replaced. It’s ok next time on the sword, yes to the flowers.

“Let me get that bundle of Yellow ones for Nikolai, and maybe…” Before he could decide, the young woman handed him a bundle of pink and white flowers with a single blue rose in the middle. “Here these should make Astrid ecstatic”. After handing over the money he hurriedly returns home to his family that awaits him.

*****

A young boy walks inside a damp cave. He looks confused and lost wandering down this seemingly endless corridor. He notices the smell of blood. Eventually he stumbles upon a slumped over body bleeding out and barely breathing. As he gets closer to the dying person his eyes grow wider. He attempts to shout but his voice wont work. Panic sets in even further when out of the corner of his eye he notices a woman with long unkempt blonde hair with blue eyes that gave off a subtle blue glow was staring at him.

She laughs. “Petiful isn’t, young one. If only something could save that poor cursed soul of yours.” She walks up to the two of them slowly. Each step causes a sizzling sound. As she reaches them she crouches down and lifts the dying man's head up to reveal Silas. The woman’s voice becomes like radio static “how about it? You don’t want to die right? Let me help you.”

Then as soon as she appeared the entire scene was engulfed in darkness. The young boy awakens in his bed with a shout. He peers out the window from his bed to see that it’s about mid day. The boy lets out his tears. “Big Brother”

*****

“Lets see we got the laundry done, Stews on the stove, and sweepings done. Hey Nikolai, did you need anything honey?” The young woman in her simply worn dress, long chestnut hair with her single braid framing her face leaves the small kitchen to enter another room where a young boy with short gray hair, the same one in the dream, lays in a bed. By the way the sunlight stretches across the room it was easy to tell that it was nearing the evening hours. “Astrid, do you think Big Brothers doing ok at work today?” Astrid looks at him with caring eyes. “He always comes home to us doesn’t he? Don’t worry so much dear. Would you like some tea before dinner is finished?”

Nikolai decided it best to not mention his dream to Astrid and especially not to his brother Silas when he returned home. Though not only did the dreams content bother him, the fact that he is getting more and more dreams of his brother dying in the cavern has been wearing on him mentally. Being bed ridden as he was and reliant on medicine means that his brother and Astrid have to take care of him. “Astrid, I’m sorry for being a burden”.

Astrid looks at him with a stern and upset look on her face. “Stop it! you’re doing it again!” She moves quickly to his side to cup his face with her calused hands. “Silas and I have both been over this with you. You are not a burden.You have never been a burden. We choose to help you and be by your side because we are a family.” with the word “family” leaving her mouth she turned a deep dark red in the face. Nikolai looks at her with a knowing look. The one mischievous look he tended to give Silas and her whenever either of them got flustered.

“You thought of it again didn’t you?” Nikolai asks with a conspiratorial tone. “You both are dense as hell, you know that.” he adds. Astrid retorts “I have no idea of what you mean. I just see you both as my dear brothers and nothing more.” The truth though was that Astrid was more of a childhood friend then sibling, and at the rate things were going probably more like a mother to the two brothers. With Silas always diving in the cavern to make ends meet for them and poor Nikolai having been ill most of his life, well someone had to take care of them.

Once she got Nikolai to the dinner table they could hear the sound of the front door creaking open. Soon enough Silas casually walked into the dining room “sorry I’m a little late I decided to get you both a surprise.” With that he pulled out the bundle of yellow flowers from his bag and showed them to his brother. “Hey little bro, these are for you. I hoped the bright color would cheer you up some.” “Thanks big bro. You didn’t get hurt today or anything strange happened right.” Silas pauses to look at him with a concerned look. “Nikolai, you worry too much. You know that I do my best to stay safe, especially when solo adventuring. I do have to ask, how are you feeling today?” Astrid replies “He slept pretty well while I was around and he took his dose without any fuss. I consider that a win.”

“By the way these are for you Astrid.” he reaches into the bag and pulls out the bundle of flowers that the owners gave him to give her. The ones that were pink and white with a single blue flower in the middle. When Astrid laid her eyes on the bundle her hands rushed to cover her mouth. She looked astonished at them. “Are you serious!?” Astrid exclaimed. “What? Is there something wrong with them?” Nikolai laughs “Big bro do you seriously not know what those flowers represent?” He musters out between laughs. “I mean they are just a bunch of flowers. What meaning could they possibly have?” With that Sheila went from shocked to angry. Angrier than either of them have ever seen.

“You damn idiot! Those flowers are given out as a way to propose to a woman!” Astrid screeched out. “I uh, I didn’t know.” Silas meekly squeaked out. “I am going to kill Rachel when I see her and that stupid smug face again!” Silas exclaims. The look of disappointment on Astrid’s face is immeasurable. “Look I’m sorry about the misunderstanding but I…” Astrid replies back saying “It’s ok. I understand. Anyways I made your favorite stew and it should be about ready. Thank you, Silas. For providing for us. For putting yourself in danger every time you walk into the cavern.”

After the household settled down after the flower ordeal and commotion the whole home was filled with familial warmth. The smell of the stew permeated every room, their laughter from sharing their days, and the understanding that even if it wasn’t ideal this was their home. That each one of them relied on each other in some way or another.

*****

After dinner and the night has settled in, Silas offers to walk Astrid back to her house, even though it’s just down the street. Despite not being ready to move further in their quasi relationship he still worries for her safety. As they step outside into the night the cool air envelops them and Astrid obviously looks like the chill is getting to her. He pulls her into a sudden embrace.

“Astrid, thank you so much for everything you do for us. Words aren’t enough.” She lets out a sharp exhale. “Idiot don’t thank me for that. I do what I feel is right and because.” She looks up at Silas at that moment, unshed tears in her eyes. “Because I love you both more than anything.” He stares back lost for words at that moment.

All along he knew how she felt and even now he felt the same way. The thing holding him back most of all was the uncertainty of whether he would live or die the next time he stepped foot into the cavern. He tried on many occasions to find safer, more stable work but something about the cavern called to him each time. Astrid knew better than to tell him to stop diving into it.

“Listen I can’t” Silas was suddenly caught off guard by Astrid. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to say it. I already know. Please just let me continue to love you.” She reaches up on her tiptoes as she seals her lips onto his in a tender kiss. As she pulled away both of their breaths were taken from them. “By the way, you're not diving tomorrow right?” Astrid asked with a hopeful look in her eyes. “Yeah, I do need to run and get more medicine for Nikolai though.” Astrid’s face lit up at his words. “Perfect, then I can tag along with you. If you don’t mind, that is.”