6.0 Ancestral Legacy: Return to the Catacombs

We entered the Great Hall of Silica, our usual destination whenever we arrived. Without wasting any time, we made a beeline for the quest board, as was our routine. The sight that greeted us was all too familiar, the same repetitive quests posted, offering the usual choices of slaying bronze goblins, gathering herbs, or assisting the townsfolk. I couldn't help but feel a growing weariness with these mundane tasks. I yearned for something more challenging and rewarding. The prospect of being promoted to the silver rank and gaining access to more exciting missions had been on my mind for some time now. It had been two long months since I first arrived, and apart from brief forays into the nearby wooded forest, I hadn't ventured far.

I was faced with heavy stares from other adventures lately. No doubt from jealousy from handing around so many girls. We have been doing quests just Silica, Kendra, and I. We would also invite Haruka, and Yumi along as well. There weren’t many women's adventures in the moonlight. Mostly old worn out adventures. Good thing they had Nana, she seemed to perk all the old men right up. They haven’t given me any trouble yet, just awkward stares. The stares when we go to Jarven pub are on a totally different level. Maybe because I was drinking juice, but that stuff is delicious after a quest!

Silica and I were discussing our limited options when Mrs. Nana, the guild's information receptionist hurried over to us, a hint of panic in her voice. She greeted Silica warmly and wasted no time in sharing the news. "Silica, I have the perfect quest for you three," she exclaimed. Kendra and I exchanged glances, suddenly filled with anticipation, a welcome change from our previous monotony!

"What kind of quest is it?" I asked eagerly. "It's an exploration mission into the catacombs, Monsters have been using it as a base almost like a labyrinth, it's located two hours south of here. The last party to conquer it was Silica's ancestors' group over 300 years ago," Mrs. Nana explained. "Three hundred years!" I marveled internally, only to remember that time passed three times faster in this world compared to ours.

All eyes turned to Silica, as she was the natural leader in this situation and held a personal connection to the quest through her ancestral ties. Her green eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Let's do it!" Silica declared with enthusiasm.

"That's awesome!" Nana responded, adding a note of caution. She emphasized that it was an exploratory mission and instructed us not to proceed if it became too dangerous. She handed us two maps. The first one displayed the country of Tarshish, with a marked location indicating where the catacombs were believed to be, and a few kilometers away, the city of Moonlight Grove. The second map was an older, hand-drawn artifact that was drawn by one of Silica's family ancestors from over 600 years ago. It provided intricate details about the labyrinth, outlining its eight floors, each spanning an area of approximately 100 by 50 feet, teeming with rooms and interconnected tunnels. The last known inhabitants were goblins and zombies, but the previous party had successfully eradicated all the menacing creatures.

Excitement and anticipation surged within us as we absorbed the information from the maps. The prospect of embarking on this grand adventure, following in the footsteps of Silica's ancestors, filled us with a renewed sense of purpose. We were eager to explore the labyrinth's depths, discover its secrets, and face whatever challenges lay in wait. The monotonous quests of the past were momentarily forgotten as a thrilling new chapter unfolded before us.

***

As we arrived at the gates of the town of moonlight, our horses materialized before us, summoned through our magical abilities. I took charge of summoning Kendra's horse alongside my own. While it was estimated to be a two hour journey on foot, I pondered how much time we could save by riding on horseback.

As we set off on our trusty steeds, I realized that my experience with horse riding had been limited to training sessions. Isabella, Kendra's horse, was a magnificent mare with both strength and a gentle disposition. Caspian, on the other hand, was older and more laid-back, seemingly going wherever he pleased. Silica's horse, Shadowfax, exuded incredible energy and radiated the spirit of a true king among horses.

Navigating the paths previously frequented by monsters and wild creatures, we found ourselves on narrow and winding trails that deviated far from a straight course. However, as we pressed onward, the path gradually widened, indicating our approach to the labyrinth. We expected to encounter more monsters along the way due to the expanded trail, but to our surprise, we encountered none.

Uhm spoke too soon. Jinxed it. Suddenly, two goblins appeared on the road, marking the beginning of our exploration. Without hesitation, Kendra spurred her horse forward, charging at the goblins with great force, knocking them both down. Swiftly dismounting, she dispatched them with her sword.

Recognizing the potential risks of having the horses near the labyrinth, we employed our summoning magic to send them back to town, ensuring their safety. Before proceeding to the entrance.