Through the thick forest, the two journeys without ever encountering adversaries. Two hours of trekking nonstop, they finally came facing the entrance of the cave. Observe— a crumbling box-type column slowly wrapped by roots. It's columns and walls were uneven, swallowed by the earth.
The ground holds many footprints of different creatures, small and oddly shaped footprints. Vashkeil is foreign, and treading without knowing is a suicidal mission for Natalak. For Ashalain, she without fear strides towards the cave. Confident as she is, considering her guild crest— a gold class, it would assume she's an experience one.
To Natalak, he first grooms his items. Prioritizing the short sword as his weapon. Minutes pass, he finally set himself, prepared and ready for an adventure. He wonders if the half-elf already far left him, fortunately, hidden from the corners and shadow she waits for him just fifteen meters from the entrance.
Behind Ashalain's back, Natalak struggle in search of a torch, when Ashalain abruptly casts a spell, a white burning orb appears banishing the darkness of the cave. Like Ashena's magic that he once saw in the garden. But Ashalain's orb is sun-like than her sister's glowing orb dangling in the palm.
"Might I ask lady half-elf, where did you learn some magic?" Natalak implores, as they slowly walk deeper into the cave.
"Names Erika, and tell me something— why do you keep barging strange questions regarding magics and people? Just what land did you come from?"
"Well, I ah— I was technically newly born here." The traveler smile, a stupid smile, when suddenly they heed a rustle towards their direction.
Swords readies, hand stiff for an action. The paladin however was calm and fluid than Natalak's anxious body. Five strange wolf-like beings and seven hybrids of spider and mantis reveal themselves in the dark. From their eyes and movement, Ashalain notice they were different than the standard creatures they were. Possessed or controlled by other powerful entities.
"Let there be light." Ashalain glides her hand at the border edge of the sword, engulfing the blade in fire.
Charging towards their direction, and through a single swing of her foil, the fire quickly devours the front charger. Intense and quick, the monsters were no more than ash and for the remaining survivors— submerge in fear by what they saw. Raising the sword once more in cold blood, down she slashes, erupting a line of fire emerges from the ground towards the two creatures, roasting them to ashes.
Witnessing her contest, Natalak jaws drop, all he could do is silence from what he saw. When suddenly— sprung from the darkness, hideous and mutated undead spider, dripping in slime emerge from a hole. Providentially, Ashalain's light caught the ambush granting Natalak a quick dodge of his life. The spider's palps ravenously trusts and claw, in return, the adrenaline of Natalak's evasion manage to slice one of its palps.
Shrieking and before it could spit corrosive web, a flaming sword speared the monster. In agony, Ashalain blitz in second punching the large spider, forcing it to retreat to its den. But the paladin was more to conclude its life, than to give mercy.
A strength of a hundred people, did she easily pull the monster before it could escape, and gave a quick death. Pulling the sword and easily did she decapitate the spider in half, it's body still convulse but the grant of Ashalain's flame burns it in minutes. Here, upon witnessing such performance did Natalak realize, there's more to this world. And this is just the beginning of his journey.
Naturally, Natalak was itching to check the corpses, looking for any valuables to sell. But seeing their burned state, it was useless to consumed such doing. Even their burned stench was enough to make his nose squealing in pain of their cooked blood and internal organs. As there were no gleaming things to be seen from the dreadful cave.
Checking the map, they follow the direction leading to the temple, but Ashalain had better ideas, she wanted to clean this cave free of monsters and abomination. So rather than entering the main path to the temple— the two ventures to the other route. Following the tunnel that leads to who know where, both came across a different-looking structure, which is different from the temple's entrance. From the looks, it was a metallic twelve-inch large door.
"Dwarven tunnels." Ashalain blurts.
Natalak inspects the surroundings, and saw the dwarven tunnels are crumbling away. Too, there are residues left by monsters, bones, blood and large cuts on the door, frames and stonewalls.
Sensing a lingering danger, he secretly fishes out a potion. It was an Endurance potion that he bought at Ravalind's market. Furtively after a quick drink did Natalak feel a heat surging through his body, a sensation of energy that tells he can run many miles nonstop.
When Natalak's eyes returns at Ashalain, the sun-orb then burst into dozens of copies. Spreading through the place, it illuminates all the shadows of every corner. He couldn't do nothing but stare at her magic, awe and the sense of danger around her. True enough when she focuses her eyes at Natalak, he felt somewhat afraid to face such woman.
"Your hand." Ashalain extending her hand.
"Um, is there anything that I should be worried?" Natalak's eyes were shifting up and down.
"No, but I can't guarantee your safety. If you want my flames to ensnare you then be my guest." Ashalain's eyes widen for a reply.
"Fine."
The moment his hand make contact with hers, he felt a surge of holy power tingling both his soul and the flesh. The simple sword and shield he carries now burns in embers. Even his skin can be seen creating small lines of cinders. Combined with the potion's buff and the paladin's shared blessing— Natalak's wound from his throat instantly healed. The sword and shield, even his armor radiates in holy energy.
"Can you cast any magic?" Ashalain implores.
"I can't, nor I don't have any knowledge of such." Natalak shakes his head.
Disappointed yet from her expression, the paladin wasn't convinced enough.
"We should move on." The paladin said as she goes towards the large dwarven gate.
Single handedly did Ashalain easily opens the door and what reveals were flocks of enemies. Monsters of different kinds, mutated by some strange slime coiling their bodies. Still, their movements and their expression show they are being controlled.
"Oh! Should we—" Natalak says, stunned by what he's facing, a crowd of enemies.
Many they may be, but that doesn't stop Ashalain from marching towards the enemy without sweating fear. For it is them that they should fear her.
They leap upon the quick sight of their presence— head-on, the paladin recklessly clashes with the enemies. Swords splitting bones and flesh as flames scorches flesh.
Natalak joins the fray— awe, he can already feel the difference. His sword cleaves the enemy's flesh without giving too much effort. His strength was enough to send one of the enemies flying from a single kick. Though, by the time Natalak's adrenaline begins to surge he saw the paladin's flaming sword begins to grow dramatically.
One can see, how alive her flame is roaring wrestling to be unleashed. Then it answered— when Ashalain plunged her sword from the ground. It burst like unrelenting wild fire, spreading, incinerating all the enemies.
When Natalak saw the tsunami of flames, he shoves the sword on the ground and hopes for the best. As the blazes reach, he felt no burning just a warm touch of the morning sun.
Quick and harrowing, all the enemies were burned into ash, or rather only their scorches on the ground are left to be seen. Natalak alters his vison towards Ashalain and saw the illusion slowly fades. The skin begins to disintegrates, erasing her disguised.
No words, no thoughts all he can do is stare. Strangely, the sword she wields is now different from the sword he stolen. Moreover, he can see Ashalain was rasping for air, as she clutches her chest.
When their eyes met— Ashalain tries to suppressed her gasping while they stare awkwardly. One asks for answered, the other already knows this would soon arrive. Nevertheless, the two resume their venture after minutes of silent unveiling.
Deeper they course into the cave, the structure changes little by little. The walls gradually became more and more cemented-like but stone carved into smooth surfaced. There they can see a dwarven sculpture holding a hammer and an axe. And it doesn't take long for them to reach one large hallway in just half an hour.
The place gradually scales, where more space to move around or large houses can be built but—
"What the heck I want to get the hell out of this gloomy place." Natalak's senses were gradually turn shivering.
Side by side as they walk along the large dwarven cavern. Until they came across a large erosion consisting of heavy rocks and metals. But what's interests Natalak the most is the large path that leads to a blockage.
"Whatever is in there, I think it might hold some treasure or big monster or something. Or is this path led to another dwarven kingdom that Garry mention."
Turning around to explore more— again they discover another place, a box-type houses consisting of only one storage building. Searching, the two looks unpredicting what holds this place. All in all, what they find were a pile of rotten woods, rusted plates, and many trinkets.
Few passing minutes, just as Ashalain tries to inspect the area, she heard a ruckus. Threading where the sound originates and what she found was Natalak stuffing every trinket, every item of what's left from the place, garbage or not. She gazes in disbelief, as Natalak sitting whilst he slowly stuffs the items on his bags.
"What?" Natalak utters.
Ashalain didn't utter a word but gave a look of embarrassment before leaving him to scavenge the place.
"Why can't I sense your presence?" Ashalain ponders while he glances at Natalak gleamingly stuff whatever his eyes caught.
Time fell, Natalak found a book near a skeleton. What's interests him was— the book didn't rot away, maybe it was maintained by magic. Hiding from Ashalain's perspective, Natalak quickly stuffs the book.
While Ashalain was looking for what holds this place, Natalak felt something dark like a shadow that just passed. It wasn't a shadow; he can feel the place slowly turns into winter. Relaying Ashalain what he felt, she quickly grabs his hand, and hastily they run off from the place.
"What is going on!" Natalak says.
Returning from where the cave branches into two.
"Just what is that thing that I've felt?" Natalak asks.
"That was a lich, though what you felt was just its aura. And it seems that a powerful wizard or mage died there." Ashalain's face was filled with serious dread.
"And what's the connection?" Natalak follows a mix of nervousness.
"Some dark force lingering in this place. Corrupting the souls of every living creature." Ashalain looks at the scorches of the enemies she'd killed.
"If only Farenggar is in my hand I would finish this off quickly." The paladin clenches her teeth as she firmly tightening her fist.
Not a word to utter, they proceed towards the path to the temple. Half an hour of walking without rest, Natalak started to worry about the effect of the potion. Here, Natalak can tell the temple had sunk from the caving of maybe dwarven tunnels or brutes.
After battling undead both creatures from the veil and monsters, the two adventurers found themselves a powerful foe.
Dispelling her light, hiding from afar, they spot a large humanoid. Estimating— standing elven feet tall or more, its appearance is grotesque. The creature's belly was hollowed and only few intestine dangling festered by dark energy and magots. Jaws left hanging; intimidatingly greenish mist whiffs out from the behemoth's flesh.
Furthermore, there are other undead monsters loitering the area, maybe fifteen or twenty.
"What is that thing? That giant thing." Tense of tone, Natalak whisper.
"An undead Ogre." Ashalain respond, eyes sharpen of confident.
"Um maybe it's best we call for reinforcement."
Flouting Natalak's words, Ashalain freely she enters the lion's den. Shield glows, sword flare up in flames, as her armor begins to reveal embers. Then— sun-orbs erupt flashing the darkness away.
Like a raging tsunami, Ashalain rushes towards the enemies. Powerful and roaring she dance through the foes; shield bashing and her tremendous strength was enough to send the undead flying. It was more like a paladin dancing, but with swords and fluid movements.
"Oh bollocks!" Natalak announced as he enters the fray.
Different from Ashalain's movement, his however was crude and unfashionable to be seen. Grabbing the enemy's leg and maliciously hammers it before tossing once the body holds no weight, or rather worn-out.
As for the elephant in the room, Ashalain goes toe-to-toe with its size. When the ogre tries to swat the paladin, a single parry of her shield was enough to send its fingers flying in the corner. On the point when the paladin's flame would finish job, overwhelmed by some dark forces Natalak saw the gradually smothered of Ashalain's light. He was unsure if his vision became blurry or the light begins to be devoured.
Shadows creep closer, and quick as the paladin, did she slice the ogre in half. Fire erupts and rapidly it cleanses the whole area. In return, she was drained— kneeling and panting heavily her fire dwindle as the dread of darkness crept closer.
Exhausted, and when Natalak tries to aid the paladin, he felt a premonition. Pushing Ashalain from his spot, a malevolent force, a spear made of pure darkness, of shadow pierced his left chest.
"Ayo what the F—"
From the corner it appears, a dark shadow, a mist-like. Its body is full of undead creatures' stack together, welded. Some of the parts holds different kinds of weapon.
Luckily, the blessing of Azarus immediately burns the dark spear.
"Madam I think we should retreat."
Stubborn and prideful Ashalain tries her best to show strength. And from the looks of her unyielding personality, she was willing to bet her life in ending the enemy.
"Are you mad!"
No command and no words, the paladin charge forward and so did Natalak. The two tries their best but slowly the abomination seems to grow stronger and Ashalain's fire wasn't enough to eliminate the monster.
Puzzlingly, the abomination was targeting Natalak rather than the paladin.
"Return what you've taken" A voiced echoes from Natalak's mind.
"Fuck you! I'm keeping what I found." Natalak answered as he struggles to evade the creature's relentless attack.
Thanks to Natalak acting as decoy. In full brunt Ashalain then draws all her might to which then she embeds her sword at the monster's flesh. She grins for a victory but her expression was changed.
Stabbing and slashing it opens and releases an unearthly scream of many. Humans, animals, monsters of different kind burst like a spilled water.
Victory was near at their hand, then when Ashalain manage to finished the abomination. She saw Natalak was pierced by the creature's attack, vile and powerful that it manages to extinguished Azarus's blessing.
Jolt from its swift attack, Natalak couldn't even utter a word, not even a curse. Worst, he can feel a dark energy injecting his every vein before the monster could collapse.
"Ah, I sense thee…" Comes a voice, a harrowing call.
The shadows from the corners became vividly alive as if the light was being walk upon. For the traveler death was coming as his vision blurs. Just as the situation became dire, hope arrives.
A whoosh of light brightens the whole area and from the entrance came Garrick in his flaming form. Adding Mishel's magic, the unknow forces of darkness withdraw upon Garrick's entrance.
"Goodness Ashalain!" Mishel announced.
"My bag-my bag" Mutters Natalak before his sight turns darkness.