Captain Uhtred addressed the 4 of us as we stood at attention. Having just finished our joint morning training session being so close to my sweaty brothers in arms was not pleasant on my nostrils. Even more so when we all were irritated the mayor sent us out here.

“Mission for today is a simple one. We’ll march the last 2 miles with the emergency equipment and locate the cave indicated by the Phalen household. Once we’ve confirmed the site we’ll all head in. Standard hallway formation with me in center permitted the cave is wide enough. Stated goals for the mission are possible rescue of Ford and Shane Phalen, but frankly we’re looking for bodies and, at the mayor and Mage Guilds request, Ford’s notes. Cave itself shouldn’t be too deep and the mage supposedly had a small station towards the back he’d stay overnight in. Notes should be in there given we can find it.

“If in truth something has happened to the Phalen’s we’re only supposed to document and head back home. Should anyone spot something out of the ordinary in the cave or on the way report to me and we’ll scope it out. Last thing we want is a Chimera running around the woods and getting killed before we tell anyone. That means no heroics Quarin!”

Me and the other guys held back our laughter. Quarin was something of an accolade seeker given his extremely loose connection to the Yui family. Honestly those crazy bastards would storm the capitol for a single room change in their Tower of Soot. Power hungry fools the lot of them. Especially with the newest legacy master shaking up the family structure...

Silently marching the small unit of the lackluster Brooksdam militia set off. A simple hike in theory through the pine forest to the east of town, but with the extra emergency equipment they’d been forced to bring along it was a tiring walk. If the map from the old mages family was accurate the cave is only around 15 miles out from town. A good days travel given the rough terrain and possible wild encounters. Having both trained and grown up inside these woods though the militia was more than capable of reaching the cave unharmed.

---

Just around 10:00 the 5 men found themselves setting down some of their camping equipment outside the cave mouth. No use carrying the heavy stuff for such a small excursion after all. If it turned out by some miracle the Phalen’s were alive one of the men could come and grab the needed supplies after recovery.

“Line up!” yelled Uhtred as the men scrambled to get in the agreed upon formation.

Hallway formation was based solely on a squad captains buff skill named [Commander]. A passive ability in the [General] series of war skills. [Commander] would enhance the strength and stamina of any nearby holders of the [Soldier] skill considered allies. [Soldier] of course being a skill all affiliated with the military are required to obtain before promotion. Uhtred had been boasting for years about breaking through to [Sergeant] but no one in the militia believed him, me included. Little action as the Brooksdam militia saw I’ve only seen my Dreams 4 times in 5 years of service. Honestly Shane had the right idea hunting game over criminals...

Other than captain Uhtred, who would hold the group torch and his sword, everyone else was carrying spears. Most town militias handed out enchanted gear to soldiers but with the current shortage of elemental stones our were shipped off to the proper cities. According to the higher ups we’ll be getting our old gear back in a few months when the trade deals between Illia and Chlorostail are renewed. But for now we’re little more than properly trained citizens or average adventurers. Honestly just our presence deters most crime in quiet old Brooksdam so we’ve all been neglecting our training as of late.

For this mission I was stationed in the rear with Thomas, Uhtred took the middle, leaving Kain to lead the way with Quarin. Given the small size of the cave I should have expected our metal armor and boots to make a cacophony of clanging throughout. Despite the noise and supposed disappearances the most dangerous thing in this cave is likely the slippery floor...

Echoing Uhtred ordered “According to the family Ford’s little research station is under that drop in the ceiling over there. Deters bigger animals at night or something. Keep formation and take your time, it might get a little hard to see with me behind you.”

Kain and Quarin got down on their stomachs to crawl while pulling their spears beside them. Once there was room Uhtred followed behind, careful to keep the torch aloft. But despite his efforts both lead militia men suddenly fell in the darkness.

Both splashed and let out surprised yells in a body of water none of us could see yet. Other than the initial surprise and righting their bodies to stand the pair was fine. Uhtred simply yelled for us all to be careful and with extra caution we all climbed down into the water while keeping the torch raised.

Sloshing our way towards the rather well lit shore of mushrooms Uhtred called out,

“Mr. Phalen! If you’re in here please call out so we can locate you!”

To everyone’s surprise, a few moments later he got a pained response further inside the cave “H-hello! Yes, It’s me! Please help! Oh thank the gods...”

Glancing at each other we began pushing towards the shore with greater gusto than before. Not one of us could explain it but somehow the old mage was alive! I for one was feeling a bit guilty at our lackluster rescue time.

Out from underneath the lowered portion of the ceiling a small wooden structure was revealed to us. According to the report Ford would come out into the woods to run experiments too dangerous to execute in town. He was given quite a lot of leeway given his prior status in the Mage’s Guild but laws were laws.

“Mr. Phalen you sound injured! Do you require medical attention?”

Groaning despite his obvious exhilaration he answered “I only need help getting out of here! A while back my experiment blew on me and I got trapped under the rubble. Didn’t Shane send you guys? He went to get help since he couldn’t move the bigger stuff. He hunted some game for me before heading back 2 days ago.”

Lifting a finger to his lips and shaking his head at us the captain replied “Yes sir! You should be proud of your nephew. His actions very well could have saved your live!”

Climbing out onto the mushroom ridden shore Kain screamed out in pain. Turning we saw him pulling against the ground and screaming, gesturing to his heel.

“Get these things off of me!” he yelled as several red and black mushroom pulsed and grew, a series of long thorns managing to pierce through his armored soles.

Removing them took both me and Thomas working together but we eventually managed to pry the fungus off him. According to Kain the thorns had been sucking blood out of his body at a very fast rate. Even as we walked away his pale face told the painful story of the short encounter.

Only a few steps back towards the captain and Quarin later Thomas was captured by another mushroom. This one managed to trap the full grown man in place with a sticky mucus seemingly no damage being dealt. We moved to help him cut it off but he simply waved and told us to help the old man.

Nodding in agreement we all walked into the house expecting some rubble to be laying over an old man. In that scenarios place was a fairly normal looking, if rotting, room with a small orange gemstone laying atop a velvet covered table. Furrowing his brow Uhtred asked,

“Sir? Where are you?”

Much louder than before Ford answered “Under the bed. Secret room down here I keep my equipment in. Can’t assure you it’s all legal! Hehe...”

Motioning to Quarin and Kain the captain had them each grab opposite sides of the mattress and lift it up for us. Bending their knees and grabbing a corner each they nodded to each other and Kain began counting down.

“3...2...1”

Soon as his count reached zero the door to the shack slammed shut with a loud bang. Torch still in hand Uhtred began shining around the room for danger. At least until a blast of water shot out from the kitchen corner sizzling out the burning cloth with a hiss.

“What the fu-?” began the captain in confusion before a bloodcurdling scream erupted from Kain’s direction. From his voice alone it was obvious he couldn’t breath and in confirmation the loud thud of his body falling to the floor soon followed.

“EVERYBODY OUT!” ordered the captain as we rushed to the door.

I attempted to charge through the door but only managed to bruise my shoulder as I fell backwards. From the cracks in the old wooden door I spotted a large pile of Cave Slimes holding the door closed with their weight. Inside their mass I could see the flailing form of Thomas silently screaming as the acid burned away his flesh and armor.

“Move!” yelled Uhtred as he raised his sword to break the rotting door open with force.

Dodging to the side I took a glance behind us where Kain and Quarin had been seconds earlier. But instead of my comrades, I found myself looking at the figure of a shadowy woman hanging off the wall. If light from the mushrooms outside wasn’t coming through the cracks in the door I’d never have noticed her.

Kain was lying in a pool of his own blood, most of which flowing from a gigantic cut on his throat. We had signed up together 5 years ago, dreaming of one day becoming members of the royal guard. His wife would never see him reach that ridiculous future, along with his unborn and child.

Quarin was squirming as the woman lifted him off the floor, covering his open mouth with her hand. He had attempted to stab the woman only for his unenchanted weapon to pass through her magical body. Otherwise the hard working if not overbearing Quarin would never have missed his chance to save Kain! Sure he was rude and callous but we all knew how much he looked out for all of us behind the scenes!

Noticing my gaze the shadow woman turned her head and I knew then I would be forever haunted by what I saw. Blood red eyes with black pupils that beamed with a sickening joy and intelligence hidden behind long strands of red tipped black hair stared back at me like a predator eyeing it’s meal. Her lipless smile of perfectly white teeth stained red with my comrades blood cemented the image as a nightmare incarnate. What was hanging in front of me could only be described as a demon.

I screamed as the captain successfully broke through the door. Using the intact planks of wood as a physical barrier he managed to push the slime mound out of our path. The quickly dissolving Thomas was beyond saving by this point so we both ran straight for the dark water. While running several of the blood sucking mushrooms pierced my feet and took their fair share of my blood in exchange for tearing them out of the ground.

Managing to injure my left foot further, I stepped on a bright red and black animal that immediately cauterized my fresh wounds. Responding to my unwelcome presence it bit my ankle with surprising force given its size, leaving a new scar. Seeming enraged as well a second creature of the same species began launching small balls of fire over our backs. I managed to dodge them but the captain’s back was quickly set aflame.

Diving into the water served us no favors, as immediately hundreds of small fish began biting, slashing, and ramming into us from every direction. Given our armor the biting didn’t do much but further our frenzied state of mind.

Beside me I felt the current change and the captain began pulling on my arm desperately. Movement reflecting the green light of the mushrooms I realized he was being pulled underwater by a localized whirlpool. Beneath the waves I spotted 6 glowing pink lines and the vague shape of another animal.

Loyalty discarded given the circumstances I threw Uhtred’s arm off my own and manically renewed my pace towards the exit. Along with those of pain I blinked away tears when I remembered the betrayed look my captain of 5 years gave me. The best I could do for him is tell is family what happened. People needed to know what was living in this cave no matter what! He would understand if he was in my position!

Passing under the green mushroom covered drop down I used my left hand to grip the rock and shove myself forwards. But as my finger grazed one of the mushrooms the cave was instantly engulfed in bright green as the mushroom burst with light magic.

Vision spotty and useless I tried to wade in the churning water long enough for it to return. Further disorienting me the waves began rising in size again, spinning me around. While trying to remember the exit’s location, my ears, enhanced by the lack of sight, realized the splashing of captain Uhtred had stopped. Bringing whatever had drowned him over to me.

Shivering in my fear and loneliness I realized I would die as two firm hands gripped around my waist. Water fell off my body and began echoing off the quiet cave walls that had been filled with the clanking of armor only minutes earlier. My vision returned just in time to meet death’s own. Two red eyes and an upside down white smile.

As the 10 daggerlike fingers extended into my chest and time began to slow I noticed she had come out of the ceiling. Body going cold and quickly losing control of my limbs I just stared at the smiling demon. And as she dropped me down into the bloodied and churning waters, she licked my blood off her fingers.

“Glory to the Master.”

“SPLASH!”