II

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Arc II Chapter 14

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Stairs, stairs, and even more stairs. Contrary to Lambert's expectations, the stairs proved a tedious obstacle, an insidious obstacle. He forgot the white pest. His memory deceived him.

In his youthful exuberance, he underestimated the white marble stairs. The climb was steep and long, but they conquered the hill despite panting and cursing.

After scouting the area, they encountered no notable complications. The guild reports didn't lie, the area was safe, but Lambert didn't expect otherwise.

The Schwarzean knights were thorough and meticulous. Few beasts survived their fury, but their presence could be considered negligible. As long as they didn't run into a full-grown wyvern, he didn't complain. Nobody was interested in dancing with dragons, an encounter of the more unpleasant kind he would gladly forego.

Lambert observed the floor, the scorch marks still visible. Heavy fighting took place near the main gate. Claws and magic, scales and steel clashed in the heat of battle and slaughter ensued.

Carcasses littered the ground. The dreaded wyvern was slain and her brood exterminated. They stripped her carcass of everything useful and burned the remains. Holy fire cleansed the place of the cursed draconian kin. Nothing should remain but ash.

“Michael, time to return. Iris and Rudolf are probably waiting for us. I imagine he is already grumbling.“

Michael raised his eyebrow. “This was a rather ... cursory inspection. Shouldn't we investigate the arsenal?“

“Unnecessary.Arwing informed me about the specifics of her archaeological expedition. They are interested in glyphs, inscriptions, stone tablets, and whatever. No idea about what our scholar friends are after, but I doubt they intend to breach the arsenal proper and explore the catacombs.

Even our elven friends aren't that suicidal. As long as the basilica and the atrium are safe, we should be fine. The roaming beasts don't scare me. I don't consider them a threat. We can deal with a few unruly bats and overgrown spiders.“

And slimes. He detested the brainless jellies. Vegetative gelatinous aether, a nuisance to deal with, true pests. Their acidic secretions ruined your attire.

“If you say so.“ Michael sounded less convinced.

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Aurora and her doll explored Valentia, or rather what remained of Valentia. It wasn't much. The ruins were a testimony to past greatness, but beyond hollow stone they offered little. The past was past, and the present looked gloomy.

Arwing told her about the grand splendour of ancient Valentia before the Weltenbrand, about the unparalleled wealth and might Valentia boasted even among the legendary twelve cities, the Dodekapolis, cities of light made of gold and silver. Reality fell short, though.

Her tales of riches and treasures were nothing but empty lies. Aurora grumbled. Arwing deceived her. No treasures. No riches. No loot. Valentia might have been prosperous in the past, but not any more.

Her exploration yielded neither gold nor silver. The city rewarded her with worthless rubble and scrap metal. Her loyal doll uncovered an ancient spoon. The spoon was in deplorable condition. Damaged, broken, worthless. Rust ravaged the metal. Such a disappointment.

Aurora discarded the stupid spoon. Her finds displeased her. This wasn't her definition of treasures. This was rubbish. This was junk.

Shifting her attention to the local architecture, she and her doll stumbled across a series of columns. They elicited her curiosity. The marble pillars withstood the tooth of time. They refused to yield even in Valentia's darkest hours. Their imposing figures stood out among the grey boredom. The pillars stood tall and proud in a last act of defiance.

Floral patterns decorated the ornate capitals. The style appeared distinctly Corinthian. Traces of withered silver and gold shimmered under the sun. Vestiges of pigments, of radiant red, still lingered. Built to welcome foreign visitors, wary travellers, adventurers, soldiers, merchants, the pillars were works of art, the product of skilled artisans. They knew their craft.

Minutes passed before the moment came for her to return. Her little excursion took longer than predicted, and Iris strictly forbade her from leaving the camp. The ruins were apparently dangerous.

Aurora disagreed. Her observations didn't support Iris' notion, yet she trusted the judgement of the local adventurers. Lambert and company couldn't be entirely wrong.

After deciding to return, an unexpected visitor blocked her path. A cuddly fluffy will-o-wisp appeared. Floating around, the tiny aetherial fluffball resisted her iron glare. The fluffball had steel.

The lightning sprite refused to budge and sparked. “Zzzz.“ Defiance was its answer.

“I guess that's a no.“ Aurora grumbled..

“Zzzz.“

She moved right to circumvent the aether sphere. The will-o-wisp copied her and intercepted her.

...

...

...

Aurora moved left. The will-o-wisp followed her. “...“

Aurora moved right. The will-o-wisp followed her. “...“

Aurora moved left. The will-o-wisp followed her. “...“

...

...

...

Her eyes narrowed as her patience was running thin. “You are doing this deliberately, aren't you?“

The culprit declined to answer. The will-o-wisp chose silence. “... zzzz.“

“Listen, friend, it's unwise to provoke me. So get out of my way! Immediately!“

“Zzzzzzz.“ Its aetherial signature oscillated. The will-o-wisp was trembling, yet the brave little fluff-ball stood its ground. No retreat.

Aurora's eyebrow twitched. Such impertinence. Such impudence. “My friend, we can do this the hard way, or the easy way. Your choice.“

“Zzzz.“ No reaction.

A purple flame sprang forth from her palm and Aurora diabolical grin spread fear.

“It seems you have made your choice. I hope you don't regret your decision ...“

The will-o-wisp sweated, but it wasn't alone. Help arrived. Its comrades in arms joined the fray. More will-o-wisps. appeared to rescue their companion in need.

Aurora wasn't amused. More of them. Her friend multiplied. “What are you planning? Numbers won't protect you ...“

The will-o-wisps took their chance and capitalised on her distraction to hide behind her back.

“What?“ Aurora blinked in confusion.

“Zzzzzzz.“ The spheres cowered in fear, shivering, trembling. They were scared.

...

...

...

Aurora glared. They were messing with her. “You little rascals, what are you doing ...“

The earth trembled before a cacophonous roar shattered peace.

Aurora turned. “What the f ...“

A furious beast emerged from the ruins, from below the surface, a raging wolf one man tall, three men long. Pitch black fur, darker than the night. Glowering crimson eyes. His claws carved their way through earth and stone. Driven by primal blood lust and insanity, his insatiable thirst for power, his fury, blinded the rampaging beast.

The creature bared his fangs with predatory glee, identifying new fresh prey, her, a lone little girl and her doll. Her delicate meat would satiate his hunger.

The wolf snarled. “RRRRRRrrrrrrrrr! RRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr!“ His cold look never left her.

...

...

...

Aurora's smile faltered. The puppy ... meant ... trouble.

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