“He killed them… he actually did it. A hundred thousand souls sacrificed to something far worse than any ancient dead gods. I know these monsters have done so much worse but to think he would join them. It just proves that we must be on guard for any one of us, anyone of us can betray each other now.” - Tao Lee, Imperial Inquisitor, The Great Mage War, 1727

1509.03.40 Du’vesstar, Saister

A soft white light pours throughout the chamber, the source of which was a crystal that was hung from the ceiling via a piton. Aqua-esk luminous light danced with the shadows creating great cascading shapes in the darkness here yet the stillness could still be felt. The refugees still felt separate from the rest of the group Nico noted.

“What are you staring at?” The orcish teen spoke, Nico could finally hear the tiredness in their voices and though it was defensive in nature the comment had more of a curiosity to it’s tone.

“Sorry I was just thinking about the skeletons outside,” Nico said, the words felt hollow to him right now, he felt the entropy of this place and seemingly with everything going on he felt a new kind of fear.

“I always heard stories about dragons,” Her voice was rough, Nico couldn’t really see her face.

“Yeah?” Nico answered ”where do you hail from?”

“Grey peaks,” The teen answered, there seemed this wall to Nico like he couldn’t quite have asked their name in spite of everything that’s happened. Though his mind felt owed answers so Nico tried to assuage its worries.

“This is Yarsh…” The teen began to introduce her fellows, there were seven that managed to make it through the gates and he’d hoped that Jatar would be able to make and escape with the other five though his chest felt cold with anxiety.

I hardly know them, Nico felt paralyzed in his thoughts though he was able to recount who their new friends were. First introduced was Yarsh, she was a human born in Elven captivity first raised in the capital as what the Elantrans called a Doll. There was Kylan a half elf whose parentage was revealed by what he later learned was his adoptive parents when they found out that he hit puberty a decade earlier then he should’ve even though the ‘teen’ was twenty two. Kylan also didn’t look as old as the others but he did have the beginnings of a moustache though clearly unkempt followed by sad eyes that stared off for miles. J’varr and V’stall were twin dark elves again born in captivity, the woman whose name Nico now known as Ekralla explained. The half orc was sold by pirates when she was stolen from a jig bound for the northern empire. Ekralla’s parents were killed by these pirates, her parents tried to kill her in hopes that she would escape this fate and had run into her captors only to watch her parents cut to pieces. The ‘twins’ as Elkralla referred to J’varr and V’stall were from underground cities and had found life being sold to slavers from somewhere to the east. Neither of the young dark elves said much, not to each other much less to anyone else. Yarsh seemed to follow the two around as Ekralla finished the pleasantries of the last four rescued people. Roth, Jet, Ame, and Vesk, these must be the ones Kelly wanted, four half elves disgraced by their people and have lived in the undercity under the elven city of E’lan. Each of them were from rival noble houses conducting various experiments on those of their own family. These nobles of course were punished for their crimes against the nation but not of course for any of their real evils.

Facilitating the creation of half breeds, Nico’s thoughts swirled, then he felt more worry for Sally. Ame had white hair and was fairly tall for her age though that could be attributed to Aluetish heritage, though all four of the half elves had resembling features suggesting similar familial relations. It was strange now to Nico why Kelly had not come to see their new guests.

Hells seems like she is actively avoiding even looking at them, Nico observed. Jet also has white hair with a single stripe of black that has apparently been with the child since they had started growing hair. They seemed to also have a natural knack for magic unlike Nico, remembering now that it took him nearly two years to learn how to cast a spell. Jet played with rocks by just looking at them, pangs of envy filled Nico’s thoughts for a moment. Roth was a very stocky dark elf and a head taller than the rest, white hair with far more ebony skin was holding himself up with a thick but short branch. Blood stained the left side Roth was holding himself up from, the wound was old but had opened up again. Nico torn a bit of his cloak, the second strip to be ripped out of it now.

M’Ortalis Daetus

Violet light surrounded the strips of cloth and wrapped itself where Nico had now outstretched his hand to. Roth recoiled at first until he realised where Nico had his hand outstretched, silently nodded as though it looked like he couldn’t really take the pain. Pus was leaking out of the old wound with a mixture of reddish brown yolky fluid, the low glow of the cloth turning the macabre sight into a violet and blue translucent. Excess fluid was being pushed out as the bandage wrapped Roth’s wound.

Was this the first time this was treated? Nico wondered quietly. The nine refugees around him looked at Nico warrily.

“Thanks,” Roth uttered painfully, colour was returning to his naturally dark skin. Roth then tested his footing and winced but the magical bandaging held.

“It’ll hold but we need to find you a healer,” Nico tried to sound confident but his mind and his mouth felt separate from one another. Nico’s eye couldn’t help but eye the softly lit dressing.

“If I rest in the next few hours I can have that changed tomorrow too so we can keep it clean.” Nico masked his words in an up beat tune.

“Can you teach me that?” Jet eyed Nico suspiciously.

“Well I have a master myself,” Nico said feeling backed into a corner somewhat.

“Well the sooner we learn the sooner we can take care of it ourselves” Jet snorted indignantly, some in the group seemed to agree with him.

“Sur-” Nico was then cut off.

“You know what Jet get fucked how about,” Roth spat back. “The kid clearly was helping alright.”

Nico had some more rags in his backpack has he then just kept this head down and clean the wound as best as possible. Nico had inadvertently stirred a pot as Ekralla and Roth argued with a very stubborn and very loud Jet. Just as Nico was about to finish up and scurry back to his side of the cave room, when Kelly started walking over.

Oh great this lady, Nico rolled his eyes. It was at this moment that Nico felt like he really didn’t want to exist. Kelly stopped about halfway

“Nico!,” Kelly shouted sternly. Flushed with emotion Nico now finally left thankful at least that he could leave these elves to their bickering. Social anxiety stretching seconds into their own personal hours of internal shame. Kelly slapped an arm around his shoulder, it still had significant momentum in spite of it being unarmoured at the moment. Oakarn, Ada and Rotkar were preparing the entire group's bedding.

“Adam’s nieces and nephews” Kelly pointed to the four Nico had suspected. “Sometimes it's best to let people hash it out.”

Nico was about to say something but instead chose to ignore her, Nico the pushed his shoulder away from Kelly and slipped out of her mildly comforting grasp. Nico still felt flushed.

I don’t need to be coddled like a child! Nico felt alone in spite of being around more familiar faces. Ivalinna was prepping hard bread and cheese with a knife, cutting out individual portions as well as she could. Nico realised then that most of their supplies were at the encampment before they were forced here into this hellscape.

Hey I forgot to give you these. Nico recalled Sally’s words from nearly twelve hours earlier when they’d split up and the main party diverted south. Nearly a dozen little mint candies Barton had gotten Nico, now the boy was shaking his head as he remembered the candies were now left with the caravan. He didn’t want to lose them after all.

Curse my forethought. Nico was sulking in the corner now.

“So the plan is to take most of these kids north when the buzzards leave,” Oakarn gestured to the map Rotkar held. “We are supposed to meet up with Jatar and the rest five miles north past the river.”

“North past the river is the safe territory then?” Ada puzzled, she hadn’t been this far from the village in a very long time.

”Imagine it more like a gradient,” Kelly sighed with her head in her hand. “Basically it's when our travels become more safe. Remember Ada I am pretty sure I have told you this before.”

“I really don’t like this,” Ada raised her voice. Nico’s thoughts drifted to what he could do now.

“Liking a situation and dealing with the hand you are dealt are two different things,” Oakarn said sternly.

“No one expected to have to take a trip out here but we do have an alternative to meet up with,” Rotkar reassured the group. “Tamika and Jatar will be able to cut through those knife eared pigs.”

“So how do we go north?” Ada spoke, even though the chamber was mostly quiet the words seemed to cling to the group.

“Two choices,” Oakarn spoke aloud now, “We can build a bridge of stone and go the fast way, and the least dangerous for our friends.”

“Or we go through these eastern tunnels,” Oakarn then finished, “Which will be the least dangerous for us.”

“How are the tunnels any less dangerous than the outside?”

“I have a study deeper in these tunnels, I need all of you to stay together these tunnels while it’s safer then the outside”

“There are spirits inside of the walls of this sanctuary so we need to be vigilant in case anyone gets taken into the walls.” Oakarn continued and spoke in a tone that ensured everyone was on the same scroll of parchment. Oakarn made sure to eye the youngest amongst them.

“You will hear people you either thought dead, or perhaps can make you think your fellow has indeed left you but we need to soldier this bit of haunted stone until we make it to the ruined village perched on the cliffs and we will need to be careful.” Even Kelly and her troop were a little taken aback at that last sentence.

“They don’t call us idiots for nothing,” Rotkar grinned, he then took the rope out but Oakarn stopped him. Rotkar then pushed the older mage.

“Look you think this is my first trip down some people trying to tear us apart, we will create a diamond sort of formation making sure to tie the rope on the outside of us all the while we keep those that might falter in their sanity in the middle.” Rotkar eyed Oakarn suspiciously now. “It’ll give the kids a fighting chance at least.”

Oakarn then beamed a grin right back, “That might work actually.”

“Even if the rope gets cut I am sure you’ll know your formation enough to be able to keep them intact,” Oakarn strode towards the wall and started the makings of another spell.

“Nico come closer,” Nico who was already on his way over, felt irritated.

Like I wouldn’t want to see another spell!

Instead of saying anything Oakarn puts a bag in Nico’s hand.

“Put this away now!” Oakarn spoke in a harsh whisper, then without saying anything at all he tapped his index finger against the wall with some kind of black tar. Suddenly the runes glow black and the wall before them shines an impossible bright light as something grabs Nico by the scruff of his neck and he is shoved into the portal before them. The last thing Nico remembered was something about losing another foolish student…