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Traversing the darkened underground passageways for dozens of miles, Gregor found himself beginning to appreciate the surface world, where everything did not stink of sulfur. If not for the geysers of fresh air that seemingly shot out of the ground, he would have choked to death on the smell alone. But as it was he had trouble seeing through the white mist, was irritated by the sound of insects skittering under his feet, and couldn’t help but want to scream as his foot plunged yet again into a rotted glowing mushroom that burst apart exuding noxious fumes.

Kira, on the other hand, seemed to have no problems at all as she skipped from place to place, and waved at him to hurry up. Her silver eyes were more alive than ever as she smiled in gleeful satisfaction. And for that at least, Gregor was grateful.

Stumbling through the dimly lit tunnel, he passed by rows of jagged stones, mounds in the ground where the thick white mist was released into the air and large black beetles that scrambled deeper into the soil. Wary of stepping on such an insect, he did not see the geyser on the rock wall, its spray scalding his skin as he tumbled forward into an outcropping of stone.

Opening his mouth to grow a curse, he saw Kira looking at him, and for a wonder, his jaw snapped closed. Although he was beginning to wonder if any of this suffering was truly worth it. Surely there had to be another way out of this place, but as tried to think of another way, his thoughts were interrupted. “Careful, my champion, I might think you a liar. You made a promise to me, and you will keep it.”

And while Gregor vaguely recalled giving such a promise, he was pretty sure that he had been pretty sloshed at the time. And if this woman thought to hold him to those words she had another thing…however his thoughts trailed off when he caught sight of what looked to be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Pretty sure it had to be Leyora and the group of fools she had led down here, he quickly dashed ahead eager to see what she had discovered. Besides he could use some time away from the stink and gloom of this place as the passageway expanded outward. The sulphuric fumes were gone in an instant as he saw the rock walls replaced with stone and mortar. His feet crunching on the ground made of skulls yet again, he saw luminescent green growths spout all around him, and what looked to the ruins of a tower in a large underground grotto.

Unused to the brightness, he shielded his eyes against the glowing moss that grew from the crevices of the walls, when he saw Kira dart ahead of him. The damn girl’s attention, caught sight of something as Gregor chased after her. Bumping into outcroppings of stone, stepping on exploding mushrooms, he felt himself become dizzy by the smells when breathless he saw the young woman to a halt in front of the tower’s arched entrance. The area inside was filled with deep darkness he did not like.

Coming up beside her as he took in a deep ragged breath, he tried to see what had made her pause and saw a large circular chamber with crumpled-in walls, fallen pillars that straddled the room, and what looked to be another stone altar. However, these were the type of ruins he would normally have come across on the surface but made with a strange swirling pattern that he had never seen before. It also seemed to be a lot darker up close.

Drawing closer to get a better look inside, he could make out the ashen remains of a fire, dozens of footsteps where people had scuffed the layers of dust, and droplets of blood. Greatsword whipped out in a split second, he waved at Kira to stay where she was and followed the blood trail with his eyes. Spread out sporadically, the spatters grew larger and larger until they stopped in front of the altar, its surface marked with bloody hands as he took a quick glance back at Kira, and realized that she was pointing at something near the walls. Dark shadows moving too quickly for him to make out its shape. Gregor could smell trouble, and not the natural kind.

Hand immediately dipping into his pocket, he lay his greatsword down beside him and began furiously to work on restarting the fire. The darkening shadows gathered around him, misting the air with his breath when the fire finally sparked to life. Breathing quickly on it to get it going, he released a sharp intake of breath as he felt more than sensed the shadows pull away from them. Wondering what in the abyss it could have been, he took up the blood trail once again, slowly got to his feet with a sword in hand, and circled the fallen pillar.

He then released a heavy sigh as he recognized one of the dead lizards that had acted as Leyora’s escort. Lying in a pool of congealing blood, its back resting against the side of the stone altar, its jaws gaping open in a silent scream and his innards pulled out his belly. It had not gone quietly to its grave.

Acting more on instinct than anything else, he moved to shield the corpse with his body. But by then it was too late as Kira let out a shallow calming breath, her form still as the grave. “Shadow Monsters.”

Not exactly sure how to take that unexpected reaction, Gregor knew she had probably seen worse things than this, but still it somehow felt wrong to him. It seemed like it was only a few weeks ago when he had been holding her hand. The little girl he had known was terrified of the night as she slept at the foot of his bed.

Nostalgic nonsense as he shook his head, and knelt down beside the dead lizardman.

Searching for any clues as to who his attackers were and where Leyora could be found, he discovered something caught in its teeth. Guessing the warrior had bitten the creature that had killed it, he tugged it free and held a spongy lump of pale flesh in his hands. With a questioning gaze in Kira’s direction, the young silver-haired woman nodded her head and repeated her words. “Shadow Monsters.” As though that explanation was enough for him, but never in all of Gregor’s life had he encountered a creature such as this.

Scanning the abandoned campsite again to make sure whatever it was truly gone, he noticed that there were two more archways, one to either side of him, and he had to assume that Leyora had gone one of those ways, had gotten into a scuffle with some beasties, and fled. But in which direction had she gone? And would it lead him to the fabled dragon armor?

Releasing a heavy sigh at the thought of spending more time wandering aimlessly down here, he considered abandoning this quest entirely, and just heading back to camp, when he heard Kira call out. “I’ve found something.” The young woman who had disappeared behind the stone altar, returned with a journal clutched in her dirty hands as she held the prize up for him to see.

Smiling at this odd bit of luck, he replied, “well, what does it say? You can still read, can't you?”

Nodding her head to him happily, Kira sat down by the now crackling fire and opened up the book. She then traced a slender finger across the page as she spoke, “...I do not know why I write these words. I had thought that perhaps one day to pass this on to the younger generation so that they may learn from our shared experiences. But seeing what has become of the dekaram, I sometimes wish that we could all forget what we have lost. It might have been easier that way for us in the end. In any case, it matters no longer, and now I write simply for the sake of it.

“It has been two hundred or more years since my people were driven into the Underworld, and yet it didn’t take long for the old battles to be drawn. For the nearly endless cycle of bloodshed to continue unabated. In the end, it took the deaths of almost all our young ones to finally realize the futility of battling each other. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised that it took the near extinction of our species for us to come to our senses, but it did. But my mind has drifted from the point, and that is, due to the Light Breaker’s actions, and those of our own people, we were forced to work together. We began to rebuild a home for ourselves, formed new laws to govern the dekaram, and created roles for each of the dominant races. But even that was fraught with peril with the hellions threatening to upend everything if they did not get their way, and so for the sake of peace, they would be the voice of the dekaram, and the sword.

“But even as a young dekara, I should have known better, that this would not be the end in peace. With many of the minor races excluded from the agreements, the hellions returned to the reaping of souls, sowing discord and hatred. By the time the ruling council even knew it was happening, a rebellion had overthrown them and replaced them with a new king. A king that promised them a return to glory, a day where they would one day return to the surface world. United under him, any of those who did not believe were thrust out into the darkness, never to be seen again. But alas where I have found peace down here, others have not. They wish to see their homes again, and I cannot begrudge them that. And perhaps, if not for this prophecy we could have returned there one day in peace.”

Pausing a moment, she continued, “But as it is, I’ve grown too weak, too old for war, and yet I will do what I can to save my people. There has always been a legend that has haunted the darkest regions of the underworld, and it is there that I intend to go. I only hope that those who have followed me, live long enough for me to return. However, if I do not survive, and should someone have found this journal, please know that I need your aid. My people need your aid! Not far to the east, behind walls of solid ice is an armory. Built before my time, it houses weapons we will need to survive the coming trials. I have also included instructions on how to access the underground vault, but needless to say, you will face great danger. The first step, much as it shames me to ask anyone to do this, is to travel The Ungraven Road, but take care you do not stray too far from the path. That fool lizard thinks he knows evil, but he has no idea. Lying just within the reach of the Unbroken Road is the Shadow Realm, and many of its denizens will not hesitate to bring you harm. Should you encounter them along the way, your greatest weapon against them is fire and enchanted steel. Such beings cannot tolerate the light or weapons forged from souls. Once you have found your way to the fork in the road, go east again, and it will take you to the armory…”

Kira then held out her hand, “she also drew a map.”

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/656821926892238655/

Taking the journal from her, Gregor saw a vast network of tunnels marked out as the Shadow Realm, along with a city, while moving along its border was a road, simply called The Ungraven. Half wondering if the dragon armor was in the Shadow Realm, he considered Leyora’s words carefully, before he smiled. “It seems that the old lizard has given us a quest.”

~*~

Further into the temple, in yet another hall decorated by the blood of acolytes, Gauldryon gazed breathlessly into Daria’s eyes, his shoulder pressed against the thick wooden door as it bumped and shifted beneath them. He guessed he shouldn’t have been surprised that the demons had come in force to stop them, but as he thought about the approaching finality of death, he found that he was at peace with it. Not that he wouldn’t have done everything in his power to avoid this moment, but as gazed into Daria’s honey-brown eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder if they had gotten more time, if he would have told her. Told her how much he appreciated her, told her how sorry he was to have dragged her down here, and yet as her expression crinkled up in a warm smile he sensed that she understood.

And as he gazed back at his companions who stood behind barricades made of chairs and tables, all he could feel was pride. These were the warriors he had chosen, and despite giving them every reason to abandon him, they had stood by his side.

In many ways, he thought this a fitting end for him, battling the darkness, facing enumerable odds, and standing shoulder to shoulder with his friends. His one regret was that he would not be there to see the return of the Lightbearer.

His shoulder jarred by another heavy bump, he called out, “It has been an honor,” and to his surprise, a tear slipped down Daria’s cheek. The indomitable woman, opened and closed her mouth, before she bowed her head, “For the Lightbearer, and the Champions of Light.”

Tileya, her lips curved in a grin, “For the Lightbearer, and the Champions of Light.”

Glindol, his wrinkled face drawn with exhaustion. “For the Lightbearer, and the Champions of Light.”

Pelwar, his scalp wet with sweat. “For the Lightbearer, and the Champions of Light.”

Doorway buckling inward in an explosion of fire, Gauldryon had but a moment to see a monstrous red-scaled creature stride inside when a brilliant white light filled the room. The light poured out in waves to consume everything in its path until all that was left was smoking ashes.

It was at that moment as he looked down at his body, that he realized that he was glowing, his armor wreathed in bright orange flames as he roared, “For the Lightbearer!” And charged forward, bringing mayhem and death the likes of which have never seen before. Not for many an age at least.

But even then, at the back of his mind, as he watched demons fall by the hundreds, screaming their death rattles, he couldn’t help but feel that this was wrong. The non-discriminating light killed both warriors and fleeing acolytes alike.