The next few moments were quiet. Chloe was bent over behind
a stalagmite clutching her stomach. Eryn was dumbfounded. He had seen most
things turn to ash by his hands but what was left by the corpse was not
something he had encountered before. It was pure. Lily had knelt down to her bag and whispered to herself,
watching their movements. Her marred face showing no emotion. After finally
tearing himself away from studying the ash, Eryn had weighed his options and
the evidence in front of him. He offered a truce, not a partnership but collaboration
on escape. She nodded and picked up the bag, rummaged around and tossed a small
glowglobe in front of her . Her hand gestured over to the next cavern, a
similarly angled room. It's floor however for the most part was covered in the
darkness of the depths that fell below them. Chloe had been silent for most of
the time dashed forward to the pit, only just stopping before the edge. She
picked a stone from the ground and threw it down. It's sound never returned.
She threw a glowglobe down. It fell slowly as if passing through liquid amber.
Until it stopped, caught in mid air by something unseen. It's light was somehow
being bent away from the darkness and up towards the roof of the cave. In
between where the group stood and the wall across the chasm there were brief
flickers, a pale golden reflection of a pathway across perhaps. Lily shoved
Chloe out the way so she could get a better look. She took her blade and tried
to see if the shapes were solid. As soon as the tip touched the where a flicker
had been she was jolted back by the contact, the energy within the unseen
structures transferred via the blade. The metallic taste of static and the
smell of burnt hair made Lily turn her nose. Chloe found the whole thing
curious and now humorous. She wandered over towards the edge of the chasm and
peered over at the glowglobe. A sudden tremor caused the roof to shake and
debris from the city above fell like droplets into the chasm. As they reached
the glowglobe however they became stuck as well, orbiting the light. Chloe
threw another stone towards the globe and it too became stuck in orbit. The
light now became a kaleidoscope of shadows and pale colours. Vials and glasses
cast their hues out, while rusted metal and splintered wood carved figures into
the light.
The darkness in the edges of the room were dispersed, revealing
an engraved circle etched into the stonework on the floor. With the two women focused solely on the
chasm Eryn took it upon himself to investigate the circle. For a minute he
questioned why Lily had never mentioned this but she was a stranger, which made
her even more untrustworthy; her help was superficial at best. He doubted that,
even after they left this place, if they ever did, she would turn on them or
disappear into the darkness. He examined the etching, they were faint, marred
by lichen and muddied droplets of water. The air was dry almost dusty and the
floor too was parched. This seemed to be one of the only spots, at least what
Eryn could see, was moist. He tapped his boot tentatively on the circle, a
swirling golden light accompanied by golden sparks rose from the edge of the
circle. It made no sound, nor any movement. Eryn jerked his foot back,
examining it for damage. The light dissipated instantly. This drew the
attention of Lily who had given up trying to cross. Like with Chloe, she moved
him out of the way with a impolite shove. She stepped fully into the circle, her
eyes widening as much as they could, however slight they were, in the beauty of
the light.
From the other side of the cave came an obnoxious giggle and
a triumphant yell. Without Lily around Chloe was somehow able to cross. Anger
burrowed deep into Lily’s brow. She charged out of the circle and over to the
unseen contructs that paved the way to the other side. She was singed again as
she tried to touch it. Eryn moved into the circle, hoping to somehow study the
patterns to make sense of it all. Lily was now resolute in crossing, regardless
of the damage it would do to her. She moved back a small distance and charged.
If the girl could do it so could she and of course she did, without a single
nerve in pain. Chloe now began to taunt Eryn, it became clear that there needed
to be someone in the circle for the passage to be safe. Seconds passed before
Eryn bolted out of the cave and into the previous room. There was the odd curse
word that echoed through the cavern, followed by Eryn hunched over the corpse
of one of the remaining explorers, dragging him in. Lily smiled, pleased in the fact that flesh
does not cease to be useful after expiration, perhaps even more valuable in the
right hands.
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