Chapter 455 - Beneath the Vault

Been a busy couple of days getting this one ready in time! There's still a bit more polish I plan to put on this chapter, so I'll be doing s

Been a busy couple of days getting this one ready in time! There's still a bit more polish I plan to put on this chapter, so I'll be doing some edits before the next release but I think it will mostly be phrasing and descriptions. Hope you enjoy!

“Be careful, all of you,” High Priest Alagthar said. “I sense a divinity here deeper than anything. We walk in sacred halls. There must be no disrespect.”

“Do you have any idea where these doors lead?” Count Daston asked.

The priest shook his head. “We are in uncharted passageways.” His voice was somewhere between awe and glee, but then his face darkened. “But we must rid this place of the infiltrators.”

“First, we need to know what we’re dealing with,” Wizard Aldric said, striding to the first of the doors with a cross marked on its surface. It was surrounded by engravings of wheat fields, orchards, and other symbols of harvest. Wizard Karina, Otto, Ash, and Jentris followed close at his side.

Aldric glanced over to the rest of them. “I’m opening it. Everyone be ready.”

Hump prepared his essence, bracing himself for what lay beyond. His usual Shield spell might not be enough, so he imbued his staff with essence, preparing the Sphere of Protection enchantment stored within the weapon. If they were to fight a ninth circle Chosen, an impenetrable barrier would certainly be useful. They’d have an extra five seconds to contemplate the decisions that led them here before they died…

Fantastic, Hump thought.

But they couldn’t work with that in mind. Emilia was right. The odds that Godfrey was here were slim. More likely was that there were lords and ladies of Elenvine that had fallen to the Order of Ancients. If there was one thing Hump could rely on, it was rich people giving him to corruption to make themselves richer and more powerful.

Count Daston stepped up behind Aldric, squaring up to face the door. The count wore no armour and was instead dressed in fine noble garments. For the Chosen of Avaroth, he had no need for external defence.

He gave Aldric a nod. The wizard turned the doorhandle and swung it open. Inside stretched a vast dining hall, the table laid with silver plates and cutlery as if in preparation for a grand feast. But what drew everyone’s breath was what lay beyond the arched glass windows at the far end.

The wall gave way to a clear view of the sea, the room built into the cliffside itself. Sunlight danced off the ocean waves, casting shimmering patterns across the polished floor. And hanging above the stone hearth was a painting.

It showed a young woman, no older than Hump himself, seated at the edge of the same sea. Her eyes carried the weight of prophecy, yet she smiled like someone who didn’t know what the world would demand of her. The resemblance to Lady Light was undeniable, only she appeared younger than the usual depictions, and more… normal. There was a rosy tint to her cheeks, a broad smile on her face.

Bud stepped up beside Hump, staring at the portrait.

“That is Lady Light, isn’t it?” Hump said.

“It’s like her, but it’s also not,” Bud said.

“She looks… real,” Dylan said. “Not divine. Just a person.”

A fountain of spiralling red liquid twisted endlessly in the air at the centre of the table, glimmering with the same bright light that illuminated everything in this place.

“Is that wine?” Count Daston asked.

“Either that or blood,” Aldric said, striding into the room and taking a glass from the table. He scooped up some of the liquid and raised it to his nose. “Wine. And it has not soured.”

“This place is so rich in divinity, it is no wonder everything is preserved so perfectly,” Alagthar said.

“An excellent observation, Priest,” Aldric said. “Perhaps you could enlighten us as to why there is a feasting hall beneath the Royal Armoury?”

“You speak out of turn, Wizard,” Alagthar spat. “Your master may hold favour with Lady Kaisura, but that does not mean we are equals. Remember to whom you speak.”

“Am I to take that as you not knowing?” Aldric asked.

“Enough, Aldric,” Count Daston said. “We have enough problems without turning on each other. What was here before the castle, Alagthar? There must be some record.”

“Little remains from a millenia ago,” Alagthar said. “But it is said that Lady Light gave her blessing to the first king of Alveron upon the white cliffs of Elenvine. This may be one of her ancient temples.”

“I am not so sure, High Priest,” a Chosen said. “Tunnels underground skew more toward the habits of Osidium.”

Alagthar shook his head. “No. I know this feeling. This place is of Lady Light. It can only be her.”

“Perhaps we’ll find something in the other rooms,” Count Daston said. “Check the other doors that have been marked. Look for books, documents, or paintings—anything that might give us a clue. Work quickly. Return within ten minutes. If Kassius is found, do not engage unless you have no choice.

“Rosa, keep your Squad here and guard the exit. Nobody leaves until I say so. If Kassius is working with a powerful Chosen of Lady Light, they will have access to powerful illusions. Take necessary precautions.”

“Yes, Count,” the woman said. Hump didn’t recognise her, but he gathered she was a powerful Chosen.

Hump and his party entered through a door marked with carvings of herbs, mortar and pestle, and blooming flowers. He pushed it open slowly.

Beyond was a long passageway followed by a staircase leading down into a small fragrant chamber filled with rows of hanging herbs, their leaves glistening as if covered in morning dew. Glass vials and ceramic pots rested on counters, each perfectly ordered. A soft green glow suffused the room, the essence of nature pouring off the plants within.

“What do you make of these?” Hump asked, turning to Dylan.

The druid stood there with his mouth agape. He gave a bewildered shake of his head. “I recognise a few of them—healing herbs that any woodsman would know, while others are more obscure.”

“I sense a but coming.”

“But the versions I know are nothing like this. There’s a power imbued in these far beyond any magical herb or ingredient I’ve seen before.”

“Should we pick some?” Celaine asked.

“No,” Bud said. “You heard High Priest Alagthar. This place is sacred, and these are not for us to take.”

Celaine pressed her lips together in a pout. “I was only asking.”

Hump worked his way to the end of the small chamber where there was another door. There was a staircase within that led down. Down a level, he found another door, leading to a larger chamber with alchemical tools inside, though they were unlike those he was used to. Large glass contraptions lined shelves or were entire units by themselves. There were many books, herbs, vials, and other things, though after a few minutes of searching, they didn’t find anything of use. Well, that was unless Hump wanted to have a go at ancient alchemy. It seemed anything that might have been valuable had been taken.

The stairs continued downward, but Hump went no farther. Their time was running out. They needed to return to the others.

“It’s no wonder Kassius has taken his time searching,” Emilia said. “This place is a labyrinth.”

They returned to the main chamber to find the other groups gathering, each emerging from their respective doors. The rooms were largely barren. One of them a former armoury—well-constructed weapons, but only a few remained. None of the artifacts. One of the doors, surrounded by engravings of musical instruments and lounging figures, contained a comfortable lounging hall. Pillows and cushions were scattered around a low table. A harp sat untouched in the corner. The bookshelves were empty.

A pattern was forming.

“We found a number of alchemical ingredients and tools,” Hump said. “There were some books too, but for the most part it had been emptied out. It’s as if whoever was here in the past took everything, they could with them when they left.”

Hump looked down at the stone beneath his feet, then up at the domed ceiling above. This place had been buried beneath Elenvine for centuries, maybe longer, untouched by war or time. Yet still it endured. The paintings, the feasting halls, the armoury, and the powerful magical herbs. It was a place of work, study, and life. Someone trained her and worked on their craft, much like the library in the lich’s phylactery. More and more it was seeming like this may once have been Lady Light’s home. If that was true, Hump wondered what it was that could have forced her from it.

“A full investigation can follow once we’re finished,” Count Daston said. “Emilia, since you are the one who recognised its significance, your party will accompany mine. We will take the first of the unmarked doors.”

He addressed the rest of the adventurers. “Six doors remain. Divide yourselves by party. Choose a door, leave it open as you go in, and return in thirty minutes. If anyone is missing at the end of that time, we’ll come after you with the assumption that you have found our target.”

“Count,” Hump said, stepping forward, “if we encounter a fallen Chosen… will they still have their blessings?”

Count Daston’s eyes hardened. “There are few accounts of such things. All I know is that a version of their power remains—twisted, warped, and lacking the divine boon of the gods. They cannot be underestimated.”

Well, that wasn’t good news.

As Hump lined up with the count’s party and his own, he tried to decide whether Emilia had done them a favour or not. With Count Daston with them, they had the help of an seventh circle Chosen, which was certainly helpful.

They door was marked with flowering vines and runes that Hump didn’t recognise, though there was a familiarity to the structure. Somewhere between Alveronian and god glyphs. The passage sloped gently downward, lit by the same ever-glowing essence in the walls. White stone curved around them, polished until it was perfectly smooth.

“If Godfrey is down here,” Hump said quietly to the count, now that they had left the other parties behind, “do we stand a chance?”

Count Daston’s voice was solemn. “Not even together. If he is here, I’ll hold him off. While you must get word to Lady Kaisura. She’s the only one who might stand against him.”

“We will not abandon you, Count,” Bud said. “I could not face Marcela again if we did.”

“This isn’t a request,” Count Daston said. “The fate of Alveron relies on you following my order, Robert.” He clasped Bud on the shoulder with a giant hand. “And I know you would not let me down if such a thing were to happen.”

They continued downward, going deeper into the passageways and halls than previously. Hump couldn’t grasp why anyone would construct their home is such a way. They would step into barren chambers, only to move deeper and find another just like it. Yet the passageway continued down, never veering.

Celaine held up a hand. “Footsteps. Multiple. Close.”

They slid into cover behind an alcove in the hallway. Hump could hear the voices approaching, echoing off the smooth stone.

Soon, the murmur of voices travelled up from below, and they were getting closer. The group moved swiftly, positioning themselves along either side of the hall. They pressed into the corners, hidden just out of view of the main passage, holding their breath as the voices drew nearer.

Boots scuffed against stone. Shapes approached.

Then Kassius stepped into view.

Bud and Emilia moved fast, their swords drawn. Bud’s longsword rested lightly on Kassius’ shoulder, right by his neck, while Emilia’s rapier was pressed against the chest of the man beside him.

“Turn around,” Bud said calmly. “Slowly. Hands where I can see them.”

“Robert,” Kassius said. “And Wizard Humphrey. How embarrassing, you have found me rather indisposed.”

Hump’s heart thudded. He barely recognised the prince. His regal appearance was gone, replaced with gaunt cheeks, hollowed eyes, and a sheen of sweat on his brow. He looked feverish. Tired. Desperate. With him were seven men and women, none of which Hump recognised.

He readied his essence, Kassius’ allies looking between them nervously, fear in their eyes. And something else.

“Don’t do it,” Kassius said, and Hump realised he was speaking to his companions.”

Hump felt the pressure before the blast. A flare of essence.

“No—” Kassius’ cried, and then his body tensed as a blast of power shot past him, straight at Count Daston, but the man was ready. A barrier appeared before him, blocking the spell with ease, yet dust exploded outward. Stone cracked underneath.

And just like that, the tight hall erupted with magic.