Haeros Dungeon - Chapter 17 preview (Patreon)

Conversation, loud and numerous woke me up. I rolled to the side, bumped against the wall of the building we had been resting against and used it and a flicker of momentum to drag me upwards. A flush of adrenaline jolted me fully awake, as recollections of the night before clamored for my attention beside the more urgent, current danger around me.

The world resolved, the shining light of crystals high above and the rolling greens of the hills coming first. Then, figures beside me, dozens of them such that I found myself clenching my fist, the gauntlet spikes by my side extending.

“Lin. You’re awake!” Kira’s voice was high, happy but a little stressed.

I focused upon her, on the grouping around her. A quartet of familiar faces near her – the lookouts from before – and then, next to them, a smaller grouping of armed men. Most of all, what I spotted was the one who dominated the group, clad in long robes similar to what a Roman senator might wear, the clothing of finer make and colored brightly with beautiful embroidery.

I knew enough by now that such markings were indicators of money and prestige, since the embroidery, strong dyes on clothing and even the sheen all spoke of additional work done. It was all unlike Earth, where such work could be done by automated sewing machines and fast fashion was more important than good workmanship.

There was no “fast” fashion here, not even with skills, not really. Just faster.

“I am. What’s the problem?” I said, pushing off the wall and stalking over.

Perhaps a little too much stalking, since the group shifted, a few hands clenched around weapons and some were pointed at me. I ignored it for the most part, eyes focused on the leader. He was taller than his compatriots by at least a couple of inches, hair combed and done up into a tight pony tail at the back. His piercing black eyes weighed me as I neared them, a small smile blossoming further as he turned his attention on me fully.

There was a power to his presence, a focused energy to it that was hard to explain, but all too present. Like one of those motivational speakers that made their money from telling people everyday advice, but with hype and loud music behind them.

“No problem at all, my dear adventurer. We were surprised to find you here, after you left and we came to see what was the concern. Your friend has been informing us of what has happened – and what might be coming.”

“The landfang.” I flicked my glance over the group, noted how a few shifted in discomfort at the word. “You don’t seem that worried yourself.”

“We are a small, tightly knit group. Such creatures would find it hard to enter our temple.” A tight smile. “Even harder when I am here: the Candle of the Everlasting Flame.”

“Why…?” Kira fell silent, then nodded suddenly. “Your organization has an orb that gifts you a skill that is useful, doesn’t it, Candle Gran?”

“My, how fast you jump to conclusions.” Yet, I noticed Gran did not contradict her either. “Well, it matters little. I take it you will be heading up, now?”

“Up?” Yorrick said, surprised. “No way – we have more floors to do before we can go.”

“I’d rather go up, if possible,” Brand muttered, touching his head. “I’m still not feeling that well.”

“Come on, we have to at least work out a few more levels or else Rayzan will be ahead of us,” Yorrick complained. “We can’t let him beat us, can we?”

“I’m pretty sure he has us beaten already,” Sophia said, firmly. “He’s not exactly playing fair. And don’t forget, we have rules that we have to follow.”

“We could just go a little further…” Yorrick whined. “It’s not like we don’t intend to tell them…”

“And what if we are caught out before?” Sophia snapped. “We can’t risk not telling the city. Nor can we risk the fines.”

“Fines?” Yorrick frowned.

“A lot of them,” she added.

At the same time, I watched the group watching Yorrick and Sophia arguing, and I waved a hand towards the silent Candle. “It’s not like we can hide when we found out either, not right now.” I smiled. “Nor can we ask Brand to keep adventuring when he’s received such a heavy injury. No, we should go back.”

Before Yorrick could complain further, Gran spoke up. “It is good to see the youth take their responsibilities so seriously.” A small gesture towards the entrance, as he continued. “Nor do we desire for such information to be lost. And while the landfang are not intelligent, not on this level, they do have a dangerous cunning. I shall send Krek and my other embers to watch over you.”

“We don’t need that—” Kira objected only to be cut off.

“I insist.” Stepping back, Gran gestured to the warriors near him as he added. “We shall also provide you with travel rations and water for the trip. That way, you’ll be able to head up the floors with minimal waste of time.”

“Are your people accompanying us all the way up?” I asked.

“No, I cannot afford to have them gone for so long. They will follow you to the floor’s entrance.”

Understandable, if not great. On the other hand, Kira was right: we didn’t need them. We fought off the landfang by ourselves, and that was in the dark when they had the advantage of surprise. In the day? I was confident we’d have no issue.

It made me wonder why the Candle was sending his people, but on the other hand, it shouldn’t have taken longer than a half-day to get back, especially if we kept moving. On that note…

“We should probably get going then.” I glanced down, smiling a little as Sophia gestured to the small sandwich set aside for me to eat. The idea of putting meat, vegetables and whatever else you wanted between two slices of bread was not particularly innovative but it sure was convenient.

“Five minutes and my people will be ready.”

“Candle…” Timball began, hesitantly.

“Go, ember. The Flame is not so easily extinguished.”

Inclining his head, the group slipped into the building, disappearing into the recesses. Leaving us to stand around, awkwardly, trying to make small talk. Thankfully, Kira and Brand took that on while Yorrick sidled up a pretty young thing and tried to flirt, Sophia glared at him and I? I stuffed my face with bread and meat and avoided social interactions.

All while wondering why the entire cult gave me the creeps. Beyond the fact that they were a cult, of course.