“Any more to come?” Amyra asked as she heaved a breath and sat on a wooden crate, which had been holding some empty vials but she turned it over and used it as a chair.
“...No,” Erin answered after she surveyed the cave with the Spirits and found no traces of Demonic energy.
“We’re in the clear,” Nivia sighed in relief while leaning against a wall.
“For now,” Erin added. “Keep a constant vigilance. We don’t know when they might appear again.”
“Doesn’t how many they send. We’ll crush them all. Unless they send a serious powerhouse but I doubt they will.”
“What do you mean by a powerhouse?”
“Individuals who are level seventy or above.”
“And why do you doubt they will send a powerhouse?”
“The archmages, remember? The powerhouses will attract their attention and they will alert the capital.”
“Won’t the viceroy just bribe them?”
“He can try but as far as anyone knows, the archmages are loyal to the court. They don’t take bribes.”
“But what if there’s someone like Aedan, a powerhouse suppressing their true level? Or a powerhouse who could hide from the archmages’ detection?”
“Then, we’re fucked,” Amyra said with a shrug, drawing a line across her neck. From her Infinite Pouch, she took out a canteen. She took a few swigs before presenting it to Erin. “Care for some?”
Erin was about to accept it but she retracted her hand. “It’s not water.”
“It’s Spriggan Brandy, Spirit-distilled wine. You’ll get drunk but it won’t be as bad as other liquor.”
“Spriggan Brandy? Where did you get that?” Nivia asked with an astonished expression.
“Me and a few other residents of the Grove made it. We grow our own food and make our own liquor. Go on, try some.”
Erin looked to Nivia, asking her for advice with her gaze.
“It should be fine,” the Elf said.
“Should be?”
“I don’t know, alright? I never drank liquor before.”
“Oh?” Amyra’s eyebrows were raised. “My, my. The little Elf is more innocent than I expected.”
“So what if I am? What of it?” Nivia shot back with a scowl.
Erin sighed while pinching her nose.
Amyra giggled. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Niv. You’re formidable in a fight but when it comes to social aspects, you’re behind on a lot of stuff.”
“You mean stuff that will dishonour every value I was taught?”
“Surely this brandy isn’t dishonouring, right? It is made with Fae’s recipe after all. So, how about it? Want a sip?”
“I wish to keep a clear head during the job.”
Amyra feigned distraught and turned her gaze back to Erin. “Sure you don’t want some, m’lady?”
After a brief contemplation, Erin splayed out her hand.
Amyra chuckled and handed Erin the canteen.
“Erin, are you sure about this?” Nivia asked.
“It’s just a sip or two, Nivia. Besides, if it wasn’t for a Fae’s poor constitution towards the usual alcohol, I would actually be indulging in a lot of liquor. Here goes nothing,” Erin said and downed a few gulps, more than just one or two sips. She gasped in delight after a few swigs. “By the Spirits… this is fucking good.” She handed the canteen back to Amyra.
Amyra drank a few more swigs before stowing the canteen back into her Infinite Pouch. “Well, I have rested enough. Shall we continue?”
Erin nodded. “Let’s.” And she drew her sword out of thin air as if the space was her sheathe when in actuality, she had merely conjured the sword using Bespoke.
Nivia pushed herself off the wall and stretched her body. “Those researchers could have run off while we’re here dallying,” she grumbled.
“They didn't,” Erin reassured.
“Shouldn’t they have another way out of this place in case of something like this?” Nivia questioned.
“Yes, they should but knowing their employer, that’s unlikely. Do you think someone like Marduk would bother with those people’s wellbeing?”
“No… I suppose he wouldn’t.”
“Besides, I don’t think we will be able to get anything out of them.”
“Don’t you worry about that, m’lady,” Amyra said. “I know how to make them talk.”
“Did you forget what happened to the Demoid during our first acquaintance, Amyra?”
“Ah,” she blurted. “Something like that did happen.”
“The Demoid self-destructed before he could spill anything,” Erin told Nivia when she saw her curious gaze.
“We came all this way here for nothing, then?”
“We still have that thing.” Erin pointed at the vial in the safe. Despite all the destruction that happened, not a single crack or scratch could be found on the vial.
Amyra picked up a pebble and threw it at the vial. The space around the vial rippled and the pebble was repelled. “Hah, figures.”
Erin grabbed a broken leg of a broken chair and poked at the vial. The same thing happened. The space rippled and the leg was repelled. “The warding spell is strong. It’s a Spatial Magic spell and it uses the Demonic energy oozing off the vial as its battery.”
“Essence Flare should dispel it,” Nivia suggested.
“Yes, but it might also destroy the contents of the vial too. We need the contents.”
“Then what do we do?”
Erin looked around. It didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for. “Hand me that scalpel on the table, would you kindly?”
Amyra picked up the scalpel and tossed it to Erin.
“What are you trying to do, Erin?” Nivia asked. “That’s just a silver scalpel. What can it do?”
“Silver conducts Mana excellently, don’t you know?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then, watch,” Erin said and infused the scalpel with Mystic Blade. “Here goes nothing.” She then lightly slashed at the spatial barrier cast on the vial. The barrier gave off a soft glow as the runes around made their appearances. The runes shuddered for a while before disappearing along with the barrier.
“Nice, it didn’t explode,” Amyra cheered.
“What if it had exploded?” Nivia asked.
“I’m sure none of us would get swallowed up by the explosion if there’s one.”
“How are you so confident about that?”
Amyra grinned. “Years of exploration in dungeons. My level isn’t ornamental, ya know? An explosion out of nowhere is something of a common occurrence in dungeons along with various other kinds of booby traps.”
Nivia snorted with her eyes rolled back.
Erin ignored the two’s bantering behind her and cautiously reached out for the vial. She poked it with her finger first before grabbing the whole with her hand. She cast Arcane Armour and Arcane Aegis around her before taking the vial out of the safe. The moment she did so, she stored the vial into the Vault immediately and moved away from the safe instantly. She even cast another layer of Arcane Aegis just to be on the safe side. When nothing happened after a few seconds had passed, she heaved a sigh of relief.
“I guess we’re done here,” Erin muttered.
“Um… Erin,” Nivia called out in a worrying voice.
“What’s wrong?” Erin responded.
“I use Life Sense just now and I can’t sense any living soul aside from us.”
Amyra raised an eyebrow. “Now, that’s eerily strange,” she said and scuttled to the front of the room where they saw the researchers retreat into. She perked her ears and placed her head against the door.
“You don’t need to do that, Amyra. Erin and I have sensitive hearing,” Nivia said, following behind her.
“Yes, but do you realise what this room is made of?”
Hearing her question, Nivia took a closer look at the room. “Steel?”
“Tempered steel,” Amyra answered. “Enchanted with sound-inhibition spells. You won’t hear anything from inside.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Feeling the vibrations.”
“Aren’t sounds also vibrations?”
“Yes but not the kind our ears could pick up with conventional means.”
“So, what did you hear?” Erin asked.
“Nothing. No movements inside. Either they’re really good at staying absolutely still or they are all truly as dead as they can be. What are your commands, Lady Erin?”
“Wait,” Nivia interrupted. “You said this is tempered steel but how can it be enchanted with spells? Steel is the worst conductor of Mana.”
“Are there other spell enchantments in place?” Erin inquired.
“I can’t tell. That’s out of my capability. Say, what does your Appraisal say, m’lady?”
“Nothing. It just says steel, nothing else.”
“Figures.” Amyra shrugged. “There must be an Appraisal inhibition spell enchantment too if that’s the case. The Covenant is really versatile.”
“To be able to enchant spells into steel, tempered steel at that,” Nivia mused. “They must have a very talented Enchanter. Who knows what other bizarre enchantments they have done on this room?”
“We’ll find out in a moment. Stay back, you two,” Erin said and clad her sword with Mystic Blade.
After making sure Amyra and Nivia were at a safe distance, she slashed at the room after covering herself with layers of protection spells. Contrary to her premonition, the room simply fell apart and crumbled into pieces without any explosion or rebound, aside from a sudden strong rush of air.
“Thank the lord,” Amyra exclaimed in relief. “Imagine if there was some kind of rebound.”
“Don’t,” Nivia glared.
“Spirits be damned…” Erin cursed when she glanced at the exposed interior of the room. Dozens of corpses lay strewn in the room. None of them died peacefully as the corpses all had their eyes and mouths agape and they looked to be in a struggle for air with how they were clawing at their necks.
“Oh, bloody hell…” Amyra flinched at the sight. “That’s worse than I anticipated. They suffocated?”
“It would seem so.” Erin scoured the room. “It didn’t look like there's any passage for air in this room and I suspect there’s an enchantment that sucks away the air too.”
“Then why would they go into this room?” Nivia questioned. Her face was wrought with terror.
“They didn’t know. Most likely, they were told this was a safe room they could hide in if this lair was raided. By the time they found out the truth, it would already be too late.”
“Monstrous…” Nivia gritted her teeth. “How can he do this? Aren’t these people his? Does he think people’s lives are his to govern and they should die at his say so?”
“Doesn’t matter what he thinks,” Erin said, glancing sorrowfully at the corpses. “Action speaks louder than words. He made it very clear of his disposition and tendency with his actions. If it’s any consolation, we don’t have to feel bad about killing all those that work for him knowingly and voluntarily.”
“So, nothing’s changed,” Amyra mumbled.
Nivia glared at the Augur. “What do you mean nothing’s changed?”
“It means exactly what I said. The Covenant is our enemy and we kill our enemies, same as always.”
“Don’t you feel at least some sympathy for the dead?”
“How unexpected. I thought you hate humans.”
“I hate them but all are equal in death. I hate humans but that doesn’t mean I wish to have them cleansed from this world or toy with their lives.”
Amyra snorted. “Death does not cleanse them of their sins. I refuse to believe they worked here without at least knowing what kind of person their employer is. They made their choice when they decided to work here.”
“I know that. That’s not what I’m trying to say. I was— ah, forget it. You won’t understand.”
“I sure won’t.”
Nivia managed to calm herself down after taking a few deep breaths. “Are we done here? I don’t want to be in this sickening place any longer.”
“Doesn’t look like there’s any point of interest here but just to be safe, let’s look around first before deciding. You can wait outside if you want, Nivia.”
“No. I’ll stay. My absence will only hinder the progress of the search. Let’s quickly get everything over with.”
“Very well, Nivia.” Erin nodded at her.
They searched the lair high and low but in the end, the search came up with nothing. There was no secret passage nor a secret storage space except for the one they discovered.
Before they left, Amyra took care of the corpses with her Fire Magic, not out of respect for the dead. As the lair was filled with a thick layer of negative energy due to experiments that were conducted here, the corpses were bound to return as Undeads.
“Any more to come?” Amyra asked as she heaved a breath and sat on a wooden crate, which had been holding some empty vials but she turned it over and used it as a chair.
“...No,” Erin answered after she surveyed the cave with the Spirits and found no traces of Demonic energy.
“We’re in the clear,” Nivia sighed in relief while leaning against a wall.
“For now,” Erin added. “Keep a constant vigilance. We don’t know when they might appear again.”
“Doesn’t how many they send. We’ll crush them all. Unless they send a serious powerhouse but I doubt they will.”
“What do you mean by a powerhouse?”
“Individuals who are level seventy or above.”
“And why do you doubt they will send a powerhouse?”
“The archmages, remember? The powerhouses will attract their attention and they will alert the capital.”
“Won’t the viceroy just bribe them?”
“He can try but as far as anyone knows, the archmages are loyal to the court. They don’t take bribes.”
“But what if there’s someone like Aedan, a powerhouse suppressing their true level? Or a powerhouse who could hide from the archmages’ detection?”
“Then, we’re fucked,” Amyra said with a shrug, drawing a line across her neck. From her Infinite Pouch, she took out a canteen. She took a few swigs before presenting it to Erin. “Care for some?”
Erin was about to accept it but she retracted her hand. “It’s not water.”
“It’s Spriggan Brandy, Spirit-distilled wine. You’ll get drunk but it won’t be as bad as other liquor.”
“Spriggan Brandy? Where did you get that?” Nivia asked with an astonished expression.
“Me and a few other residents of the Grove made it. We grow our own food and make our own liquor. Go on, try some.”
Erin looked to Nivia, asking her for advice with her gaze.
“It should be fine,” the Elf said.
“Should be?”
“I don’t know, alright? I never drank liquor before.”
“Oh?” Amyra’s eyebrows were raised. “My, my. The little Elf is more innocent than I expected.”
“So what if I am? What of it?” Nivia shot back with a scowl.
Erin sighed while pinching her nose.
Amyra giggled. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Niv. You’re formidable in a fight but when it comes to social aspects, you’re behind on a lot of stuff.”
“You mean stuff that will dishonour every value I was taught?”
“Surely this brandy isn’t dishonouring, right? It is made with Fae’s recipe after all. So, how about it? Want a sip?”
“I wish to keep a clear head during the job.”
Amyra feigned distraught and turned her gaze back to Erin. “Sure you don’t want some, m’lady?”
After a brief contemplation, Erin splayed out her hand.
Amyra chuckled and handed Erin the canteen.
“Erin, are you sure about this?” Nivia asked.
“It’s just a sip or two, Nivia. Besides, if it wasn’t for a Fae’s poor constitution towards the usual alcohol, I would actually be indulging in a lot of liquor. Here goes nothing,” Erin said and downed a few gulps, more than just one or two sips. She gasped in delight after a few swigs. “By the Spirits… this is fucking good.” She handed the canteen back to Amyra.
Amyra drank a few more swigs before stowing the canteen back into her Infinite Pouch. “Well, I have rested enough. Shall we continue?”
Erin nodded. “Let’s.” And she drew her sword out of thin air as if the space was her sheathe when in actuality, she had merely conjured the sword using Bespoke.
Nivia pushed herself off the wall and stretched her body. “Those researchers could have run off while we’re here dallying,” she grumbled.
“They didn't,” Erin reassured.
“Shouldn’t they have another way out of this place in case of something like this?” Nivia questioned.
“Yes, they should but knowing their employer, that’s unlikely. Do you think someone like Marduk would bother with those people’s wellbeing?”
“No… I suppose he wouldn’t.”
“Besides, I don’t think we will be able to get anything out of them.”
“Don’t you worry about that, m’lady,” Amyra said. “I know how to make them talk.”
“Did you forget what happened to the Demoid during our first acquaintance, Amyra?”
“Ah,” she blurted. “Something like that did happen.”
“The Demoid self-destructed before he could spill anything,” Erin told Nivia when she saw her curious gaze.
“We came all this way here for nothing, then?”
“We still have that thing.” Erin pointed at the vial in the safe. Despite all the destruction that happened, not a single crack or scratch could be found on the vial.
Amyra picked up a pebble and threw it at the vial. The space around the vial rippled and the pebble was repelled. “Hah, figures.”
Erin grabbed a broken leg of a broken chair and poked at the vial. The same thing happened. The space rippled and the leg was repelled. “The warding spell is strong. It’s a Spatial Magic spell and it uses the Demonic energy oozing off the vial as its battery.”
“Essence Flare should dispel it,” Nivia suggested.
“Yes, but it might also destroy the contents of the vial too. We need the contents.”
“Then what do we do?”
Erin looked around. It didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for. “Hand me that scalpel on the table, would you kindly?”
Amyra picked up the scalpel and tossed it to Erin.
“What are you trying to do, Erin?” Nivia asked. “That’s just a silver scalpel. What can it do?”
“Silver conducts Mana excellently, don’t you know?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then, watch,” Erin said and infused the scalpel with Mystic Blade. “Here goes nothing.” She then lightly slashed at the spatial barrier cast on the vial. The barrier gave off a soft glow as the runes around made their appearances. The runes shuddered for a while before disappearing along with the barrier.
“Nice, it didn’t explode,” Amyra cheered.
“What if it had exploded?” Nivia asked.
“I’m sure none of us would get swallowed up by the explosion if there’s one.”
“How are you so confident about that?”
Amyra grinned. “Years of exploration in dungeons. My level isn’t ornamental, ya know? An explosion out of nowhere is something of a common occurrence in dungeons along with various other kinds of booby traps.”
Nivia snorted with her eyes rolled back.
Erin ignored the two’s bantering behind her and cautiously reached out for the vial. She poked it with her finger first before grabbing the whole with her hand. She cast Arcane Armour and Arcane Aegis around her before taking the vial out of the safe. The moment she did so, she stored the vial into the Vault immediately and moved away from the safe instantly. She even cast another layer of Arcane Aegis just to be on the safe side. When nothing happened after a few seconds had passed, she heaved a sigh of relief.
“I guess we’re done here,” Erin muttered.
“Um… Erin,” Nivia called out in a worrying voice.
“What’s wrong?” Erin responded.
“I use Life Sense just now and I can’t sense any living soul aside from us.”
Amyra raised an eyebrow. “Now, that’s eerily strange,” she said and scuttled to the front of the room where they saw the researchers retreat into. She perked her ears and placed her head against the door.
“You don’t need to do that, Amyra. Erin and I have sensitive hearing,” Nivia said, following behind her.
“Yes, but do you realise what this room is made of?”
Hearing her question, Nivia took a closer look at the room. “Steel?”
“Tempered steel,” Amyra answered. “Enchanted with sound-inhibition spells. You won’t hear anything from inside.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Feeling the vibrations.”
“Aren’t sounds also vibrations?”
“Yes but not the kind our ears could pick up with conventional means.”
“So, what did you hear?” Erin asked.
“Nothing. No movements inside. Either they’re really good at staying absolutely still or they are all truly as dead as they can be. What are your commands, Lady Erin?”
“Wait,” Nivia interrupted. “You said this is tempered steel but how can it be enchanted with spells? Steel is the worst conductor of Mana.”
“Are there other spell enchantments in place?” Erin inquired.
“I can’t tell. That’s out of my capability. Say, what does your Appraisal say, m’lady?”
“Nothing. It just says steel, nothing else.”
“Figures.” Amyra shrugged. “There must be an Appraisal inhibition spell enchantment too if that’s the case. The Covenant is really versatile.”
“To be able to enchant spells into steel, tempered steel at that,” Nivia mused. “They must have a very talented Enchanter. Who knows what other bizarre enchantments they have done on this room?”
“We’ll find out in a moment. Stay back, you two,” Erin said and clad her sword with Mystic Blade.
After making sure Amyra and Nivia were at a safe distance, she slashed at the room after covering herself with layers of protection spells. Contrary to her premonition, the room simply fell apart and crumbled into pieces without any explosion or rebound, aside from a sudden strong rush of air.
“Thank the lord,” Amyra exclaimed in relief. “Imagine if there was some kind of rebound.”
“Don’t,” Nivia glared.
“Spirits be damned…” Erin cursed when she glanced at the exposed interior of the room. Dozens of corpses lay strewn in the room. None of them died peacefully as the corpses all had their eyes and mouths agape and they looked to be in a struggle for air with how they were clawing at their necks.
“Oh, bloody hell…” Amyra flinched at the sight. “That’s worse than I anticipated. They suffocated?”
“It would seem so.” Erin scoured the room. “It didn’t look like there's any passage for air in this room and I suspect there’s an enchantment that sucks away the air too.”
“Then why would they go into this room?” Nivia questioned. Her face was wrought with terror.
“They didn’t know. Most likely, they were told this was a safe room they could hide in if this lair was raided. By the time they found out the truth, it would already be too late.”
“Monstrous…” Nivia gritted her teeth. “How can he do this? Aren’t these people his? Does he think people’s lives are his to govern and they should die at his say so?”
“Doesn’t matter what he thinks,” Erin said, glancing sorrowfully at the corpses. “Action speaks louder than words. He made it very clear of his disposition and tendency with his actions. If it’s any consolation, we don’t have to feel bad about killing all those that work for him knowingly and voluntarily.”
“So, nothing’s changed,” Amyra mumbled.
Nivia glared at the Augur. “What do you mean nothing’s changed?”
“It means exactly what I said. The Covenant is our enemy and we kill our enemies, same as always.”
“Don’t you feel at least some sympathy for the dead?”
“How unexpected. I thought you hate humans.”
“I hate them but all are equal in death. I hate humans but that doesn’t mean I wish to have them cleansed from this world or toy with their lives.”
Amyra snorted. “Death does not cleanse them of their sins. I refuse to believe they worked here without at least knowing what kind of person their employer is. They made their choice when they decided to work here.”
“I know that. That’s not what I’m trying to say. I was— ah, forget it. You won’t understand.”
“I sure won’t.”
Nivia managed to calm herself down after taking a few deep breaths. “Are we done here? I don’t want to be in this sickening place any longer.”
“Doesn’t look like there’s any point of interest here but just to be safe, let’s look around first before deciding. You can wait outside if you want, Nivia.”
“No. I’ll stay. My absence will only hinder the progress of the search. Let’s quickly get everything over with.”
“Very well, Nivia.” Erin nodded at her.
They searched the lair high and low but in the end, the search came up with nothing. There was no secret passage nor a secret storage space except for the one they discovered.
Before they left, Amyra took care of the corpses with her Fire Magic, not out of respect for the dead. As the lair was filled with a thick layer of negative energy due to experiments that were conducted here, the corpses were bound to return as Undeads.
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