"Let's go," suggested Astarael and wend first.
"Sure," was Kyron's reply as he followed closely behind.
Mist was next to walk through the opening. I was last and just in case the torch gave up on us, I whispered a light spell. One that was easy to cancel, but will actually hold till I do.
"What was that?!" Kyron's head snapped in my direction.
"Just a light spell. In case the torch burns out," I answered.
"Save your breath, there are many torches around," Kyron rolled his eyes.
"That might be, but I'm guessing that the lower we get, the fewer torches there will be," said Astarael with a calm voice.
"So do we stock up on them?" asked Mist.
"Might not be a bad Idea," I said after thinking about it for a while.
"Why? I mean, you can just conjure a light, right?" sounded Kyron.
"Because this first grate was opened by taking out a torch, maybe there are others that can be opened by putting a torch in?" I mused.
"He has a point," Mist was trying to persuade Kyron.
"Fine, but I ain't carrying them."
"Don't worry, I will..." I said before they could start arguing.
"How many do you think we should take?" Astarael turned to me.
"Seven? Eight? I think that might be enough..."
"Okay," Astarael said, "that means each of us will be carrying two torches. And no complaining!" the last part was directed to Kyron.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever..." was the man's reply.
Then we continued through the corridors and on our way, we took all the torches we saw. As well as the clothes we found in a side corridor with a dead end. And then Kyron spotted the mace. It was a crude weapon, made out of a rock tied to a stick. But he took it saying that he saw it first, just like the clothes before.
Noone argued with him. Astarael favored swords and Mist was better with short blades and throwing objects. And me? Well, I had my magic and Toorum's knowledge to help me. So we left the weapon for Kyron and continued through the gate after pulling the lever.
"Look there!" exclaimed Mist when we turned the corner.
"What? It's just a different colored tile, you idiot," replied Kyron and was about to continue, but that was when i spotted it.
"Stop," I said in a tone that didn't allow for disobedience. "It's a pressure plate," I explained when Kyron turned to me.
"And how would you know?" he snarked.
"Toorum's book," I answered. "It explained a lot of things to me. And while some of it might be speculations, I don't think anyone has ever knew more about Grimrock than Toorum. With the exception of the creators."
"So, what do you think will happen when we step on it?" asked Mist.
"I'm guessing that that grate will open, but I might be wrong."
"Do we test it then?" asked Astarael.
"Let's place that rock on it, shouldn't that work?" asked Mist pointing to a rock.
"Yes, but you could also use that rock as a weapon, couldn't you?" I mused.
But before he could reply, Kyron threw one of the torches he was carrying on the plate and the grate slid noisily up.
"Next time, warn us," I smacked him on the head. "These things could get us killed!"
"You, maybe, but not me," he sneered.
"Shut up you guys and let's go," Astarael sounded from near the grate that was now opened.
Mist grabbed the rock and was the first to follow. I was not far behind. However, Kyron was quick to push through and move to his spot next to Astarael. I glared at him for his rude behaviour. I didn't comment though. We already disliked each other anyway. No need to make it worse.
Right behind the grate was another intersection.
"Do we go right or straight?" asked Astarael, his question directed mainly at me.
I peered into the right corridor and frowned.
"I'd go right, I have a feeling that otherwise we would have to back track..." I said slowly.
Astarael nodded and turned right. The rest of us followed. There was a small alcove and there we found a key.
"I'm guessing we will need this?" smiled Astarael and grabbed it.
"Let's go then, we're waisting time!" said Kyron, very loudly, I might add.
"I suggest you keep your voice down, unless you want to get us all killed," snapped Astarael at him.
"Relax, there's nothing here," Kyron said.
"No, but there might be," said Astarael.
"Let's go," piped Mist.
And with that, Astarael again took the lead and we walked until we reached a woodden door.
"Let's see what happenes," smiled Astarael and slid the key in the keyhole. He turned it and then his eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath.
"What? What's wrong?" I asked.
"The key! It vanished!" Astarael breathed.
"Don't worry, I think it's normal. It's the magic of this place," I reassured him and then peeked through the opened door.
"Another intersection?" Mist sounded.
"Which way then?" asked Astarael when he regained his bearings after the vanishing act.
"Well, right is a grate with a keyhole, so I guess the key is to the left?" Mist suggested.
"Let's go then," suggested Astarael, who was still shaken from the vanishing act.
"Yeah," the group agreed and they all made their way left.
"Well, there's nothing here..." muttered Mist, dissapointment clearly visible on his face.
What about the writing?" asked Kyron.
"Loose rock?" I wondered. "What does that mean...?"
"Hum, and what about this?" Astarael said and pointed to a rock that was split at a corner.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. "Just like the first room!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, before you guys woke up, I searched the place and found a button just like this one," I explained.
"So that's where the shuriken came from?" Mist asked.
"Yes," I nodded and then gestured to Astarael to press the button.
He did and a wall right next tous slid up. We were spooked a bit, expecting to be attacked, but there was nothing but a single key there.
"Okay, let's take that and move on," Kyron said and made a grab for the key.
"You sure we should trust him with the key?" Mist stage whispered.
"I heard that!" the man snapped but there was no real bark in it.
