A/N: Hey all! Another one! So I'm curious what you all think about the Collector? but short question out of the way, Enjoy!
It was early in the morning when Marcus awoke. What was surprising was that the Gem was right next his bedside glowing a dark blue and rotated in the air. When he got up to get dressed it seemed to almost follow him as he went around his room. Curiously he grabbed the Gem once again as he done last night and held it. The waters again shifted and swayed as they had done but when the waters stopped there was only darkness inside the Gem.
'Well I can't have you following me around, that will just unnerve the villagers.' Marcus thought.
He then had an idea.
Sophia left her room ready for the day. She knew who she would ask but didn't have an idea of how to ask them, so Marcus was the next best thing. The walk to the guild hall was peaceful and quiet as it appeared she was the only one wake during the hour of the morn. When she entered the Hall she was greeted by a breathtaking sight. The first floor was a training area that had been swept clean of all imperfections. In the center was a training/sparring arena with weapon and armor racks littering the various walls along with a small tavern off to the side for food and drink. A workout station with various weights and tools to hone one's strength were also there in a separate room sealed off by glass. She could also see stairs leading up in the top left corner of the first floor. Without wasting further time she climbed the steps and went up. Each floor housing rooms for herself and her companions. When she reached the top floor she waited a moment, unsure if the Heir was awake but knocked all the same.
"Come in." Marcus called back.
Sophia opened the door to find Marcus strapping the rather large dark crystal gem into iron and leather restraints. She looked on, observing as he worked to seal the Gem tightly into its place. She still wasn't sure why but she chose not to pester him about it.
"Good morning, Marcus. I hope you slept well, I have also got the people I want to take with me." Sophia said as she handed Marcus a small list of names.
"Good morning to you as well, Sophia. I will inform the others during this morning's announcements. After that, you will set out immediately." Marcus said with a smile as he finally put the last latch onto the Gem. As he moved away he could see the Gem move ever so slightly in his direction but then stop and lay still in its cage. "Is there anything else you need?"
"When will we move into these chambers?" Sophia asked not really caring all that much.
"When you get back, you'll find all of your equipment and valuables moved to a room of your own. I assure you nothing will go missing." Marcus said as he then grabbed his coat and walked past her down to the town square.
"Hello everyone, I hoped you all got a good night's rest for we have much work to be done. This week we shall be sending out Dismas, Sam, Freya Cross, and leading the expedition will be Sophia. Please go see Larrin for gear and any questions you might have. So next on our list will be the-"
Sophia stopped listening to Marcus and left towards the gate where Larrin was waiting for her. It was around an hour later before everyone was geared up and ready to move out.
"Hello again, good Gardener." Sophia said to the Veteran.
"Gardener? Ha! You must mean my twin brother, Simon. He's the smith and yes he does tend to the garden but he's not very good." Sam laughed as he explained.
"Oh."
"It's a long way, here is some firewood. But you already know you'll have to pay for the rest." Larrin said as he handed a large pack filled with firewood for the journey.
Sophia began paying for their goods and supplies. Only 20 gold pieces left was not good. Not only did they need to find the relics but they needed funds to pour into the town so Marcus could make it flourish again as it had many years ago.
The journey was the same, though not familier. The serpent like road was just as changing as the whether. To Sophia it was all the same, follow the road that leads to hell. When they reached the ruins they entered with Sam first, followed by Dismas, then Sophia, and Freya.
"Right or left?" Sam asked as there were two doors
Sophia pondered for a moment before motioning with her hand, left. They entered through the door into a long corridor. Sam lit his torch and they moved forward.
"This place gives me the creeps-" Dismas said but was interrupted as a large spike shot up from the ground and sliced his arm. "Dammit!"
Dismas quickly bandaged himself and moved on. It was a rather large cut but did not cut deep. The group was then greeted by a stack of books. Sam went forward and picked up the first book on the top of the stack. As he flipped through the pages he was enlightened. Not only was it a manual on ruins but it explained how to scout for danger when expecting it. "Good to know." Sam said.
As they entered the next room Sophia felt a tug in the back of her mind. Looking around the old storage room she came upon a small statue of a hooded angel holding a sword. "One down, two to go." Sophia said to herself and moved on.
"What do we have here?" Dismas said as he found a small wooden crate. Opening the crate he grabbed a handful of crests.
Into the next room they were ambushed by a group of enemies. Sam had no time to react as his mind was assaulted by dark magic from a cultist. Freya was then hit by a splash of red boiling blood to her arm. In retaliation she threw 2 knifes straight at her assailant and a cultist brawler, each landing true. Dismas followed up with a pistol shot that obliterated the Bone Courtiers head, killing it.
The cultist brawler went forward, striking Sam across the chest drawing blood. Sophia then raised her mace and stuck the acolyte with searing light. Sam then took his mace and rammed into a bone soldier and smashed it to pieces. Freya and Sophia both attacked the acolyte with poison dart and searing light killing her. Dismas and Sam then both finished off the Brawler with mace and knife.
"Damn this infernal bleeding." Sam said as he tried and failed to cover up his deep gash.
"We don't have enough bandages for that. You're just going to have to live through it." Dismas replied.
Dismas searched through the bodies on the ground and found a large sack of gold and a citrine along with a couple busts sitting in the corner.
"Lets eat, i'm starving." Said Freya.
The others said nothing as they had also not eaten in awhile, so did not voice any objection but rather sat down with her and began searching through their packs.
"So what did grandpa Larrin pack for my lunch today?" Dismas said as he started to pull out various food items. "Oh look, old bread. And look here! More old bread. I swear if I try hard enough I might actually taste something."
Sam and Sophia chuckled at Dismas's remark but Freya remained silent and glared at Dismas. She knew what it was like to go on days and sometimes a week without a scrap of food. The group ate in silence after that and then moved forward through the next hallway.
"Tell us a war story, Sam. Surely you, oh mighty veteran, have many to tell." Freya asked.
"Do I have war stories? Of course I do. I'd be happy to tell you." Sam said. "During the war of the Sunken Roads I was in the battle of the Green fields. I was with a mercenary group at the time and we were charged with defending an artillery emplacement. My lads and I watched as the catapults rained fire down onto the battlefield. The lord we were fighting for was heartless but promised us good pay if we won the battle. As I watched I saw aly and enemy alike torn apart by both volleys of arrows and flaming stones. It was gruesome but I did not care at the time. If it wasn't money, fighting, or women I wouldn't care. Blessed Light, I was strong back then. Although we were mercenaries we never ran from a fight, till that day. As the battle was drawing to a close, our side was looking to be victorious. That was until we spotted a large force a cavalry on the way to aid the enemy. Most of the force went straight into battle but a small group headed to our position. Fearing the worst, my lads tuck tail and ran away, abandoning our position along with every other man and women who were manning the catapults. I had a decision to make, run and live or stay and fight. I knew that not only would there be no money but the battle would be lost and shame would follow like a plague. So I stayed to fight-" Sam was then interrupted as a spear shot from the wall.
Reacting quickly he raised his shield and blocked the incoming attack. Before anyone said anything, Sophia raised her hand and motioned for everyone to be silent. She pointed towards the door they had reached and noticed it was open. Peaking through, Sophia saw a group of skeletons shambling about unaware of their presence. Showing hand signals, she informed the group and they all readied themselves for the surprise attack. Sam was first in and let out a large battle cry as he busted through the old door breaking it to the ground with just his mere size. Freya threw her daggers at the first soldiers she saw and Sam took a large swing at the smallest soldier who reacted and dodged the attack. Dismas shot his pistol into an arborist skeleton and Sophia finished it off with her magic.
"Die humans!" The largest of the skeletons armed with axe and shield screeched as it rammed its shield into Dismas staggering him back.
Sophia was then assaulted by sword and crossbolt. She was losing blood fast. Realizing this she began to chant and the groups wounds started to heal back. Dismas fired a grapeshot round, downing one soldier and pestering the other two. Sam followed up with another swing at the final arbalist killing it. He was then rewarded by a shield to his face, stunning him. Freya along with Sophia finished off the axeman, ending the fight.
"Looks like they knew what we came for." Freya said as she picked up another statue inside a fountain.
Sam approached the fountain and poured holy water into it before drinking its contents. Immediately his wounds sealed up and his mind cleared. Letting out a large sigh he did not know he'd been building up and breathed heavily after.
"Alright, so where was I… Oh yes!" Sam said as he then went back the way they had come. The rest followed as there was nowhere else to go. "So as the cavalry were charging I went to the catapult and rotated it to face the enemy. Grabbing a bolder I heaved it into place and fired. I watched as the stone smashed the enemy going straight through their formation ensuing chaos. Only a few riders remained. I grabbed my longbow and began to pick off one after another. Although they had run, seeing me dispatch the threat made my lads and the other artillery men come back, cowards. I then lead the entire company into battle against the enemy. That was a glorious day! Such a time to be alive." Sam finished his story. Sophia and Freya were thoroughly amused which Dismas did not like.
"Onto door number 2." Dismas said as they reached the entrance again and went through the next door.
Sophia was in the lead now and was surprised to find two large burial urns covered in dark ashe with slimy black liquid all over them. Taking out the rest of her holy water she poured the contents into and onto the urns. This purified the ashes revealing valuables and treasure.
"Look out!" Freya said as a spiked gauntlet came out of the shadows to strike Dismas.
Sophia turned to see they had been discovered and caught unprepared. But the enemy did not find them lacking. Reacting much quicker than expected the company dispatched the thugs without injury. Sophia knew they had to rest soon and were growing tired. Time moved differently down in the dark, something she knew too well. The halls seemed to stretch and weave as they walked through the blackness. Stress started to seep in like blood through cracked stone, slow and unnerving. The silence was broken as Sophia was then knocked to the ground by a hidden trap, causing her to hit her head hard knocking her out cold.
"With my ear to the road, no one shall surprise me..."
When She awoke from her trauma induced sleep she was met by warmth and laughter along with a cozy fire in a room she had not seen before. Looking around in panic she searched for her friends. What she saw was exactly that. Huddled in the dark around the large fire with their packs and food ready and waiting.
"Oh good! You're awake." Sam said as he handed her a bowl of fresh soup and a waterskin.
Sophia wasted no time and drank the water greedily. Only after did she realize who she was and stopped. She thanked Sam and took another look around taking in her surroundings. On each of the doors were little bells and some form of trap she did not understand.
"Let's eat!" Freya said.
"I second that." Dismas agreed.
"As do I." Sam said as they all began to dig into their food.
Sophia prayed and then ate hungrily. With such a large amount of food they indulged their every hungry desire.
"So I have a joke or two. Might just break up the tension and strain on our minds," said Freya as she got up. "So, the children were lined up in the cafeteria of a holy elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want... God is watching the apples." Freya said with a laugh, causing Sophia to laugh and Sam to chuckle.
"C'mon you can do better. Do you have any darker jokes?" Dismas said with a laugh.
"Two men were walking home after a Halloween party and decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery just for laughs. Right in the middle of the cemetery they were startled by a tap-tap-tap noise coming from the misty shadows. Trembling with fear, they found an old man with a hammer and chisel, chipping away at one of the headstones. "Holy cow, Mister," one of them said after catching his breath, "You scared us half to death - we thought you were a ghost! What are you doing working here so late at night?" "Those fools!" the old man grumbled. "They misspelled my name!" Freya replied. This caused the others to laugh more but not Dismas who was still waiting.
"A man walks into a library and asks for a book about how to kill yourself. The librarian replies: "Fuck off, you won't bring it back." Freya said without waiting and stared back at Dismas who burst out laughing.
Dismas opened the door waiting and listening for any sign of danger. Hearing nothing he motioned for the others to follow. As they began walking they were stopped by a large pile of rubble blocking the way. Freya Grabbed her shovel and began to dig. This prompted Sam and Dismas to grab their shovels and help. Sophia stood guard and watched over them as they dug. Once they were done Dismas again stopped and listened.
"We have company, the digging must have attracted them." Dismas said quietly as they all armed themselves. They then saw a small torch in the darkness held by a bone soldier.
"NO! N-NO! Please let me go, i've seen too much and I must go!"
Sophia looked in horror as an old man was shackled and being carried away by three other skeletons she couldn't make out. Freya took no time in waiting and threw her daggers, one striking the crazed man and the other hitting a skeleton's head clean off making it fall dead on the ground. The three that were left were completely taken by surprise as Dismas and Sam charged in after Freya, firing and smashing as they went. Within seconds the fight was over.
"What have you done!? You killed an innocent man!" Sophia said as she went up to Freya striking her with her gloved fist, which brought her onto the ground.
Sam and Dismas held her back as Freya went over to the dead man and pointed to his neck. "Look." She said.
Sophia shook off the two men and set her eyes to where Freya was pointing. It was a mark of the Heretic, Blasphemer and cultist of Darkness. Sophia was speechless.
"No need to apologize. It was a good punch. But the next time you hit me, I won't be so kind" Freya said with a stern look.
"Regardless, I acted out of anger and I am sorry. I don't normally do that. This damn quest has me more stressed than I've ever been." Sophia apologized with a sad look.
'Finally!' Sophia thought as she grasped the third statue. Laying around her were the bodies of more skeletons. She then handed the bag of the holy statues to Sam who put them in his pack
"DO YOU THINK THOSE PUNY TRINKETS WILL SAVE YOU!?"
Sophia and and the rest were thrown off their feet as the ground shook and rumbled. The voice was deep and dark, full of malice and hate.
"I WILL BURY YOU ALL ALIVE!"
Again the ground began to shake all around them. The stone and wood pillars and support beams shifted and groaned under an invisible weight.
"Don't just stand there! We need to run!"Freya yelled as she picked up her bags and ran out the door followed by Dismas and Sam.
As they ran through the doors and dark hallways they dared not look back. The walls themselves seemed to laugh and snicker at the attempt they were making to get out alive. Sophia began to falter in her speed as fatigue set in. Straining harder to get out she pushed her every being to get through the final door-
"We made it!" Dismas exclaimed as he jumped in the air. "We made it- wait. Where is Sophia?"
The three looked behind them at the entrance, each wheezing and coughing as they tried to get air into their lungs. Horror struck them as they saw a single hand sticking out of the rubble that had fallen. Sophia was dead.
A/N: First death... sorry... not sorry! Mwhahahahahaha I'm so evil! Jk there will be many more :) but I do have a question. What style of writing do you like? Short and sweet or long and drawn out? It will still be the same story but I want you all to be happy with how much you read.