As they made camp that night, Pyrrha guarding Oobleck as Jaune and Blake prepared supper, Oobleck asked, "Why does the air ripple when you perform a miracle?"
"It's called 'Weaving', basically, when I Weave, I pull against the strings of existence to rearrange them, then let them snap straight. If the new arrangement is solid, the air ripples and the change takes effect. If not, nothing happens and I start anew."
"You'd said that your Ancestress first Wove by gathering ingredients that glow, would you mind explaining that?" Oobleck had sat on the ground, folding his legs oddly, placing his ankles on the top of his folded knees, a pose that seemed difficult to move from quickly.
"Weaving is divided into different Pools. My specialties are Healing, and Combat. Healing, obviously, utilizes herbs and other natural ingredients, as well as different massage techniques. At need, the right ingredients glow, in precisely the right measure needed, but only when fresh. As herbs dry out, potency is lost, and the ingredient loses viability. We haven't bothered trying to preserve potency because we usually stay at the village. I am the first to travel this far from home since my Grandmother in her youth." She stretched her neck. "What are you doing with your legs?"
"'The Lotus,' something I'd seen in a book of exercises during one of my digs." He chuckled, "Apparently, the Ancients practiced something called 'Yoga' for grace, flexibility, and peace of mind. However, I actually wound up hurting myself often while trying to learn it, seeing as I'd only pictures and no actual instructor to guide me. That is a beautiful sword, can you weave with it?" Oobleck asked as he plucked at a blade of grass.
"That's called Bladesong, from the Combat Pool of Weaving. All Weaver swords are forged similarly to this one, blade, handle and all from a single billet of steel. When the wielder flicks her wrist, the blade rings. Combat Pool amplifies and manipulates the effect of the waves sound travels in, similar to how Healing extracts and amplifies the effects of the ingredients used." She turned Miló in her fingers, the light sparkling from where Crocea Mors had shaved steel from the blade.
…
…
…
"Here it is, the Pit of the Dead." Oobleck announced as they crested the peak of a pass.
As the name implied, an enormous pit, a league across, stretched before them, filled near to the brim with decaying relics of ages long past.
"How did this pit get carved?" Blake asked, noting the perfect roundness of the bowl.
"The Ancients discovered a process for turning any material into pure light, apparently both a means of powering their constructs and one of their greatest weapons. During some apocalyptic battle, one of said weapons was unleashed. This, per an old map I found, was once where a mountain stood, now, it remains a scrap yard, a fitting memorial, I think." He began treading the gentle slope into the pit, "Right this way."
"Is it safe?" Pyrrha asked.
"I've never been harmed, however, keep your eyes open, considering how this was a dumping ground, the piles occasionally shift as things rot. Also, mind your feet, there are sinkholes."
"You've an odd definition of 'Safe'…"
"As I'd said, I haven't been harmed… yet." He paused and turned to them, "I can't just go and collect it, because, well…" He held aloft his maimed wrist. "I know this place screams of ambush, but no one stays here for long because of how dangerous it is here, and no one is stupid enough to try fighting among these ruins. Now please, follow me, and try to step only where I step."
"Pyrrha, would you be so kind as to vanish and scout ahead?" Jaune suddenly piped. At her knowing look, "I've merely an odd feeling."
"I'm certain you do." Pyrrha purred as she vanished, then shrugged off her satchel and peeled off her clothes.
"Don't get any ideas." He warned as he took her things. "If you've news, tap my arm and whisper it to me." He stooped after feeling her tap his arm.
"Try not to think of how I'm absolutely naked right now." She gently purred in his ear, drawing a growl from him.
"You're an atrocity." He smelled as her scent faded with her giggles, then followed Oobleck and Blake into the pit.
…
As Oobleck slowly picked his way into the pit, Blake asked, "What could possibly have piqued your fascination enough that you're so willing to brave all this so regularly?"
"When I was a boy, I heard, what seemed to me, no end of tales of the ancient world and the wonders therein. Truth be told, I only brave this place because I've found no end of fascinating trinkets, some even remain active, like the artifact I showed you at the mansion. Speaking of which would you mind handing it back to me? I need it to more accurately navigate the ruins."
"I finally managed to translate enough of their runes that I could use this to navigate these ruins, however, seeing as I've been scrounging these ruins for five years, the point was somewhat moot, however, it did lead me to the particular relic we're headed to."
"The skyboat?"
"The term is actually 'Airship', but yes." He turned a corner and pointed to a crevice. "There, I'll go first." Jaune laid a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Wait. Pyrrha, your turn."
…
One of the perks of vanishing is, of course, passing through solid objects like smoke. Though, Pyrrha usually hated when she had to pass her head through walls, but was glad for the odd Lifesight it grants her, for she saw no signs of anything alive within the cavern beyond the crevice. Although, far beneath and away she noted a cluster pf people.
As she passed through the walls and stood before Jaune, she reached forth with a hand, lightning crackling along her skin as she touched his arm. "The cavern itself is clear, although I sense a group near enough to consider, though they are far enough I'm not concerned. Do you want me to investigate?"
"Yes, be safe." He whispered back, and leaned down to kiss her.
"I will," She kissed him, then whispered, "Darling."
"Slower." He gently warned, drawing her giggles before she darted away and swam downwards towards the sparks of life she'd seen.
After Jaune motioned for him to proceed, Oobleck led the way into the cavern. After the trio's sight adjusted to the paltry lighting of the cavern, he chuckled with satisfied amusement as Jaune and Blake gaped at the form of what seemed to be the prone form of a gargantuan hollow whale.
…
"Now, if you'll note the size of this bag and the seeming frailty of the supporting skeleton, what conclusions could we reach as to the intended purpose?" Oobleck bore the groans he'd earned.
"That it was meant to store something very large, yet very gentle." Blake groaned.
"Precisely, now, feel the fabric of the bag, how light it is." He hefted a flap of the bag and handed it to them. "How durable must it have been, to last a millennium of neglect so intact."
"Are you trying to punish us?" Jaune kept his temper in check, he had been rather harsh towards Oobleck, and here was proof of his mettle.
"Apologies, I find these artifacts so fascinating, and so rarely have company to display them too. Besides, the hole the stone resides in can only be seen during a certain time of the day, so I'm also passing time until then."
"A moment." Blake asked, then drew a small iron casket from her pack and opened it, revealing an assortment of gems nestled in leather and an odd silver cup fastened to a strap. "The stone will be black, yes?"
"I remember it so." Oobleck looked on curiously as Blake selected a diamond the size of a pea and pressed it into the center of the cup, looking away as she moved her finger and a brilliant light burst forth. "Dust! I should have known." He chirped, then walked over to a door set on a corner and slid it into the wall as Jade fastened the strap 'round her brow. "Right this way."
…
As she swam through the twisted jumble of crumbling relics, Pyrrha began feeling an odd itch…
…
As Oobleck led the way down a darkened hallway, he asked, "Do all Huntsmen carry those gems?"
"No, they release a shockwave when dropped onto stone or iron. We aren't sure if that's intentional or not."
"Intentional, I suspect. Here we are." Oobleck slid another door into the wall and stepped into a room.
Blake maneuvered to light the way, then accused, "You said it'd be black." In the center of the room, an enormous gemstone of every color glowed softly in the darkness.
"That's the navigation system, the stone that blighted me is actually a few rooms further." He added softly, "You're the one with the torch, if you wish to take your time, I don't mind."
Blake stepped softly to the side of the sphere and marveled at the shifting pattern of emerald, ruby and sapphire that so beautifully mimicked landscape. "They used this to navigate?"
"Yes, it's as accurate a map as you'll ever see."
"How? The details are so small…" Blake reached out and stroked the sphere, which felt smooth as satin, despite the rough landscape, and gasped as it spun on its axis.
"Stroke two fingers in opposing directions."
Blake squeaked with glee as the landscape within the gem seemed to rise to meet her gaze. "Have you tried showing this to anyone else?" She kept sweeping at the surface of the gem, almost dancing with glee.
"…Another object, once, long ago. It's why you're the first I've allowed to follow me in two years."
"Did they steal something?"
"I wish that was all..." Oobleck heaved a sigh. "They didn't heed me, wandered off, and found a sinkhole the hard way…"
…
The itch had turned to a nearly unbearable burning, but Pyrrha pressed on, and broke through the last layer of debris, hearing, "Adam, we've done it!"
…
As they passed through the last door, Oobleck pointed with his remaining hand. "See where the floorboards are shattered?"
"Of course." Blake strode to the side of the hole and knelt, then, "How deep was the hole when you saw it?"
"An arms' length, why?" Oobleck joined Blake beside the hole. "Wha-"
"RUUUUUNNN!" Pyrrha's scream split their ears as the earth began to quake…
I'll spoil it: there's a sale on shoes at the mall.
You believe me, right?
You totally should.