The crow dropped everyone off in the large nest on top of the spire. Everyone hopped off the various places they clung to, and the bird dropped Azuron. The bird hovered for a moment, and flew to perch itself on a nearby part of the ruins. The group gathered themselves together, then headed down the stairs. Their short walk ended at the broken pillar they jumped on to.
"So, how do we get back down?" Xren asked.
"This way," Dextrous replied, and hopped onto a large rooftop.
The rest followed behind the archer, hopping from the rooftop to a stone platform. From there they hopped down to a lower landing area in the ruins, then finally onto the ground below.
"I say we drop off anything we don't want to carry, and restock from that merchant," Orion said.
"Good idea, I need some supplies for arrows," Dextrous said, checking his quiver.
Orion opened his trunk and began to place the slab inside, when a voice caused him to stop.
"Return the slab!" it moaned.
Everyone spun around to see a strange Hollow in tattered robes that seemed to strangely flow in the wind, even though there was none.
"Who are you?" Orion called, drawing his sword.
The rest followed, drawing their weapons against the intruder.
"Return the slab…"
"What's your offer?" Xren asked.
"What?" Azuron asked.
"If this thing wants the slab, he's going to pay for it."
"Shut up Xren, he's not getting it," Orion said.
"Return the slab… or suffer my curse…" it moaned and disappeared.
Everyone looked at each other, wondering what just happened.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Xren asked.
"Who knows. I'm putting this thing in my locked trunk until we know what it is," Orion said, placing it in his bottomless trunk.
The group began their trek back up the hillside to the ruined city. They barely got past the well when a man called to Xren.
"You… How did you get out alive?" a man called.
"Excuse me?" Xren answered.
A large man with bowl-cut blonde hair stood at the top of a small amount of stairs. He held a mace that matched Xren's and a shield that matched Azuron's.
"I know who you are. You are the one who broke the covenant. You are the one who tainted the Way of White."
"I did no such thing! I cannot control what being I am or what kind of living I inherit! I was chosen, and I'm going to live this life. Who are you to say otherwise?"
"I am Petrus of Thorolund, and how dare you speak of the order in that way. You stole from the archives, then ran away like a coward."
"That name… Oswald said to beware of one by his name…" Orion thought, placing a hand behind him and grasping his spear.
"Because the leaders, and my own father, were going to throw me in that Asylum just because I was different and posed a threat."
"I heard you raised suspicion when you could read script too well. Ha, your 'father' would be disappointed to learn you escaped… If he could."
"What do you mean 'if he could'? What did you do…"
"Oh, I assure you, I had no part in it. Our best bodies, your 'father' included, just disappeared one day. Something about being called to war. If you only knew…"
"How dare you…"
"Enough! You, shut it before I drive a spear into your chest. Xren, move along, this fool is not worth it," Orion called.
Xren turned with a huff, and marched up the hill. Azuron and Dextrous stood for a moment, and ran after him. Orion stayed for a minute staring at the cleric.
"I know who you are, we have already been warned about you. Keep your distance from us, and I won't kill you on the spot," Orion said bitterly.
"So you do care about your little group. I figured you for a loner, such big talk for a deprived fool. At least you all have something in common, fathers who could care less about their kin, rightfully so I might add…"
Orion knew when to walk away, and did just that.
"I'm going to kill that fool someday. I just need a good reason… I don't just kill for sour words," Orion thought as he caught up with the rest of the group.
The group walked in almost complete silence, both Xren and Orion in a bad mood from the conversation with Petrus. All Azuron and Dextrous could do is look at each other, then the others, with a sense of worry. They arrived at the Hollow Merchant, who was more than happy to see them.
"Oh, there you are. Where have you been hiding? I guessed you'd hopped the twig for certain. Bah, shows what I know!" he laughed.
"Just restocking some materials," Dextrous said.
"I have some new stuff, here, try these."
The merchant handed Dextrous a pouch of golden powder, but not like the powder they found earlier.
"What is this?"
"It keeps your weapons together in the field!"
"Useful, add a few of those."
Dextrous finished his shopping, paid the Hollow, and walked back to the sulking Xren and Orion. Azuron did not need anything, and was standing guard at the door for some reason.
"I also have some information for you!"
Everyone turned their attention to the Hollowed merchant.
"A horrible goat demon has moved in below, use the door in the tower before the bridge. And up above, there's that humongous drake, and a bull demon too. If you stick around this place, it might end up being your grave!"
"Thanks, but we have already killed both the Drake and bull demon. That info would have been nice the first time we were here you fool," Orion said bitterly.
"Well fine, that's the last time I try to help out someone in need. Lousy rat…"
"Sorry, those two are in a bit of a mood after a conversation with Petrus. Thanks for the heads up," Dextrous said.
The group wandered up to the nearby bonfire to decide what to do next.
"I think I know the door he was talking about. It's the locked one right above us," Azuron said, standing in the doorway.
"What's got you all paranoid, thinking you have to guard the entrance to where we are?" Xren asked sarcastically.
"That Hollow who said that slab is cursed. Am I the only one worried about this?"
The others looked at each other, confirming Azuron was indeed the only one.
"Hmph, fine. Tell me then Xren, what's the deal with you and Petrus?"
"I have no idea. I have never met him, but he seems to know all about me. What happened after I was captured… What is bothering me is how he said father, almost like I don't know my own father…"
"He did seem to say it with a sense of sarcasm," Dextrous said.
"And what about you mister gloom? What did he say to you?" Azuron asked Orion.
"Nothing," Orion said quickly. "He's the one Oswald was talking about who 'was drenched in sin'. I'm just being cautious about his actions."
"Sure… Right… Anyway, shall we continue onwards? I want to see what this goat demon is all about."
Orion and Xren were the first to head up the ladder leading to the top of the bridge. Once up, both disappeared through the doorway.
"I don't like how both of them reacted to Petrus. Xren I can understand, but what did he say to Orion?" Azuron asked Dextrous.
"I'm not sure, but whatever it was, it did not sit well with him," Dextrous replied, and headed up the ladder.
The group headed to the locked door across the one they came through the first time they arrived at the bridge. Azuron used the key Orion found to unlock it, revealing a long ladder down. Everyone slid down it one by one, landing in a small room. From there they dispersed onto a ledge that appeared to be a lower part of the city. Azuron wandered up a small set of stairs only to find the locked gate they found long before, and opened it. He walked back down the stairs to meet back up with the rest of the group.
"That was fast," Orion said.
"Found the locked gate from a while ago, managed to open another shortcut back to the bonfire," Azuron replied.
"Let's get moving, I'm itching to kill something."
They walked a few feet to a small staircase leading down. They entered the archway of the staircase and stopped cold.
"By the gods… what happened here…" Xren said.
"Look out!" Azuron called.
Everyone drew their weapons, and readied to defend against the mass of creatures that came charging their way.
A/N: Yes, yes, I know. Short chapter with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Had some time to throw a chapter together in time for Tuesday. Petrus for one I know is not that much of an ass, but those who played know differently. Next week's chapter will be longer, I promise. Going to do most of the Depths all in one chapter, minus a few things near the end. I need time to go back and play through it, that being one of the very few places I don't remember too well. Anyway, see y'all next week, Keep up the reviews, and thanks for the ones so far!