a short horror fanfiction that takes place in the world of Etrian Odyssey 5
Have you heard the legend of the Owls twins ?They were two earthlian siblings : a brother known as Delita who practiced Necromancy , and a sister remembered as Tetra who studied Herbology .Legend has it that , while exploring the third stratum , the brother went insane and murdered his sister , before committing suicide . The legend tells of their ghosts haunting the labyrinthine halls of the stratum , killing anyone who wanders into its clutches .
The Platina guild huddled around the campfire , hunger and exhaustion was taking a toll on them , so they decided to pitch a tent and take a rest . Admittedly , it was impossible for them to rest their weary minds in a stratum that was quiet liter a graveyard , sleepy could not find its way into their eyes . The best thing they could do was prepare a Traveler's Stew with what they gathered of Mandrapotatoes , while huddling around as close as they could .
the 3rd stratum , Fetid Necropolis , was infamous among adventurers throughout Arcania for how terrifying it was . The ground was of dead dark grey and sickening purple color , the sky above them was obscured by rocky walls , and the surroundings was riddled with tombstone , skeletons , skulls on spikes that glowed with a demonic red color . Distant howls , sobs and screams could be heard at random in the distance , and occasionally whispers would tickle the ears of the adventurers walking through the graveyard . The Platina guild was one of those that persisted despite their fears, an unremarkable guild that can barely keep up with the heroes of Arcania , but is nevertheless inspired by their heroism enough to keep going . it consisted of five adventurers : Cassandra the dark haired precise Dragoon , Penelope the nimble blond Fencer , both of which are Earthlians , as well as Ramiraz the Celestrain who was studying Omnilancy as much as he could , Phill who despite being a red-haired Brouni was an experienced Harbinger and a dark complexioned Conner who took pride in his skill with the katana .
They had set out to explore the graveyard early in the morning , but ended up losing some of their belongings including their Ariadne thread when they were escaping a Headless Hunter . Between continuing their exploring or coming back , they decided to play it safe and go back . As luck would have it , it was already nightfall and they were still walking the halls of the stratum . Unable to sleep and yet still tired , they decided to pass the time by telling ghost stories , which might have seemed stupid in hindsight , but by this point they had been exploring this stratum for weeks , this was now their life and they were used to it . Among them , Penelope was telling the story of the Owls Twins .
" th—th—that ... that's a load of rubbish ... " the terrified Phill spoke , his tone rising erratically to mask his fear , while clinging onto Conner
" Get off of me , coward ! " Conner shook his arm off of Phill's grasp , before shooting Penelope a menacing glare " and you stop telling those ' ghost stories ' , you sound like a child ! "
" I agree with Conner " Ramiraz said as he took a spoonful from his stew . " ooh ... this is good ... " he was distracted by the taste for one second , before addressing the now disappointed Fencer " oh ... a ghost is haunting this graveyard? We defeated several of these now , why would we find ghosts terrifying at this point ? "
" oh you guys are no fun ! " Penelope turned to her Dragoon friend " you agree with me , Cassy ! I know you do ! "
" now that we rested ourselves, I say we continue our descent " the stoic Dragoon said , choosing to ignore her friend , she picked up her shield and stood up " the sooner we reach the Geomagnetic Pole , the sooner we get to rest "
Dejected by her friends not taking her seriously , Penelope could only pout with annoyance . Conner put off the fire , while Ramiraz loaded the utensils in his backpack . After picking up their belongings , the Platina guild continued their journey back . The sounds of the graveyard were far more plentiful at night , distant howls and screams sent shivers down the spines of adventurers and made them hasten their pace downward , even though they had battled many ghosts and skeletons in this graveyard , they were all tired and in no condition to continue fighting .
" this is all because you lost your satchel of herbs , Phill ! " Conner said in frustration " we wouldn't have been here now if it hadn't been for you , I just want to let you know that in case we die ! "
" I'm ... I'm sorry ! " Phill whimpered
" And who was it that that stayed behind long enough and got the attention of the Headless Hunter ? " Ramiraz pointed out " are you sure you're not actually frustrated with yourself ? "
" c'mon , everyone , we're almost there ! " Penelope twirled back and addressed her friends , before continuing onward , hopping her way through the graveyard
" Penelo ! " Cassandra pulled Penelope forcefully by the arm , just as a wraith passed in front of them . It would have certainly possessed the unsuspecting Fencer had it not been for her friend .
" oh , Cassy ! You saved me, thank you so much ! "
" I ... of ... of course ... " Cassandra said , averting her fluster face from Penelope
" tone it down , we need to hurry back now " Conner hastened his pace forward
The Platina guild hastened their pace forward , feeling anxious to finally reach the pole . Their map gave them an eager hope that they were close , but for some reason they were also scared . The graveyard they had explored for weeks seemed to differ ever so slightly , it was oddly quiet all of a sudden , and unnaturally cold even by the usual standards of that graveyard . More alarmingly still , dark mist began filling the pathways , it was barely noticeable at first , but soon it covered their knees and extended for the whole graveyard very quickly , making it even more difficult to see where they were going . Instinctively , they wanted to huddle in closer , but at that very moment , the mist was too thick for them to see each other . For the first time since weeks , the Platina guild were actually scared.
" um ... guys ... ? " Penelope said , her hand close to her sword " where are you ? "
Penelope was terrified , almost on the brink of tears . For weeks she thought she had gotten used to the graveyard and its monsters , its cursed paths and the unsettling voices that echoed through it . This was different , nobody had seen this dark mist before , and for the first time the graveyard was actually silent . She had gotten used to the whispers and the cries , but who would've thought she would actually wish to hear those instead ? She felt a presence behind her , so she quick turned around and brandished her sword , but there was no one there , or maybe they were hiding in the mist , she had no way of telling . In fact , she couldn't see anything ahead of three steps , and turning around only managed to disorient her and now she was truly lost .
" guys ... please , someone say something ! " she said , her voice trembling " for your sake , you'd better not be pranking me , I swear to—! "
" is someone there ? "
" ahh ! Who's there ?! " Penelope swung her sword at basically nothing
" is someone there ? Please help me , I'm scared ! "
The voice sounded familiarly human , not that Penelope recognized it , but she was just thankful for some company in this suffocating dark silence . So she called out to the voice again while trying to follow it in the pitch black darkness . Eventually , she arrived at a dead end , where someone was sitting . A girl barely in her teens , her big beautiful blue eyes were reddened and swollen with tears . She was an Earthlian , just like Penelope , but she seemed like she had just been through one hellish fight , as her clothes were burnt around the edges and her face and body was bruised . Penelope couldn't be happier to see another adventurer in the graveyard at this time , she knelt in front of her gently and spoke with her .
" are you okay ? "
" I was attacked... " she sobbed " please ... take me with your guild ... "
" ah ... haha ... I got separated from my guild , but we can look for them together " Penelope said as she offered her hand to the injured adventure " I'm Penelope ... Penelope Arden , can you stand ? "
" thank you ... " with Penelope's help , the injured adventurer stood up , she hesitantly introduced herself " my name is Tetra Owls , thank you so much for helping "
Penelope froze in place where she stood , the injured girl before her was indeed Tetra Owls , and looking closer at her tattered and partially brunt clothes made it even more evident that she practiced Herbology . Penelope's heart raced with panic , this was one of the Owls twins , the ones in the legend she spoke of with her friends , the twins that slaughter anyone that comes across them . She could only think for one second , before panic completely set in . Against everything that defined her selfless and kindhearted self , Penelope turned her back to the injured Herbalist and ran as fast as her legs could carry her . Any other adventurer , and maybe in other circumstances , helping the scared and injured adventurer seemed like such an ideal and wholesome choice , but not to Penelope , not when she knew what the legend was .
However , fate was even crueller to her than she was to the ghost of Tetra Owls , for as she ran for her life through the darkness , she suddenly heard something that halted her in place . It was a laugh , a raspy , dry , deranged laugh . A laugh louder than any other laugh Penelope had heard before or since , which echoed in the cavernous graveyard and in Penelope's head , seemingly getting louder with every second . The laughter of someone who had completely lost their mind , someone who was no longer human , and it was straight in front of her . Through the darkness she could see him , an Earthlian , with two coffins on each side , and seven grey phantoms floating around him . Her legs trembled until they could not support her anymore , and she collapsed on the ground in despair .
" D—Delita ... Delita Owls ?! "
She brandished her sword , a million thoughts rushed through her head, conflicting her between facing the insane Necromancer or escaping . The wraiths danced and flew around Penelope , surrounding her , before they suddenly rushed her from all sides . She was barely fast enough to pass through the gap between them , just as an explosion pushed her away into the darkness. She quickly stammered back on her feet and ran , knowing well now that she was no match for Delita , and that another fight with him could be her last .
However , her panicked running through the darkness stopped when she suddenly saw a gravely injured Dragoon , and came to the despairing realization that it was indeed Cassandra . She was fatally stabbed in the chest , and blood was seeping from her wound and mouth , she barely seemed conscious . Penelope tearfully picked up her friend , holding her with both hands and trying desperately to shake her awake while crying her name .
" P—Penelo ..." Cassandra opened her eyes with what little strength she had left " it's the black mist ... cough ! Cough ! "
" save your energy , don't speak just yet ! " Penelope cried " I'll get you out of here , I promise ! "
" the black mist ... made them go insane ... " Cassandra gasped " Conner has ... lost his mind ... "
" wh—what ... ? "
" run ... Penelo ... they're ... hunting you ... Don't ... let them ... " Cassandra's voice trailed off as her eyes slowly closed , before she slumped forward
" Cassandra ? Cassandra ?! " Penelope shook her friend desperately " talk to me , don't leave me alone in here ! "
It was futile , Cassandra's breath and pulse had stilled , she was dead . Penelope couldn't believe what was happening around her , but she couldn't stop to process it . The same deranged shrill laughter echoed right behind her , this time it was Conner's voice . She remembered what Cassandra's last words were , and she could only think that Conner had also lost his friend just like Delita . She quickly stood up and ran away from whoever was chasing her , she didn't care what was happening anymore , she just wanted to get out of this hellish dark abyss .
However , against everything she wanted , her feet led her back to an injured Herbalist that was cowering in the corner , too terrified to leave her hiding place . There was no mistaking it , this was Tetra Owls . She was about to ask the panicked Fencer for help , but Penelope quickly turned her back and ran away , while trying to ignore the desperate cries and please of Tetra , and reminding herself that the ghosts of the Owls twins would kill her if they got close , even if Tetra seemed sympathetic to her . She continued her running , even as her legs grew weary , but she eventually stumbled on what she thought was a protruding gravestone and fell face first on the ground . She anxiously tried to stand up , when a maniacal laughter screamed in front of her . She looked up and saw none other than Delita , with seven phantoms behind him . They began encircling her , and she knew exactly what they were preparing to do , so she jumped in an opening through them just as they were rushing her , leavi behind her an explosion that knocked her away in the darkness .
" is there no end to this ?! Someone get me out of here !!! " she screamed as she stood up , the pain in her legs and the fear in her heart were now unbearable .
However , it was when she looked ahead that she realized there truly was no escape , for right in front of her was the gravely injured body of her friend Cassandra , who seemed to be breathing her last . As Cassandra used the last of her strength to warn her Fencer friend from her other friends who had gone insane , Penelope could only cry in despair , knowing that there was no waking up from this nightmare .
ENDED
