Chapter 4-True Terror
We'd just entered the Nordia tunnels which were lit with a type of iridescent blue stones casting long distorted shadows. I was nervous though because something wasn't right as normally there were many other monsters roaming around but I saw nothing in front of us. Yulie was at the head our group gazing in awe at the beauty of the cave.
"This place is beautiful," Yulie stated in awe, "What was this place before."
"It was a mine," I answered her with a slight shrug, "but that was years ago before the miners uncovered a shaft filled with basilisks."
"How did the Miners get out?" Ginger asked which caused Eldore to sigh and me to shake my head, "Wait what…oh you mean…wow."
"No survivors," I told him causally, "and there won't be any more until a way can be figured out how to eliminate the nest or these mines will continue to be infested by the lizards."
I pushed forward into the mines with the others following me as Eldore went into detail about the mines and what happens when people get too greedy. I wasn't paying attention to the conversation as I was on the lookout for enemies in the cave and I doubted that the Magi would really give up the white Incorruptus so easily. I was slowly continuing my advance leaving the others behind when I heard it, the sound of many legs scrabbling across the ground. No…I didn't just hear what I think that was…god please no…at least let it be a small one. I looked forward to see a blue spider the size of an average dog come scuttling out of the darkness. Thank god…it's only a small one…wait what's that sound. Following it out of the darkness were about six more spiders and the one that had come out first leapt on me, wrapping its legs around me, and attempted to sink its fangs into my face.
"Get it off, get it off, get it off, get it off," I cried panicking immensely as I struggled, "Oh god get it off, get it off, get it off!"
I saw the blade of Eldore's longsword cleave through the spider's body and in that instance I let loose with a powerful but panicked blast of fire magic scorching the tunnel ahead of us clean of the spiders.
"Thank you Eldore," I told him a very noticeable twitch in my right hand, left eye, and upper lip, "I thought I was a goner."
"Why did you freeze up?" Ginger questioned.
"I…um-," I began not sure how to lie about what happened.
"You're Arachnophobic aren't you?" Eldore asked.
"Yes…but I have my reasons," I hissed, my fear melting into anger at myself.
"I'm sorry but what does Arachnophobic mean?" Yulie asked curious.
"He's afraid of spiders," Eldore commented.
"You're afraid spiders," Ginger began laughing, "How can you be afraid of spiders?"
"Shut up or I'll shut you up," I snarled embarrassed, "I've no reason to explain myself to you."
"But-," Ginger began.
"Leonard leave him alone," Yulie hissed, "Everyone has their own fears."
"Yeah I guess you're right," Ginger sighed, "I'm sorry Eddoe."
"I don't need your apologies," I snarled as I stormed away down the tunnel.
I'd been embarrassed horribly by my actions…and to make matters worse it was against an enemy that was much weaker than me…that was unforgiveable and cowardly. I stopped and sat down letting my anger wash over me until it was spent…I'd done my best to avoid spiders ever since I was a small child due to my unnatural fear of them. As I felt my anger evaporate I rose to my feet to see Ginger and the others coming towards me an apologetic look in his eyes but I couldn't care less. I stood awaiting orders from someone because something was worrying me horribly about this whole situation. I'd come through here only a few days earlier and there had been no sign of a dire spider infestation besides that they couldn't even breed this fast so my guess was that someone had transported a nest here but why would someone.
"We should continue onwards," I suggested wanting to continue before the monsters discovered where we were.
"He's right Leonard," Eldore commented, "If we just stand around more monsters will find us and I doubt that they'll be the worse of our troubles in here."
We began marching again through the cave Eldore and I taking point, Ginger taking the rear with Yulie safely tucked in the middle to provide fire support without risking bodily harm. I was extremely jumpy because I could still hear the scuttling of the spiders as they moved through the tunnels looking for prey. I drew my sabre and prepared for combat as my paranoia skyrocketed due to my Arachnophobia causing me to see enemies hiding everywhere. I was drawing minor looks of concern from my allies but I didn't care…I was trying to fight through a fear that's haunted me nearly all of my life and it was so severe I wouldn't be surprised if it was genetic. We were rounding a corner when we all heard the violent hissing just out of sight.
"At least the basilisks are still here," I sighed feeling slightly better for my cowardice.
"What is a basilisk exactly," Yulie inquired of me.
I shook my head and motioned her to look around the corner and when she did I knew she'd see blue lizards with purple frills on their bodies similar to feathers. I knew that their bite could hold a severe amount of toxins but the ones in the Nordia tunnels for some reason did not produce the poison…I didn't know if it was due to their surroundings or if they were some sort of subgenus that had been bred to be weaker.
"Why are you relieved to see those things?" Yulie hissed shocked that I was so calm.
"They're not spiders," I laughed quietly to myself, "…they're something I've fought before at least."
I stepped around the corner drawing my sabre as I prepared to remove the obstacle from our path…a small grin on my face. I rushed the basilisks who noticed my charge…the first one lunged at me but I sidestepped and removed its head…the second one attempted to smash me with its tail but I simply jumped over it and pierced its skull with my blade…the last two held back but that was still a mistake as I unleashed a powerful blast of fire from my outstretched hand incinerating my opponents. I was pleased with the results feeling that I was once again getting back into the swing of things and that was bringing back my slightly arrogant air.
"Well it looks like he's back to his usual self," Yulie sighed exasperated, "I don't know whether that's a good thing or bad thing?"
"But how long will it last?" I Eldore wondered out loud.
"Probably until we run into another spider," Ginger snickered but I ignored him.
"We need to continue on people," I hissed my mood returning, "and you'll keep your thoughts to yourself if you know what's good for you."
He laughed as we continued on our way…at least till we hit a slight snag. We approached a set of wrought iron gates that were rusted but still in working condition. I walked towards them and pushed…but they didn't budge…I pushed harder thinking maybe that they'd rusted together but still they did not budge which led me to one conclusion. They're fucking locked…but how I hid the key years ago…damn it I didn't want to go down there but it looks like I've no choice.
"What's wrong Eddoe?" Yulie inquired walking towards me.
"Yeah what's the hold up?" Ginger asked.
"Someone locked the damn gate," I sighed kicking the gates which caused some dust to rain down from the ceiling.
"Wait then how do we get through?" Ginger whined.
"Don't worry I know where the key is," I hissed, "but at least two of us should stay here to hold the gates in case someone or something tries to get through it."
"Why shoul-," Ginger began.
"Who should go with you to collect the key?" Eldore asked cutting off Ginger.
"It doesn't matter," I said walking back down the tunnel, "Just decide among yourselves."
I continued walking until I heard the soft clink of mail and so I turned to see Yulie running towards me her bow gripped in her hand and the quiver strapped to her hip. I sighed and began walking again not even waiting for her to fully catch up to me.
"Hey wait up speed," she yelled to me.
"Hey slowpoke speed up," I muttered under my breath.
"So care to explain to me why you know where this key is?" She inquired out of breath.
"I passed through here a couple of years ago and I hid the key myself," I answered with a sigh, "but I didn't relock the gate…which makes me wonder how it could be relocked."
"Couldn't someone just relock it?" She questioned confused.
"This isn't a simple padlock," I sighed…I liked Yulie more than Ginger because she actually thought things through, "It was a lock designed by my people and it runs its way through the entire door and several feet into the roof and floor of the cave making it ridiculously difficult to break open and it can only be locked or unlocked with a specific key."
"Could someone have made another key for it?" Yulie questioned as we approached a set of gates near the entrance to the tunnels.
"Yes but they'd need molds from Valeria," I answered, "Which means it's the Magi who locked the doors…damn it how dare they defile the legacy of my people!"
"Wait do you mean that your homeland was conquered by the Magi?" Yulie shouted shocked.
"Yes they were utterly brutal when they did," I sighed approaching the gates to find them chained with a padlock, "but apparently they didn't recover all the molds."
I drew my sabre and slashed through the lock chain and all. I pushed the gate open holding it for Yulie to step in after me because as soon as I let it go it swung shut with a loud clang causing her to jump in surprise.
"I little jumpy aren't we," I chuckled.
"You seem to be in a much better mood," She said she sighed, "but I have to wonder why are you always so much nicer to me than Leonard."
"Well the answer is simple," I laughed, "Ginger is a moron…but you're not…you actually think things through."
"Sadly you're right," She sighed as we walked down the slope, "Leonard does need to learn to think things out."
"I want to give him that chance before he throws his life away," I smiled, "I've lived a tough life and I see the potential he has to become a great leader…I don't want to see that torn away by war as it was for me."
She looked at me and I could see a glimmer of respect in her eyes but I continued to move forward deeper into the cavern. I could hear Yulie walking behind me…she wasn't very quiet…but I could also hear the thunderous footfalls of trolls that had somehow managed to make their way to the lower corridors but they were easy to dodge within the narrow passages of these tunnels. I almost started snickering to myself as we dodged one of them and it had attempted to follow us into a tunnel half its size only to get stuck. I continued to move forward when I noticed that when I exhaled it would come out as a cloud. The temperature of has taken a sharp drop…there must be Elementals nearby…I should warn Yulie so she doesn't attack them.
"Yulie don't-," I began before one of them floated around the bend…it was a blue one…and Yulie panicked.
"Watch out!" She shouted pulling back her bow to fire but luckily I caught her before she fired, "What are you doing?"
"You don't want to do that," I told her hurriedly, "Elementals won't attack you unless you attack them…and they are one of the most dangerous enemies you'll ever face."
She was stunned by this as I turned and just walked by it…and it paid me no attention almost as if I was a weakness in the great powers of the world…which I probably was as I knew that there are things out there stronger than me.
"How did you know it wouldn't attack us?" Yulie inquired shocked at my knowledge.
"I've traveled through here before," I sighed, "They were also here when I hid the key."
She simply nodded and we continued forward…this was the way I preferred to work…alone or in small groups. We turned once more and emerged at a tunnel where a broken down lift stood at the end but branching off was a tunnel that led to a small room with nothing in it. I walked into the center and began sifting through the dirt until I found a small object wrapped in cloth. I picked it up and slowly unwrapped it to reveal a silver key that was designed with an aesthetic but functional mind.
"That's the key?" Yulie asked shocked, "It looks more like a work of art!"
"Of course," I chuckled, "My people were willing to work to aesthetic yet functional cities and works."
"Um…sorry…what does aesthetic mean?" Yulie inquired looking confused.
"Aesthetics have to do with beauty and such things," I answered her smiling, "My people wanted to live in a place of beauty that complimented the beauty of our natural surroundings…it was difficult but when we accomplished it…it was worth it."
"It sounds like Valeria was a wonderful place to live," Yulie told me smiling.
"It was," I answered sadly, "and the world is a darker place due to its loss."
With that I turned on my heel and we made our way back to Eldore and Ginger…we had to fight a couple monsters on the way there but since we'd parted ways with Ginger the monsters seemed much more docile than when we were traveling with him. Which I attributed to his knights power driving them mad and that was strange because I've never heard of such a phenomenon in all of my travels. We made it back to the others without much incident but Ginger had apparently worried himself about us…mainly about Yulie but still. Eldore turned towards us as I walked towards the gate with the key held firmly in my hand and when I inserted it into the lock and turned it the clicking and clunking of the gears turning could be heard thundering throughout the tunnel as the lock opened.
"Well shall we continue," I stated pushing open the gate open, "or do you want to stop and rest?"
Ginger said something under his breath as he stormed through the gate leaving us behind. I chuckled to myself and followed after him with Yulie and Eldore in tow. We walked for a few minutes before we heard a group of people talking but what they were saying was inaudible so we quietly approached to find out that the people talking were actually Magi…and I wasted no time in drawing my sabre. The others looked at me as I jumped around the edge of the tunnel ambushing the soldiers and while they were in their shocked status I quickly eliminated them. As I stood there wearing a sadistic grin I wiped the blood off of my sabre but kept it drawn.
"What are the Magi doing here," Ginger hissed.
"They're here to claim the knight," I hissed back, "and we must keep moving forward."
We set off again encountering the occasional group of Magi that we quickly silenced before moving on and eventually we reached a tunnel that led out into a wide open room with the exit on the other side but there was a snag.
"Stop!" a voice rang out behind us.
We turned to see several Magi led by an officer wielding an axe but he wasn't the real threat as I saw several magic wielders charging their spells.
"Run," I yelled as they fired of huge amounts of magic.
Yulie and Eldore ran but Ginger froze so I used my own magic to launch him into the room but this prevented me from following them. As the spells struck the tunnel began collapsing the rubble burying the entrance to the room and collapsing the floor taking me and the Magi with it. When I hit the ground I felt disoriented from the fall but I had enough of my wits left to check the Magi…and I found most of them to be deceased and the ones that weren't soon followed them. I searched my surroundings and to my sheer horror I found that the walls were coated with cobwebs and the broken shells of spider eggs. Why did I have to land in a spider's nest why…I've got to find a way out. I stumbled deeper into the tunnel attempting to find my way out. I was still slightly disoriented as I heard the scuttling of their legs as they went to investigate the cave in…and more than likely feast on the fallen. I took off running my footfalls echoing loudly throughout the tunnels and occasionally tripped but I quickly righted myself. I'd been running for about a minute before I emerged into a circular room with a crack on the other side filled with gemstones that glowed brightly. I stood there attempting to catch my breath as I felt a pain in my side from a bruise caused from the fall when I heard the near silent thud of a huge creature moving towards me from behind. I whipped around to see a gigantic Direspider Queen heading towards me the venom dripping from its mandibles. I felt my body go numb from the fear of seeing such a creature…I couldn't move a muscle due to my fear…my mind clouded and my body refused to listen to me. The creature approached me hissing a clicking as multiple spiderlings appeared behind it. This is it isn't it…I'm going to die as spider chow…how ironic? As they approached me I felt my body begin moving on its own. It drew my sabre and launched a fireball incinerating all of the spiderlings but leaving the queen alive if slightly scorched. It hissed and screeched angrily at me but the force directing my body did not allow it rest as it rushed me at it forcing my body to jump and completely slice off two of its legs…as I hit the ground I rolled back to my feet the force turning my body and raising my hand when it directed a bolt of lightning at the target critically wounding it but not killing it. As it sat there twitching I felt the force controlling my body relent allowing me to move on my own again. I fell to my knees where I just stared at the creature feeling drained of all emotion…I rose to my feet and plunged my sabre into its head causing it to screech horribly as it twitched in its death throes. I then turned and walked toward the crack in the wall hoping that I would be able to find a way out to regroup with my allies. I emerged into the room with the gems but I couldn't figure out where to go next as there were several tunnels so I just took one of them hoping to arrive on the outside. I was walking into the tunnel when I saw a light at the end. I rushed forward out into the blinding light…I gazed out into an oasis that sat on the edge of the desert and I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin again. I was worried about my allies as I looked out over the area to see a man in black come running out of a cave to my left…I looked around again for a way off of the cliff I was on…the setting sun blinding me somewhat as I made my way down the cliff face. By the time I made it down the sun had completely set blanketing the area in darkness. I wandered through it until I saw a fire glowing in the darkness and as I approached it quietly I decided to climb a tree and move through those…I saw it was my companions talking among themselves so I decided to eavesdrop.
"I can't believe he's gone," Ginger sighed, "He sacrificed himself to save me."
"Leonard," Yulie sighed patting him on the shoulder.
Eldore just sat there a small smile on his face I saw his eyes dart towards me in the tree…he knew I was there.
"Yeah and I'm such a good guy as well," I chimed in trying not to snicker.
"Yeah your right…he was such a go-," Ginger began before stopping, "Wait a minute."
He looked up to see me sitting in a tree above the camp the grin apparent on my face.
"You bastard," Ginger shouted angrily, "You've been alive this whole time."
"Yes…I'm hurt that you'd think I'd fall so easily," I snickered.
Leonard snorted and stormed off towards the pond that was nearby while Yulie sighed and walked off for the first round of guard duty.
"So what did I miss?" I inquired of Eldore.
He hurried and explained what had happened to them while I was gone. He explained that they ran into Dragias who was revealed to be Ebon-Wings one of the knights of legend.
"I can't deal with this right now," I yawned and began setting up my tent to sleep.
When it was set up I laid down and to sleep almost instantly falling into a deep slumber…
-Later that night-
I wandered through the street of Valeria…I passed the landmarks I remembered from my childhood…I heard sounds and smelt smells I hadn't heard or smelt since my childhood but strangely enough no one seemed to notice me…almost as if I was a ghost. I heard shouting and turned to see a young boy of about four years in immaculate attire come running down the street shrieking in joy...three guards in tow. This set the people around laughing hysterically as this young man led the guards on a merry chase through the city streets.
"Master Eddoe," one of them shouted, "Slow down…your father told you to stay with us!"
"Run faster," I-the younger me taunted.
It was no shock to me…I knew that bright eyed young boy was me…curious about anything and everything that was in the world…I quickly moved to follow my younger self who moved out of the city to the countryside. The younger me was laughing and enjoying himself not paying attention to his surroundings. I-he…whatever…was chasing a butterfly into what we thought was a thick patch of undergrowth but it turned out to be a pit and he…we plummeted downwards into the dark…hitting the ground hard I felt the tears run down my face as I cried out in pain feeling my arm break.
"Master Eddoe!" the guard from before shouted.
I sat up and looked around the light from above revealing a cave…and then I heard scuttling…from everywhere hundreds of spiders the size of dinner plates came streaming out of every crevice in the cave and swarmed over me…in seconds I was covered in spiders…I screamed in fear as I was covered in them for minutes…I was terrified…but then a flame welled up in the darkness at the other end of the cave scattering all of the creatures who fled at the sight of the flame…I looked up to see a man in green armor with long well-kept green hair and goatee, strange tattoos, and to my surprise antlers. He picked me up and began moving towards an entrance I had not seen before…as he walked out I saw my father running towards us…his armor glinting in the sunlight and his one remaining eye shining with fear…I heard him cry out and rush over to the man…who handed me over to my father…I heard one name muttered in thanks…Dalem.
I awoke from my slumber with a start…it had not been a dream but a memory of my past…the first time Dalem saved me. I stood up and walked out of my tent to find the fire extinguished and Ginger leaning against a tree his head slumped to the side as he dozed…I should be angry but I wasn't. I strode towards him and shook him awake.
"You should get some sleep," I told him to which he nodded and walked off towards his tent.
I stood and gazed at the moon feeling the tears well up once again but I quickly pushed them aside as I pulled out a strange crystalline stone…a memory stone…it was the last of my treasures…the last gift given to me by my father. I activated it to reveal a man tinged in bluish light. He wore a set of plate armor worn by only the strongest Men at Arms of Valeria. He had brown hair and a face similar to mine but with two emerald eyes…his hair was cut short with a braid at the front. He was standing next to a brown haired woman with grey eyes holding a small newborn in her hands smiling and waving at someone I couldn't see…they were laughing and smiling…My family in happier times…before everything went wrong. I smiled as I gazed upon my mother and father…and myself as a newborn…but I again felt the tears well up within my eyes. I would avenge my father and reclaim my homeland…but first I had to redeem myself in my own eyes. I gazed at the horizon to see the first line of the grey dawn approaching…I had sat out here for hours just staring at this projection…it was all I had left of my family…and I would protect it to the end.
Here ends chapter 4…So you've learned more about Eddoe's past and it seems he has something of a tragic backstory…why he has such a fear of spiders, and why he's so loyal to Dalem. If people would like after I'm done with the Three White Knight Chronicles Fanfictions I'm doing for 1, 2, and pretty much a sequel to 2 I'd be more than willing to write a prequel about the fall of Valeria if the reviewers show enough support. Hope you enjoyed reading it and due to one of the last reviews I got I'm moving Character pages and other important information to the end of the chapters they appear in to refine the story more…also I'm willing to include other stories Original Characters but I need information such as armor, weapon, gender, race, and personality.
Character Notes
Notable Enemies
Ebon Wings-Also known as the black knight…he is a serious threat and fights with a longsword like weapon. He is capable of sprouting wings and flying away.
Notable Allies
Morgan Yonthanx (Deceased)-The father of Eddoe he was a great scholar, scientist, and a captain of the Valerian Royal Guard as well as being the youngest son of the king. He was at the head of a project attempting to recreate a knight from long ago…his research was lost when the Magi sacked Valeria but it is suspected that he was able to hand off most of the data to a friend…
Elisabeth Yonthanx (Deceased)-The mother of Eddoe she was a well-respected seer who gave her life to save her son from attackers who have yet to be determined. She died when Eddoe was only a year old. She was a capable sorceress who could trace her history all the way back to the prophets of an ancient kingdom. She is buried in a hidden cemetery in Valeria…
Notable Events
The Sacking of Valeria-The Magi launched a surprise attack against Valeria whose armies were not present. The defensive garrison put up a valiant fight but eventually fell against the sheer numbers of the Magi onslaught. A group of Farians were present during the fight led by Dalem but where ordered to flee by acting commander Morgan Yonthanx…Dalem obeyed this command reluctantly…Valeria fell within hours of the attack.
Valerian Knight Project-Morgan Yonthanx sought to recreate a legendary knight of old through ancient magicks and modern technology…There are no known successes due to Magi attack.
Notable Objects
Memory Stones-The stones are pretty much recorders used to record moments of history by the people of Valeria…these objects are rare outside of Valerian hands and highly sought after by collectors and historians alike.