Chapter 66: Downward Trek Tower 1 Part 12
The group walks out of the facility and into the next set of emergency stairs. Now that they're walking lower to Tartarus, the temperature is getting lower and lower. In fact, they
Rook says, "We're quite a ways down from the entrance, and it's only getting colder.
"There's an updraft coming from beneath us," Rook ays.
Then Epel says, "It's kinda chilly even with my dorm uniform on…"
"You're right. It's really cold in here," Sereia says.
Trinket agrees and hides in the pocket next to Briar's magepen.
"I know, it's very cold here," Briar says.
She then sadly sighs in concern, "I hope Grim's okay. Him being alone here."
But Vil reassures, "I wouldn't worry about him. He has a thick coat of fur. He'd probably fare better in the cold than us. And besides, you're likely to scare Grim off with all that fretting. Start by standing up straight! We can't have you all hunched over from the cold." and makes sure Briar stands up straight. "Remember, you're the prefect of Ramshackle Dorm. Comport yourself accordingly."
"Um okay…" Briar says.
"Are you going to be okay?" Sereia asks.
"Kind of, but not exactly," Briar answers, "Honestly, besides worrying about Grim, there's been a lot more going on in my mind. I try my best not to worry about it, but…" and remains silent.
Just then, Vil asks, "Is this about what Idia and Ortho told you? About your past…?"
Briar nods her head.
"Your past…?" Epel asks.
"Yes. It was. I guess I'm just worried if what they said about me was really true. About who I really was and where I came from. And what happened to my birth family, including my memories," Briar says.
Epel asks, "You mean, you were told that you might be Salubrious Fae?"
Briar and Vil are shocked to hear it.
"How do you know about that?" Vil asks, shocked.
"Professor Trein told us about it. He said that both he and Crowley have a theory that you might be a fae, but it's very slim because they died out years ago. Plus, Trein also said that those faes are Blot Healers, which made them suspicious because you were able to heal Vil and the others," Sereia says.
"Oui. Sadly however, without any more survivors, the theory of you being a very rare and now extinct species is very slim," Rook says.
"Yes. Ortho told me the same thing. He said that the species have fallen victim to some plague, or illness. So far, all the faes, including the royal family, have died. At least, that's what everyone thought…" Briar says.
"There is something else Ortho told us about the possibility of Briar's origin, and it's a very shocking one…" Vil says.
"And what is it…?" Sereia asks.
Before Briar or Vil can answer, they hear loud thumping sounds, and feel the ground shaking. That catches everyone off guard, and the earth shaking continues.
"An earthquake?!" Vil asks, shocked.
The ground continues to shake as everyone tries to remain on ground.
Epel yelps, "Aah! I'm gonna fall off the stairs!"
Suddenly, they soon hear growling sounds.
"What's that?" Sereia asks, frightened.
Rook turns towards the lower stairs to see something approaching, "This is no earthquake! It's…"
Everyone turns to where Rook is looking and are shocked to see a large shadowy figure is stomping right towards them.
What they see is a large monstrous creature, with blotting ink dripping. The creature looks like it's made of black stone and ink, and has two glass heads containing the blotting ink, along with two arms. The creature lets out a monstrous roar.