Kapitel 6: The ritual (1)
The winding secret passageway was narrow and there was not much space to even stretch one's hands. The air was stale yet not entirely suffocating. Even so, it was cold and not hot or humid in any sense. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the pitch darkness which gave the imaginary feeling that they were the only ones in the whole building. The only source of light that illuminated their path was from the torches Sir Ethan and James were carrying.
None of them spoke as they navigated through the tunnels. The solid stone walls were so thick that nothing from the other side-- the main hallway of the palace-- could be heard. Not even the loudest or sharpest of screams could penetrate these thick walls.
The passageway was built to ensure the safety of the monarchs in case of a need to escape from a dire or dangerous situation. Nevertheless, it was rather unnerving that neither the people outside nor those within the passageway would be able to reach out one another. It was essentially being cut off from the entire world and no one from the outside would be the wiser.
'I can't imagine the onslaught that must be taking place out there. I can only hope that the ritual would be performed in time,' the Empress bit at her lower lip.
They walked for another fifteen minutes before they reached a fork in the path. To a person entering the tunnels for the first time, it would have been easy to get lost. However, since the Empress was made to commit every turn of the tunnels to memory, she knew that taking the left tunnel would lead to the edge of the palace's courtyard, close to the Western gate. Thus, the Empress started to head towards the right tunnel as it would lead to the basement of the royal library.
The royal library was privy to the ruling monarchs and only nobles or aristocrats with explicit permission to enter. Not even the guards stationed outside the library were allowed to enter. There were indeed a couple of librarians but they were the only exception and their position was hereditary. This reduced the number of visitors and subsequently, potential intruders who wish to access the main palace by using the tunnel located in the royal library's basement-- assuming that the intruder even managed to learn of the secret passageway from a former or current ruling monarch.
However, there was also a magical barrier around the basement of the royal library that even the librarians would not be able to get through. Only the ruling monarchs would be able to enter and give special 'permission' temporarily for another person to enter. It can be said to be the backup plan in case taking the left tunnel to the outside was not an option. At least within the magical barrier in the basement of the royal library, the monarchs would be safe from danger.
Moreover, the basement contains a few of the empire's sacred artifacts and undisclosed books and other reading materials. Even so, what was contained in the basement was not deemed as dangerous or important compared to the royal vault which was located somewhere in between the main palace and the Eastern gate. The items were basically placed there for safekeeping and easy reference if ever it was necessary.
Thus, the Empress had arranged for Blaise and the rest of the coven to prepare for the ritual within the basement of the royal library. Using another secret passageway from the Empress' personal study. As a result, no one-- not even the Emperor himself-- were aware that the Empress and the coven were frequently visiting the royal basement. It was a significantly sensitive ritual and the Empress could not afford to be stopped nor have the ritual interrupted at any given time. This led to even the Empress' closest subjects not knowing of this plan.
"Did you hear that?" James, the butler suddenly asked in a whisper.
They stopped walking and listened in silence. They waited for what felt like an eternity. The Empress gripped tightly to the ceremonial sword and they listened for the sound that James had heard to come again.
In the eerie stillness, the Empress was unsure if her frantically beating heart could be heard by the others. To keep her mind occupied and from imagining the worse, the Empress looked around at the walls and floor that the light shone onto. There were faint scrapes at the walls on certain odd spots. The floor was covered in a brownish-black soot.
'What an odd colour. I wonder what it is. It can't be the walls as they are made out of special black stones that were harvested from the Mountains of Obsidia. There is no way that these stones could produce sediments, and this colour,' the Empress thought to herself.
Wanting to inspect the sediment, the Empress began to bend down but just then, she heard a rustling or slight shift of something. Straightening up, she looked around but there was only pitch darkness all around them.
'Perhaps the sound was from my dress? But then again, that sound felt too unfamiliar… or perhaps I'm imagining it all in my head? Ah, I am beginning to frighten myself. Unless one of the secret entrances has been discovered, there should be no person or creature here,' the Empress thought to herself.
"What is it?" Sir Knight whispered to the butler. "What did you hear?"
"Shh… I think it will come again. Just wait for another moment."
The Empress continued to observe their surroundings in the dim lightning and she tilted her head when she noticed another thing.
'Strange. There were neither cobwebs nor even a speck of dust within this supposedly unused passageway. I remember seeing them when I came here years ago. Does someone actually clean this place often or---'
Just then, there was a faint scratching sound.
"There it is again!" James whispered.
"That is just a rat," Sir Ethan said dryly.
"No, it's something else. It sounds bigger and if you listen closely, it sounds like there is something being dragged on the floor."
"What are you--" Sir Ethan was interrupted by a low, chilling growl that was coming from the left tunnel.
Moments later, the light from their torches revealed a nightmarish creature.
"H-heavens save us all," James said in a shaky voice.
It was another monster. Unlike the two they have seen earlier in the main palace's hallway, this new monster was a couple of feet shorter and had clumps of long, black hair on its raw looking scalp. It looked malnourished and its limbs were distorted in odd angles. The monster limped as it moved towards them. It was sniffing the air and feeling its way along the walls as it approached, as if it was blind.
Although the monster was still a few feet away from them, none of them made any sudden movements as they backed slowly away. From what they have seen with the monsters from earlier, they knew that this monster would still be capable of reaching them within a single leap.
Without looking away from the monster, Sir Knight passed his torch to the Empress and quietly drew his sword. Then, the knight spoke in a low voice, "James, escort Her Majesty. I will take care of this."
Both James and the Empress were about to protest when the knight continued, "Don't worry about me. Just go. There isn't much time left."
Despite what she wanted to do or say, the Empress knew that Sir Ethan was right. They were all indeed running out of time. From the events that have taken place earlier and the seemingly increasing numbers of the monsters, it was uncertain if the people that remained would even see another sunrise. James and Sir Ethan may not fully know about the ritual, but they do understand that it was of high importance in order to save the nation.
The Empress bit on her lower lip and James sighed resignedly. The two of them then retreated towards the opposing tunnel that led to the royal library's basement. The library basement was no further than a few minutes away but every step they took felt overwhelming. It was as if the air itself was heavy. Moreover, the old cobwebs that hung loosely from the ceiling were getting caught onto their hair and clothes.
'I guess that no one has used this tunnel in ages. Blaise and the rest of the coven used another passageway to enter the basement anyway,' the Empress thought to herself.
Just then, there was a booming roar and a loud thump that echoed along the narrow passageway.
Their steps faltered for a moment, but they knew that Sir Ethan's sacrifice would be in vain if they were to turn back to help him now. No one was able to single-handedly defeat the monsters. It usually took about ten strong men to work as a team and defeat one monster. The only thing they could do is to do their part and perform the ritual.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein