Capítulo 19: -Neverdark
A/N: Hi, sorry I skipped out on posting for a week, I basically caught Covid and it wasn't very fun as I was in bed a lot. The rest of the time I just tried making up as many chapters that I could since I didn't want to just skip out on a week.
So now I'm releasing a lot in bulk. It's going to be like 5 chapters, maybe more depending on how many I have written in the time I was recovering. It's just been a little slow in making them since I was sick.
Nonetheless, I hope the lot of you are doing great, and I plan on getting back to the grind starting tomorrow.
I do hope you enjoy.
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Halting the Caravan, Lia was faced with a majestic view of a towering cliff face. Along the rock, whites strips of rock and sulfur along its middle, painted a impressive picture for Lia, who had never seen such large mountains before.
"Welcome to Walker's Ridge."
Totlac said, pointing out the flat top of the mountains that seemed to stretch on for miles.
"Or as some call it, the Mesa."
They had begun their travels along the floor of the mesa, but because the mountain ridge was so large, it would take a total of three weeks just to get around, and another three for Totlac to get where he needed to go.
Because of this natural flaw in the terrain, the nearby inhabitants created an etched bridge into the side of the mesa, allowing any travelers to access the top of the mesa, cutting weeks off of their time.
However, not all things are as easily said and done.
On top of the mesa, being so flat and easily exposed to the sun's rays more than the ground level environments, makes the top a barren wasteland, home to many dozens of monsters.
Fast running birds, sand worms, and rock eaters. Some of the most commonly known monsters for desert based ecosystems.
And being a lone cart in the middle of all that desert wouldn't be the best of options.
So, the mines were built. A large inticet system of tunnels, ditches, and mine shafts dug throughout the mesa, acting as an underground city, a safe haven for anyone who would need safe passage to the other end of the mesa.
Through building the city, a vein of large silver happened to be found, and from that vein, sprouted the support from the area, offering money for silver, leaving the city profitable enough to continue expanding.
Pointing to the entrance of the city, a large stone archway leading deep within the mountain side, Lukali could hardly keep his excitement contained.
"You're going to love the city Lia. It's a beauty to behold."
"We're here to deal with spiders, not tour the city Lukali."
Pouting, Lukali moved to the back of their caravan where he was in the comfort of empty boxes and tools.
Crossing the border of the arch way, Lia was able to see the towering statues of white stone, and the men envisioned within them.
Large iron axes, long thick beards and what looked to be heavy leather armor. These features gave Lia the impression of her generic idea of what warriors within the 'Barbarian lands' looked like.
As they entered the archway, Lia took notice of the many carts, baskets, and horse drawn carriages, as well as the goods being brought to and from the city.
"What are they bringing in?"
She asked Totlac, who was busy maneuvering the donkeys between people and carts.
"Mostly tools but also common outside items. Things like crops, meats, and the basic things that can't grow within a cave."
Pointing to a nearby open cart, he used their items as an example.
"But also things like wood and water. Basic things the people in this city would need."
"What about the city itself? I just thought it was a mine, not an entire city."
To be frank, Lia didn't even know there was a city, until a few miles back, when Lukali happened to mention it in conversation.
Of course Lia would have liked to know this before, when they had been making plans on dealing with the spiders. But later, in her mind, was better than never.
Entering the main city, Lia was met with a towing cavern, dripstone and tall stone pillars reaching all the way from the roof to the floor.
Built into the rocky wall, were towing buildings built one after another, each on top of the other. And along the main road through the city, Lia was met with an intricate web of stone bridges and pathways between buildings.
Between those bridges were hanging lamp posts, iron rails, along pillar after pillar, leaving Lia with the impression of a large capital city, bunched together deep into a tiny space.
However, Lia knew this was no small space.
From each individual building, she could see tunnels upon tunnels, each with stone paths that looked worn and used, indicating to her that they had been there for a long time.
"The city was built over four decades ago as a safe passage for any travelers who needed to get through Walkers Ridge. Since the discovery of the silver mines, this place has been a bustling merchant hub."
The sounds of people filled Lia's ears as they drove deeper into the city, passing huge mountains of tall stone-brick buildings.
People were walking everywhere, bridges of stone were passing overhead, pillars of dripstone towered up from the ground, and all Lia thought when she saw this all passing by was…
'There's so much in so little.'
Hearing her thoughts, Cain spoke up.
'Welcome to Neverdark. Generic name I know.'
Though the cavern would have naturally been pitch black given how far inwards they already were, the lights and oil lamps from the post illuminated the city, almost as if it was day time within the cavern.
It fits its name perfectly.
Totlac needed to get to the other side of Walkers Ridge, meaning his passage through the Mesa would take over three days, traveling from one end of the city to the other.
That was just how big the city was.
Built from one large tunnel, the city spanned from one end of the mesa to the other, branching out in every different direction under ground, the city had so much to offer.
From blacksmiths, to bakeries, to even hot springs found within the mines and tunnels, the city truly was a hub of activity.
However, though people like Lukali and even Lia were mesmerized by the sheer size of the place and its vast activity, Cain stayed focused on the task at hand, reminding Lia of its importance.
'Lia. Focus. We need to find the mines.'
Snapping out of her daze, Lia quickly looked around and, spotting what looked like a city square, asked Totlac to drop them off.
"Totlac, would you mind dropping us near that fountain? We can find our way from here."
Turning around, Totlac's face betrayed the concern he tried to hide from them.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? This place may be big and beautiful, but it's also a hub for criminal activity."
Jumping in on what Totlac was saying, Lukali put in his own concerns.
"Yeah Lia. The place has so many tunnels that criminals thrive in them. I'm certain it would be ok to just keep going from here."
While Lukali and Totlac did make many good points, almost wavering Lia, a sudden thought struck her head, firming her resolve.
"That's fine. I doubt they would have the silver mines so far from the entrance."
Catching this, Totlac decided to test Lia's knowledge.
"Why do you think that?"
Smiling, Lia pointed farther down the main road, which seemed to span for miles.
"They wouldn't have the mines so deep within the city, especially if the city relied on the silver mines to keep bringing people in."
Changing direction, she pointed nearby where a group of carts were parked, tools and mining equipment almost falling out the back end.
"So they would have to put in near the entrance and the exits. This way it would keep transportation costs low, and would even make the merchants feel better about making the trip here."
Hearing her reasoning, Totlac smiled to himself, but almost lost his composure and laughed when he saw Lukali's face. A mixture of confusion and shock at Lia's understanding of the city's layout.
Catching Lukali's look, Lia quickly changed the topic.
"Besides, I want to get as much information on the mines before we head in there. And the best place to get that would be in a tavern or bar."
"What makes you think they'll be this close to the entrance?"
Lia turned to Lukali, who still had a lost look on his face.
"Because, the only types of people who are going to be going that deep in, would be people running on a timer. Whereas the people who would only come in this far and then leave, have come for materials or to sell those materials. Therefore, it's much more profitable to deal with that large group of people, rather than rely on the group that's running on a timer."
This time Totlac laughed out loud, attracting a few eyes before they lost interest.
"You certainly know your stuff Lia. You must have been well educated."
Lia quickly kept quiet looking for some form of excuse.
Knowing her master, she could hardly say she was taught by a great teacher, or say her family, as with both they would ask who they were.
The simplest answer was the easiest she could use.
Suddenly, a thought struck her.
"Well, my older brother taught me to always read the land for what it never shows you."
"Who was your brother?"
Just as she had expected, Lukali asked the question she had wanted to avoid.
However, using Cain as an example, and the subject of her excuse, she had a firm idea of what she needed to do in order to stay on top of this. Thus, she used Cain as an excuse, calling him her 'older brother.'
Though, sensing Cain's annoyance within her, she knew he wasn't happy with this.
But she didn't care.
"He's a hunter. He often goes out hunting and teaches me different things each time."
Laughing, Totlac began asking his own questions.
"So let me guess. With all that hunting knowledge he gave you, you decided to move against a bigger game?"
Simply agreeing with him was Lia's best course of action. So she chose to follow that path.
"Yes. I thought monsters were the best and probably the only source of 'bigger' game."
"Hahaha. That it is."
Nearing the square, Totlac halted the cart out of the way of moving traffic, allowing Lia and Lukali to get off and onto the sidewalk.
Before leaving however, Totlac handed Lia what appeared to be a small pearl.
"Take this. It's a long wave communicator. In case you ever need me again, or I'm in the area, we can talk."
Holding the pearl in her hands, Lia smiled before thanking Totlac.
"Thank you sir. And I hope your travels are safe and full of peace."
Letting out half a laugh, Totlac shrugged.
"Then there would be no fun!"
With that, he snapped the reins of the caravan, and with him and the donkeys pushing forward, moved five identical caravans.
As they grew smaller and smaller into the distance, Lia turned back to Lukali, who was busy looking every which way, once again mesmerized by the city and its beauty.
"Lukali."
Snapping him out of his thoughts, Lukali turned to Lia who had a tired look on her face.
Clearly she knew she would be dealing with this quite often.
"Let's find a nearby tavern and start there. If my hunch about the mines being close is true, then we're bound to find miners there."
Taking one last glance around the square, Lia spotted a hanging sign with a symbol of beer, a common symbol for taverns and bars; she quickly moved off in that direction, followed closely behind by Lukali.
However, in their rush, they were made foolishly unaware of the three pairs of eyes following them from behind, watching them cross the square and move into the tavern.
But, with one quick and swift movement, their eyes were gone.
Once peering out from the shadowed allies, they had now disappeared, left to the mysteries of the city.
The City of Neverdark.
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