Capítulo 160: - The Cave of Whispers
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A/N: Apologies for this chapter being so long, I was in a rush and didn't realize how long it became until afterwards. I'm sorry. And do enjoy it.
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Dawn came quickly, spilling over the valley from the high tops of mountains and forests that still stood crooked from the force of the Dragon's wings and wind. There were no birds, there were no animals howling or baying in the distance. There was only silence as the group readied their things and packed up what they could.
Lia herself didn't sleep much last night. As the days spread on, she felt her awareness increasing. Soon, as she came to realize, she would no longer need to sleep, her body simply no longer demanded it like it did a normal human being.
So, as she had occupied her night while the others slept, she watched the flies and gnats swarm the house, as the wind swayed the long grass and wildflowers against the rotting wooden structure.
She didn't know how she never saw it before, but the place looked just like how Totalac had described it. A barn, a wonderful small farm, and a place once filled with loving joy. On the swings she could see the man pushing his daughter as she laughed. In the garden she could see his wife toiling away with their food as the farmer took up his plow against the ground.
It was a peaceful serenity, but Lia had seen fire before and knew that nothing like this lasted forever. Those who enjoyed this moment till their last breath could be counted as lucky, but all those who were cursed to walk the ground knowing this was all a false lie either learned it the harsh way or saw it firsthand.
Totalac was a bit of both in his heart.
There was a shift beside her as the grass parted ways, and suddenly Rian seated himself beside her on the large stone rock Lia had guessed was a castle to the farmer's daughter. Towering over her kingdom with a smile filled with joy and benevolence.
"You alright?"
He asked as he too looked over the large farmhouse and dreamed of what a beautiful life, he could have lived in one of these such dreams.
"That moment you talked about earlier. I felt it."
"When?"
"Last night. He came to see me because he was worried I would…he was afraid he would never see me again."
Rian nodded his head as if he knew what she was talking about, the feeling of fear to lose something or someone was worse than the fear one had over death. He knew that feeling well.
"So…what did you see?"
"A mirror. You said before that in that moment you would realize how close to one another you really were."
He nodded his head, thinking back to the shared sense of regret and fear he and Becka had shared between themselves over their own pasts.
"A mirror."
She repeated, brushing her hands slowly over the grass that reached up to her knees even as she sat on the tall stone rock.
"I didn't see him. I didn't just see him, Rian, I saw me."
Rian shrugged, reaching his hand out to feel the air between his fingers as the threads of the grass and seeds flew in the wind.
"Similar minds, similar hearts. It's hard to hate yourself when you see how worried you are in their own eyes. It takes one to know one."
Silence enveloped them as they enjoyed the feeling of one another's company, taking comfort in their own presence as they felt the air blowing, the smell of the forest on the wind as the sounds of voices reached the from the barn.
"Seems like they're getting ready to leave."
He sighed as he stood up from the rock, offering a hand to Lia as she too hopped down, letting the blades of grass slice against her legs.
"We should get going."
"Yeah."
They walked together through the yard that had once held smiles and laughter as a child ran from her parents, laughing as they chased her up and down the yard with their own smiles. It was wonderful and they enjoyed every moment of it.
It brought tears to Lia's eyes as she saw this thought time and knew what was to come. But she threw the thought from her mind as the visions faded away into oblivion.
When they finally did reach the caravan Lia stole a glance at Totalac who was busy saddling up the horses that would pull the caravan slowly through the land. He had his back turned to her and was quiet. They didn't meet eyes, but she knew from his sobs last night that his mind was filled with the painful memories of his past. Memories he needed and loved.
So, she kept quiet and turned her focus and attention to Lance and Gilbert who approached her with a worry on their faces.
"What's the matter?"
They shared a look between one another before Gilbert spoke, his eyes betraying a look of worry inside.
"We have a problem. Last night when one of the people from the caravan was on watch, they heard something. Some…creature scampering around at night, and when we went to look this morning, we…"
Lance took over here as he pointed to the far side of the barn, as Gilbert struggled to find the right words to describe what they had seen.
"Something was watching us last night. The only thing that separated us from them was a small bit of rotting wood. And from the looks of it, it's been tracking us since we entered the valley."
"How can you be sure?"
It was Rian who asked as he stole a glance at Becka as she passed, a look of fear and worry crossing her face as he realized this was no joking matter anymore. This was no small thing, but something frightening.
"We followed its tracks and almost ran into the thing. If we hadn't heard it moving around in the brush, we would have fallen right on top of him. The thing's smart."
Rina turned to Lia with a look of worry and curiosity, wondering how they would proceed against something like this. It had caused no harm, but clearly it was smart enough to hide its intentions.
"What should we do?"
His response came when the sound of steel leaving its sheath, finding Lia holding her long and thin sword by her side as she looked out into the forest with dull and empty eyes.
"I'll run the woods. If the thing is following us, I'll hold back in case he decides to visit the camp."
Gilbert shook his head, motioning to the woods as if he was afraid that thing was hiding somewhere behind the brush.
"Are you sure? This thing is smart and knows where here. He's probably watching us right now."
"He probably is. But that doesn't matter. The best thing I can do right now is ensure that this…thing is of no danger to anyone."
Rian tried to take her hand and turn her focus to him, but she avoided it as she walked ahead, entering the woods without another sound.
The three men shared a glance between one another before Rian shook his head slightly, wondering if this was just some stubbornness, or if she was truly fearless. But as he watched Lia disappear into the brush and thicket of trees and shade, he could have sworn he saw two pairs of crimson eyes following her from a distance.
Suddenly the fear was gone, and he and the others climbed up onto their horses and carts before setting off down the road, without their leader to join them.
***
The woods were quiet without a sound, neither wind nor leaf, brush or even tree made a single sound the deeper in Lia got, past trees and into the abyss of shadows and shade. She could feel eyes watching her and at once knew that Lance and Gilbert were not joking. This fear of being watched while not seeing your enemy was something out of a horror story.
It was terrifying, but even as Lia's heart pumped like a beating drum to the sounds of music, her face betrayed no such feeling.
Her sword hung loosely by her side from her hands as the tip traced against the ground, her feet moving and beating in rhythm to her heart.
Then the sounds of the scampering came at once, her torso twisting as she heard the creature behind her, and just barely caught sparks as they flew across her face when she raised her sword.
It was a small trick that Cain had taught her. The looser you held your sword, without letting it fall from your hands, the easier it would be to shift your weight with the blade.
The creature passed Lia's eyes in a split moment, and she was able to catch a glimpse of long ears and golden-brown eyes that stared menacingly at her before the thing touched ground against and away it was, with Lia close on its tail.
They ran through woods, rushing past trees and bushes, all the while Lia watched the creature part ferns and grass as it tore through the land at record speed. In fact, if she did not have such an inhuman ability to contain her exhaustion from time to time - a side effect from merging with Cain - she would have long since grown tired.
Finally, the parting ferns stopped, and the trail ended as Lia came to a grinding halt, hands on her knees as she caught her breath.
There, just beyond the dirt and shade, she could see a small mound of rocks that had joined together to form a small opening in the ground. A cave.
She didn't waste a moment as she sheathed her blade, cautiously approaching the dark cavern's entrance, her heart pounding with a sense of unease. She truly felt like she was in one of these horrid bedtime stories the aids would tell her in the castle to keep her up at night.
Tricks they would pull to laugh at her every time she was caught with covers thrown over her head in fear of the darkness that surrounded her at night. She hated those maids.
Thankfully the hole was just big enough for Lia to slip her body though, past the dirt and roots that scraped against her face, she fell to the ground with a thud before she bothered to open her eyes covered in dirt.
But what she saw caught her heart on her chest, as if pinned by a needed on a thread.
"Mom?"
Before her was no longer the sight of darkness, stone and dirt she expected, but instead the brightly lit and beautiful room, decorated with a magnificent carpet, silk curtains, high lamps and a cradle made of white oak woods, carved to perfection.
A woman dressed in a long and beautiful silk dress, dyed rose red like her lips as she sang a lullaby to the baby held tightly in her arms as she rocked her back and forth.
"Hush now, baby, don't say a word…"
"Mom?"
Lia found herself standing up as she slowly stumbled her way closer to the woman, whose face was like a moon's pale light. Her skin was perfect, her face and eyes were like that of a mirror to Lia's and within her gaze the girl did not see a queen.
"...mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird."
She saw her mother's loving eyes.
"Mom…"
Reaching out her hand, Lia could feel the tears begin to flood to her eyes, like rivers that threatened to fall down her cheeks. But the sound of the baby's crying interrupted her hand id air as the queen brought the baby to her face and whispered slightly in its ear.
"Hush now my little one. You'll be alright…"
Then Lia saw the two pairs of eyes that started out from behind the door, two eyes that matched her with burning crimson flames. A young girl hiding within the darkness of the shade.
"Hush now my little Rall, a king cannot whine like that."
The girl was her, Lia, as she watched with jealousy and betrayal.
Then the memory was gone, and suddenly Lia was on the ground around seas of the dead, fire spitting out from the carriage she had once ridden down the road to a new life of banishment. There was a roar and when he looked up, she raised her hands against the fist of the Ogre that fell down from the sky.
Then it too was gone, replaced by the sounds of the spider's legs snapping against ground as she slashed at its head with her sword, parting the air with its blood as her steel swung faster through the flesh and exoskeleton.
Then in a blur she was in the center of a city, echoing with sounds of beasts as they ran through Lia with speed and ferocity she had once witnessed before. Then as the monsters passed her they were no longer monsters anymore, but fire that whirled past her head like the sea of blazing death that surrounded her, filling the air with screams and the sight of one man standing amongst the flames.
He raised his spear, aimed to her heart, and as the spear flew the image too faded away, and she was no longer surrounded by the flames.
She was in a dark world - an abyss of shadows that surrounded her, in her hands as she looked down was a book she never thought to see again.
"Rex Chaos."
The King of Chaos.
The images came so fast through her head that she could hardly process what was happening in the moments that they came, but she saw the book. It felt like hours as she held its crude leather paper in her hands, the image of the emblem on the cover echoed in her head.
It looked just like her rune circle when…
Then her senses spiked, her blade was drawn, sparks flew, and the sound of the creature's pain filled gasps and he sucked in air filled her ears with the sounds of reality. The image faded away, replaced by the cool darkness that surrounds her.
Lia opened the palm of her hand to reveal a small fire blazing and dancing along her fingertips, illuminating the small man that stood before her, dressed in leather and crudely made clothes.
Her sword was to his throat as he held his wrinkled hand close to his chest, small drops of blood dripping down to the dirt below his feet. He had long ears, long nails, and a long nose that matched his angry looking scowl.
A leprechaun.
"Who are you? Why did you follow us?"
The small man said nothing, even with the tip of her sword against his neck, he was more occupied with tracing his eyes over the darkness behind her, seemingly looking for nothing.
"Answer me, I know you can talk!"
"Mercy…mercy, please."
It was then, as the leprechaun's voice echoed through the cave like some shriveled up sound, Lia's eyes found the large iron pot filled with gold and jewels in the center of the room, shimmering in the firelight.
Suddenly the answer became clear as to why this creature was after them.
"Those visions…did you show me them?"
The Leprechaun nodded, gesturing to the small cave around him and the cool air that blew through this hallowed structure.
"Welcome to the Cave of Whispers. Your thoughts and memories will always find you in here -"
"I'm getting sick and tired of seeing stupid f*cking visions! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?"
The Leprechaun raised his hands, a look of amusement crossing his eyes, almost mistaken for fear as the tip of her sword drew its first drop of blood.
"Now, now. Let's not get too hasty here, wouldn't you agree. After all, not many people travel on these roads anymore. Can't blame a poor old guy like me for seeking a living?"
The tip of her sword was against his throat, but the Leprechaun only smiled in the steel's reflection.
"Watch me."
"Now, wait! I can see that you're a smart person, so I won't lie. I'm sorry for sneaking up to your camp last night, I was honestly just curious. The Dragon chased all the monsters and people away, not many live here anymore."
His wicked smile gave Lia the creeps as she felt a shiver run down her spine, the Leprechaun's golden-brown eyes watching her with every movement she made.
Certainly, I can be of some use to you, don't you think?"
"How so?"
The Leprechaun motioned towards the center of the room with his head, where Lia caught sight of a large iron cauldron full to the brim with gold and jewels, shimmering in the firelight that danced in her hand.
"The gold? Where did you get it?"
"I'm a Leprechaun girl. It's my profession."
He smiled as if he was proud of his answer, running his hands along his trouser straps against his chest as his large golden-brown eyes traced over her entire body, looking for something with a greedy stare.
"Well, if you think you can buy me, you're wrong. Gold has no use to me right now, so where did you get it? The village?"
"Oh, no. The village nearby is too poor, too low on people for deep pockets. It's not worth the risk of thieving."
"Then where did you get it?"
The Leprechaun dropped his voice as he leaned in close, using one hand to cover his mouth as if he was afraid that someone was listening. Someone with keen hearing.
"The Dragon."
But the moment he spoke, Lia shook her head.
"Impossible. Dragons guard their treasure with their lives, they would know if even a single coin was missing."
"Ah, but my dear girl, that's where you're mistaken. This gold here belonged to the Great Dragon of the East, killed by some human who never thought to search for his treasure. It was quite easy to steal a small bit."
A human. Lia's mind swept back to the moment on the mountain peak with Arnold and the Dragon, seeing the look on his face, it reminded her of the courage she would need when the fateful battle came.
"So, when this Dragon showed up and claimed what treasure was left…"
The Leprechaun smiled as he knew Lia understood clear as the sky above them.
"...he never knew there was more to be had."
The Leprechaun laughed and hopped in place, clapping his hands together at the same pace.
"That fake never even knew there was a secret tunnel hidden within the walls of his own palace. He truly is a fake!"
"A fake? And what secret tunnel are you talking about?"
The Leprechaun smiled a wicked little smile and slowly turned around, peering at Lia with big golden-brown eyes.
"You're smart my dear, I'll give you that. You're one clever girl, so I'll tell you this. Consider it my offer to be useful to you."
He sat down on the edge of the stone steps that ringed around the cauldron, fiddling with his fingers as he ran his hands over his golden rings.
"Hidden within the Grand Hall lies the Dragon and his treasure of golden jewels. But, to get there you would need to travel down the main hall, which leads to the front door."
He shook his head as he waved a finger, smiling as he remembered the many adventurers who tried to enter that way.
"Bad idea. The fortress is down wind, so even if you get through the front door, once the winds shift he'll know you're there."
"...unless someone distracts him."
The Leprechaun laughed again as he clapped his hands together, smiling as he pointed to the ground with a small stick, drawing out the hall as he spoke.
"You truly are a smart girl! Now, I can already guess you're here to kill the beast, so I'll help you, but just this once."
"...fine. Talk."
Lia sheathed her blade, kneeling to the ground as the Leprechaun began drawing out a small blueprint for the fortress, the outer walls, and the archer's spires.
"There are three spires that surround the mountain. One to the North, one to the South, and one to the West. It's the Western spire that you want to reach for it lies just above the front door. Hidden behind the archer's emblem lies a small messenger tunnel that will take you directly into the Master's office."
"And I'm guessing the Master's office isn't too far from the Main Hall?"
"Correct. Now, we're both quite smart so I'll tell you my secret since you will figure it out later. I believe that this Dragon is a fake, not one of the smart ones that people always tend to fear. If you distract him for long enough and find some way to contain him, then you can kill him quick and easy."
The Leprechaun threw down the stick and with a smile spreading across his face he stood up with his arms outstretched on either side.
"So, what do you think? Quite the simple plan for smart people like you and me?"
Lia traced her eyes over the crude drawing of the fortress. No doubt there would be more rooms and hallways than the Leprechaun was letting on, but this helped her greatly. Now she had a way in and knew to avoid the front door.
"I think that will do."
Standing up, Lia placed her hand on the hilt of her blade, and reached behind her back until her fingers traced across a small leather pouch full of hard gold that spilled to the ground as she threw it at the Leprechaun's feet.
"A gift. As thanks."
The Leprechaun didn't even notice her pass by his eyes were glued to the shining golden metals the small leather pouch had to offer, his mouth slightly drooling at the sight.
But just as Lia passed the cauldron full of gold, her eyes caught sight of a dark and crude object resting atop the shimmering golden pile. It made her heartbeat as she traced her eyes over the dark and red metal object with five sharp claws and muscles ripping in metal alloy.
She instinctively reached out to grab the object, but quickly retracted her hand. She knew better than to steal a Leprechaun's gold.
"Take it."
The voice echoed through the cave as Lia turned to face the Leprechaun, who smiled as he nodded towards the item of interest, seeing the want in her eyes.
"A gift. As thanks."
The Leprechaun bowed slightly to Lia, quietly wishing her all the luck he could give her in these final moments of her departure from the cave, hoping that he would be able to catch a glimpse of her leaving the valley one final time.
Then, as if called or summoned by some responding instinct, the Leprechaun turned back towards the dark abyss of shadows of the cave, his eyes lingering on a particular shadow that morphed and melded into one tall and looming figure.
"It's done. As you asked, my friend."
The figure stepped forward, watching the entrance of the cave with longing and dull eyes, just as the sun's light spilled through the cracks and passed the roots.
"Yes, thank you again Felix."
"Ah, don't mention it. I can see why you like her, she's smart just like you. Though not as smart as me of course, but still…"
The figure smiled a wicked grin, mirroring the prideful nature of the Leprechaun as he began counting the gold Lia had left for him. It numbered greatly and each time it continued his eyes longed for more.
"You know, she reminds me of my old master, back from when I was a summons. I remember those days like they were yesterday, the two of us thieving through the streets of the capital - ooh, how fun that was before it all ended. Of course, that was before you came and gave me this new life. After all, I was doomed to go back to the Eternal world and spend my years alone."
He stole a glance at the figure, whose eyes continued to watch the entrance to the cave, as if he was afraid that Lia would come back in a moment's notice and catch sight of him. It was the first time the Leprechaun saw worry on his face, and he knew it was not for no reason.
"But now you have all the gold you can plunder in the world Felix. And for your help, I am grateful."
"...that's the first I've heard of your kindness."
He stole a glance at the cave's entrance, feeling the winds shift behind him as he felt the figure leave him for the last time. He knew he would never see him again, but he would always be grateful for the new life he made for him.
"Hopefully that girl makes it last."
But the figure was already gone.
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