บท 92: Chapter 92 - Ancient Mines
It took me a couple of minutes, but I was finally able to extricate myself from her exuberant welcome back. I resisted the impulse to wipe away some nonexistent perspiration from my forehead. While I might have been sweating mentally, my new physical body didn't seem to possess that ability.
I straightened myself, doing my best to appear composed and dignified despite Geyma's overzealous greeting. Her wings fluttered as she stepped back, her eyes bright with adoration. "Welcome home, my lord!" she exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Yes, yes, Geyma. Thank you for the...enthusiastic welcome," I said. "Tell me, how are things progressing here in my absence?"
Her expression shifted instantly to one of seriousness, her chest puffing out with pride. That caused me to frown since female kobolds didn't have "chests" since they didn't nurse their young.
"Sanctuary thrives under your divine guidance! Our brothers and sisters have been training harder than ever, as you've seen." Everything is improving each day. Our builders have completed several key projects, including the expansion of the main hall and the consecration of your temple."
The mention of the temple piqued my interest. "The temple is finished, you say. I'd like to see it."
"Of course, my lord!" Geyma said, bowing deeply before scampering ahead to lead the way.
I followed her through the tunnels, noting the subtle but significant improvements made since my departure. Someone had started carving the history of the city into the tunnel walls already. I noticed that eggs, a kobold wyrmling, and a dragon were recurring themes. I also spotted several kobolds diligently working on tasks that ranged from polishing floors to laying traps.
This made me want to sigh again, but I knew I shouldn't complain. I had already seen how useful the traps were after being run out of one kobold city already. I just hoped that they didn't go too far overboard. I would hate to die within my own city to the traps one of my followers might have placed while I was distracted.
The temple stood near the heart of Sanctuary, its entrance flanked by two massive statues of dragons, their eyes set with gleaming gemstones that seemed to radiate power. I did raise an eye at the "two" dragon statues. One I could understand. Maybe one was supposed to be the red dragon Einvaldskonungr and the other might have been myself.
Pushing aside such thoughts, I continued onwards. Before I walked by, though, I did have to admit that they created the statues unnaturally fast. The only explanation I could think of was that they must have used spells to make the statues, such as Shape Stone, or some similar spell.
As I stepped inside, I noticed that the high-vaulted ceiling was being chiseled away by a number of stone carvers. The altar at the center of the temple was a slab of polished obsidian, its surface inlaid with veins of silver and gold forming the shape of a dragon. Surrounding the altar were offerings, gold coins, rare gems, and other treasures gleaming under the warm light of enchanted sconces.
I had to forcibly stop myself from rushing forward to look at the gleaming treasures. I wanted to shout something like, "Oh, shinees!" I did have to admit, I was impressed. Not bad. They've outdone themselves, I thought, genuinely impressed.
Geyma watched me expectantly. "Do you approve, my lord?"
I nodded. "It's suitable. This temple will serve as the nexus for our faith and my connection to my followers. Speaking of which…" I gestured to the altar. "I will be establishing a portal here to streamline offerings. Ensure it is guarded at all times."
Her eyes widened with awe. "A portal to your divine realm? Truly, your power knows no bounds, my lord!"
I refrained from commenting, amazed by the flattering ability my kobold followers possessed. It was almost as if they were born to be obsequious flatterers, devoted subordinates, and fawning followers. Then again, considering I was their god, such beliefs were appropriate. Realizing I was getting distracted, I instead focused on the task at hand.
I walked around for a few minutes while I looked around for the best place to place the enchantment. Finally, I decided to just go ahead and make it on the altar itself. With a thought, I started using Faith Points and started creating a permanent portal which would deposit any sacrifices into the church. Unfortunately, since I didn't actually know the spell and wanted it to be permanent, it cost enough Faith Points to make me wince.
It was done. The portal shimmered for a second but then disappeared. I was a little disappointed. Then again, I did use a few Faith Points as possible. If I had wanted something flashy, I would have needed to spend more points to do it.
"There," I said, stepping back to admire my work. "Offerings will now be transported directly from my divine realm to here. Please ensure that someone comes to pick up the food. This food should be distributed among as needed. As for the rest of the items, have someone start sorting through the offerings and separate them into magical, non-magical, and coins."
Geyma nodded fervently. "Of course, my lord. I will personally find someone to oversee its protection."
"Good," I said, turning to leave. "Now, what of the other projects? Have the scouts returned from their expeditions?" Even though I had been helping the city out with dragonberries, I wanted the city to be self-sufficient. That was one reason why we had kobolds working on different projects, such as creating bat colonies which could be harvested for food, worm and mushroom farms, and so forth.
I had long since discovered the importance of scouts. If I hadn't encountered the mercenaries, the city might have suffered some casualties. Another reason scouts were important, besides locating threats, was to find opportunities, such as additional sources of food. Hopefully, they had found something useful while I was gone.
Geyma hesitated. "Not all, my lord. Those who ventured southeast reported strange activity."
I waited for her to continue, but she didn't. Finally, I said, "And…?"
"Oh, sorry my lord," she said, clearly embarrassed. "They said there were some undead creatures and signs of activity. We suspect a lich or a necromancer has claimed some of the caves leading to the Ancient Mines."
"Undead? Necromancers?" I asked, my voice low as I processed the implications. I wondered if this might be an opportunity for me. After all, I was the god of death. Then again, away from the Necropolis, necromancy wasn't exactly common. I wondered, Why would a necromancer be in the Ancient Mines? In fact, what are the Ancient Mines?
Not wanting to show how little I knew, I said, "Tell me more about what you know of the Ancient Mines."
Not noticing, Geyma was eager to please, "The Ancient Mines are a labyrinth of tunnels and caverns carved into the northern base of the eastern mountains long before the rise of modern kingdoms. They are connected to a vast network of shafts delving deep into the earth to harvest rare minerals and precious gemstones."
She then looked at me, as if to ask if that was enough. I made a motion with my hand for her to continue, which she happily did. I guessed talking about ancient passages, precious metals, and such stories were the bread and butter for kobold dreams.
Geyma said, "Stories told of veins of mithril, and enchanted crystals buried in the deepest recesses, remnants of the mountain's ancient magic. Those same tales warned of something else, an ominous presence that had driven the dwarves to abandon the mines centuries ago. Some said it was a curse brought about by greed. Others whispered that they had awakened an ancient evil."
She leaned closer to me, a little too close in fact, but I said nothing as she continued, "What truly lay within the mines varied depending on who told the tale. Adventurers who braved the upper levels often spoke of normal occurrences, such as glowing fungi. However, deeper within, the air grew heavy with a strange, metallic tang, and the stone walls sometimes shimmered faintly as though the very rock pulsed with latent magic. There were even rumors that faint echoes could be heard in those depths, though no source was ever found. Some said it was as if the whispers seemed to come from the stone itself."
She paused at that point, and looked at me, as if expecting me to say something. Unsure what to say, I finally muttered solemnly, "Interesting. Please tell me more."
At this point, Geyma smiled, obviously pleased with the attention she was receiving. She quickly continued, "Recently, there are rumors that ancient machinery left behind by the dwarves are still being used by someone, or something. They might even be possessed by ghosts."
"When did these recent rumors begin?" I asked, curious.
"Around the time when you hatched. Not too long ago." Geyma paused her, as if surprised that such a short amount of time had passed since I had hatched.
"Why did you suspect necromancers or a lich?" I was confused how she had made such a connection. For a second, I wondered if I might have missed something. "Did the scouts see them directly or just signs of their presence?" I asked.
"Both, my lord," Geyma replied. "They reported that the machines were working as if. "Some even say that the machines are working by themselves, as if they have come alive. Since this is impossible, it means that they are obviously being possessed by or moved by unseen ghosts."
I frowned. "How far are the mines from here?" I asked, my tail flicking with annoyance.
"Three days' journey for the scouts on foot," Geyma said. Left unsaid was the fact that the area was inaccessible by air. The only way to get there was by traveling underground. If it had been closer, I would have flown there immediately.
I nodded, pacing a few steps as I thought it over. The Ancient Mines had been abandoned long before my rebirth, but their reputation was well-known. Stories spoke of cursed veins of metal and remnants of ancient battles fought between the dwarves and the dark elves. If a necromancer had chosen it as their lair, it wasn't by accident.
"And the other scouts?" I asked, trying to gauge how far my resources were spread.
"One team returned with news of fertile land to the northeast, my lord," she said. "They believe it could be cultivated for worms and mushroom usage. Another team is overdue, though—those who traveled south toward Hedeby."
"Overdue how long?" While I wasn't worried yet, I wasn't going to let something happen to my kobold followers. I didn't have enough to lose any of them.
"Two days, my lord," she said, her expression grim. "We've sent a pair of messengers to investigate, but they've yet to return."
My wings shifted restlessly, a clear sign of my unease. Between the missing scouts and the activity in the Ancient Mines to the southeast, there were too many potential threats brewing. I needed more information, and soon.
"Create a team of our strongest kobolds and go find the missing scouts. As for the Ancient Mines, don't worry about that yet." I wanted to think more about the mine. While I could be reading into things, it was entirely possible that someone else had reincarnated at the same time I did and was setting up shop in the ancient mines. Then again, it could be something completely separate.
Geyma bowed deeply. "As you command, my lord." She quickly disappeared from my sight, carrying out my orders. However, I didn't really notice. Once she was gone, I sank into thought.
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