Chapter 689: Heavy (1/2)

Chapter 689 Heavy

Ilea and her group of explorers soon passed the mind creature’s cavern without incidents. There were tracks left behind by various creatures, most notably the recent Soul Wardens coming this way. Eternal Huntress made the tracking quite simple, Ilea taking the lead as soon as she had identified the specific traces of soul magic that still marked the passing of the machines.

A crevice in the ground showed a decline leading further down, stone edges jutting out from the side, some broken off. This is the way, Ilea thought and jumped down, her armor taking a few more pieces of rock with it in her passing. She landed with a heavy thud, her knees fighting against her own weight as she took in the area with her sword at the ready. Nothing within her dominion seemed of interest. She teleported out for a moment and found light at the end of another decline, this one more a natural cave.

Pierce landed next. She stumbled and used her right arm to stabilize herself against the rock.

Ilea smiled and vanished back into her armor.

“At least I can see,” the muffled voice of the Elder resounded. Verena still rested on her shoulder.

Bralin came down through the crevice with practiced ease. He slid more than landed, rock armor layered on top of his mostly steel suit.

“We are getting close,” one of the shades said as they arrived.

Ilea went on towards the light. She stopped when the cave opened up into what seemed like a spacious area. Once again she teleported out and sat onto her armaments’ shoulders. Before her spread an open area several kilometers in diameter, the ceiling distant and lined with stalactites. Dozens of small waterfalls broke out from both the walls and ceiling, the liquid luminescent, giving off blue light. The water wasn’t quite enough to illuminate the entirety of the large cavern but it was enough to give an idea as to its expansive size.

Some of the waterfalls weren’t broad enough to reach the ground, instead creating bright mists as the liquid dissipated during its long fall. A few basins had formed over the years with creeks flowing out and away, some slowing down before ending in smaller ponds while others had managed to bore into the stone, leaving the cave to find another place to settle.

At the center of it all stood a square slab of dark steel, one edge burrowed into the ground and one nearly reaching the high ceiling, ending in what almost looked like a roof. The light from the water created an illusion of movement on the smooth surface. Ilea wondered why the creators hadn’t just put the thing on its flat side, but supposed it did look more ominous this way. Otherwise it would’ve just been a cube. Now it’s a geometrical marvel left behind by some ancient civilization.

She made an effort to spot creatures in the vicinity but other than a few harmless northern animals and monsters, she didn’t find anything particularly dangerous. The place felt serene. Quiet. Steam rose from some of the pools. Not all of them, she wondered as the others joined behind her.

“Quite a sight,” Pierce mused and walked forward before she made her machine vanish. The woman appeared above one of the steaming pools and fell inside, her armor gone too as she splashed into the water.

“Very cautious,” Bralin mused as he stepped next to Ilea’s living armor.

Verena flew over and landed on the free shoulder. “It’s surprising...” she said and tapped the metal.

“Weirdly comforting to sit on these,” Ilea confirmed.

“It really is,” Verena said and smiled.

“This isn’t quite hot enough,” Pierce said, her hair wet as she looked out from the pool. “Verena deary, I require some assistance.”

A bath would actually be nice. How long has it been since I didn’t just clean myself with ash? Ilea made her armaments disappear and joined the others. “Feel free to join in,” she said to the remaining trio.

“Being in liquid is… disturbing,” one of the shades said, cautiously floating closer to one of the pools. The other one looked up to the falling water. “We will have to avoid it.”

“Not the most surprising thing I’ve seen today,” Bralin said. He walked over and made his armor vanish, his clothes gone except for a pair of black shorts. His beard meshed with his chest hair, the only parts of his skin uncovered were old scars. He sighed when he lowered himself into the water.

Verena had removed her armor, still wearing her fur loincloth with flames heating up the water. She rested her head on the stone behind. Defined muscles and dozens of scars on her body.

Ilea moved her mantle to cover her sensitive bits, her Embered Heart helping with the temperature requirements. She didn’t go too far. Just because she enjoyed bathing in lava didn’t mean the others did as well. All were above level three hundred however, which meant at least some form of Heat resistance. It was the most commonly used magic among humans after all, and she assumed Bralin had his fair share of fire breather encounters himself.

Pierce was naked.

She glanced at the dwarf and smiled. “Hmm, you really don’t like humans. I thought you just pretended.”

Bralin sighed, relaxing as he opened one eye to look at her. “I’m not a fifteen year old lad, Dragonkiller. I know which battles I should fight, and which I should leave well alone.”

Ilea smiled. She summoned herself a meal and looked out to the two shades. They still tried to avoid the water, close together as they remained on a dry spot between three pools. “I assume that’s the soul forge?”

They both looked at her simultaneously. “Indeed. It resembles the notes of our source.”

“Who’s your source?” Pierce asked, cleaning herself with soap she had summoned. It gave off a faint smell of wood.

“An ancestor who has since ascended,” one of them said.

“Ascended to what?” Ilea asked.

They glanced at each other and communicated for a few seconds. Their floating forms turned back to her and answered. “A Young Shadow Elemental. Few ever reach this state, but they are held in high regard amongst our kind.”

“I can imagine,” Ilea mused. “Do they still retain their ability to think and speak like you do?”

“Some do. Some do not. Choices are made upon each evolution. What is given is never unwanted,” the one on the left said.

“I’ve met a few Elementals myself, but none openly talked to me like you do,” she said. “But then I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting a Shadow Elemental yet.”

“You would be interested in meeting them?” Bralin asked.

“You wouldn’t?” Ilea asked.

He considered the question for a few seconds. “I suppose seeing them is impressive. But if you’re asking me if I want to meet a force of nature itself, then no. I’d rather stay down here and work on war machines.”

“They’re great trainers for resistances. Especially when you’re in the third tier already,” she said and ate a few more bites.

“Please. Let’s enjoy the quiet,” Verena said, her eyes closed with flames on her skin above the water.

Even Pierce obliged, the four of them soaking in the heated bath of shimmering blue water. None of the nearby creatures disturbed them. Instincts keen enough for them to know not to approach the unknown monsters. Ilea finished her meal in silence. She enjoyed the soak for another twenty minutes before she finally stood up. Her mantle spread as she teleported out. She increased the heat in her core, all the water still on her skin evaporating in seconds.