Chapter 817: 805 (1/2)
Title: The Danger
What Nikshrat did not expect of Karnilla was to have her 'palace' in a form of a map of caves and dungeons. The entrance was a nondescript opening of a cave which could be easily overlooked if not for the fact that the point of entry was the eye of the entire array covering the marsh.
Or Nornheim, in this case.
The interior of the cave system was much colder than the marsh. Despite the chill and the obvious shift in the 'air' from danger to intrigue, Brunnhilde continued to direct Aragorn.
*Tip*
*Tip*
The soft, echoing sound of the condensed drips over naturally formed puddles gave the hollow structure a ghastly temperament.
Aragorn would ruffle his wings uneasily every now and then as he looked towards the entrance of the cave nervously.
What he wouldn't do to fly over beautiful meadows, attract tempting mares and have a couple of kids more. Instead, he has been forced into Hel, Nornheim, and other cosmic horrors without a say.
Or neigh.
As if sensing Aragorn's discomfort, Nikshrat leaned sideways slightly and rubbed Aragorn's toned side. His touch instantly soothed Aragorn's discomfort as he grunted softly, stomping his foot and even flicking his soft tail in an appreciative gesture.
”You like horses?” Brunnhilde inquired.
”I like all kinds of animals,” Nikshrat smiled.
”Oh...” Brunnhilde grew silent once again.
'Wow... this is so awkward. At least try to be more fluent,' he almost groaned out. After all, she would always raise a topic of conversation based on simple matters and then just drop the ball so seamlessly that it would even make many droppers in the writing industry ashamed.
But his thoughts converged onto the glowing threads that soon covered the walls of the cave, illuminating the path ahead.
Although the cave system was complicated, Nikshrat did not have any difficulty mapping the entirety of it inside his mind. Meanwhile, the signs guided Brunnhilde towards the center of the system.
After three empty dungeons, Brunnhilde controlled Aragorn to move to the left and the group finally came across a large boulder blocking the path ahead.
In the corner of the path stood a hunched figure covered in a hooded dark brown robe with a shriveled palm clenching a wooden staff with a rounded tip and a chilling thin tip.
”Haag, let us in,” Brunnhilde stated the moment she saw the strange figure.
At this moment, the figure slowly raised its head while the ragged hood slipped down its face to reveal an extremely wretched, wrinkled face bejeweled by a set of fascinating green eyes.
She silently stared at Brunnhilde before her gaze fell on Nikshrat. Revealing an odd, confused look, she waved her staff while the boulder was pushed aside by a mystical force while the cave rumbled.
”You may enter,” the voice belonged to an old woman, indicating the figure's gender as her raspy tone made Aragorn snort softly in discomfort.
'The old woman is staring too much. And I can feel magic in her eyes. Is she trying to figure me out? Divination maybe? I've never tried divining anything myself. Seems interesting,' Nikshrat let his thoughts run idly.
Once the boulder was moved completely, Brunnhilde let Aragorn rush in and the group finally entered a modestly decorated cave.
In terms of modern standards.
The uneven walls of the rocky cave revealed various glittering ores that dimly lit the interiors of the cave. From the entrance, a trail of magical torches on either side that let out the crisp sound of flickering flames.
”Gyarha Hurrda Jiinalka!”
”I can't believe you like watching this. It's disgusting.”
”Hey, this is the mating of two Krelghars in their most natural state! I'm interested in this stuff. It allows me to up my disguise game. Think, if I'm ever stranded on planet XTetra, I can turn myself into a Krelghar and live a happy life. Maybe command an army of Krelghar.”
”Uh, you always have the fetish of an army! Army this, Army that! What, can't get any satisfaction with a single man?”
”Like you? Balder won't even look in your direction if you don't raise a cosmic fuss,” the sweet voice snorted.
Nikshrat knew that one of the voices belonged to Karnilla. He had heard her previously. But the other voice had a natural magnetism that attracted others quite easily.
As Brunnhilde entered further, she saw pictures of a familiar blonde Asgardian all over the curving walls of the cave. Unlike Thor, this Asgardian had a chiseled face and sharp features with a gentle gaze and an attractive smile. Refined and elegant.
Meanwhile, in the center of the cave were placed various pieces of furniture. A lamp next to a table layered with flasks and tubes with a small lake of green, boiling liquid right next to it. Meanwhile, a four-seater couch and two leather chairs were placed in a 'U' shape. On the long couch lied a riveting figure in a green lingerie while the large holographic screen of two tentacle monsters stuck together seemed to interest the woman greatly.
But Nikshrat was more interested in the other figure on one of the leather chairs.