Chapter 261 - The Source (2/2)
He nodded down to Zagan, who twitched his ear in recognition.
Li understood. He knew that Old Thane essentially used his various senses to construct a mental image of the world around him, and because of his superhuman senses, he could do so at an efficiency and clarity that far outstripped what any normal blind man could.
And from Zagan, he could sense a fair amount of magical energy tethering into Old Thane, massively enhancing his stats such that it must have seemed like aside from seeing color, he could construct the world around him nearly to the detail of a non-blind man.
”Such scale,” muttered Mason. ”And these pillars are not roughly made either. Their surfaces are so intricately carved, smoothed, each and every living space marked with runes of ownership for what must have been countless dwarves.”
Asala rapidly scribbled on her tablet, replacing them in quick pace as she energetically recorded everything she saw. ”Each of these pillars lie below one of the peaks of the Triforge and are equal in magnificence to any great human city. The pillars lie at three points of a World Vein, for the dwarves were masters of reading the flow of magic through the earth and harnessed it with an efficiency not known to any mortal race.
Two hundred years in the past, and thou wouldst have seen the mesmerizing, awing glow of a World Vein as it powered each of the pillars, sending lines of shining orange reminiscent of melted rock all throughout. Fitting for a people dedicated to the forge.
The light would have provided warmth and light and power, and with those, there would have been the merry bustle of countless dwarves living in harmony.”
”And all of that gone,” said Mercer somberly.
”All gone,” repeated Tia with a frown. ”I hoped something here. Dragon outside protecting here. Thought there was still life. Something to protect.”
Considering the sheer size of the pillars, there must have at one point been over half a million dwarves living here, and yet now, there was not a single living, breathing soul remaining. Strangely, the black ooze as it withdrew to reveal the pillars, showed no damage to the pillars themselves.
”There may yet still be something,” said Li. ”We keep going down.”
Asala explained. ”At the base of each pillar lies a forge of unparalleled greatness, and all three link together to create the Triforge itself, the only forge known that properly channels the immense might of a World Vein. It is there that the vast majority of mystical artifacts of legend that thou hear of in tales and legend were forged.”
”Perhaps this black mass feeds off of energy,” said Li. ”A World Vein would do wonders for it.”
”Perhaps,” said Asala. ”And yet, the absence of magic in it does wonder me against such thought.”
”I see,” said Li.
”World…vein?” asked Mason.
”Asala can explain later,” said Li. He began to pick up pace, actively flying downwards. ”After I get to the literal and figurative bottom of this situation.”
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As Li traveled further down, the spires changed, the living spaces carved in them becoming larger and more ornate. Asala explained that these were noble spaces for the dwarves valued closer connection to the depths, often living longer and healthier lives the closer they were to the World Vein, and so the spaces close to the base were like prime real estate meant for the upper class.
But even here, there was no life.
Instead, the black mass's presence became that much thicker, but it was still not hostile, retreating when Li approached and shrinking back in place after he left.
At the very base, right by the Triforge of legend, Asala also explained there would also stand a royal palace that could put even the duchess's palace in Eclat to shame.
It did not take long for Li to reach the bottom of the pillars to where the triforge and royal palace were. Or rather, where they were supposed to be.
Instead, he found the source of the ooze.