Chapter 439 - Village of Earn [4] (1/2)
The cave at first glance was hidden. Trees and nature made sure the entrance be concealed. If it wasn't' for the scent of mana, the opening would have gone unnoticed. To what extent did the path inside lead. The question wandered around his mind. Before setting foot inside, Staxius walked around the rock to observe for irregularities. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary – tis was clear that none had roamed around these parts for a few weeks, even months.
'This is very interesting,' after parting the leaves and veins before the entrance, '-the mana is more apparent inside.' The footing wasn't stable, any sharp movement and one would slide along the steep slope. The rugged edges would deter the wisest of men from continuing. A natural no-entry sign. Ignoring the unstableness, he threaded along gently and with care. Pebbles, set free by his steps, rushed down the slope until echoes of their stops returned. 'There surely isn't anyone using this place as a hideout, is there?' Reaching the half-way mark; wings sprouted to ease the vexing journey.
Pitch darkness, he arrived, the vexing slope reclined into an open space. Droplets of water fell into smaller ponds. An impending regular strike of a bell, tis was the atmosphere.
Continuing forth, the vampiric blood allowed for sight. Only after walking another few meters that the trace of a man appeared. Rusted tools, unused irons which were of bad quality thrown in piles.
'I knew it,' thought he triumphantly. The pathway narrowed until a close-heavy iron gate. Muffled whimpering, masked by the vastness of the cave system, came into the ears. 'There are people here. The mana I sensed were of those who've gone beyond 'human'. A push against the gate showed no sign of movement. *Clang, clang,* the hinges broke. *Douf,* the gate fell with an ear breaking cacophony. So much for being quiet. Metal restraints were lined against the right corner of the area. Some held the remains of old skeletons whilst other, newer ones as told by the shininess of the metal, were empty. The walls weren't straight either, it held a slope that led onto a drain. The prior stain of liquid, presumably, blood, showed which path it once took. Presumably blood, for there were also other places where the same contraption was used as torture devices. Locals named it the Oil Driver – boiling oil would be thrown from atop and left to dribble onto the victims.
'Looks different,' he squatted at the drain, '-the Oil Driver are normally built atop a spike trap. In case the restrain are melted with the oil, the victim is left to painfully glide into their death. Very barbaric way of torture. The drains are peculiar,' he stood to follow the path. It led down towards another part of the cave. An altar of stone with the distorted crest of the Krestonian god. The would-be blood flowed along until reaching the final destination, the table.
'I guess the Cult of Kreton is here,” thought he staring at the monolith besides the platform. '-what sort of experiments are they conducting?'
”-P-please, h-help us…” came the fatigued voice of a young boy. Another tight corridor led towards a cell. Rats squeaked; the buzzing of flies paired with the awful stench of death.
Two children were locked behind the tight cell. A boy and a girl, the former had bruises and cuts all over the face and chest, whilst the girl remained relatively unharmed. He wore a single boot, '-Alia and Peo, the kids who went missing.'
”P-please, n-no m-more,” said the boy seeing the dark shadow, ”-I c-can't t-take it a-any longer.”
”Calm down,” said he conjuring a flame atop his palm, ”-I came because I heard screaming, are you ok?”
”W-who a-are you?” asked the boy.
”A traveler, are you Alia and Peo?”
”Yes,” replied the boy, ”-this here is Alia, my cousin.”
”I was right. Is Alia alright, why doesn't she speak?” the light from the flame didn't help for the girl remained hidden behind the boy.
”T-they burnt her tongue,” said Peo on the verge of crying, ”-please, mister, help us, I don't want to stay here anymore.”
'What are the cult thinking?' *WOOSH,* a massive ax narrowly missed his nose to land at the feet. '-Why didn't I sense him?' The palms reached for the head, *Death Element: Void Flame – Fire Blast,* the armored body fell.
”Are there any more of them?”
”N-no,” whispered Peo.
'Being kept captive must be hard,' the doors opened, '-living beside the decomposed corpse of other victims, what a shame.'
”Can you walk?” asked he quick to kneel and check on the kids.
”I can,” said Peo, ”-but Alia can't,” the boy pointed at her feet. 'Dark-rashes.'
”Fine,” he stood in the middle, ”-let's go.” He carried them out using both arms, one for each kid.
”Where were you in the forest. Don't your parents say the place is bad for kids to go wander into?”
”I know, but the village leader said mother called us at the barn. We used to play there and I knew the road.” The girl fell asleep in his arms whilst the boy kept on gritting. The pain of moving about had the fingers trembling, yet, he didn't complain. Being rescued was most important.
'The village leader is a member of the cult. I can't take them to the hospice either. They'll be in danger, the village's ominous, I can't trust the locals to help.'
”Sorry, but I have to use magic, can you endure it a bit longer?”
”Y-yes,” said the boy closing his eyes.
'A very strong boy, I'm proud.' *Ancient Magic: Teleportation.*
”WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” screamed Mela in a peculiar position.
”No time to explain,” said he ignoring her routine of doing yoga aided by the television. ”-I need to use the bedroom, is that ok?”
”Yeah sure,” said she straightening the back, ”-aren't those?”
”Yeah, Peo and Alia.”
”Wait, I'll go call the doctor.”
”DON'T!” screamed he across, ”-they'll be in more danger if they know.”
”What then?”
”Don't do anything,” said he putting the girl to rest. Peo needed first aid; the injuries weren't mortal but severe and at risk of infection. ”Close the door, do you have a first aid kit?”
”Y-yeah, it's in the cupboard.”
”Hey, mister, are you sure about not telling the doctor?”
”Don't worry,” smiled he, ”-I know how to treat a wound or two.” Sat beside a small table, the wooden-floored room with a slated roof and circular windows had ample lighting. The place was neat and tidy, Alia slept as if a kitten.
'The injures are far worse than I imagined,' thought he examining the wounds.
”Master, shall I send forth a healing potion?” intervened Éclair.
”Yes.” No time wasted; five flasks of Rare Healing potions materialized on the table. 'Guess the distance travel spell is active.' Thus, treating the wounds, the procedure ended with the healing potion. A green light came from out the boy, the treated wounds restored to normal.
”T-thank you, sir,” before adding another word, the overwhelming tiredness of mana exhaustion knocked him out.
'Now for her,' walked to the other side of the bed, '-I don't see any visible injuries.' He opened her mouth without tact, '-they marked her with a curse of mana transfusal. Blood from the boy and mana from the girl, what are they trying to summon?' *Death Element: Mana Cancelation – Nullification.* *Tsst* the spell broke.
*Present and never changing, present and never yielding. All who wait break and all made are subjected to thine will. I, God of Death, the humble inheritor of thy power; call upon thee to have mine will answered: Time Control – Reversal.*
”Should just about do it,” thought he tucking them in bed.
*Click,* ”-are they alright?” asked the overzealous Mela.